INFORMATION - The Association of Jewish Refugees

VoL XI No. 12
December, 1956
INFORMATION
ISSUED BY THE
ASSOCIATION
OF
JEWISH
REFUGEES
8 FAIRFAX MANSIONS.
FINCHLEY ROAD (Corner Fairfax Road),
L O N D O N , N.yv.3
Telephone: MAIda Vale 9094/7 (General Office)
MAIda Vale 4449 (Employment Agency and Social Services Dept.)
Herbert
Freeden
FIRST YEAR BOOK OF THE
LEO BAECK INSTITUTE
The first Year Book of the Leo Baeck Institute
of Jews from Germany has just been published
under the editorship of Robert Weltsch. It is a
volume of 465 pages and mainly devoted to the
first period of Jewish life in Germany under the
Hitler regime (1933-1938), when Dr. Baeck was
President of the " Reichsvertretung." Many of
the men who took part in Jewish educational and
political work at that time give an account of its
activities, e.g.. Dr. M. Gruenewald, Dr. Emst
Simon, and Professor Nathan Stein. The Year
Book also contains articles about Jewish thought
and philosophy in Germany by Rabbi A. Altmann,
Dr. H. Liebeschiitz, and Dr. O. Wolfsberg, and an
essay by Felix Weltsch on Franz Kafka. Other
contributions concern some aspects of earlier
German-Jewish history, among them by Selma
Stern-Taeubler (Cincinnati) and H. D. Schmidt
(Oxford). The book also includes interesting
material on Jewish economic history in Germany,
and several authors deal with documents and
records in various archives. Dr. W. Rosenstock
gives an analysis of Jewish emigration from
Germany after 1933. An extensive bibliography is
added.
In the introduction. Dr. S. Moses, Chairman of
the Institute's Board, explains the purpose and
the programme of the Institute. Dr. Baeck himself
contributed a moving article in memory of two
leading members of the " Reichsvertretung," Otto
Hirsch and Julius L. Seligsohn.
The publication also includes articles by B.
Brillintt. D. J. Cohen. M. Fdelheim-Muehsam, H.
Freeden, H. Gaertner, N. Glatzer, J. Jacobson, A.
Landsberg, E. Rosenbuum. S. Spier, and B. D.
Weinryb. A detailed review will be published
shortlv in these columns.
The book, published by East and West Library,
is on sale for 27s. 6d.
GREAT
BRITAIN
when the man said: " My only son is with the parachutists in the Sinai." One should not forget the
deep anxiety in the many homes where the sons
and husbands were in the thick of the fighting.
REPORT FROM ISRAEL
Jerusalem, November 9
At a time when every day, nay every hour, brings
sudden changes and unforeseen turns, it is difficult
to say what the Israelis feel and think now ; even
if it were possible to convey the mood of the present
moment, the situation, psychologically and otherwise, may have changed by the time these lines go
to print. Perhaps it is safest to trace back the
events to that historic radio announcement at
9 o'clock on Monday evening, October 29. Partial
mobilisation had been in force for just two days as
the Iraqi army was poised at the border of Jordan
and, naturally, everyone switched on his wireless
to listen to the latest news bulletin. Suddenly a
spokesman of the Israeli army prefaced the customary readings with the brief and terse statement that
Israeli forces had advanced half-way into the Sinai
Peninsula in order to put an end to the murderous
attacks of the fedayeen gangs. As if to give added
weight to the report, it was repeated twice without
any word of comment. Both the geographical direction of the operation as well as the first hint at its
initial objectives, which are about 130 miles from
Israeli territory, came as a complete surprise to the
bulk of the listeners. No doubt the tight security
screen and absolute secrecy which covered this
operation added much to its success and efficiency,
as was later revealed by Mr. Bcn-Gurion.
The same evening I hurried to the Government
Press Information Office. In spite of the late hour
the place was packed with local journali.sts and
foreign correspondents. Typewriters rattled, cables
IN
Office ond Consulting Hours:
Monday to Thursday 10 a.m.—I p.m. 3—6 p.i
Friday 10 a.m.— I p.m.
were dispatched, but there was not much to despatch apart from the official announcement. A
strict censorship did not allow any rumours to go
abroad, and a news blackout made any interprefation hazardous and futile. The question on all
minds was whether this operation was another
retaliation raid, though on a bigger scale, or if it
meant the beginning of a large-scale military action.
The duty-officers were tight-lipped, not for any lack
of co-operation but rather for lack of information.
When I drove home Jerusalem's streets were brightly
lit as ever, people sat in the caf^s and the only sign
of some tension was the fact that police patrols
carried steel helmets and arms.
Discipline and Cheerfulness
Opposite my flat a new apartment house is going
up. Every day the cement-mixer wakes me up at
an unearthly hour. The next morning, for the
first lime, 1 loved to hear its grinding roar ; the
workmen had turned up as usual ; the building
went on. One can say a lot about the public spirit
of the Israelis at ordinary times: they are not
better and not worse than any other people. But
at a crisis such as this national emergency their
morale jumps sky-high. As the Egyptian Air
Force went into action total blackout was ordered
in the country. The discipline, calmness, and cheerfulness during the days of stress and danger deserve,
if anything, prajse. The women took over as
shopkeepers wherever their menfolk had been
called up ; there was no rush on the food stores,
which had ample supplies, there was no panic and
no disruption of civilian activities—ihe cinemas
carried on and no restrictions were imposed on
civilian traffic, safe in the closed areas in the south.
Even there, bus services were restored almost in the
wake of the troops. Only one sign betrayed the
nervous strain: at every full hour people in the
streets gathered around a car which had a radio, or
rushed into a restaurant to listen to the latest
bulletin. I saw an elderly man signal to a taxi and
when the driver stopped he asked him to switch on
the wireless. The driver's indignation soon vanished
Hopes After The Battle
It is only human that the Israelis were elated by
the victories of their forces—for the first time since
the establishment of the State over eight years ago
the iron ring of aggression and blockade which
sought to strangle the country was broken. The
constant threat of murder and sabotage in the
south had been removed by one bold stroke. Peace,
nothing short of peace, after all those years of trials
and tribulations: this was the reward which the
Israelis expected for the sacrifices of the best of
their youth. Alas! the mood of elation was followed
by a more sober view of the realities. The higher
the elation, the greater was the climb-down, especially for those armchair-politicians who foresaw a
revision and pacification of Israel's borders all
round.
After the guns have fallen silent the drama has
shifted to the political arena, and while in the field
of battle Israel was her sovereign master, it is felt
by the " man in the street " that in the struggle by
the world giants for influence and position in the
Middle East, little Israel is but a pawn in the game.
There is not too great a store of confidence in the
United Nations, which so often ignored Israel's
protests and did little to safeguard her rights under
the Charter. It is also remembered with bitterness
that in 1948 it took the General Assembly many
weeks to arrange for a truce when Israel, just then
established on the recommendation of Uno
was invaded by six Arab armies—and that now
one day sufficed for convening an emergency session
to protect the Egyptian dictator. There is also the
feeling that, even should open Russian intervention
be avoided, the Arabs will regain from the Soviets
whatever stores, arms, and 'planes had been
destroyed. But just this active Russian partisanship so many argue, may convince the Western
Powers who in the Middle Ea.st is their true ally.
The hope, therefore, has not yet faltered for more
stable arrangements lo replace the armistice agreements, for a permanent settlement to remove the
constant unrest and bloodshed, for—let us say it in
one simple word—peace.
THE COUNCIL OF JEWS FROM GERMANY
and
THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES
invite you to a MEETING
on Sunday, December 16, of 11.15 a.m.,
at Wigmore Hall, 36, Wigmore Street, W . l
THE LEGACY
OF LEO B A E C K
Speakers :
DR. HANS LIEBESCHUETZ
LEONARD G. MONTEFIORE, ESQ., O.B E
DR. EVA REICHMANN
Trio : Maria Lidka, Franz Reizenstein, Christopher Bunting.
Leo Bieber will read f r o m D r . Baeck's works.
In the Chair ; Dr. W . BRESLAUER, Vice-President of the " Council."
Admission without ticket.
Doors will be closed a t 1 1 . 1 0 a.m.
A Supplement dedicated lo Ihe memory of Dr. Leo Baeck is attached to this issue
Page 2
AJR INFORMAIION December. 1956
IN PARLIAMENT
LOANS TO COMPENSATION
CLAIMANTS
ENTRY VISAS FOR ALIENS
HUNGARIAN REFUGEES
At the adjournment debate on October 2.1 Mr.
Denzil Freeth raised the case of a former German
prisoner of war, now resident in this country,
naturalised and married to an English woman,
who has tried in vain to get admission to the U.K.
for his mother and his unmarried sister, both of
whom have been deported from Eastern Germany
to Siberia. The Home Office has refused to issue
visas, because under the so-called Distressed
Relatives Scheme mothers are only admitted if they
live isolated without other children, and sisters are
not covered by the scheme. In a letter to Mr.
Freeth the Under-Secretary stated that the British
Government "could not possibly accept an obligation to allow all those who want to come here to
do so because, for one reason or another, they
find conditions in their own country unpalatable."
Mr. Freeth strongly objected against the attitude
taken by the British authorities and asked whether
it was not time to enlarge the Distressed Relatives
Scheme. This would also he in keeping with the
country's long tradition in affording as>luni to the
distressed, whether is was to Voltaire or Karl Marx
or to the many refugees from the French revolution or to the refugees prior to the outbreak of
the last war.
In his reply on behalf of the Home Office, the
Joint Under-Secretary of State, Mr. W. F. Deedes.
pointed out that immigration to this country had
to be restricted. " T o make such restrictions fair,
there have to be certain rules on which, broadly,
we base decisions. Such rules ought not to be so
rigid as to cause unnecessary hardship; neither
ought they to be so flexible, to the point of
whimsicality, as to create, as they could, injustice in
that way."Under the Distressed Relatives Scheme
6,500 persons have been admitted, he said, and
outside the scheme another 2.500. Furthermore, to
the pre-war total of 60.000 victims of Nazi oppression there have been added 200,000 refugees since
1945 (including 100,000 Poles and 80,000 arrivals
under the European Voluntary Workers Scheme).
" If we abandoned the limits of our present policy,
there would be, not hundreds, but thousands of
potential immigrants to the United Kingdom from
Iron Curtain countries."
In a written reply the Foreign Secretary stated
that Her Majesty's Government have decided to
authorise the admission of 2,500 Hungarian
refugees to this country, and have discussed with
the British Council for Aid to Refugees (which
represents the principal voluntary organisations
concerned with refugees entering the United
Kingdom) arrangements for organising the reception and care of the refugees in this country and
placing them in suitable employment wherever
this is possible. Furthermore, Her Majesty's
Government have agreed to provide a grant of
£10,000 to meet administrative expenses incurred
by the Council.
It is also leamed that the American Joint Distribution Committee has made a donation of
20,000 Swiss francs to the International Red Cro.ss
to aid Hungarian refugees " of all faiths and
wherever they may find themselves in need."
In its future research into Ihe history of the
Third Rcieh the Institute will deal specially with
the following problems ; the policy against the
Jews, the German inner policy, the relation
between the army and the State, the " Besatzungs—
iind Volkstumspolitik," German resistance against
Nazism, the development of the organisation and
ideology of the S.S.
COIMPENSATION FOR NON-GERMIAN
NAZI VICTIMS
Berlin Research institute
WAFFEN S.S.
In answer to a written question by Mr. Janner,
Lord John Hope stated that the reinstatement of
former officers in their old ranks did not apply to
the former S.S. as a whole, but only to that part
of it which was known as the Waffen S.S. Former
generals and colonels of the Waffen S.S. are not to
be admitted and officers of lower ranks only after
a full examination of their past records and present
attitude.
GERMANS INVESTIGATE PAST
History of " Third Reich "
In West Berlin the Senator of the Interior, Herr
Lipschitz, has founded a " Forschungsgruppe
Widerstand " whose head will be Dr. Zipfel. The
new institute will collect material about the persecution and extermination of Berlin Jews and
other groups and about the resistance which
religious and political bodies put up against
Nazism. The documents are to be published and
are especially meant to give young people an idea
of what happened under the Hitler regime.
On October 29, Major Beamish asked the Foreign
Secretary about the treatment of non-Germans who
suffered Nazi persecution and about the progress
made towards getting an amendment of the
existing German legislation in their favour. Lord
John Hope answered that Her Majesty's Government had not yet received the reply of the Federal
Government to the proposal that a Working Group
be set up to see how satisfactory legislative
provisions might be made for the non-German Nazi
victims,
S.D.P. LEADER TO VISIT ISRAEL
ENEMY PROPERTY
On the occasion of a lour through Asia the
Chairman of the German Social Democratic Party,
Erich Ollenhauer intends to pay a one week's visit
to Israel as the guest of Israel's Labour Party,
Mapai. and the Israeli Government. He will be
accompanied by the head of the Party's Foreign
Affairs Section, Heinz Putzrath, who, prior to
1933, was an active member of the German Jewish
youth movement and who lived in London as a
refugee during the war.
