ARNHEIM, FISCHEL:

Bavarian deputy and lawyer; born at Baireuth, Bavaria, Feb. 23, 1812; died there Jan. 31, 1864. He was destined by his parents for a commercial career. They gave him a thorough Jewish education, and he was at a very early age proficient in Bible and Talmud. But his love for science induced him to prepare himself for the gymnasium, the highest class of which he entered at the age of seventeen. Arnheim subsequently studied law at the universities of Munich and Erlangen; and in 1848 he was appointed royal attorney at law at Naila, and later in his native town, Bayreuth.

Owing to his wide reputation as a lawyer, Arnheim was elected by the cities of Hof and Münchberg to the Bavarian legislature, where his juridical knowledge and unbiased and independent attitude made an impression. In appreciation of his services the freedom of the city of Hof was conferred upon him, and his reelection on four occasions to the legislature was never opposed.

He was the only Jew in his electoral district. He remained a deputy until his death. Being a student of Bible and Talmud, Arnheim successfully defended his coreligionists against accusations raised by antiSemitic members of the legislature.

Bibliography:
  • Kayserling, Gedenkblätter, p. 2;
  • Allg. Zeit. des Jud. 1869, pp. 115-116.
S. M. B.
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