CFHS code : ML64
Parish : St Mary the Less
Inscription : To the Memory of HERMANN BERNARD MA & Phil D of the University of Giessen in Hesse Dermstadt for many years Hebrew teacher to the University of Cambridge d Nov 16 1857 aged 72
Monument : Obelisk
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon: 52.202723, 0.13804756 – click here for location
Monument
This unusual, weathered obelisk was constructed in 1857, from pink-coloured Ketton limestone. At each corner around the base there are four moulded stone bollards with pyramidal tops. There is an inscription in English and Hebrew on the obelisk.
Inscription
‘To the memory of Hermann Bernard
MA and Phil Dr. of the University of Giessen in Hesse Darmstadt
For many years Hebrew teacher to the University of Cambridge
Who died Nov 16 1857
Aged 72’
The Hebrew inscription is illegible
Hermann Hedwig Bernard (1785-1857)
Hermann was born Hirsch Ber Hurwitz and was the son of Chaim Khayki Hurwitz, although he later changed his surname to Bernard. He was born in Uman, Ukraine and is reported to have played chess with and read German stories before Rabbi Nachman of Breslow. He married Sylphia, who was German/Austrian and they had at least six children: Sophia (1808-) , Rosalie (1814-1896), Isaac (1827-1894), Nicholas Hermann (1828-1890), Cecilia (1829-1891) and Annie (1831-1892). The children were all born in Prussia, Germany.
Hermann had moved to Cambridge by at least 1832 and taught Hebrew at Cambridge University for around 25 years until his death. In 1841 he was living at Scroope Terrace, Trumpington Street with Sylphia, their three youngest daughters and two house servants. Hermann published several book and as a result of his writings was awarded both an MA and PhD from the University of Giessen in the Grand Duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt (near Frankfurt in Germany) in August 1857. The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal reported that ‘the diploma arrived a few days ago’ on 8 August 1857.
He died ‘shortly before six o’clock’ on 16 November 1857, and was said to have been ‘much esteemed and respected by all who knew him’. His obituary said that on arriving in England he had ‘by his very gentlemanly manners, marvellous energy and very great ability, [not only] suceeded in acquiring a competency but [also] secured the esteem and respect of a large number of pupils among whom where several distinguished persons’. ‘Few have the gift of being able to write Hebrew poetry with such ease and elegance. His Talmudic knowledge was very exensive…a ‘Grammar of the Hebrew Language’ was his last published work in 1853; but all who have heard his Lectures on the Book of Job will be glad to know what he had lately reduced them to writing and prepared them for publication…He has not lived long to enjoy his well merited honours; but his name will live – and his memory will be cherished by his pupils’.
Hermann’s wife Sylphia is buried in the St Andrew the Great area of Mill Road Cemetery but her grave has not yet been found.
Sylphia Bernard (1791 -9 July 1871)
Sylphia was either born in Prussia (1851 census), Vienna (1861) or Saxony (1871) depending on which census return is to be believed! After she was widowed she lived at 2 Alma Terrace with her daughters and died at home aged 80 years old.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen