קהילת יהודי שאטוראליה אויהיי

Mor Mezei (1835-1925), lawyer and politician born in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). He studied law at Budapest. Jews were officially excluded from the legal profession until 1867; however Mor received special royal permission so after graduating from law school in 1864, he was admitted to the bar.

While still a student he joined the movement for Jewish emancipation. From 1861 Mezei was secretary of the Izraelita Magyar Egylet ("Union of Hungarian Izraelites"), and later became editor of the union's official journal, "Magyar Izraelita". In 1868-69 he was secretary of the General Congress of Hungarian Jews. It was largely through his efforts that the Jewish religion was officially recognized in Hungary in 1895. From 1905 to 1925 he was president of the National Bureau of Hungarian Israelites, and was also active in general public affairs. He was a member of the Hungarian parliament (1893-1901), as a representative of the Liberal Party.

Judah Gruenfeld (1837-1907), rabbi, born in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). He was one of the most important pupils of Abraham Judah Ha-Kohen Schwartz, rabbi of Beregszasz-Mad, and like his teacher frequented the court of the Hasidic rabbi of Zanaz. He lived for a time in Huszt, where Moses Schick often consulted him on important problems. In 1883 he was appointed rabbi of Budszentmihaly, serving there until his death.

Gruenfeld’s writings were not collected, but many of them were published by Joseph Schwartz in "Va-Yelakket Josef" (1899-1930). Twenty-six important responsa were published in "Responsa Maharshag" (1961) by his son Simeon (1881-1930), who served first as dayyan of Munkacs (now Mukacevo, in Ukriane) and then succeeded his father at Budszentmihaly. Simeon was collated and in 1931 published his "Responsa Maharshag", and in 1939 on both "Orah Hayyim" and "Yoreh De'ah". In 1961 this work was republished in Jerusalem with his additional responsa on "Hoshen Mishpat" and "Even ha-Ezer".

Gruenfeld’s responsa are distinguished by their clarity, their penetration, and their great erudition. He also wrote "Zehav Sheva" (1933), a commentary on the Pentateuch. In addition he wrote more than 2,000 responsa in manuscript form, together with new interpretations of several tractates of the Talmud, a large work on the halakhot of mikva'ot (laws concerning ritual immersion) and a work on ta'arovot (mixtures containing forbidden food). It is doubtful if these works have survived.

Abraham Guenzler (1840-1910), rabbinical publicist, journalist, born in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). He had a special gift for writing which he used to defend traditional Judaism. In 1868, he published a pamphlet, "Tokhahat Megullah", in which he attacked Isaac Friedlieber's work "Divrei Shalom" and defended traditional orthodox Judaism and opposed the Reform movement, which was becoming more popular in Hungary.

Guenzler moved to Sziget (now Sighetu Marmatiei, in Romania), a community of Hasidim and maskilim, where he began to publish a Hebrew weekly, "Ha-Tor". It was the first Hebrew journal published in Hungary and exerted considerable influence. The revival of the Hebrew language was his main ambition, and in 1876 he published in Sziget a booklet, "Das Meter Moss", most of which was in Hebrew because "there are people who understand Hebrew better than Yiddish." The journal was published for three years (1874-1876), but it seems that it was not profitable since he moved with it to Kolomyia in Galicia (then part of Austria-Hungary, now in Ukraine) and from there to Krakow (now in Poland).

In 1881 he reported in his journal the pogroms taking place against the Russian Jews with such effect that the Russian government banned it from Russia. Since most of the journal's subscribers lived there (he had nearly 300 subscribers in Russia, and about 250 in Austria-Hungary), "Ha-Tor" ceased publication. Guenzler did not, however, refrain from commenting on contemporary and local issues. He published articles in "Kol Mahazike Hadas", published fortnightly in Lemberg (now Lvov, in Ukraine). Meanwhile R. Simeon Sofer of Krakow founded the weekly "Mahazike Hadas" and Guenzler was appointed editor. The publishers of "Kol Mahazike Hadas" sued Guenzler; eventually it was agreed that "Mahazike Hadas" would cease publication and Guenzler would edit "Kol Mahazike Hadas", but he was later obliged to resign.

Jozsef Engel (1815-1901), sculptor, born in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire). Originally planning to become a rabbi, he was sent by his parents to study at the yeshiva of Rabbi Moses Sofer at Pressburg (now Bratislava, Slovakia). While studying, Engel began to practice sculpture but due to the opposition of his rabbis he was obliged to stop. However when his father died, Engel left for Vienna, Austria, and became apprentice to a wood-carver.

Recognition in his native land came only after he attained fame abroad. In 1840 he moved to England, where he made his name and executed busts of Queen Victoria and of Prince Albert, who commissioned several works from him. Then from 1847 to 1866 he lived in Rome, Italy. In this period he won the favor of Czar Nicholas of Russia, the Prince of Wales, Kaiser Wilhelm I of Prussia, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and other royal figures who frequented his studio.

He returned to Hungary in 1866, as winner of a contest to design the controversial Szechenyi memorial which was unveiled in 1880. He continued to attract attention abroad, being awarded the gold prize at the World Exposition in Vienna (1873), and a bronze medal at the 1889 Exposition in Paris, France. His last exhibition in Budapest was at the National Exposition of Art in 1885. Among his patrons were Prince Paul Esterhazy, and Sir David Salomons, the first Jewish lord mayor of London.

