1864 – 1915 Louny
Max was a middle son of Jakob and Alzbeta Frankl. He was born in the small village of Vlastislav, not far from Třebivlice and about twelve kilometres west of Litoměřice. Jakob died suddenly in 1870. We don’t know how the family managed over the following years.
Max completed his education and joined the army. We believe that he had a successful army and gained some seniority as a non-commissioned officer. This information was told to me by my brother, George who I assume heard it from our father. Once he had finished in the army he may have joined his brother Moritz in his store in Teplice and learned how to run a shop.
1894 when he was thirty he was introduced to twenty six year old Frantiska (known as Fanni) Pogesova, daughter of Moritz and Katerina Porges, who were living in Louny, a town not far from Teplice or Litoměřice. They were married in the attractive Louny Synagogue, perhaps by Rabbi Isak HaCohen Frankl, Max’s cousin.
The Porges family were known to be very well off and I assume that with the help of the Porges family and Fanni’s dowry and with guidance from his older brother Moritz, Max opened a store selling women’s clothes and haberdashery items in the main town square in Louny. We know that this store existed because it is clearly shown on this postcard taken in 1905.
This postcard shows the store with people looking out of the window above the store. Perhaps this was the four children of the family excited by the appearance of the photographer.
Max and Fanni’s first child, Zdenka was born in August 1896, Ruzena followed thirteen months later and Frantisek (Franta) my father, fifteen months after that in January 1899.
INSERT PHOTO OF MAX AND FRANTISEK
Their last child Marie was born in June 1900.
The children went to the local Czech primary school and Frantisek would have also attended classes at the nearby synagogue. The business thrived and Max had a great reputation as an honest, hardworking and straightforward businessman. He was willing and generous to those less well off than his own family help others. He was also a heavy smoker and enjoyed good food and wine. His family were actively involved in the local Jewish community, but not overly strict about obeying all of the rules. They kept in touch with Alzbeta and Max’s brothers and sisters in Teplice, a twenty five mile journey from Louny.
There was a big swimming club in Louny on the banks of the River Ohře and all of the family were keen swimmers. Once the children reached teenage years they went to the German speaking secondary school. Frantisek’s school reports from these years are excellent in all subject except art! He was also joined the rowing club and was an excellent oarsman, winning many championship prizes.
In December 1914, they received news from Teplice that Alzbeta, aged 85, was very unwell and decided to make the journey to Teplice to see her and be with her for her final days. She finally passed away on 17th of December and was buried in the Jewish part of the main cemetery in Teplice. Her children were all present along with Alois Frankl, the son of Rabbi Isak, and his family. Alois ran a grocery store In Teplice.
Max may have found the journey back to Louny in the cold winter very hard. Unfortunately, his weak heart finally gave way and he died a few days after Franta’s fifteenth birthday on 13th January. I would like to think that Moritz, Theresia, and Regina will have travelled from Teplice, along with Alois, to support Fanni and her children at the funeral which was led by Rabbi Dr Richard Feder, Louny’s Rabbi.
