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Benedikt David Arnstein (15 October 1765 – 6 January 1841), also known by the pen name Arenhof, was an Austrian playwright. He is considered the first German-language Jewish dramatist and poet.[1][2]

Benedikt Arnstein
Born	Benedikt David Arnstein (1765-10-15)15 October 1765 Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died	6 January 1841(1841-01-06) (aged 75) Vienna, Austrian Empire
Pen name	Arenhof
Language	German

Biography

Benedikt Arnstein was born in Vienna into a prominent Jewish banking family, the son of wholesaler David Isaak Arnstein.[3] His grandfather was the prominent banker Adam Isaac von Arnstein (son of Isaak Arnstein [de]),[4] and his aunt the socialite Fanny von Arnstein.[5]

He began working at his grandfather's banking house in 1782, but left in 1786 to undertake a series of travels across Germany, France, Spain and Italy.[6] This enabled him to become personally acquainted with many distinguished writers of his time, including Johann Baptist von Alxinger [de] and Ignaz Liebel [de], who introduced him to classical Greek and Roman literature. His literary circle included Joseph Friedrich Freiherr von Retzer [Wikidata], Joseph Schreyvogel, August von Kotzebue, Joseph Franz Ratschky [de], and Gottlieb Leon [de].[7]

Apart from individual poems, which appeared in monographs and almanacs,[8] Arnstein published numerous dramatic works, some of which were performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna.[9] His 1782 work Einige jüdische Familienscenen celebrated the Edict of Tolerance of Emperor Joseph II.[10][11]

Publications

• Einige jüdische Familienscenen, bey Erblickung des Patents über die Freyheiten, welche die Juden in den kaiserlichen Staaten erhalten haben [Some Jewish Family Scenes]. Vienna: Rudolph Graffer. 1782.
• Die Maske. Ein Lustspiel in einem Aufzug [The Mask] (comedy). Vienna: Johann Joseph Jahn. 1788.
• Katharine Jaquet im Reiche der Todten. Einige Gelegenheits-Szenen [Katharine Jaquet in the Realm of the Dead]. Vienna: s.n. 1789.
• Arnstein, Benedikt David (1785). Die Nachschrift. Ein Original-Lustspiel in einem Aufzuge [The Postscript]. Vienna.
• Dramatische Versuche [Dramatic Attempts]. Vienna: Edl. von Baumeisterischen Buchdrukerei. 1787.
• Die Pflegetochter. Ein Schauspiel in drey Aufzügen [The Foster Daughter] (drama). Vienna: F. J. Kaiserer. 1790.
• Die Kleinodien. Ein Schauspiel [The Jewels] (drama). Vienna. 1796.
• Das Billett. Ein Lustspiel in einem Aufzug [The Ticket] (comedy). Vienna: Johann Baptist Wallishausser. 1800.
• Das Geschenk. Ein Gelegenheitsstück in einem Aufzuge [The Gift]. Vienna: Johann Baptist Wallishausser. 1801.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore (1902). "Arnstein, Benedikt David". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 133.

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