After leaving the secondary school gymnasium in Vienna, at the age of 22, he took charge of his father's wholesale leather business and soon succeeded in extending his export trade to France and Germany.
In 1857 he was elected to the municipal council of Vienna and took an active part in the relief and construction works in the year of the great flood (1862).
Soon afterwards he took charge of the budget of the city of Vienna, acting as auditor until his resignation in 1885.
Pollak took a very active part in the affairs of the Jewish community, filling various offices, including finally that of president of the IKG Wien from 4 May 1884 to 27 December 1885.
Besides many other decorations he received the cross of the Legion of Honor, in recognition of his services at the Paris Exposition of 1878; five years before, for his services in connection with the Exposition of Vienna, he had received from the Austrian emperor the patent of nobility with the title "Von Borkenau".