Eduard Rudnicki Collection. 1907-1977 Bulk dates: 1922-1977

This collection documents the life of Eduard Rudnicki, aka Eli Rottner, a follower and friend of Constantin Brunner. Throughout his life he was devoted to spread Brunner's and Spinoza's philosophy. This collection shows not only his personal and intellectual life, but exposes his relationship to Brunner, to the Brunner circle and the Internationaal Constantin Brunner Instituut in The Hague. Rudnicki's correspondence with Constantin Brunner deserves special mention. On the other hand, especially the correspondence between Rudnicki and Magdalena Kasch in the 1960s is an example of Rudnicki's difficult relationship with most of the Brunner circle. Rich correspondence with other Brunnerians is included, too, which sheds light on postwar Brunnerian activities. Of high importance is also the included correspondence between Constantin Brunner and other followers. There is also a large amount of manuscripts and newspaper clippings written by Rudnicki and others about and dedicated to Constantin Brunner and Baruch de Spinoza. There is also a photo collection of Rudnicki, Brunner and his circle to be found.Correspondence 1922-1976, with Constantin Brunner, Leonio and Lotte Brunner, Magdalene Kasch and other members of the Brunner circle ; Manuscripts by Rudnicki including notes in Polish on World War II ; Drawings and death mask of Constantin Brunner ; Diaries of Lotte Brunner ; Correspondence between Jaspers and Rudnicki.Eduard Rudnicki, better known as Eli Rottner, was born on March 8, 1898 in Stryj, East Galicia. In 1919, after having worked with a Zionist youth group on a farm in Slobodka-Lesna, he settled in Czernowitz (the Cernăuți in Rumania), where he got involved with the circle around the philosopher Constantin Brunner, joining the ‘Ethical Seminar’. In 1923, Rudnicki met Brunner in person, which led to a correspondence and friendship between the two. When the seminar ended in 1922, Rudnicki moved to Berlin. In 1933, he was expelled by the Nazis and deported to Poland. He got married in 1935, and in 1936 his daughter Anna Elisabeth was born. He and his daughter survived in Poland in hiding, using the name Stanislaw Glac. His wife was killed by the Nazis. Rudnicki got severely wounded and remained physically challenged. He also became profoundly deaf on both ears and blind on one eye.Eduard Rudnicki married Dr. Anda Lewi-Rudincka in 1954. 1957, he immigrated to Israel. He was deeply involved with the Brunner circle throughout his life and worked with the ‘Internationaal Constantin Brunner Instituut’, which was established in The Hague by Magdalena Kasch in 1948. However, he fell out with Magdalena Kasch as well as the members of the Brunner circle in Israel during the 1970s. Because of bad health, Rudnicki returned to Germany to his daughter in 1966, divorced his wife and died in 1979.Constantin Brunner (1862-1937), Correspondence Collection, 1847-1945 (AR 1024)Eduard Rudnicki, Aus Spinozas Heimat und Constantin Brunners letzter Zufluchtsstätte: Eindrücke. 1972. LBI Call number: B 3213 B74 R6-------, Das Ethische Seminar in Czernowitz: Die Wiege d. intern. Constantin-Brunner-Kreises. 1973. LBI Call number: B 3213 B74 R62-------, Spinoza in Israel: eine kritische Betrachtung. 1979. LBI Call number: B 3997 R6Processeddigitize