Frankenstein, Carl (Karl)

Carl (Karl) Frankenstein was born on February 16, 1905 in Berlin and died on January 22nd, 1990 in Israel. He completed his studies in philosophy and psychology at a Berlin University and the University of Erlangen. During his studies, he was actively involved in Jewish relief organizations. After a period in France, he emigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1935. From 1935 to 1965, Frankenstein was a lecturer and faculty member at a number of educational establishments, including the Training School for Social Service in Jerusalem, nursing schools, teaching seminars, Youth Aliyah organizations and the Department of Criminology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1937, he was appointed the first juvenile probation officer in Mandatory Palestine. He   served as liaison between the Vaad Leumi and the British Mandate authorities in the field of welfare and education and was also active on behalf of the Vaad Leumi with respect to education and welfare of children from Mizrahi families. At the time of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948/49, he was appointed head of the Henrietta Szold Institute (National Institute for Research in the Behavioral Sciences) in Jerusalem, which he led until 1953. From 1951 until his retirement in 1969, Frankenstein was a faculty member of the Hebrew University and served as a professor for pedagogy and special education. His principal areas of study were developmental sociology, juvenile delinquency, rehabilitation intelligence, problems in integration of immigrants, ways of thinking, psychology and psychopathy. After retiring from university, he continued with volunteer work, including working as an editor of the journal "Magamot". In 1965, Frankenstein was awarded the Israel Prize in education. Frankenstein's research and thoughts were published in many books, primarily in Hebrew, but also in English and German.