Kaim Pollák
Kaim Pollák was a Hungarian writer and educator.
Biography
Pollák was born to a Jewish family in Liptó-Szent-Miklós, Hungary, where his father was a spice merchant. He received a Talmudic education in his hometown, and later in Presburg and Sátoralja Ujhely. In 1858 he went to Prague, where he attended Rapoport's lectures, and then taught successively at the Jewish schools in Szegzárd, Hód Mezö Vásárhely, and Alt-Ofen. When, in 1870, the Jewish school of the last-named community was made a municipal common school, Pollák was retained in his position, which he continued to hold until his retirement in 1902.Pollák was a prolific writer, contributing to ', ', and other Hungarian Jewish journals and yearbooks. He published several textbooks, one of which, a geometry for public schools, passed through eight editions between 1878 and 1905. He also published a complete Hebrew-Hungarian dictionary and translations of various Hebrew works into Hungarian. In 1882 and 1883 Pollák edited the religious journal Jeschurun, directed mainly against the anti-Semitic writings of Rohling.
Selected publications
- With J. Sümeghy.
- Translated from a work of F. V. Tretau.
- A complete Hebrew-Hungarian dictionary.
- A Hungarian translation of Mivḥar ha-Peninim by Ibn Gabirol.
- A Hungarian translation with Hebrew notes.
- By Ibn Gabirol.
- By Gabriel Schlossberger.
- A history of mourning customs.
- On the Avot of Rabbi Natan.