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Michael Fekete

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01In brief

Michael Fekete (1886–1957) was a Hungarian-born mathematician who studied in Budapest and Göttingen before joining the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He taught at secular Jewish schools in Budapest and later served as the Hebrew University's rector from 1946 to 1948. While John von Neumann was a student at the Lutheran Gymnasium, his teachers placed him with Fekete, a mathematics tutor from the University of Budapest. Fekete received the Israel Prize for exact sciences in 1955.

02Early Life and Education

Michael Fekete was born in Hungary in 1886. He studied at Budapest and Göttingen and received his Ph.D. in 1909.[1] A database transcription of the 1929 Magyar Zsidó Lexikon lists “Fekete Mihály,” born in 1886, as a “matematikus, egyetemi magántanár” (“mathematician and university privat-docent”) and points to page 268 of the original lexicon.[4]

03Career in Budapest

From 1910 to 1928, Fekete taught at secular Jewish schools in Budapest; from 1912 to 1919, he also served as an assistant at Budapest University.[1] During John von Neumann’s time at the Lutheran Gymnasium, the school’s teachers placed the exceptionally gifted student with Fekete, a mathematician and tutor from the University of Budapest.[2]

04At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Fekete joined the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a lecturer in 1928 and became a professor in 1929. He served as rector from 1946 to 1948.[1] These appointments marked his progression from teaching and university work in Budapest to a senior academic leadership role in Jerusalem.

05Legacy and Recognition

In 1955, two years before his death, Fekete received the Israel Prize for exact sciences.[1][3] He died in 1957.[1] His documented legacy includes his leadership at the Hebrew University and his place in John von Neumann’s early mathematical education.[1][2]

Sources

  1. 1Center for Israel Education, Biographical Index, accessed on October 14, 2026.
  2. 2Encyclopedia.com, John Von Neumann, accessed on October 14, 2026.
  3. 3Jewish Virtual Library, Israel Prize Winners, accessed on October 14, 2026.
  4. 4Internet Archive, Full text of "Az 1929-ben kiadott Zsidó Lexikon személysoros adatbázisa", accessed on October 14, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • Who was Michael Fekete?

    Michael Fekete (1886–1957) was a Hungarian-born mathematician who studied in Budapest and Göttingen before joining the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He taught at secular Jewish schools in Budapest, served as the Hebrew University's rector from 1946 to 1948, and received the Israel Prize for exact sciences in 1955.

  • What was Michael Fekete's connection to John von Neumann?

    While John von Neumann was a student at the Lutheran Gymnasium, his teachers recognized his exceptional gifts and placed him with Fekete, who served as a mathematics tutor from the University of Budapest.

  • When did Michael Fekete join the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and what roles did he hold there?

    Fekete joined the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a lecturer in 1928 and became a professor in 1929. He later served as the university's rector from 1946 to 1948.

  • What award did Michael Fekete receive, and when?

    Michael Fekete received the Israel Prize for exact sciences in 1955, two years before his death.