Emanuel Mendel

In 2018, a book from the library of Dr. Emanuel Mendel could be returned.

Emanuel Mendel, born on 28 October 1839 in Bunzlau, was a neurologist and married to Susanne, née Lindon (1 September 1849, Berlin to 19 November 1918, Berlin). The couple had four children: Gertrud, Charlotte, Fritz and Kurt.

Mendel, who advocated the integration of neurology and psychiatry, was one of the pioneering neurologists of his time. He maintained a private practice in Pankow. From 1868 onwards, he simultaneously established his own private neurological clinic in Pankow, which quickly gained widespread recognition. In 1871, he became a visiting scholar at the Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Berlin and, from 1884, taught there successfully as an associate professor.

IIn 1892, Mendel founded the journal *Neurologisches Centralorgan*, amongst other things. At the same time, he was politically active in the Progressive Party, became a member of the Niederbarnim District Council in Brandenburg, and served as a member of the Reichstag for Potsdam from 1877 to 1881. Through a donation of land, he enabled Pankow – where he lived and worked – to build a waterworks; he also initiated the construction of a hospital and established a foundation. In 1893, Mendel was one of the founders of the Central Association of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith (Central-Verein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens) and served on its executive board. In 1906, he was awarded the title of Geheimer Medizinalrat. Emanuel Mendel died on 23 June 1907 in Pankow, Berlin.

The children of Emanuel and Susanne Mendel were persecuted as Jewish in Nazi Germany. It is likely that the book was looted from one of the four children.

Gertrud Adler, née Mendel, was born on 28 June 1875 in Berlin. She was deported from Berlin to Theresienstadt in 1942 and murdered.

Charlotte Gradenwitz, née Mendel, was born on 5 October 1883 in Berlin. She was able to escape from Germany to the United States in 1938 and thus survived the Shoah. Charlotte Gradenwitz died in Israel in 1971.

Fritz Mendel was born in Berlin on 30 April 1872. He committed suicide on 28 January 1939 to avoid his imminent deportation.

Kurt Mendel was born on 27 January 1874. Like his father, he was a neurologist. Dr Kurt Mendel survived the Shoah. He died in Berlin in 1946.

It is unclear how this volume came to be part of the Central and Regional Library’s collection. The item was found in unprocessed stock of the Berlin City Library.

At the request of the heirs, the book was handed over to the Archives of the Jewish Museum of Berlin.