Two cases in which assets in this country of
victims of Nazi persecution had been held by the
Custodian of Enemy Property were raised in
written questions by Sir L. Plummer. In the first
case, the President of the Board of Trade stated
that the assets did not qualify for release because
the owners had remained resident in Germany. In
the second case the release has been arranged for
following the owners' emigration from Germany.
FOR TRANSFER OF DEUTSCHE MARKS
TO THIS COUNTRY CONSULT
Feuchtwanger (London) Ltd.
Bankers
91, MOORGATE, LONDON, E.C.2
Telephone: METropolitan 8151
Representing:
I. L. n-UCHTWANOER BANK LTD.
I
FEUCHTWANGER
TEL-AVIV : JERUSALEM : HAIFA
I
52 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 4 , N.Y.
CORPORATION
The Committee set up for the allocation of loans
out of the recently established so-called " Revolving
Fund " (see October issue of " ,^JR Information ")
has now been in operation for some time. Of the
applications so far submitted about 25 per cent
have been granted, whereas in most of the
remaining cases the applications are still under
consideration. The individual amounts granted
varied between £100 and £300
As readers will have seen from the previous
announcement, it is the object of the " Revolving
Fund " to give limited loans free of interest to
persons whose claims for restitution are in a fairly
advanced stage so that payments may be expected
in the not too distant future, and who cannot
claim advance payments from the German
authorities. Loans may particularly be granted in
such cases where the claimant requires them for
medical treatment, acquiring accommodation,
education, etc. The repayment has to be secured
by the claim and becomes due as soon as the
claim has been settled. Readers who think that
they qualify for such loans should write for
further particulars to the Association of Jewish
Refugees in Great Britain, 8 Fairfax Mansions,
London, N.W.3. The letters should be marked
'• Revolving Fund."
W. M. BEHR.
C'lairman. " Revolving Fund " Committee.
TRANSFER OF GERMAN ACCOUNTS
It is learned that there is now a possibility of
transferring certain D-Mark assets accumulated on
liberalised capital accounts at advantageous rates.
Readers who wish to obtain advice on the matter
should consult their bankers
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
The Senator of the Interior in West Berlin, Herr
Lipschitz. arranged a special performance of
this play for the young officials of the Senate of
Berlin. In his speech of welcome he appealed to
his guests always to obey the voice'of humanity.
The Berliners continue to flock to the theatre.
More than 12,000 pupils of Berlin grammar
schools have so far applied for tickets foi the
" Diary of Anne Frank " in the Theater der
Schulen.
GERMAN MEETING OF CHRISTIAN AND
JEWISH STUDENTS
At the Evangelische Akademie at Iserlohn in
Western Germany, 70 Christian and 35 Jewish
students of Grammar Schools and Universities met
to discuss the question : " Our contribution towards
overcoming prejudices." For lack of space 100
applications had to be turned down. In his opening
speech. Dr. Hans Lamm said, he hoped that all
participants would leave the meeting as better
Christians or better Jews. The discussions and the
communal life were so harmonious that this hope
appears to have been fulfilled
FIGHT AGAINST NEO-NAZISM
The Gruenwalder Kreis. an organisation of many
well-known and distinguished West-German publicists and journalists, held its third meeting in
Cologne. The main task of the Kieis is the fight
against Nazi tendencies in press, radio, literature,
and education. The President of the Bundestag. Dr.
Gerstenmaier, was present, to answer questions put
by members of the Kreis. He criticised the " unrealistic " attitude of some judges in the Federal
Republic and expressed the hope that the planned
reform of the penal code would be carried through
swiftly So that anti-democratic activities could be
dealt with more speedily.
MONUMENT FOR NAZI VICTIMS IN PARIS
On October 30. near the Hotel de Ville, a monument was unveiled for the six million Jewish
victims of Nazism. The President of the French
Republic, M. Coty, was prevented from attending,
as he had to preside over an emergency meeting of
the French Cabinet. In his place the President of
the National Assembly, M. Le Troquer, took part.
Queen Elisabeth, the Queen Mother of the
Belgians, placed a wreath at the monument. Sir
Winston Churchill, among other famous statesmen,
is one of the patrons.
AJR I N F O R M A T I O N December, 1956
Page 3
FROM THE GERMAN SCENE
WAR
CRIMINAI^
ELECTION DEFEAT FOR EXTREME RIGHT
The Public Prosecutor has protested against the
conditional release of Klagges, the former Nazi
Prime Minister of Braunschweig. The release
of Klagges who in 1952 had been sentenced to
fifteen years' penal servitude, was decided upon by
the Landgericht Braunschweig. This verdict had
been annulled by the Oberlandesgericht Braunschweig.
The " Henker of Buchenwald," Martin Sommer, who murdered 67 inmates of that camp,
receives a monthly pension of DM300. Now he
has applied for DM10,000 as a pension under the
Equalisation of Burdens Law. He stands a good
chance of setting it.
The former Generalfeldmarschall Milch, who
was responsible for the deportation of foreign
workers and for medical experiments on inmates
of concentration camps, receives a monthly pension
of DM1,300. Grossadmiral Doenitz, who was
recently released from Spandau prison, receives
the same pension.
CHIEF OF S.S. MEDICAL CORPS FINED
The former chief of the S.S. Medical Corps, Dr.
Karl Genzken was fined by the De-Nazification
Court of Appeals in Berlin. Genzken had been
found guilty by a Nuremberg Court of barbarous
experiments on concentration camp inmates.
Though sentenced to life imprisonment in 1947
he was freed in 1954.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EDITOR
" D A S SCHWARZE KORPS"
OF
The Berlin De-Nazification Court of Appeals
proceeded against the former editor-in-chief of the
S.S. weekly Dtis Schwarze
Korps,
Gunther
d' Alquen. The defendant lives in Western Germany and did not appear. His lawyer claimed that
real property in Berlin did not belong to him but
to his wife and could therefore not be seized. The
case was referred back to the Lower Court.
HENRIETTE VON
SCHIRACH
Baldur von Schirach's divorced wife, a daughter
of Hitler's photographer Heinrich Hofmann, has
published a book " Der Preis der Herrlichkeit."
Ackermans
Chocolates
OF
43, Kensington Church Street,
have pleasure to„announce the
/
opening of their
Hampstead Branch
/
AT
9, GOLDMURST TERRACE,
PINCIILEY ROAD, N.W.6.
In many Laender of the Federal Republic communal elections were held in October and November. The extreme right-wing parties—Deutsche
Reichspartei and Otto Strasser's Deutsch-Soziale
Union—received an insignificant number of votes
only. The S.P.D. and C.D.U., in this order,
increased their votes at the cost of the F.D.P.
VERSAILLES TREATY
BLAMED
The Union of expelled Germans (Bund der
vertriebenen Deutschen) held a protest meeting in
Bonn. The Chairman, Linius Kather, said the
expelled Germans had renounced force but not
the restoration of their rights. It was irresponsible
of German authorities to make proposals for a
compromise. He declared that re-unification of
Germany meant in its second phase the return of
the territories where these Germans came from.
Kather said : " Without England and France,
without Versailles, there would never have been a
Hitler."
ANTISEMITISM OUTLAWED
Recently we reported about the case of a junior
schoolmaster in Berlin-Zehlendorf, who was dismissed on account of antisemitic utterances made
in public. The schoolmaster appealed. Now the
Landesarbeitgericht in West Berlin has rejected
the appeal.
In the West Berlin Tiergarten district the trial
took place of a man who had shouted at a Jew,
aged seventy-three: " T h e Nazis have forgotten to
burn you, Itzig." At the first trial the Jew was
prepared to withdraw his complaint if the
defendant paid DM50 to the Jewish community.
As the money was not paid, the man was re-tried.
He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment,
put on three years' probation, and was fined
DM 100, payable to the Red Cross.
"SCHMOCK" ON GERMAN STAGE
In Frankfort/Main, Gustav Freytag's play " D i e
Journalisten" was revived.
It includes the
character of the second-rate and opportunist Jewish
journalist, " Schmock." German p.apers complained
that the Jewishness of " Schmock ""was accentuated
by the actor in a particularly unpleasant and
unnecessary way. This has now been toned down.
Frankfurter
Rundschau
pointed out that Freytag's anti-semitic mockery, even if it was acceptable
trom 1854 to 1933, was no longer tolerable today.
A COURAGEOUS
FRIEND
OF THE ,IEWS
In the West Berlin newspaper Telegraf, a former
Berlin Jew who now lives in Israel tells the following story :
When he was an inmate of the Auschwitz concentration camp and had to work in the BunaWerke, a mechanic from Berlin, Max Peschel, who
worked there too as an " Aryan " employee, helped
him under great risk. " He gave me food, clothing,
and other necessities of life. He forwarded
letters." The Berlin Jew visited his benefactor a
short time ago in Berlin and found him in very
straitened circumstances, living on the dole. He
expresses the opinion that such a courageous and
truly humanitarian man deserves a better lot.
JEWISH EDITOR
HONOURED
The Prime Minister of Bavaria presented one of
the editors of the Seuddeiilsche Zeitun.-^. Edmund
Goldschlagg, with the Great Cross of the Federal
Order of Merit. He is the first Bavarian journalist
to receive this decoration for his efforts in helping
to rebuild a democratic press.
JEWISH JOURNALIST IN EAST BERLIN
RE-INSTATED
Erich Jungmann who four years ago was dismissed from the editorship of the daily " Volkswacht " in Thuringia because of alleged pro-Zionist
leanings, has been appointed deputy-editor of the
Berliner Zeitun^ in East Berlin. .
ANGLO-JUDAICA
Jewish Labour M.P.s and Anglo-French
Action
The vote of the 17 Jewish Labour M.P.s against
the Government action resulted in a passionate
discussion within the Anglo-Jewish community. A
number of correspondents to the Jewish press
expressed the view that the attitude of the Jewish
M.P.s had been detrimental to Israel.
Their
criticism was specially directed against some
prominent Zionists, e.g., Mr. B. Janner, Mr. S. S.
Silverman, and Mr. Ian Mikardo. In challenging
this criticism Mr. Mikardo stated: " I represent
the citizens of Reading, that is the simple loyalty."
Mr. Maurice Edelman considered the position more
in detail. Apart from the " unquestionable and
undivided loyalty to Britain," he said, " we have
the responsibility of every other citizen in a democracy—to judge the behaviour of the Government
both at home and abroad."
At its meeting on November 18, the Board of
Deputies gave an overwhelming vote of confidence
to its President, Mr. Barnett Janner, M.P., but at
the same time made it clear that this vote must not
in any way be taken as an expression that the
Board is either in favour or against the action of
the British Government in the Middle East. One
of the arguments brought forward by those who
supported the vote of confidence was that the vote
of censure against the Government was connected
entirely with British action : it had no connections
with Israel's operations.
Israel's " eruption against Egypt under the
gravest provocation" was appreciated by Sir
Winston Churchill who branded Egypt as the
" principal instigator " of murder and armed raids.
Lord Samuel, too, deprecated attempts to represent
the Israelis as " aggressors." Such attempts were
made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hugh
Gaitskell, who spoke of the Israeli invasion as an
act of " burglary," though later, after Mr. BeiiGurion's announcement to withdraw from Egypt,
he demanded " far better guarantees of security for
Israel in the future than there had been in the
past."
Prayers for Israel and peace were said by order
of the Chief Rabbi and the Principal Rabbi of
the Federation of Synagogues.
Israel and Diaspora
Pertinent observations on Jewish interest in Israel
as compared with the diaspora were made by the
Chief Rabbi at the 32nd annual conference of the
British Jewish National Fund where it was stated
that the organisation had transferred to Israel
during the past year £720,000 (out of a total
revenue of £768,441). " I find (Dr. Brodie said)
that those who support Israel . . . are also among
the first, if not the largest, benefactors in support
of all good causes in the Anglo-Jcwish community. . . . I wonder sometimes whether people
who criticise Anglo-Jewrv for expressing its great
solidarity with the land of Israel, appreciate the
real meaning and significance of the Jewish State
for the maintenance and continuity of Judaism in
this country and in the dia.spora at large."
These remarks were made by way of reply to
some statements by Sir Louis Gluckslein, Q.C..
