ZSIGMOND BRODY:
Journalist, Poet, and Philanthropist



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Brody Zsigmond es Adel Gyermekkorhaz (Zsigmond and Adel Brody Hospital)



Zsigmond (Sigmond) Brody was born in Miskolc on November 15, 1840.[1] He studied law in Budapest but, realizing that he had more of a literary bent, he became a journalist and poet. "He used his pen in the struggle to attain equal rights for Jews. This was also the theme of his poetry, written under the pen-name, 'A Hungarian Jew.'"[2]

Throughout his life, Brody was editor of a variety of newspapers and literary periodicals. In 1860 he became editor of the Pesti Hölgydivatlap. That same year, he and Károly Grosz founded the journal Pannonia, which published Hungarian literature "in the form of critical studies and translations."[3] into German. He also edited Latcso (Fieldglass)[4] and contributed to the newspapers Magyar Sajto and Pesti Naplo[5] This was said to be "the most brilliant period of his career as publicist, his sound logic and comprehensive views being especially noticeable."[6]

As a well-known and influential journalist, Brody was "active in Hungary’s struggle for equality with Austria under the Hapsburg monarchy." [7] In the early 1870s, he was secretary at the Ministry of Interior, but voluntarily resigned after a year and returned to journalism. In 1873, he became owner and editor of the German-language newspaper Neus Pester Journal.[8] Under his leadership, the newspaper "attained an unprecedented circulation throughout the country."[9] In recognition of his contributions to Hungary, in 1896 he was appointed a life-member of the Upper House of the Hungarian Parliament.

Brody wrote poems and hymns which were used for many years by the congregation at the Neolog Great Synagogue in Pest.[10] A charitable man, he marked his 50th birthday by donating a large sum of money to journalistic causes.[11] When he died in Budapest on January 6, 1906,[12], he left most of his estate to the construction in Pest of a Jewish hospital for children. It was named the Zsigmond and Adel Brody Children’s Hospital in memory of him and his wife.


Endotes:
  1. "Brody, Zsigmond," Magyar Eletrajzi Lexikon
  2. Yaron, Baruch, "Brody, Zsigmond," Encyclopedia Judaica (Jerusalem, Keter Publishing Company, 1972), Vol. 4, p. 1401
  3. Singer, Isidore and Weisz, Max, "Brody, Sigmund," Jewish Encyclopedia (New York: Funk & Wagnells, 1906)
  4. Braham, Randolph L., Hungarian-Jewish Studies (New York: World Federation of Hungarian Jews, 1966), p. 89
  5. Singer and Weisz, supra; Yaron, supra.
  6. Singer and Weisz, ibid.
  7. Yaron, supra.
  8. Magyar Eletrajzi Lexikon, supra.
  9. Singer and Weisz, supra.
  10. Yaron, supra.
  11. Singer and Weisz, supra.
    12. Magyar Eletrajzi Lexikon, supra.

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