A classical spirit permeated many of his works, particularly those which he produced while in Rome. Outstanding among them are Achilles Surrenders Penthesilea's Corpse, a plaster cast of which is in the Hungarian Museum of Fine Arts; Eve Awakening to Life; Before and After the Hunt; and Amour Reclining. The National Museum of Hungary commissioned him to make busts of King Matthias, Queen Maria Theresia, and of other historic figures.

משה בן צבי טייטלבאום "ישמח משה" (1759 - 1841), רב, מחבר, מייסד השושלת החסידית טייטלבאום, משם באו רבני סאטמר. נולד בפשמישל, גליציה (היום בפולין), ולמד עם רבי יעקב יצחק הלוי הורוויץ "החוזה מלובלין". היה רב הקהילה תחילה בשיניאבה, ואחרי כן משנת 1808 עד מותו באויהלי. הרב משה טייטלבאום היה בין הראשונים שהפיץ את החסידות בצפון הונגריה ובמרכזה. שמו כרב ועושה נפלאות נפוץ מעבר לקהילה החסידית. ספרו "ישמע משה" נחשב לאחד מן הפרסומים הקלאסיים של החסידות.

Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (1808 - 1883), Hasidic rabbi, born in Drogobycz, Ukraine (then part of Austria-Hungary), he belonged to one of the outstanding Hasidic dynasties and studied with his grandfather, Moshe of Ujhely. He served first as rabbi of Stropkov, and then in 1841 after his grandfather died, he succeeded him in Ujhely. However, he had to leave under pressure from the opponents of Hasidism and officiated in Gorlice and Drogobycz. He became best-known as rabbi of Sighet (from 1858) where he founded a yeshiva and attracted many followers. He was the author of many books on various aspects of Judaism.

Meir Loeb Malbim (1809-1879), rabbi and Bible commentator, born in Volochisk (Volhynia) where he studied until his teens when he went to Warsaw and then to Leczyca where he devoted himself to his literary work. In 1839 he was appointed rabbi of Wreschen and from there he went in 1846 to Kempen (and became known as 'Der Kempener'). Malbim was then rabbi of Bucharest and in 1858 chief rabbi of Romania. His strong stand against Reform led to disputes, false accusations and to his imprisonment. He was only released after the intervention of Sir Moses Montefiore and on condition that he leave Romania. Leaving Romania in 1864, he wandered to various communities and was rabbi in Koenigsberg for four years. Malbim was the most popular modern Orthodox Bible commentator. Motivated by his opposition to Reform, his commentaries sought to strengthen the Orthodox in the spheres of exegesis, knowledge of Hebrew, and understanding of the plain meaning of the Bible. He also wrote many works of Talmudic scholarship. 

Jozsef Patai (1882-1953), Hungarian and Hebrew poet, translator, and editor, born in Gyongyospata, Hungary (then part of Austria-Hungary). After finishing elementary school he studied at the yeshivas of Kisvarda, Satoraljaujhely, Huszt, Nyitra and Szatmar. He graduated from high school at Nyitra and in 1907 received his degree of doctor of philosophy at the University of Budapest. For one year he studied at the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary.

From 1908 to 1919 he taught at a Budapest municipal high school, and contributed to the Hungarian Jewish weekly "Egyenloseg", which opposed Zionism. He published a Hebrew verse collection, "Sha'ashu'ei Alumim" ("The Pleasures of Youth,"1902), and two anthologies of Hungarian poetry "Babilon vizein" ("By the Waters of Babylon", 1906) and "Szulamit latod a langot?" ("Shulamit, Do You See the Flame?", 1919). Following research in the archives at the Oxford he published many unknown poems of medieval Jewish poets in various Jewish periodicals. A selection of his poems also appeared in English (1920). He published Hungarian versions of the Hebrew poetry of many periuds of time, his translations eventually appearing in five volumes entitled "Heber koltok" ("Hebrew Poets", 1910-12; 1921?). Three of his most important works were his volumes of early recollections, "A kozepso kapu" ("The Middle Gate", 1927); "A foltamado Szentfold" ("The Holy Land Restored", 1926), on his first visit to Palestine; and his biography of Theodor Herzl (1931; "Star over Jordan", 1946).

Patai founded the Magyar Zsido Konyvtar ("Hungarian Jewish Library" - a popular series) and edited the Hungarian Jewish "Almanac". In 1911 he founded the Zionist monthly M"ult es Jovo", which he edited for 27 years. By publishing good translations of major Jewish writers from many countries, he helped to imbue Hungarian Jewish intellectuals with an appreciation for Jewish literature, art, and thought. Patai also helped to combat the anti-Zionists in Hungary when he and some associates founded the "Magyar Zsidok Pro Palestina Szovetsege" ("The League of Hungarian Jews for Palestine"), and by organizing annual visits to Erez Israel.

In 1938 Patai emigrated to Palestine. At first he lived in Jerusalem, but later settled in Givatayim. His subsequent publications include the three-volume selection of his writings Mivhar Kitvei Yosef Patai (1943); and a volume based on his lectures at the Hebrew University ("Mi-Sefunei ha-Shirah", 1939).