President of the Liberal Synagogue, who, during
a visit to New York, had described the Board of
Deputies as " a pressure group on behalf of the
Government of Israel." In a talk on " British
Jewry." Sir Louis said that only a " relatively
small " number belonged lo synagogues in Britain.
The majority "adhered to Judaism more in theory
than in practice," while " t h e real driving and compelling impulse within the Jewish community " was
Zionism.
MEMORIAL MEETING FOR
DR. LEO BAECK
As readers see from the announcement in
this issue a Memorial Meeting for the late
Dr. Leo Baeck will be held on Sunday,
December 16th, at 11.15 a.m. at Wigmore
Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, W.l. We expect
that all our friends will wish to pay homage
to the revered leader of German Jewry and
will attend the Meeting.
Page 4
AJR INFORMATION December. 1956
S. FISCHER VERLAG 1886-1956
Lutz Welttnann
TWO POETS AND THEIR STARS
Stefan Zweig and Carl Zuckmayer
Stefan Zweig would have been seventy-five on
November 28; Carl Zuckmayer will be sixty on
December 27. The fifteen years' interval marks
two generations: " World of Yesterday "• is the
title of Stefan Zweig's autobiography, " Second
Wind " that of Carl Zuckmaycr's. And thinking
of the month that separates their birthdays, we
feel inclined to believe in the influence of the stars.
The elder poet, son of wealthy Jewish parents
and representative of a world of security and
sheltered studies, met with early recognition and
success. He was discovered by Theodor Herzi,
amongst others, the then literary editor of Neue
Freie Presse in Vienna who was already planning
to devote all his energies to the cause of Zionism :
he enjoyed the friendship of such diverse personahties as Rilkc and Rathenau, and he grew u^
in an atmosphere of aestheticism and of the begin
nings of psychoanalysis. His early poems bear
witness to the former influence, his stories lo the
latter.
Yet first it looked as if he was to embark on the
career of a playwright. Matkowski was interested
in his first play " Thersites "—strange choice for
an author who was the last man to admire abuse
and vituperation ; however, his early sympathy with
the underdog was the explanation. The famous
actor was already rehearsing Achilles in that plav
at the KOnigliche Schauspielhaus, in Berlin, when
he was taken ill, and died soon afterwards. In
Vienna it was Josef Kainz's wish to play the titlepart, but Baron von Berger who had accepted it
resigned the directorship of the Burgtheater and
was succeeded by Paul Schlenther, exponent and
partisan of the naturalistic school of drama. Il
was on Kainz's suggestion that Zweig wrote the
play " Der verwandelte Komodiant." but the actor's
premature and sudden death prevented him from
performing it. The same happened to Alexander
Moissi who wanted to play Napoleon in Zweig's
drama " The Poor Man's Lamb."
words apply to him : " Fremde ist der Tod." Far
from Europe, whose destiny he considered doomed,
he committed suicide in Brazil shortly after his
sixtieth birthday.
When I met him in London for the last time
we talked about Balziic on whom he was writing hi.-;
great monograph. We shared the opinion that
Balzac and Shakespeare had certain features in
common, and Zweig attributed these to an element
of colportage indispensable to vital works of art.
He himself was not made of such hard stuff. Even
his comedy after Ben Jonson's " Silent Woman,"
the libretto for Richard Strauss's of)era, has a
delicate texture. Strauss, by the way, got it performed in the Third Reich once, showing a courage
he never repeated.
For Stefan Zweig was not only a Jew but also
a persona ingrata on account of an incident, which
was a satyr-play before the tragedy: he was instrumental in making Berliners laugh, when his film
" Brennendes Geheimnis " was shown on the day
after the Reichstagsbrand.
The biographies he wrote in exile are personal
confessions: he sided with Erasmus against Luther:
in " Mary, Queen of Scots," he showed her disappointed hopes of help from the outer world: in
" Magellan," the plight of a man in the service of
a foreign power, and in "Castellio against Calvin "
the fight of a free conscience against frightening
odds. The author of " Jeremias" returned to
themes of Jewish destiny with the legend " The
Buried Menorah."
In an addition to his " Sternstunden der
Menschheit " he portrayed Handel composing his
" Messiah " and recovering from his grave iuness
through finishing this task. Destiny refused a
similar resurrection to Stefan Zweig. who know so
much and wrote so knowingly about the " Heilung
diirch den Geist,"
Zweig's Shattered Hopes
How diflerent is the life of Carl Zuckmayer.
There is Jewish blood in him, too, but reinforced
by German peasants' stock. He, too, was an
emigrant, but his exile made him stronger. Stefan
Zweig never received official honours, Zuckmayer
was awarded the Kleist Prize and the Goethe Prize
of the City of Frankfort. A well-compiled publication on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday,
with the apt title " Fillle der Zeit" (S. Fischer
Verlag, Berlin and Frankfurt), is introduced hy the
President of the German Republic. Theodor Heuss.
Zweig, a lofty minded European, never overcame
the loss of his native country, particularly his
Salzburg residence. Zuckmayer. more deepW
rooted in German soil, settled on a farm in America,
not as a gentleman farmer, but as a pioneer on
almost virgin land. Zweig despaired of the future
of Europe, Zuckmayer never lost his belief in
another Germany. He suffered as much as the
others who had gone info exile and waited for their
hour to set their country free from the shame that
had befallen it. Some of his friends perished in
abortive attempts.
Zuckmayer's literary beginnings were promising
and their poetic substance unmistakable. Reinhardt and Jessner directed his first experimental
plays, but it took a long time until he wa-:
recognised by a larger public. His "Kreuzweg"
was lyrical in approach and it is typical of voung
Zuckmayer's works that soon we have almost forgotten what it was about, but still remember its
beauty.
It is not by chance that a peasants' revolt was
the background of the theme. Zuckmayer has a
heart for the humiliated and for the outcast—for
the idealise'd robber Schinderhannes and the
Captain of Kopenick, for Schelm von Bergen, the
hero of Heine's ballad, and Barbara Blombere,
the girl in the gutter whom EmperorCharlesVmade
We can trace Zweig's propensities as a dramatist
in his biographies on which his fame was to rest.
These biographies owe their origin to his soourns
in European capitals, to his experience of the comradeship of spirits such as Emile Verhaeren, and,
above all, Romain Rolland, whose prophet he
became. He saw a spiritually united Europe rise
before the first world war, and he built up his
shattered hopes during that happv decade between
the end of inflation and Hitler's rise to power. He
cherished no facile optimism. His best known play,
" Jeremias," was not so much the drama of
pacifism (although it was this as well) as it was
the tragedy of the frustrated prophet, and it is not
by chance that an early story of his, " Angst," has
anxiety for its theme. But he wrote his series,
" Baumeister der Welt," out of his belief in the
conquering power of the mind.
Like Croesus, he was a happy man, though with
some anticipation that good luck could not last for
ever, and like Polycrates he wanted to sacrifice to
the envy of the Gods : he wrote his " Fouch^ " with
the intention that this book with its unsympathetic
hero should break the uninterrupted chain of
success. But it was in vain.
He had, however, conjured up the world of
politics he tried to keep aloof from. Erasmus von
Rotterdam was the hero of his heart, but politics
were to be his destiny. He made use of his fame
as a writer and of Mussolini's admiration to effect
the release of a prisoner involved in a revenge for
the murder of Malteotti, and he was also successful in getting Sigmund Freud out of Austria. But
he himself was spared no bitterness of life in
emigration, and though, as one of the most frequently translated authors, he suffered no material
hardship, his was a very sensitive soul. Tasso's
Zuckmayrr's Strength
OLD MASTERS
the
Daily 10-5 p
Sats. 10-rp"m.
ALFRED BROD GALLERY
36 Sackville Sti•eet, London,
W.I.
Soon the S. Fischer Verlag, now in Frankfurt,
is going to publish a " Vollstaendigcs Verzeichnis
1886-1956." There we will find the names of more
than one hundred authors who found a generous
publisher and patron in Samuel Fischer. If we
enumerate some of the authors with special
emphasis on those who arc Jews, the almosi
unbelievable range of this publisher's activities will
be evident : Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann,
Schnitzler, Altenberg, Wassermann, Hofmannsthal,
Beer-Hofmann, Salten, Eloesser, Hesse, Kerr, Asch,
Bab, Rathenau, Charlotte Berend, Holilschei,
Keilson, Doeblin, M. Herman-Neisse, Woifenstein,
Emil Ludwig, Goll, Bonn, Bruckner. Maurois,
Trotski, Lichnowsky, Broch, Gumpert, Zuckmayer, Borchardt, Stefan Zweig. Cassirer. Kestcn,
Schwarzschild, Alfred Einstein, Lion Feuchtwanger,
Bruno Walter, Kafka, Koestler, Kahler, Brod.
In 1934, Thomas Mann confessed that il was Sam
Fischer who was his inspiration in creating the
hero of his trilogy " Joseph and his Brethren."
the mother of Don Juan d'Austria, for artist outsiders of society, such as Rembrandt (in Charles
Laughton's film), the Swedish poet Relim in and the
circus folk Father Knie and his daughter Katharina,
for the Devil's General and the traitors in " Gesang
im Feuerofen" and "Das k.ilte Licht." "The
Devil's General " provoked some controversy on
ideological grounds, for the play was considered to
be not only an exculpation of German army leaders
serving the Nazis, but an idolising of German
militarism as such. Similarly some people criticised
"The Cold Light" because the poet disregarded
the political issue of Dr. Fuchs' treason altogether.
However, it is not that Ziickmayer dodges such
ijue.stions. He never intended to write a drama of
ideas but always aimed at conveying life as a
whole and giving an image of nature, not, as the
naturalistic school did, by imitating its outside but
by revealing it as something neither good nor bad.
He is a born story-teller, a feature we easily overlook on account of his formidable stage-craft, the
breakthrough of which was the comedy " Der
friihliche Weinberg." His sense of what is
effective on the stage is so admirable, because the
effects never appear to be calculated or forced. It is
the fullness of life we encounter and Zuckniayer'=
belief in the fundamental good of Nature, with
out a denial of the existence of evil in the world.
The same applies to his poems and stories—such
a tonic, and their author such a likeable man, still
a big boy at sixty.
An Accepted Rctiirncj
Success has finally overtaken him. It consists
not only in his fame as a great playwright. He was
the only emigrant who after his return—and in the
wake of the American authorities!—was accepted
without any resentment.
The award of the Prize to the author of " Der
frohliche Weinberg "came as a surpri.se to many
A still greater surprise was his speech " So long
to go." which was by no means the speech of a
" high-brow," but even less that of a " lowbrow." Telling us the story of his inner life from
his young days near the Rhine to his settling down
in the forests of America in his forties, he never
quoted the genius in whose name he was honoured,
but said many things Cioethe could have said from
his own experience. Nature was his best teacher,
and in his meditations he took the word
" Gedankengang" (way of thought) literally, the
best ideas occurring to him on his walks. Having
observed cruelty in Nature and hideousness in
human relations, he arrived at a religion embracing
both faith in humanity and knowledge of modern
science. He sees the menace of our time in the
individual losing himself in the crowd and the
exaggeration of our Ego in self-delusion.
Replacing the word fear (" Fureht") by its
cognate awe (" Ehrfurcht"), Zuckmayer offers a
message of hope in an age of despair, and he is
listened to because he dispels the mistrust most
people have for " intellectuals." Zuckmayer is a
harmonious personality, such as is rarely found
among German writers. His essay " Die langen
Wege" is neither an oration nor a song, nor a
benediction, nor a hymn nor a rhapsody, but rather
something of all of these.
" Zuck," as his friends call him. writes a_ spicy
German prose, rooted in the soil and rising to lofty
thought—like a tree, one of his early favourite
images.
A J R INFORMATION December, 1956
Page 5
EX-GERMAN JEWS IN THE NEWS
DEATH OF SIR FRANCIS SIMON
The death at 63 of Sir Francis Simon, C.B.E.,
F.R.S., Professor of Experimental Philosophy,
Oxford, was described in The Times as an
" immeasurable loss to science at Oxford."
As a member of the Atomic Energy Project from
1940 to 1946, Simon played a prominent part in
the pioduciion of the atom bomb, and he was confidently expected to give " fruitful leadership " in
the development of thermodynamics. It was only
a short while since he had succeeded Lord Cherwell
who recommended him as " the world's foremost
worker in the field of low-temperature physics."
Simon, a Berliner, had alrcadv established a reputation in thai field when in 1933 he left Breslau
University, where he had been since 1931 Director
of the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry.
When he came to England, he worked on the
research staff of the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford.
