THE MEMORIAL BOOK OF PÁPA JEWRY - JewishGen

TEACHERS
Pápa was rightfully called the Athens of the Transdanubia. In terms of culture, it
surpassed many larger towns of the area. In a town of 20,000 there were two High Schools, four
higher elementary schools, three teacher training institutions, a Protestant theological seminary,
and an agricultural training college. It was a cultural town of long standing already in the middle
of the nineteenth century.
The Jewish community had an eight-class elementary school, four for boys, four for girls.
In addition, they had a yeshiva renowned nationwide and the only Jewish higher elementary
school of Transdanubia. Nevertheless, Pápa Jews took most pride in the fact that the major
proportion of Jewish teachers came from their town. They internalized the ideal of torah im
derech eretz here and spread it wherever they went. They educated Jewish children all over the
country in the spirit of faith and morality. For them it was not just a job, they considered it a
profession, a sacred mission: to teach Torah, morality, learning, and humanism.
These were the teachers who came from Pápa, or were connected to the town through
their childhood, studies, or professional work:
First, the teaching staff in the four grades of the orthodox elementary school for boys:
Principal Mór Pfeiffer wrote a Hebrew grammar entitled Mitzpeh, meaning watchman. It
was in fact an acronym for his name. This is what he wrote in the foreword to his grammar, in the
tones of a self-respecting Jew:
"A nation lives in his language", but we think that people also live in their language
(although for the time being they lack the attribute of a nation, since they are deprived of their
ancient homeland), so I compiled this grammar in order that the Jewish people may live in their
language as well!
LIPÓT BUXBAUM
taught in Pápa for decades until his retirement. Later he became a principal, and in addition to the
elementary school, he also taught in the trade school (Iparos Tanonciskola) and was the religious
education teacher of the Public Teacher Training Institute (Állami Tanítóképző). In old age he
moved to his children in Israel, and was buried there.
JÓZSEF NUSSBAUM
also worked here. His tombstone in the Pápa cemetery tells that he went to synagogue services
every day and also attended the daily shiur on Mishna. Together with his wife, the daughter of
the Miava rabbi, they brought up their children in a religious spirit.
ADOLF SCHISCHA
taught at the boys' school. He was an outstanding mathematician, and also taught calligraphy at
the higher elementary school. His kind heart destined him to become the organizer and leader of
Malbish Arumin (Kreuzer Association), which provided clothes for the poor.
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