THE MEMORIAL BOOK OF PÁPA JEWRY - JewishGen

There were signs of great historical events to happen. The National Guard was set up
throughout the country at the fervent call of Lajos Kossuth. Lipót Lőw was among the mobilized
national guards. At the Sellye camp, he boosted the morale of his believers with his sermon,
which was immediately published under the title "God is with us". In 1849 the Hungarian
government fled to Debrecen and in its Declaration of Independence announced their secession
from the Habsburg dynasty and the formation of an Independent Hungarian Republic.
On May 31, 1849, celebrating the Declaration of Independence, Lőw in his sermon spoke
highly of the great day. In July of that year, General Artur Görgey [1818-1916, Hungarian army
officer, who conducted the surrender after the defeat – the translator] asked Captain Vajda for the
manuscript of the sermon.
After the defeat, Lipót Lőw, despite his sickness, was taken to Pest and held prisoner in
Újépület from October 18 to December 15 by the judges of Haynau for his activitites as a field
rabbi and for his thanksgiving service in honour of the Declaration of Independence. He barely
escaped the gallows at the last moment.
After his release he did not return to Pápa; he became the chief rabbi of Szeged instead…
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