In 1945 he was appointed Professor of Thermodynamics there after holding the position of Reader
in that subject for ten years. He was particularly
interested in the role of science in society and wrote
vigorously on general scientific policy and the
correct use of science and its social implications.
He was knighted in 1954—the first Jewish refugee
to be so honoured. He always identified himself
with our community and was an interested
member of the AJR.
ARMIN T. WEGNER-70
Among the confusion, the bewilderment, the
anxiety of these last weeks, there were many, I
am sure, who not only worried about their own
lives and those of their family and friends, but
who again and again asked themselves: what is
man? How can any human being, after two world
wars, even contemplate the possibility of a third
one. Many, perhaps, turned away in disgust from
the species to which they belong. And then in all
this despair, in all this darkness, we recall members
of this same species who, by the inspiration of
their lives, save us from utter desperation.
Armin T. Wegner is one of them. He has seen
man at his basest, at his cruellest, and yet he has
not given up hope, he has not hesitated to risk
his own life for what he considered true humanity
should be.
In the first world war he served with the German
army in Turkey and there he experienced at close
quarters the all but complete annihilation of the
Armenians by the Turks. He says of this
experience:
" Auf dem Zuge nach Bagdad eriitt ich in der
Wueste den Untergang des armenischen Volkes.
Heimgekehrt fand ich sterbend die Mutter. Seit
diescr Nachl ging die Sonne nicht wieder auf."
In 1933 he—a non-Jew—protested again.st the
persecution of the Jews—he was then married to
the well-known Jewish writer, Lola Landau—but
defiantly remained in Germany. He was arrested,
spent a night of horror at Kolumbiahaus, was in
the concentration camps Oranienburg, Boergermoor, and Lichtenberg, and in seven prisons. His
friends thought he had been killed. But he had
survived the tortures and, after his release, gone
to Italy. He now lives in Positano.
He started his literary career as a poet. Born
in Elberfeld, he was fascinated by the great cities
and what they were doing to man. The titles of
two of his books of poetry arc significant:
" Zwischen zwei Staedten" and " Antlitz der
Staedte." Stories and novels followed, among them
" Die Strasse mit den tausend Zielen," " Das
Gestaendnis." Together with Lola Landau he
wrote a puppet-play: "Wasif und Akif." We are
looking forward to the publication of his
" Aufzeichnungen ueber Deutschland."
Not long ago when he was in Germany he
brought with him a radio feature about a poet
seeing his country again. Most movingly he
describes how he met the " ten just men," whom
he had not hoped to see in Sodom, who, each
in his own way, had helped Jews during the
persecution.
Whenever I think of Armin T. Wegner.
Shakespeare's words come to iny mind :
" I thank you for your voices : thank you.
Your most sweet voices."
A. ROSENBERG.
MAYOR IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA
In the Central African Federation, which has just
chosen a Jewish Prime Minister, Sir Roy Welensky,
who in turn appointed as his Parliamentary
Secretary, a fellow-Jew, Mr. B. D. Goldberg,
described by the Times Correspondent as " that
capable and enterprising enthusiast for immigration," a refugee from Germany was elected Mayor
of one of Southern Rhodesia's booming towns,
Gatooma. Mr. Robert Sternberg. 52, who has a
distinguished record on the Gatooma Town
Council, avowed his " pride in the confidence which
my fellow-citizens have shown in me—a former
refugee. I certainly did not have such ambitions
when I arrived here 17 years ago."
From the first Mr. Sternberg took an active
interest in local Jewish life. He was mainly
responsible for the building of a synagogue and
communal hall, and he is still conducting all the
services. At present the congregation has only
three children of school-going age; a recent
Barmitzvah was the eighth since 1948, and there
will not be one for the next two years.
SWEDISH ZIONIST LEADER
Interesting facts about the Jews in Sweden were
recently reported by a correspondent of the London
Jewish Observer after an interview with the President of the Swedish Zionist Federation, 41-yearold Fritz Hollander, a skin merchant who came
from Altona in 1933. Mr. Hollander finds that
" Swedish Jews are very welcome in Swedish
society. The problem here is (he said) not how
to be accepted by general society, but how to avoid
one's identity being swamped by it " He recalled
that immigrants from Germany were the founders
of the Swedish Jewish community (some 120 years
ago), although those " Jewish Vikings " had since
for the most part been effectively assimilated. Mr.
Hollander himself, a Vice-Chairman of the Swedish
.\ssociation of Hide and Skin Sellers, is a member
of the Swedish Jewish Board of Deputies and of
the Swedish-Israeli Chamber of Commerce,
It will be remembered that the Chief Rabbi of
Stockholm, Dr. Kurt Wilhelm, a Magdeburger, is
also an immigrant from Germany.
STUDENT OF FINGER-PRINTS
Finger-prints, especially the differences between
those of Jews and those of non-Jews, are the
interesting study of Dr. Leo Sachs, a Leipziger.
head of the genetics section of the Weizjnann
Institute at Rehovot, who recently visited Britain
after an extensive tour of various countries including the U.S.A., Japan, and India. When he left
Germany in 1933, he first came here and took his
Ph.D. degree at Cambridge. He went to Israel in
1952.
His specific subject is to determine the extent
of genetic similarity between the diverse Jewish
tribes now in Israel.
He found striking
resemblances in the frequencies of the finger-print
patterns which in turn were different from nonJewish populations in Eastern and Western Europe
and North America. While in England, Dr. Sachs
lectured at the Atomic Energy Research Station al
Harwell on the genetics of tumour transplantation.
MASTER OF YIDDISH
It would be an exaggeration to say that many
German Jews applied themselves to the study of
Yiddish. Few did, but one of them has made a
remarkable job of it. Mrs. Use Zimt-Sand Hermann, a native of Hohensalza, Posen, knew
exceedingly little of either Yiddish or Hebrew
until she was practically a grandmother (living in
the U.S.A.). But then she got going, and within a
matter of months she not only mastered Yiddish
but actually, thanks to an unusual gift of
languages, produced a learned treatise on the
Medieval " Mayse Bukh " which earned her last
summer the M.A. degree at Columbia University.
She not only, and probably for the first time,
tackled the linguistic problems from the grammatical and phonetical point of view, but devised
a new system of how to transcribe the Middle
Yiddish into modem Yiddish.
Old Acquaintances
Two Days in Berlin: Your columnist accompanied Fritz Lang of " Mabuse," " Nibelungen,"
and " M " fame to Berlin when Lang visited Europe
for the first time after twenty-three years. With his
permanent monocle he was received by the press
like a lost son ; even the younger generation
remembered the director because his pictures are
still classics. They want him back to put German
films on the world map again. Arthur Brauner,
who is the uncrowned king of Berlin's industi^,
came to the airport to welcome Lang ; the producer
built his new studios in Spandau on the same place
where Fritz Lang once shot his last German
picture. Berlin has changed very much in the last
few years. You can take a taxi and drive to
Stalinallee in the Eastern sector without endangering yourself. West and East agreed to put the
" Quadriga " back on the Brandenburger Tor ; the
spirit of co-existence is over the city. The Berliners
call the little Messerschmidt cars with tiansparent
hoods " Mensch in Aspik." In the " HansaViertel " a new town is growing up ; every famous
architect is building there. However, life in Berlin
is getting very provincial now, after the tension
between the two parts has decreased. You no
longer have the feeling you are in a frontier outpost. On the other hand the people have the old
sense of humour, keeping up appearances and
putting up a good show. To put it into a nutshell :
Berlin is still Berlin.
Home .Yews; Wanda Rotha will go into management together with O. Lewenstein and Wolf
Mankowitz for the production of " Too soon for
Daisies " by W. Dinner and W. Morum early next
year. Anton Walbrook will be in Qtto Preminger's
" St. Joan " picture with R. Widmark and R. Burton
in the cast. Maria Fein was invited to play in the
Broadway production of "The First Gentleman"
with Walter Slezak, directed by Tyrone Guthrie.
Clarissa Stolz, a daughter of the Viennese composer, will be in the London production of " The
Diary of Anne Frank."
Milestones: Kaetlie Erlholtz. star and wife of
composer Rudolf Nelson, celebrated her SOth
birthday in Amsterdam. It is due to her that her
husband survived the Nazi occupation in Holland ;
her inimitable style as a diseuse is unforgotten.
Saloniki-born actor Raoul Asian of Vienna's
" Burg-Theater " was seventy years old last month ;
he is still acting strong and the darling of his
public. Ludwig Gottschalk, a veteran of German
films who, in 1906, showed the first full-length
picture, Asta Nielsen's " Abgruende " in Duesseldorf, celebrated his SOth birthday in Call
(Colombia) where he has lived since he left
Germany.
Germany: Leo Mittler, who directed "The Diary
of Anne Frank " in Duesseldorf, will direct"Liliom "
with Gerda Maurus next. Elisabeth Bergner scored
a success when playing O'Neill's " Eines langen^'
Tages Reise in die Nacht " in Duesseldorf ; Grete
Mosheim acted the same part in Berlin. For health
reasons Curt Goetz could not attend the first night
of his new comedy " Nichts Neues aus Hollywood "
in Hamburg : in spite of Gruendgens' production
it was not a success. Niddy Impekoven published
her memoirs " Geschichte eines Wunderkindes."
Mischa Spolianski will see his new musical based
on Zuckmayer's " Katharina Knie" produced in
Munich for Christmas. Michael Rittermann of
London attended the first night of " Third Person,"
which he adapted, in Ulm. Trude Kolmann-Goliat
presented the British play " Escap.ide " successfully
in Munich. Fritz Kortner is preparing " Faust "
with Paryla in Munich.
Obituaries: Architect Oskar Kaufmann. who
built several theatres in Berlin before 1933, died
in Budapest at the age of 83. Lucie Hoellich died
suddenly in Berlin ; she was 73. She started with
Max Ri;inhardt at the beginning of this century.
Hans Possendorf, the novelist of " Klettermaxe "
fame, died in Rome. Benno von Arent, Hitler's
•• Reichsbuehnenbildner," died at the age of 58 :
he was only released by the Russians a short time
ago. Paul Schneider-IJuncker, 73 years old, the
cabaretist and discoverer of Claire Waldoff and
of many others, died in Hamburg. The famous
photographer Helmar Lerski. died in Zurich, at
the age of 86. Franziska Gaal. the 53-year-old
Hungarian actress and film star, died in New York.
PEM
Page 6
C. C.
Aronsfeld
GERMAN JEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Immigrants during the 19th Century
AST October it was 70 years since the city of
Johannesburg was raised from the scramble
of a gold-rush market to the dignity of a
town. From its beginning the memorable settlement has been associated with Jewish enterprise ;
in fact an early visitor described it as " AngloSemitic." Many of the Jews were English, also
Dutch, but an equally large number, and perhaps
some of the most remarkable, hailed from
Germany, and it is perhaps fitting, on this
auspicious anniversary, to consider briefly the
record of German Jews not only in the building
of Johannesburg but in the story of the whole
of South Africa.*
These immigrants, who came throughout
the nineteenth century, are now for the most
part
submerged
either
in
the
general
environment to which they effectively assimilated, or in the Jewish community which
was determined by the refugees from Tsarist
persecution. They came long before the bulk of
South Africa's Europeans, who were lured by
reports of fabulous riches quickly acquired. There
were fortune-hunters among them of course, but
more often than not it was antisemitism that
drove them from their homes in Hesse and
Bavaria. Most of them, unlike the Lithuanians
later, were well to do. Having brought some
money they established themselves in business
almost at once, and usually it was not long before
the encouraging example was followed by relatives
and friends, though tne number never was large.
By 1900 those of German origin counted little
more than one-eighth in a Jewry of 25,000.
L
Old Settlers and New Immigrants
In common with " English Jews they founded
the first congregations, and for many years,
roughly up to the Boer War, they were the
aristocrats of society—" cultivated and agreeable,"
as James Bryce thought them in 1895. In common
with the " English," too, they exerted themselves
in relief for the brethren from Russia, but they
also enjoyed a measure of good will from the
" Russians" which was strangely denied to the
" English." In the first place, they were regarded
as the representatives of the widely respected
German Kultur. " All Yiddish-speaking persons
appeared to have a touching faith in Germany as
the home of culture and German as its language
(writes Max Geffen, a South African Jewish
historian). As a result, fantastic efforts were
made by many to Germanise their Yiddish. With
a reckless disregard for geography most Russian
immigrants would say that their Lithuanian home
town was situated on the gienize (border) or close
to the grentze. meaning, thereby, the frontier
between Russia and Germany, and implying that
their Yiddish was a variety of German."
On the other hand, they " saw no future for
Judaismi in South Africa if its leaders were to be
drawn from the English Yahudim. who were so
much estranged from Yiddishkeit " (writes Gustav
Saron, General Secretary of the South African
Board of Deputies).
