Geisenheimer Family

Biographical Notes About The Geisenheimer Family

This family originated in Bingen, which is about 30 miles west of Frankfurt, by the river Rhein. Wolfgang Geisenheimer moved to Frankfurt early in the 18th century. His daughter Isabella was married to Callman Mayer Rapp, whose life is described in the "Rapp Family" page.

Isabella's brother Siegmund was a rather illustrious member of the Frankfurt Jewish community. At the age of 20, he joined the Rothschild banking firm, where in a short while he became head bookkeeper. Shortly thereafter he was permitted to permanently reside in the Ghetto. With Rothschild's financial backing, he founded the first Jewish high school in Europe, by the name of Philantropin, which taught the regular high school curriculum, in addition to all the subjects taught in the Yeshiwoth, and soon was developed to include the equivalent of 4 years of college, culminating with the "Abitur" examination and degree. This was the first Jewish school in all of Europe which taught all humanistic subjects. By the time it was closed in 1938, it had over 1000 pupils.

A portrait of Siegmund Geisenheimer, as well as the plaque which was displayed in the lobby honoring him and a photograph of the school, are attached.

He also was the founder of a Jewish old age home, and of the Free Mason Lodge.