Abraham Mendel Muhr

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MUHR, ABRAHAM (1781–1847), leader of Silesian Jewry. Muhr moved from his native city of Berlin to Plesse (Pszczyna; now in Poland), Prussian Silesia. In 1813 he published a pamphlet, Jerubaal, in opposition to David *Friedlaender's Ein Wort zu seiner Zeit, which demanded extreme reforms in the liturgy and education in response to the Prussian emancipatory edict of 1812. Although Muhr opposed the repudiation of tradition in favor of questionable changes, nevertheless he proposed that sermons in German and choir singing be allowed, and was prepared to sacrifice various customs in order to make the services more respected and meaningful. Subsequently he became an advocate of Reform and an admirer of Abraham *Geiger. He was instrumental in the building of a synagogue in Plesse (1835), where he carried out his 1813 proposals. In 1836 Muhr succeeded in having a cabinet order repealed which introduced the form of address "Jew" in official transactions. He also played a role in the partial repeal of the prohibition on the use of non-Jewish names. In 1840 he was one of the leaders in the organization of a regional body of Upper Silesian Jewry, the first modern union of Jewish communities in Germany. In 1844 he proposed establishing a Jewish agricultural colony, but in 1847 he died in Breslau (now in Poland). His brother Joseph (1772–1848) was leader of the Berlin community.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

M. Brann, Abraham Muhr, ein Lebensbild (1918); idem, in: Festschrift Martin Philippson (1916), 342–69; M. Antonov, in: BŻIH, no. 21 (1957), 118–24, 177; Zur Judenfrage in Deutschland (1844); B. Mevorach, in: Zion, 34 (1969), 194f.

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MUHR, ABRAHAM (1781–1847), leader of Silesian Jewry. Muhr moved from his native city of Berlin to Plesse (Pszczyna; now in Poland), Prussian Silesia. In 1813 he published a pamphlet, "Jerubaal, oder, Über die religiöse Reform der Juden in preussischen Staaten", in opposition to David *Friedlaender's Ein Wort zu seiner Zeit, which demanded extreme reforms in the liturgy and education in response to the Prussian emancipatory edict of 1812. Although Muhr opposed the repudiation of tradition in favor of questionable changes, nevertheless he proposed that sermons in German and choir singing be allowed, and was prepared to sacrifice various customs in order to make the services more respected and meaningful. Subsequently, he became an advocate of Reform and an admirer of Abraham *Geiger. He was instrumental in the building of a synagogue in Plesse (1835), where he carried out his 1813 proposals. In 1836 Muhr succeeded in having a cabinet order repealed which introduced the form of address "Jew" in official transactions. He also played a role in the partial repeal of the prohibition on the use of non-Jewish names. In 1840 he was one of the leaders in the organization of a regional body of Upper Silesian Jewry, the first modern union of Jewish communities in Germany. In 1844 he proposed establishing a Jewish agricultural colony, but in 1847 he died in Breslau (now in Poland). His brother Joseph (1772–1848) was leader of the Berlin community.

MUHR, ABRAHAM: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11201-muhr-abraham By: Isidore Singer, Max Cohen German philanthropist; born at Berlin April 7, 1781; died at Breslau June 12, 1847. In addition to a thorough course in Hebrew literature, he received a substantial secular education. In 1806 he went to Plesse, Prussian Silesia, as a teacher in the family of F. Skutsch, whose office he afterward entered as a bookkeeper, subsequently establishing a business of his own. Prospering, he took an increasing interest in all that concerned his coreligionists. He strove energetically to secure the emancipation of the Jews in Germany, and with that object in view contributed many articles to the periodical press. The respect in which he was held by the authorities secured the success of many of his efforts to improve the condition of his brethren and to obtain for them a greater measure of consideration. To him is due the credit for having obtained for Jews the right to trade as apothecaries. He went to Berlin when the Landtag of 1847 gave evidence of a disposition to concede the emancipation of the Jews, and personally influenced a large number of the deputies. He did not live, however, to witness the outcome of the session. The esteem in which he was held by the citizens of Plesse is indicated by the fact that he was for many years president of the city council. Shortly before his death he was elected "Stadtrath" by an almost unanimous vote.

Bibliography: Jahrbuch für Israeliten, Breslau, 1847.

Abraham Mendel Muhr (1781 – 1847) was a German philanthropist. In addition to a thorough course in Hebrew literature, he received a substantial secular education. In 1806 he went to Plesse, Prussian Silesia, as a teacher in the family of F. Skutsch, whose office he afterward entered as a bookkeeper, subsequently establishing a business of his own. Prospering, he took an increasing interest in all that concerned his coreligionists. He strove energetically to secure the emancipation of the Jews in Germany, and with that object in view contributed many articles to the periodical press.

Along with J Bodek, Muhr published a journal known as Yerushalayim in 3 parts, from 1844 to 1845. Part 1 was published in Zolkiew; part 2 was published in Lemberg; part 3 was published in Prague.

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Abraham Muhr (1781-1847), leader of Silesian Jewry. He had 9 children.

(Sławek Pastuszka (originally: Proskauer), a local historian and one of the last people of Jewish descent still residing in Pless, Germany (now Pszczyna, Poland)).

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 16 2021, 21:02:04 UTC