The German Jews themselves would hardly have
claimed to be regarded as paragons of Yiddishkeil.
C. Gershater, editor of the Johannesburg " Zionist
Record," is probably right in saying th.at tho.se who
came to the Cape " bore no distinctly Jewish
character " : " There is no record of any attempt
having been mado by German Jews of the
nineteenth century to create in South .Africa congregations of their own, with German as the language
of the ceremonial, as was the case in North America
during the same period."
Now that President of the first congregation in
Johannesburg, the " Witwatersrand Old Hebrew,"
happened to be a native of Germany. Emanuel
Mendelssohn (1850-1910). a "masterful and
dominating personality," as Chief Rabbi Rabinowitz dubs him, who was at various times chairman
of most of Johannesburg's cultural and religious
• For most of Uic information in ih-s article the writer
is indebted to the reeenl volume The Jcwj In South AfHca:
A History {Edited bv Gustav Saron and Lous Hoiz. Ovlord
University Press. WJS. "122 pn.) which. Oiou»h strictly
speakinK not a " hLstory." presents, in 1') individual conirihiitions. a fascinalinn comptKile picture ot what is now, next
to the U..S.A. and Britain, probably the most imDortam Jewry
oui&ide I^ael.
institutions. In the community at large he is
remembered as the founder of one of Johannesburg's earliest newspapers, the " Standard and
Diggers' News," which later developed into the
" Rand Daily Mail."
Other German Jews stand out among the
founders, in 1849, of the first Cape Town synagogue, and such was their prominence in the
Orange Free State that a member of the very
first Jewish family to settle there. Councillor
Wolf Ehrlich, was (in 1912) the first President of
the South African Board of Deputies. Natives of
Germany wtre also the four Vice-PresidentsMorris Alexander (Cape) and Bernard Alexander
(Transvaal), both from Posen ; Max Langermann
(Natal), from Bavaria ; and Ivan H. Haarburger
(O.F.S.), from Hamburg. There were many more,
e.g.. Siegfried Raphaely, who had (according to
Saron) " a place second to none in the development
of the Board," and on a very different scale,
Samuel) Goldreich, son of a Prussian rabbi.
President and guiding spirit of the South African
Zionist Federation in its early years, who fought
gallantly to secure admission for the Russian
refugees.
A Fighter for the Suppressed
But the greatest of them all undoubtedly was
Morris Alexander, K.C., in his generation the
king of South African Jewry. His ever ready
vigilance over Jewish interests caused him to fight
a determined and successful struggle for the
statutory recognition of Yiddish as a European
language—an achievement on behalf ot his Russian
brethren which he regarded as the most important
not only in his Jewish but iu the whole of his
career in South African public life.
Having served on the Cape Tow^n City Council,
he entered Parliament in 1908 where he remained
for over 20 years, showing himself, as a political
writer put it, " capable of holding all eleven portfolios in a South African Cabinet himself." Today,
in the welter of South Africa's racial confusion, it
is fitting to remember that he used the conspicuous
occasion of Union in 1910 to proclaim the Jewish
concern for the underdog: "We should fail in
our duty as Jews and men (he said then) if we
forget that section of the community which cannot
with self-respect rejoice over Union wholeheartedly as we. I refer to the Coloured
people . . . Let us trust that this stain on the
honour of our young country will speedily be
wiped out."
While the career of Morris Alexander had not its
like, many German-born Jews attained high
office. Considerable is their number among the
mayors of various towns. Wolf Ehrlich, Mayor of
Bloemfontein, was a Nationalist member of the
Free State Senate, and Max Sonnenberg was a
member of the Union Parliament from 1919 until
1949. Max Langcrmann, one-time President of
the Transvaal Board of Deputies, served in the
Transvaal Parliament, and when Jonas Bergtheil in
1857 was elected to the first Legislative Council
of Natal he was one of the first Jews in the British
Empire to join the Government of a country.
The record of these two men is characteristic of
South Africa's rise from a largely rural to a
substantially industrial socictv.
Bergtheil (1819-1901) came'early, in 1834. and
after a move to Natal, nine vears later, he set about
the cultivation of cotton. It was a visionary enterprise, for no one had thought of it before, and as
he could obtain no African labour, Bergtheil
recruited some 40 families in his native Bavaria,
thus laying the foundations for European land
settlement in Natal. Though the original scheme
did not long flourish, the inhabitants of " New
Germany " were soon the most thriving settlers in
the colony. Bergtheil, says an historian "had made
one of the first attempts at large-scale production
of raw material and taken pioneer steps in
attempting to start an industry which many people
still regard as well suited to the country." Besides,
" through fhe publicity given to his activities
overseas, the colony attracted an increasing flow
of immigrants and capital, leading to the development of other resource's."
What Bergtheil endeavoured to do for the cotton
industry, was accomplished by other German
Jews for the wool trade. When Joseph and Adolf
AJR INFORMATION December, 1956
Mosenthal set up as general merchants in Cape
Town in 1840, they " soon realised that the basic
produce of the country, wool, skin, and hides, were
economically wasted because of lack of transport.
They formod branches throughout the Eastem
Province where the farmer could deliver and sell
his produce which had previously found a very
limited market. Where thev were not personally
represented, the Mosenthals worked through a
local storekeeper."
Like Bergtheil, the Mosenthals drew a considerable number of fellow-Jews from Germany,
" good-class immigrants who were able to give
services otherwise almost impossible to supply in
the comparatively undeveloped state of commerce
and finance. These men in turn contributed
towards the further extension of trade and industry
in their new homes. It was a widening circle
which was of untold benefit to South Africa."
Successful Pioneers
When suddenly the face of South Africa was
transformed by the discovery of gold and
diamonds, German Jews were again much to the
fore, though by no means distinguished in the
general rush of the 1870s. Here, during the very
earliest days of Johannesburg, Max Langermann
made his mark as a prospector for minerals before
he rose in Jewish affairs. Others who quickly
became well known were Edward Lippert who
founded Johannesburg's suburb Saxonwold ; the
brothers Rosettenstein, after whom another
Johannesburg suburb, Rosettenville. is named ;
Isaac (" Ikey") Sonnenberg, one of the first to
prospect for gold on the Rand, and Sigmund
Hammerschlag, the first to produce gold in any
appreciable quantity on the Witwatersrand.
Again pioneering work had been performed long
before the great rush. As early as the 1850s,
German Jews were foremost among the diamond
buyers in the South African Fields, notably the
Lilienfeld brothers and Moritz Unger known as
" the great diamond merchant." They (like those
after them) were far surpassed of course by one of
the most powerful figures in nineteenth-century
Africa, Alfred Beit, who came from Hamburg in
1875, a man of the calibre of Cecil Rhodes whose
financial adviser he was. His achievement which
is part of Britain's imperial history, was to build
up the diamond industry on the largest scale and
to translate some of Rhodes' dreams into practical
life.
As usual, and however primitive the circumstances in dark Africa, German Jews showed
themselves concerned for education and culture.
They were associated with the University of Cape
Town from its inception. Dr. Siegfried Frankel,
a physician, recorded as a settler as early as 1808,
and Maximilan Thalwitzer, a buyer of wool, were
foundation shareholders. " In the richer houses
(writes M. Geffen) where the womenfolk had
usually come from Germany, the firs* efforts were
made to beautify the home with a display of
prints. Dresden china, ohjels d'aii. and occasionally
period furniture." Some, too, promoted music.
Ivan Haarburger, Mayor of the town and President
of the local Hebrew Congregation, founded the
Bloemfontein Orchestral Society, and his relative,
Caroline, wife of Isaac Baumann, first director
of the O.F.S. National Bank, is mentioned as a
woman of exquisite culture by Anthony Trollope,
the novelist, in his "Travels in .Southern Africa."
Nor can there be many South African charities
which did not benefit from Gennan Jewish
munificence.
The tradition of the early settlers has been well
maintained by the new immigrants, the refugees
from Nazi persecution. Thev " made distinctive
contributions to commerce and industrv and the
arts (Mr. Saron writes), by the introduction of
special skills in which they excelled." Some too
have already distinguished themselves in public life.
Only a few weeks ago a name was prominently
mentioned as a champion of the Indians
in Transvaal against the enforcement of the Group
Areas Act. Dr. George Lowen, Q.C., appeared
for them because, he said, having escaped from
Nazi Germany in 1937, " I know what tyranny is.'"
He had to start his interrupted career from
scratch, took successive degrees at the unfvcrsitv
and is now one of the best-known of Queen's
Counsel.
These newcomers, like their forerunners, have
served their adopted country well, being loyal
South Africans and abiding by the ancient law.
The city of Johannesburg has cause to remember
them with respect and gratitude as if celebrates
the grand occasion of its three score years and ten.
Page 7
AJR INFORMATION December, 1956
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RESTITUTION OF JEWISH PROPERTY IN GERMANY
Establislitnent of tlie Equity Hardsliip Fund
The restitution of identifiable property in
Germany to Jews who were deprived of it
during the Nazi Regime has reached an
advanced stage. The majority of the claims
filed by individuals under the Restitution
Laws in Western Germany and in the Western
Sectors of Berlin has now been either settled or
adjudicated. The task of recovering heirless
and unclaimed Jewish property fell to the socalled Successor Organisations, namely : the
Jewish Restitution Successor Organisation
(JRSO), the Jewish Trust Corporation for
Germany (JTC), and the French Branch of the
Jewish Trust Corporation. Their work is also
nearing completion.
These Organisations have accepted, so far as
their powers admit, applications from persons
who have failed to lodge their restitution
claims in due time for an ex gratia transfer of
property recovered by these Organisations in
their place, or for an ex gratia payment out of
the proceeds received by them in lieu of
restitution. This practice, known as " Equity
procedure," was originally followed irrespective of the financial status of the applicant, but
after the expiry of the time limit for such
applications, which was duly publicised in the
press, only applicants in need of assistance
were granted ex gratia benefits. In view of the
necessity to wind up their affairs in the near
future, the Successor Organisations decided
not to accept Equity applications which
reached them after the 31st December 1955,
In order to alleviate hardship in cases where
victims of Nazi oppression not only omitted to
lodge their restitution claim, but also failed to
avail themselves of the Equity procedure, the
Successor Organisations have placed a fund in
the hands of trustees who will consider Equity
applications and make ex gratia payments to
applicants in such cases and in such manner as property, and such Jewish individuals' parent,
the terms of the Trust Deed permit. This fund child, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister,
which has been established in London is and the spouse of such parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister.
designated THE EQUITY HARDSHIP F U N D .
The Trustees of the Equity Hardship Fund
THE TRUSTEES WISH TO EMPHASISE THAT NO
now invite applications from persons who have APPLICATION CAN BE CONSIDERED IN ANY CIRomitted to make an Equity application to one CUMSTANCES WHICH IS NOTIFIED TO THEM AFTER
of the above-mentioned Successor Organi- 3(>rH ;uNE 1957,
sations. Applications can only be considered
In order to save interested parties unnecesif the applicant satisfies all of the following
sary trouble and to avoid unnecessary corresconditions :
pondence, the Trustees wish to point out that
(a) that he was entitled to lodge a claim for the Equity Hardship Fund is not in any way
the restitution of property under the concerned with compensation claims arising
restitution legislation enacted in the from the Compensation Laws. The Fund deals
three Western Zones of Germany and in only with cases concerning the restitution of
the Western Sectors of Berlin, and
identifiable property such as real estate, mort(h) that he is either the person who was gages, and businesses, which arise from the
unjustly deprived of the property or is Restitution Laws. As regards the restitution of
his testamentary heir or near relative as banking accounts, securities, household chattels, and lift vans confiscated by the authorities
defined below ;
of the former German Reich, the Trustees wish
(c) that the person entitled to the claim has to draw the attention of applicants to the Bill
omitted through inadvertence or other which is expected to become Law in the near
good and sufficient reason to lodge the future. Persons who have been deprived by
claim within the time laid down by the the Reich of property (banking accounts,
Law ;
securities, etc. as aforesaid) will be able to
{d) that no previous application has been claim monetary compensation from the
Government of the Federal Republic. Anymade to, and rejected by, any of the
body who has a claim of this nature, should
Successor Organisations ;
await the enactment of the Federal Restitution
(e) that he is in need of assistance.
Law and refrain from making application to
" Testamentary heirs" means those persons the Equity Hardship Fund.
entitled by testamentary disposition to the
whole or part of the estate of the Jewish individual who has been unjustly deprived of
property and described in German Law as
" Testamentserben."
