Peter Beer (Perez) (pen name Theophil Nikodem). After attending yeshivot in Prague and Pressburg (now Bratislava) he studied pedagogy at Vienna University. From 1784 he taught at Mattersdorf; then in his native Novy Bydzov; and from 1811 in Prague. He was the first Jew to hold a government appointment when he was appointed ‘teacher of morals’ to Jewish high schools. Highly esteeemed by the Austrian authorities, Beer’s educational work was viewed with suspicion in most Jewish circles. He helped to open the first Reform synagogue in Prague. His Jewish history textbook was the blueprint for such works in enlightened schools throughout Europe for many years.