Arno Nadel (1878-1943), German poet & liturgical musicologist, was born in Vilna, Lithuania and began his Jewish musical education in Koenigsberg under Cantor Eduard Birnbaum; first as a participant in his all boy-choir, and then as a private cantorial student.  In 1895 Nadel enrolled in the Jewish Teacher’s Institute in Berlin, and upon graduation settled there as an educator and choirmaster for the Kottbuser Ufer Synagogue. Nadel became increasingly interested in the collection of Jewish music, and in 1923 was commissioned by the Jewish community of Berlin to compile an anthology of Synagogue music.  Nadel completed the project in 1938 and intended to publish his work as a seven volume encyclopedia set entitled Hallelujah  for use by cantors and Jewish music researchers. In 1943 Nadel was deported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered.  He managed to hide his entire library including the encyclopedia manuscript with a neighbor for safe keeping, which was returned in part to his estate after the war. Eric Mandel purchased what remained of the library from Nadel’s widow and it is now persevered as part of the Eric Mandel collection at the Schreiber Jewish Music Library at the Gratz College of Jewish studies in Philadelphia. 

 

Joseph Budko (1888-1940)  visual artist. Joseph Budko was amongst an influential group of graphic minded Jewish artists who embraced the revival of the woodcut, a medium which lent itself perfectly to express the views of Israel and Jewish culture in various lands. Born in Poland, Budko studied art in Germany under the instruction of Hermann Struck and the influence of Jacob Steinhardt. Mixing his personal attitude with Jewish outlook; melding Jewish tradition and modern artistic approach, Budko soon developed his own powerful style, influencing future great artists in turn—Marc Chagall being no exception. Budko has been credited with resurrecting the spirit of book illustration by elevating it to modern design. Eventually moving to Israel, Joseph Budko became the head of the Betzalal Academy in Palestine when it re-opened in 1935. He remained in this position until his untimely death