" Near relatives" means the spouse of the
Jewish individual who was unjustly deprived of
Applications should be addressed to:
The Manager
Equity Hardship Fund
9 Dryden Chambers,
119 Oxford Street,
London, W.l.
Page 8
AJR I N F O R M A T I O N December. 1956
GERMAN .lEWS IN 1933
FROM BRESLAU TO EAST-ANGLIA
A Rc{rrettable Misconception
The Haldinsteins of Norwich
The city of Norwich recently jumped into the
news as its Jewish community was tne only one
outside London to hold a Tercentenary exhibition
illustrating the Anglo-Jewish story from the very
beginning in 1066 (or thereabouts). The distinction
was well grounded in history as the Jewry of
Norwich is the oldest in Britain (apart from
London and the university cities) and was at one
time one of the most important too. The modern
community of little over 200 souls is hardly more
than a century old, but (as " The Jewish Chronicle "
remarks) " has always been conscious of its
historic past and determined to preserve the Jewish
heritage." Due attention was drawn to some of
the foremost Jewish families of Norwich, and it is
perhaps, in this journal, fitting to recall that one
of them, the Haldinsteins, originally came from
Germany.
They are today best known by the second and
third generation who achieved considerable prominence in public life. Alfred Haldinstein, J.P., for
example, who died in 1919, served as Sheriff of
the City and County of Norwich (in 1897) and
w;is chairman of the local newspaper group. His
brother, H. H. Haldin, K.C., was once chairman
of the Board of Deputies' Law and Parliamentary
Committee, and the most brilliant career was
probably that of Sir Philip Haldin, their nephew,
who was President of the Chamber of Shipping
of the United Kingdom in 1940-41, during the
Battle of Britain when ( " T h e T i m e s " said) "hjs
vision and strong leadership were of vital assistance
to the administration of the mercantile marine."
But little is now known of the founder of the
family in England—Philip Haldinstein, son of a
Breslau linen manufacturer, who, at the age of 25,
settled in Norwich in 1844, first as a manufacturer
of caps, then as a currier and tanner, and eventually
a shoe manufacturer and leather merchant.
After a short partnership with an earlier Jewish
immigrant from France, David Soman, a capmaker, he founded the firm of Ph. Haldinslein &
Sons which, at the time of his death in 1901, and
until its amalgamation in 1933 with Messrs.
Bally's, ranked among the largest and most
prosperous in the Norwich boot and shoe business.
it was undoubtedly due to his drive and far-llung
connections that the Norwich shoe trade enjoyed,
between 1850 and 1870, something like a boom.
From the first, the successful business man took
an interest in Jewish affairs ; he was, in fact, like
his son Alfred after him, the head of the small
congregation. He likewise concerned himself with
the welfare of the needy in general, and generous
financial contributions associated him with the
management of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
He is well remembered too by local historians.
When Edward and Wilfrid L. Burgess (in 1904) told
their tale of the " Men Who Have Made Norwich,"
they duly stressed Philip Haldinstein's "very
prominent part in the industrial development, the
financial stability and the high commercial reputation of the city." " The Jewish Chronicle " commended his .story as " an example of the German
Jewish immigrants who have helped under wise
laws to increase Britain's wealth and capital."
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some odd talcs are being spread. In his book
• Harvest of H a t e " (London, Elek, 1956, 338 pp.).
M. L^on Poliakov, the French Jewish scholar,
MOtes (p. I I ) : " Most German Jews showed them.selves incapable of understanding their new
situation. They believed it to be a transitory
matter, a mere misunderstanding . . . They thought
it a wise move to bear public witness to their
unswerving loyalty to the German Fatherland,
After Hitler's accession to power, they even went
so far as to prai:,c the new Government for its
moderation and wisdom." In support of this extraordinary allegation, M. Poliakov quotes the cables
sent in April, 1933, by the Jews of Berlin to the
Chief Rabbi of Britain, by the German Jewish
Veterans' Association to ih.-U.S. Ambassador, and
by Alfred Tietz to his friends and clients.
M. Poliakov seems to be quite seriously
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" Promoted " is as good an English understatement
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that was perpetrated by the Nazis. M. PoUakov
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AJR INFORMATION December, 1956
LUDWIG KOCH—75
Britain's "No. 1 Birdwatcher"
The name of Ludwig Koch, who was 75 in
November, is a hou,sehold word in England, but he
is hardly known in the country of his birth, which
he left as a refugee in 1936. Yet he had already
achieved distinction in more than one field befoie
that time.
Ludwig Koch was born in Frankfurt. One dav
in 1889, when he was eight, his father returned
from the Leipzig Fair with a present for him: an
Edison phonograph. The boy, fascinated by this
technical toy, made his first sound recording by
turning the " trumpet " of Ihc machine towards the
caged Indian bird in the Koch's drawing-room. It
was an experience that made a deep impression on
the boy: to hear the voice of the bird, mysteriously
preserved in the grooves of a wax cylinder.
Meanwhile, little Ludwig trained tc become a
musician. First he played the violin; then, after
his voice had broken, he was found to have a
beautiful bass, and became a singer. The first
world war interrupted a career which looked very
promising indeed.
After the war he worked on the repatriation of
prisoners and eventually for the French occupation
authorities, returning to the arts to organise the great
exhibition. " Music in the Life of the Nations," in
Frankfurt in 1927. This made him known to th:
budding German gramophone industry, and he w:is
appointed "cultural adviser" to the Lindstrcim
(HMV) company in Berlin. It was then that he
picked up the thread which he had dropped nearly
forty years earlier after the Edison phonograph had
gone the way of all toys. He began to record
natural sounds of all kinds, amassing a unique
collection of great scientific value. It was destroyed
by the Gestapo when he had to leave Berlin and
Germany as a Jew and a Socialist, whose activities
included the sale of 10,000 discs of the "Internationale " to Holland.
4
I
anniversary Herr and Frau Koch bought each other
a couple of baby alligators. They both loved
animals, and the whole tning was great fun for the
children. Koch also had a collection of musical
boxes ; some were hidden in everyday appliances,
such as clothes-brushes, and there was also one
disguised as the simple mechanism for dispensing perforated paper in the smallest room of the
house. It played the Wagner aria "Am Stillen
Herd."
At the age of 55, with ten .shillings in his pocket,
Ludwig Koch arrived in this country. No one
cared very much for his idea, which had been so
successful in Germany, of publishing nature books
with recordings of animal sounds on discs. Eventually he succeeded in teaming up with such eminent
men as E. M. Nicholson and Julian Huxley for the
publication of his " sound-books." The B.B.C.
began to take notice of him, and he became the
resident birdwatcher at Broadcasting House. It is
mainly due to him that birdwatching has become
one of England's mo.sl popiihir fabbics.
A Bomber Spoils Recording
Sound-recording of bird-song is one of the most
strenuous and often exasperating jobs. It requires
phenomenal patience, great technical skill, physical
endurance, and an unerring " feeling" for the
intricacies of the microphone. Above all, it needs
steadfast optimism in the face of maddening
frustration. Once, after days and nights of stalking and crawling over the moors in Norfolk, he
was on the point of recording the " booming " of
the bittern when a bomber squadron flew over and
ruined everything. He got it eventually, of course,
as he Bot so many unusual things, from the full
vocabulary of the supposedly mute swan to the
birth of a greenshank. But he has recorded human
voices, too, and many of us still remember his
brilliant soynd portrait of Petticoat Lane on a
Sunday morning, broadcast in the " Third
Programme " of the B.B.C.
He has many friends among the distinguished
people of our time: one of them is Queen Elizabeth,
the Belgian Queen Mother, who has visited him in
his modest West London home. He also once
lectured lo the present English Queen when she
was still a Sea Ranger.
His collecion of bird-son? records iriide in this
Alligators in Flat
Life with the Kochs—he had married the daughter of a well-known family of shoe merchants,
Herx. in 1912—in those Berlin years must have been
somewhat exhausting. There were pets all over
the place: cats, dogs, frogs, squirrels, jackdaws,
guinea pies, white mice, monkeys, snakes ; visitors
fled in horror when giant lizards jumped into their
laps out of the terrarium. On their wedding
T h e P r e s i d i u m of t h e K . J . V .
( K a r t e l l Juedischcr V e r b i n d u n g e n )
in G r e a t B r i t a i n
ho^ much pleosure in i n v i t i n g you to thcii
Fourth A n n u a l
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Dancing to V A N STRATEN
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TOMBOLA
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Now at 20, DOWN STREET
Tickets, 2 gns. (incl. Dinner o n d B u f f e t ) ,
o b t a i n a b l e on a p p l i c a t i o n only f r o m any
member of t h e Boll C o m m i t t e e , or M r . R. J.
Friedmdnn, H o n . Treasurer a n d Secretary.
35, / P a r l i a m e n t
Court,
London, N.W.3
C p l w i e : H A M p . 1375). Non-memt>ers ore
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KENSINGTON PALACE HOTEL
Saturday Night, February 2nd,
1957
WIGMORE HALL
You must not miss the
Dinner-Dance of the
at
entertains.
Curzon Street, London, W . l
on
country from 1936 to 1948 was bought by the
B.B.C.. which makes it available to .scientists in
consultation with the British Trust for Ornitholo.gv.
He is no longer a B.B.C. employee, but works on
his own; still incredibly active at 75, a small,
slightly-built, not very healthy man charged with a
great deal of nervous energy, he continues to devote
himself to one of the toughest hobbies in the world.
Perhaps his fame is not so much due to the
wealth of original sounds he has offered to the
listeners and which made birds so popular in
England, but to his unique personality, his charm,
and his eagerness to interest everybody in the
voices of Nature . . . in short, as the Observer
once put it in a Profile of Ludwig Koch, to " the
inimitable sound he makes himself " ; a friendly
allusion to the fact that he has, in all these twenty
years since arrivinK in England, been completely
un:ible to shed his Frankfurt accent.
EGON LARSFN
PHILANTHROPIN
ASSOCIATION
Cabaret
inclusive
Page 9
LITERARY WORKS OF NAZI VICTIMS
PUBLISHED IN GERMANY
In the course of his lecture in London, Professor
Hermann Kasack, head of the " .\kademie fuer
Sprache und Dichtung," Darmstadt, reported that
the publications of the Academy included three
volumes of poetry whose authors had become
victims of Nazi persecution : Baermann Steiner,
Gertrud Kolmar, and Jesse Thoer. Professor
Kasack also announced that among the publications
visualised for the forthcoming year are the works
of the late Professor Werner Milch (Marburg) who
during the war had lived in England as a refugee ;
furthermore, a comprehensive bibliography of
books and other works written bv emigrated
German-speaking authors will be presented. The
edition of all these publications. Professor Kasack
stressed, W.TS also meant as an act of moral
indemnification.
W. STHRNFELD.
BERLIN APPOINTMENT OF OTTO ZAREK
Otto Zarek who some time ago returned from
England to Germany has been appointed Public
Relations Officer and Literary Adviser to the West
Berlin Municipal Theatres, the Schiller-Theater
and the Schlosspark-Theater.
During his stay in England, Mr. Zarek was
associated with the work of Children and Youth
.Miyah. Si"ce his return to Berlin he has taken
a leading part in the cultural work of the Berlin
Jewish community. AJR Information to which
he has contributed on many occasions wishes him
the best of success in his new field of activities.
8 FAIRFAX MANSIONS
FINCHLEY ROAD, N.W.3
L o n d o n , Vy.8
Doneing t o A L A N G l i F O R D & his Orchestra
'Fairfax Ko3d c o n i c )
Tickets (incl. dinrfS-), 3 0 / - , o b t a i n a b l e f r o m
K. J. LiebmarMT 3 0 , G t . Tower St., E.C.3
(ROYal 1 9 4 6 l f l H . G. Gordon, 8 2 , Gt. Portland
5 ^ W . l ( L A N g h o m 2856)
Open : M o n d a y — T h u r s d a y
/
Friday 1 0 - 1
Come along with your families & friends
M A I . 414')
10-1, 3-6
/
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SPACE D O N A T E D BY
S. F. & O. H A L L G A R T E N
Wines a n d Spirits
Importers & Exporters
I CRUTCHED FRIARS, L O N D O N , E.C.3
/Motor Car Badge
A n e w cor e m b l e m w i t h a p l e a s i n g a n d
idealistic
chrome
t o u c h , designed
metal
lacquer
with
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in
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polished
synthetic
background.
^MARRIATT"
THE JEWISH MARRIAGE BUREAU
RADNOR HOUSE, ROOM 12a, 2 n d FLOOR,
9 3 , REGENT STREET, L O N D O N , W . l .
21/Including f i t t i n g s o n d postogc.
R e m i t t a n c e w i t h order.
Discount on m u l t i p l e orders.