| Chesped by Rabbi Dr Richard Feder[1] Funeral speech over the coffin of Mr Max Frankl Died on 13 January at 10 o’clock in the evening, i.e. 28 Tevet 5675 Buried on 15 January 1915 Rabbi Dr. Richard Feder Mourners gathered here! That fervent pious plea, expressed by a sick psalmist writhing in the cruellest pain in his bed and fearing his impending death: [Hebrew] Psalm 102:25 ‘My God, do not take me in the midst of my days!’ resonates loudly in the hearts of all sick fathers of families and there is no-one, who in their ill state who would not turn their eyes to heaven a hundred times a day and pray with the deepest piety: ‘My God, do not take me in the midst of my days!’ And that is of course understandable, because there really is no more heart-breaking, more painful, and more horrifying a feeling than that felt by the father of children, seeing his health fading away, his strength vanishing, as a destructive worm gnaws at his tree of life. What will become of my wife and children if I die? This question, which weighs on his mind day and night and of which he can never rid himself. Such an ill person is impatient, fearful, despondent, he calls on all doctors, for he wants to live, however he does not realise that it is his anxiety, his fears, his worries which excarcebate his illness and worsen his condition. The more fervently one loves one‘s wife and one’s children, the more one clings to life, the less one is willing to die, knowing that their going will cause their family a great loss and they will lose their breadwinner, mentor and guardian. Oh how bitter it is when an ill father is clearly conscious that he cannot be helped, that he has to forsake his dearest beings, his wife and his children, before they grow up, before they can be without his care! These are the sort of pain and worries which in the last year, our universally respected and loved Mr Max Frankl endured, who belonged, without doubt, among the best, the most prudent and the most noble men in our town. He knew the gravity of his illness. He knew that he was walking with hasty steps towards death and yet he would have gladly lived for his wife, for his daughters who were not yet provided for, for his son, a minor. He hated leaving them, because he had experienced for himself how unpleasant, harmful, even fateful it is when there is no father in a family, since he himself had grown up without a father from the age of 6. Therefore he sought help everywhere, he sought it strenuously, but in vain. The most reknowned doctors were unable to help him and he suffered, suffered until the suffering ended, only knowing that he had good-natured, well turned-out children in whose hearts a love of virtues is deeply rooted, reconciled him with his fate. And you dear, deeply sorrowful and mourning orphans, certainly never forget your father. You experienced not only his warm, profound love for you, not only his tender care for you, but also his virtues and his excellent qualities. Of course you will appreciate the beautiful legacy left for you in your good, honest name, which he earned through his tough struggle in life with his tireless activity. The Scriptures compare a good name to a fragrant oil saying [Hebrew] ‘better is a good name than a fragrant oil. ’ But why? Asks a scholar in the Talmud why a good name is compared to a fragrant oil? And he replies ‘as oil mixed with any liquid floats on the surface, then also a good name lifts a person to the top of society and confers on him popularity, honour and respect. But a good name is better than oil, because oil poured into the ground disappears without trace even with its fragrance, but a person, buried in the ground, leaves behind a good name after themselves and this is the adornment of the children and grandchildren and serves everyone to gain honour. ’ Your late father leaves behind for you such a good name. He was one of the most industrious and diligent men, one of the most hardworking and conscientious tradesmen, honest to the core, a patriot with his body and soul, a faithful and devoted member of our religion, an open, sincere man, who had the courage to tell everyone the truth to their face, without offending them. He could even comfort the grieving, cheer up the sad and help the suffering. Follow him in all that is good, follow always in his clear example, so that he will be happy when he looks down on you from heavenly heights; live as if he were still among you. As he did for his very old mother, who died only 14 days ago at a grand old age, whom he revered, loved and supported, then cling also to your beloved mother, revere her, love her, appreciate her, listen to her, never oppose her, live always in the spirit of your beloved father! We all mourn with you, because your late husband and father was also our good friend, an esteemed companion with whom we liked to associate, because he observed everything with his bright mind and often impressed us with his correct judgment. And yet he was a model of modesty. He did not covet public positions, even though he had sufficient abilities, knowing well that he would best fulfil his life tasks if he lived for his dear family. A pity, a pity, the greatest pity that Mr Frankl is no more. And yet we are glad, that he died, that he died so quietly, peacefully and that he is no longer suffering from the pain which his good, compassionate but ill heart caused him. Alas that the best hearts are so often ill. He prayed often… ‘My God, do not take me in the midst of my days!’ God did not listen to this plea of his, which can only be in his interest, because what God does, does well. Be assured about that and praise God with the words: God gave, and God has taken away; blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. Amen. |
This remarkable hesped gives a description of Max Frankl that made me feel incredibly proud to be the grandson of such a well loved and respected man – a real ‘mensch’ It seemed to me that this description explained a great deal of the way my father behaved and lived his life and the very strong influence he had on Hana, George and myself and the kind of people we became.
[1] In 2003 I was staying in my cousin Hana Schuck’s house where I found the original book produced at the time of Max’s funeral. The book written in Czech contained this Hesped (eulogy). The book also listed Max’s brothers and sisters by name. this was the first time I had seen the full family list. It was translated into English by Lisa Bayfield.