Agencies' a n d Travellers' inquiries i n v i t e d .
THE LOCAL TRADING CO.,
94, Old Christchurch Road,
Bournemouth
( T e l . : Bournemouth lOSS)
.
T«l. RtGent 5388
STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
INTERVIEWS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
THE BUREAU WAS FOUNDED TO HELP JEWISH PEOPLE
OF ALL VIEWS, AGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHO
DESIRE TO FIND A SUITABLE PARTNER IN MARRIAGE.
UNDER PERMANENT SUPERVISION OF OUR H O N . CONSULTING
APPROVED BY RELIGIOUS A N D L A Y LEADERS
TT7777rrrj77jrr.'77Trfrf97f^rrff7fr^^
MINISTER
Page 10
AJR I N F O R M A T I O N December, 1956
INDEX
O F .IliWISH
PRESS
JEWS' T E M P O R A R Y
The Cultural Department of the World Jewish
Congress recently presented the fourth edition of
un Index of the Jewish Press compiled by Mr.
Josef Fraenkel. Papers of all kinds (dailies,
weeklies, and monthlies) are registered in
geographical order, and a detailed appendix gives
particulars about political affiliations, circulation
figures, etc. The booklet also includes most
interesting statistical summaries. They reveal, inter
tilia, (hat outside Israel, most publications appear
either in English (46 per cent) or in Yiddish (23
per cent). 4 per cent (altogether 27 publications)
appear in German. Inside Israel most papers (6-1
per cent. Four per cent (alto.uether 27 publications)
English. The percentage of Yiddish papers in Israel
is surprisingly small (3 per cent), and 2 per cent are
published in German (2 dailies, 2 weeklies, one
fortnightly and 4 monthlies). The circulation
figures reveal that in England " AJR Information,"
with its circulation of 5,000, ii by far the most
widely circulated paper among those which only
cater for a certain section of the community.
The editor, Mr. Fraenkel. is to be congralulatcd
on having achieved this diligently compiled and
most interesting index. With its particulars of
about 1,000 Jewish papers all over the world it
serves a most useful purpose. At the same time,
it is a remarkable contribution to one importanl
aspect of Jewish sociology of our days.
FAMILY EVENTS
Entries in this column are free of
charge. Te.xts should be sent in by the
I8r/i of Ihe month.
EXHIBITION
The annual report of the Jews' Temporary
Shelter reveals that during the year ending
October 31, 1955. 259 persons were admitted to the
Shelter from various places abroad, the majority
being for settlement in this country. Those who
were in transit went chiefly to Canada, the United
States, and Israel, whilst most of those who came
to settle in the United Kingdom were from India.
To carry out its important and useful activities, the
Shelter depends mainly on donations to be raised
among members of the community. When, prior
to the War, Jewish Nazi victims came to this
country, the hospitality of the Shelter was also
extended lo many in their midst.
Any donations should be sent to the following
address: Jews' Temporary Shelter, 63 Mansell
Street, Aldgate, London, E.I.
AGAINST RACE PRE.IIJDICES
A Meeting in llanip.'stcad
Under the auspices of the Hampstead Council of
Christians and Jews a well-attended meeting was
held at which Mr. Adezinka Mako (a student from
Nigeria), Mr. Ivor Hockman, and Mr. D. Wallace
Bell (Organising Secretary of the Council of
Christians and Jews), representing the Coloured,
Jewish and Christian communities respectively.
HELP wanted for household during
Christmas days. 4s. per hour. Box
241.
Situations Wanted
Men
Engagement
BUSINESS MAN, middle-aged, alert,
Jacobson : Simpson. The engagement and adaptable, seeks position of trust
is announced of Marcus A. J. Jacob- and responsibility. Box 228.
son, A.M.I.Mech.E., only son of Dr.
and Mrs. J. Jacobson, of 22 Beacon A C C O U N T A N T , experienced, good
Hill, Rubery, Worcs., to Sylvia rcf., wants congenial work. Box 230.
Simpson, of 2 Highfield
Road, BOOKKEEPER, responsible, worker,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
younger wants position of trust, full- or partdaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. time. Box 231.
Marks Simpson (formeriy of Derby).
PACKER, job wanted by elderly man,
reliable worker. Box 232.
Deaths
H O M E W O R K wanted by elderiy men
Mrs. Clara Ostwald (ndc Finken- and women for unskilled work or
stcin). formerly Muenster i. W., of where some training could be given.
12 Randolph Gardens, N.W.6, passed Box 233.
away peacefully after long suffering
on October 29, 1956. aged 64. Deeply Women
mourned by her husband, Dr. Walter
Ostwald. her sisters, nieces, and FORMER HOTEL OWNER wants
nephews.
position of trust and with responsiDr. Hermann Abrahamsohn, Rechts- bility ; for jnst. as manageress, superanwalt and Notar, Berlin, passed visor ; own car. Box 240.
plain,
done
by
away. Deeply mourned by his family M A C H I N I N G ,
accurate worker, part-time. Box 234.
and his many friends.
Mr. .lacob Franken, of 75 Compayne M E N D I N G and A L T E R A T I O N done
Gardens, N.W.6, born in Cologne, by exp. neat worker, in- or out-door,
passed away peacefully on October full or part-time. Box 235.
19, 19.56, aged 96.
COOK. exp.. wants full- or part-time
Mr. David Fangcr, of 43 Hillcrest work in priv. household, permanent
View, Leeds, 7, passed away on or temporary. Box 236.
November 2 at the age of 78. Deeply SITTER-IN, reliable, available dav
mourned by his wife, daughter, son- or evening, regulariy or occasionally.
in-law, grandchildren, and friends.
Box 237.
Mrs. Eva Fruchtlander. of 48 Parlia- RELIABLE,
kind-hearted
woman
ment Hill, Hampstead, N.W.3. passed wants work as companion or attendant
away oftcr a long illness on October to sick or invalid or elderly people,
29. Deeply mourned by her husband, full or part-time ; good ref. Box 238.
son, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-inSHORTH.law, granddaughter, sisters, relatives, E N G L I S H / G E R M A N
TYP. wants pirt-time work in- or
and friends.
out-door. Box 239.
CLASSIFIED
SHELTER
Accommodation
Situations Vacant
VACANCY
FOR
PERMANENT
COUPLE (husband own occupation) GUEST, lady or gentleman, in'beautiwanted as manager for small, good- fully situated well-heated country
class guest house, Hampstead. Please house, CojjtiwelTtal cooking, every diet.
Schwarz, " Furzedown,"
apply fully with best references. Mx^^.'-I^
Wood Road, Hindhead, Surrey.
Box 227.
NURSE (S.R.N, or State enrolled) ELDERLY LADY would like somewanted by Home for the Aged to one to live in, look after her and her
relieve resident nurse during weekends modern two-roomed flat. Box 226.
from Friday to Sunday afternoon. ROOM to let. Reliable prof, person.
Should sleep in Friday and Saturday Central heating.
Use of kitchen.
nights. Box 243.
Finchley Road. Box 229.
AT ZION
HOUSE
The Contemporary Jewish Artists' Exhibition
was successfuly opened by Councillor E. Snowman,
the Deputy Mayor of Hampstead, on November
25. The public has been showing great interest
in this exhibition and especially the sculptures of
Sir Jacob Epstein and Benno Schotz have attracted
m.iny visitors to Zion House. 57 Eton Avenue,
Hampstead, which is also the home of the AJR
Club.
For readers jn London a leaflet is enclosed with
this issue giving the dates of the various lectures
held in conjunction with the exhibition, but it
should be noted that the exhibition opens its doors
on Sund-avs not before 3 p.m.. and that the lecture
by Dr. W. Schindler takes place on Thursday,
December 13.
spoke on the subject " Race, Religion, and Colour."
They agreed that to achieve harmony it was neither
necessary nor desirable to minimise or ignore the
differences between the existing groups. The real
aim was mutual respect without losing one's
identity. The discussion which followed, mainly
referred to colour prejudices which were generally
deplored, whereas it was felt that at present there
were few visible signs of anti-Jewish prejudices.
O F F E R E D nicely furnished room,
c.h., h. & c. water, in small modern
house, non-orthodox, cooking facilities, in exchange for 2 days' sitting-in
and
some
housework.
'Phone:
SPPcdwell 5803.
Miscellaneous
MISSING PERSONS
Enquiries from AJR
Karl Fuchs, until 1938 in Vienna, III.
Bezirk, Invalidenstrasse,
wholesale
business in oil and fats ; said lo have
immigrated via Prague to England.
DEUTSCHE BUECHER G E S U C H T !
R. & E. Steiner, 64 Talgarth Road,
W.14. FUL. 7924.
Mrs. Anne Horn, bom 9.10.1896,
Hanne-Lore Horn, abt. 32. Kurt
Horn, abt. 29, from Chemnitz. For
AJR.
MUSIC LESSONS. Alice Schaeffer,
holder of German State Diploma as
singing teacher, has vacancies for
pupils for voice production and
Lieder study. Apply 15 Belsize Park,
N.W.3. (PRImrose 4339.)
Miss Edith Eyck, born in Berlin
17.7.1900. came to England
on
19.12.1938. Her last place of residence : 73 Beatrice Court, Empire
Way, Wembley. For AJR.
FOR S A L E : beautiful dining-room
suite in American pear-wood ; oval
table with 4 leaves, sideboard, carving
table (marble top), 10 chairs. 2 armchairs, "Phone: PRImrose 4232.
BERLIN WE.ST.
First Mortgage
out of Liberalised Capital Account
required on block of flats, DM15,000
to DM40,000, 8 to 9 per cent interest.
Box 244.
FOR S A L E : Gentleman's Clothing,
almost new. Suits, Coats, Shoes, Summer and Winter hats at moderate
prices. Telephone between 1 and
2 p.m. (MAIda Vale 3440).
Felizitas nee Taubmann (married
name not known), born abt. 1905 in
Koenigsberg,
East
Prussia,
last
address: Koenigsberg, Marauncnhof,
Hoverbeckstrasse, emigrated 1938 or
1939.
Miss Irma Bannas, left Breslau in
1938 or 1939 for England. Might have
got married or changed her name.
Mr. Heinrich Jellinek or his family,
last address: 26 Grosse Mohrcngasse
Ecke Schmelzgasse, II. Bezirk, WienLeopoldstadt.
Siegfried Fritz Locwe, bom Nov. 29,
1897, in Berent, West Prussia. Lived
till 1933 in Magdeburg, went from
there to Paris and end of 1935 to
Personal
Prague. Afterwards he fled to LonERSTES
JUEDISCHES
EHE- don.
Last known address (1946)
INSTITUT,
Stuttgart-1,
Postfach London, N.W.7, together wjth his
904, bittet um Ihre Anfragen. Bezie- sister, Ilse Loewe.
hungen zu den besten Kreisen. Bild
Near relatives are wanted as heirs of
und Rueckporto erbetcn.
Justin
Ulmer.
born
11.12.1879.
I N D E P E N D E N T WIDOW (no ties) Parents: Julius and Fanny (n6e Neuwould like to marry nice gentleman, burger). Reply to AJR.
59-65 years. Box 242.
Near relatives are wanted as heirs of
Paula Lichtenauer (nte Gutmann),
born 25.5.1880. Parents: Jonas Guttmann and Ida (n^e Schuelein). Reply
to AJR.
ALL MAKES
BOUGHT
SOLD
EXCHANGED
REPAIRED &
MAINTAINED
ELITE TYPEWRITER Co. Ltd.
WELbock 2528
18 CRAWFORD STREET
(off BAKER STREET), W . l
Personal Enquiry
Will Hans Klein, last heard of in 1951
in Rio de Janeiro, ave. Atlantica 17,
son of Victor Klein, formerly Prague,
please communicate with the Jewish
Trust Corporation, Muclheim-Ruhr,
Friedrichstr. 62. where he will learn
something to his advantage. Anyone
knowing his present whereabouts is
asked kindly to communicate with the
Jewish Trust Corporation,
AJR INFORMATION December, 1956
AJR CLUB
I
4
Page II
It has become one of the features of the " AJR
Club," the premises of which are situated at 57
Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, that in addition to its
informal daily gatherings, monthly functions are
held which unite all the Club Members and other
interested friends. With its latest two functions
the Club has been particularly fortunate. At the
end of October, a concert took place at which
recitals were given by Alice Schaeffer and Rudi
Offenbach.
Mrs. Schaeffer sung Lieder by
Schubert and Brahms, accompanied by Mr. D.
Kelly. Her beautiful voice and sincere devotion
to her art left an indelible impression on the
large and grateful audience. The only regret fell
by many listeners was that recently there have
been comparatively few opportunities of listening
to her. Mrs. G. Schachne, Warden, and Mrs. M.
Jacoby, Chairman of the Club, therefore expressed
the feelings of all present when they hoped that
the Club might welcome Mrs. Schaeffer again
before long.
The second part of the function was in a lighter
vein. Rudi Offenbach, well known by his performances at the Blue Danube Club which has
ceased to exist, especially pleased the audience by
his French chansons ; when he set out to sing some
of the popular Viennese melodies the audience was
so enthralled that it joined in.
RADIO - REPAIRS - TELEVISION
(ioria lladiovision Service
37, SOUTHWICK STREET. W.2
PAD. 3394
Reliable—Reasonable
For Personal Allenlion throughout
We collect and deliver
Agents tor l\4arcoiii Ferguson - Stella
The
ANNUAL DINNER OF KJ.V.
The K.J.V. (Kartell Juedischer Verbindungen)
will hold its fourth annual Gala Dinner and Ball
at the Washington Hotel, Curzon Street, on Saturday, February 2, 1957. Details may be seen from
the advertisement published in this issue.
BAZAAR
u n d e r t h e auspices o f t h e A J R H a n d i c r a f t G r o u p
w i t h v o r i o u s k i n d s of a t t r a c t i v e g i f t a r t i c l e s
opened with greater display in December.
Hours ; M o n d a y - T h u r s d a y ,
Friday : 1 0 - 1 .
8,
FAIRFAX
MANSIONS,
Exclusive
and
Salon
de
Corteterie
Lingerie
Mme. H. LIEBERG
871 FINCHIEY ROAD,
(Next to t h e P B s t Office, Golders Green)
•gHCne SPEedwell 8G73
FoshloijplSfe French, American, and English
Mod9M.
Ready-made and to measure.
EXPERT F I T T I N G .
23,
BEAULIEU
beautiful
Sea.
All
RD.,
BOURNEMOUTH
" Alum Chine,"
Conveniences.
5
Excellent
Cuisine.
Terms :
^ '
• '
.-from
51-7
gns.,
according
'Phone : Westbournc G19471
Prop.; E. BRUDER
' FURZEDOWN "
Th» Ideal pl»ce for holiday! and convalescence
E X Q U I S I T E BLOUSES, K N I T W r A R ,
LINGERIE, CORSETRY
" SilhoHcttc," " Stockteigh," etc.,
a t reasonqJ>4e' prices.
RUTiri SHOP
37, Foirfoif Road, N.W.6 (off Finchley Rd.)
. . ^ ^ • P h o n e : KILburn 0 5 0 0
AJiC'this month limited number of Coots
and Suits at Ics5. than vvnolesole prices.
THE DORICE
27 Hoveden Road, N.W.2
off Walm Lane
GoesTHoyse
Single—Double Rooms
Hot and Cold Water
FuU or partial Board.
(15 houses iinderground and buses)
GLAdstonc
HIGHEST
C o n t i n e n t a l C u i s i n e -—
169a Finchley R d . , N . W . 3
PRICES
ROSEMOUNT
1 7 P a r s i f a l Road^
HAM
Come anywiiere any liniv
New Year
^f)^
'"^
A Home for you
IMerlir pceple vralcooMl
and for lonf or permanent residents
/
" A R L E T
J. A. C
^
CONTINENTAL^
Open Dally from 3 p m.—2 a.m, foi—
BOARDIiNG HOUSE
Teas, Dinners & late Suppers
IN
Coff«« Lounge — Candlelight Bar
Excellent Cuisine — Own Viennese Patisserie
lie R o o m s ,
Mwli
and Parties in your own home.
Dances bjp Candlelight: Wednesday
Saturday and Sunday Evenings
Large H a l l and Private Rooms for
MEETINGS
REUNIONS.
Reserv. M A I 9457
H A M ^ E A D
or P a r t i a l
W e welcome your order for Pastries
Members and Friends
N.W^^
Tel. GLA 4029
, ^
Permsnent Guests and Visitors coming-to London
are welcome In my exquisitely furnished and
.
N.W.i
(behind |ohn Barnes)
W E D D I N G S , RECEPTIONS.
•
7 7 , St. Gabriel's Road. London.
cultivated Private Gueat Houie
BROADHURST HALL
GARDENS,
I
Hot & Cold Water, Rbctiator Heating
Gordviu Television
Continental meal* can be provided if desued
"^^Ti sood ren^Tential district. Buses and Tube
very near
Mrs. Lotte Sctiwarz
Telephone: Hindheid 335
I, B R O A D H U R S T
^ ^
/ ' P h o n e : Waitbourne 64176
Mr. & Mrs. S. S M I T H
WOOQ^'OAD, HINDHEAD, SURREY
/ ^
/
H. & c. in olf bedrooms.
Television.
Garage space.
Contirwntal culsir>e.
N,W.6
5856
at
OAO,
10, HERBERT ROAD,
BOURNEMOUTK
rH
THE BOARDtflG-HOUSE W I T H CULTURE
months. Reduced termt for off-season periods
6301
SIMAR HOUSE
TeL: GLA. 4641
5622
S. niF.NSTAG
MAI
PARTIES CATERED FOR
Excellent Cuisine
(all diets), Children welcome
Book early for Easter, Whitsun and summer
Licensed
Book N o w for C h r i s t m a s a n d t h e
Permanent and temporary residents ; oil
rooms hot and cold water.
Garden, T V .
Running h. & c. water in all ftrst^floor bedrooms
Home atmosphere. Continental cooking
HELP FOR JEWS FROM HUNGARY
The Jewish community of Vienna declared, that
Jewish refugees from Hungary will be given all
possible help. There were eleven Jews among the
first group of refugees who crossed the Austrian
frontier.
GLADSTONE GUESTHOUSE
paid for Ladies' and Gentlemen's lert-oA
Clotliing, Suitcases, Trunlis, etc.
Larse 2*rden with lunshed
Mr. Adolf Juda passed away in London, at the
age of 84. In Cologne, his former residence, he
took an active part in the work of the Jewish community. After his emigration he was a helpful
friend to many fellow-refugees.
GRIFFEL CATERING CO.
26 Blenhiiqn Gardeni, N.W.Z
to room a n d season.
OBITUARY
N.W.S
Well l(nown for liiKli-claM catering.
Weddings, Barmitzvalis, and Social
Functions at your Home or any Hall.
Own crockery provided, also staff.
Only bomc-nuda cultcii. Very reMonable charses.
Ploise contact Manager, Mm. MtindellMium.
MAIda Vulc 239S.
W.
min.
This year's Concert of Self Aid was again a great
success. Jacqueline Delman, soprano, recited songs
by Mozart, Duparc, Debussy, and Granados, Franz
Reizenslein played a Schumann Sonata and
together with the other members of the London
Chamber Music Group (Maria I.idka, Gwynn
Edwards, Elizabeth Bocnders, and Christopher
Bunting), a piano trio by Mendelssohn and a piano
quintet by Dvorak. The good attendance and the
well edited souvenir programme also made the
function a financial success for the benefit of those
who are under the care of Self Aid.
3-5.
In November our friend PEM talked lo the
Club about celebrities on stage and screen. Many
memories were revived by the innumerable
episodes he recalled out of his inexhaustible
repertoire.
The Club premises are open every afternoon
(4-7 p.m.) from Sunday to Thursday and in the
evening (7-10 p.m.), on Tuesday, Thursday, and
Sunday. All interested readers and their friends are
cordially invited.
•^ASHDALE GUESTHOUSE "
On
10-1,
SELF AID CONCERT
CORSETS . CORSELETS
BELTS
. BRASSIERES
CORSETS SILHOUETTE LTD.,
130
H.C.W.
Board
Termi
Ring MAI 007»
COMFORTABLE HOME FOR
OLD LADIES
PARK LANE. LONDON, W.l.
68 Shoot-up Hill, N.W.Z
'Phone ; GLAdstone
5838
AJR INFORMATION November, 1956
Page IZ
PHOTOCOPIES OF DOCUMENTS
Wr. PaulJ. 2)«/^
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Co. Ltd.
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PAAIS
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Specialist in D r y R o t Repairs
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SUITS & COSTUMES made to
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own workrooms.
We specialize in :
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all Ladies' & Gentlemen's Suits at Competitive Prices.
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A l l T y p e s of I n s u r a n c e s w i t h
Lloyds a n d a l l C o m p a n i e s
IN MEMORY OF LEO BAECK
May 23, 1873-November 2, 1956
We, the Jews from Germany, were as close to Dr. Leo Baeck as if
we were members of one family. Indeed, three and a half years ago,
on his SOth birthday, we told him that, having lost so much, we
looked upon our shrunken community as one family and upon
him as its head.
Long before we asked Leo
Baeck, in 1933, to be our leader
he had, by dint of his personality,
established an unchallengeable
claim to the highest oliicc German Jewry could bestow. Religious thinker, educator and inspired champion of our faith, he
so towered above the rest of us
that he was rightly seen as the
veritable embodiment of German
Jewry.
In the years of our doom, his
figure rose to historic greatness.
His countenance radiated kindness, integrity and the grandeur
of his priestly office. Unassuming and possessed of the inimitable dignity of that undaunted
self-assurance which labours in
the yoke of the Eternal, he took
up the cause of the humbled and
the outlawed, defying the enemy
with no thought of his own utter
defencelessness. How he tied his
personal fate to that of his people,
how he stayed with them to the
very last, upholding and comforting them with his word and
example in the face of the daily
'''"""• Ladia GOCIK
threat of death—all this we know, and the world knows it too. It
has been a source of surpassing happiness for us to see that men and
women in all countries'who will yet be aroused by the reappearance
in our time of the prophetic spirit, have rendered thanks to him in
these last eleven years and have honoured him.
Profoundly grateful for all he was to us, wc, the German Jews now
living outside the German border ventured, after his miraculous
rescue, to ask him to take on a new burden—and he granted it. As
President of the Council of Jews from Germany, he once again
became the leader of German Jewry—of those who had survived the
catastrophe. Once again his
word served to vindicate justice,
the justice of our cause, and
those who had not lost their
sense of justice heeded his word.
Often enough wc hesitated to intrude upon his lime and ask him
lo speak in our name. He never
wailed for us to ask: he was ever
ready to go on every mission, no
matter how far. no matter how
hazardous.
Whatever measure of justice
we obtained, was due to him. In
his name it is being administered. In many parts of the
world aged and disabled men and
women have cause to remember
Leo Baeck, for it really was he
who look care to brighten the
eventide of their lives.
Scholars in Israel, in America
and in this country, working
under the auspices of the Leo
Baeck Institute, will be guided by
his spirit in their efforts to mould
and hand down lo posterity the
image of German Jewry. We
know that this man who had
Copyright: "The Jewish Chronicle"
grOWn f a r b c y o u d t h e COnfiuCS o f
any one country, always looked upon himself as a son of German
Jewry, and that the writing of their glorious history was his deep
concern. We shall strive to fulfil this grand legacy.
The family of the German Jews is in deep mourning, for it has lost
its greatest and noblest figure—it is bereft of its head.
COUNCIL OF JEWS FROM GERMANY
Page 2
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
H. Reichmann
TREUE
UND
VERBUNDENHEIT
THE LEADER OF GERMAN JEWRY
Dank tin den " Council " fiier Festschrift
zuin 80, Gehurtstag
Address at the Memorial Service of the West London Synagogue, on November 7, 1956
283, Watjord Way.
Hendon. N.W.4.
14. Mai 1953
Lieher Dr. Reichmunn.
Las.ten Sie niich heiite Ihnen wie Dr.
Bre.slauer, Dr. Gruenewald iind Dr. Mo.se.s
den Dank au.isprechen, der inich tief
erfiiellt.
So manche.s Wort ist jetzt zii inir
ge.sandt worden, aher kaiini eines hat inich
so sehr ergriffen iind hat inir so viel
gegehen wie das, welches van iinsereni
Council z.ii inir kam.
Jedes Leben weiss von den Tagen,
welche priiefen, versagen and nehmen,
und auch das ineine. in seinem Eigenen,
wei.ss davon. Dach so vieles i.st mir auch
gegeben worden, ueber Verdien.st hinaus.
Innige Dankharkeil eiwacht iniiner neii in
mir.
Vornan in nieinein Danke.seinpfinden
stehen die Menschen. mil denen es mir
vergoennt wurde ziisammenziiarbeiten. Sie
.sind niir ein werlvoller Teil meines iimeren
Leben.s geworden. In unserem Council
Itabe ich es neu .so erieben ducrfen. Kaum
kann ich es genug sagen. was er mir in
diesen Jahren, in denen ich mein Dasein
I neu begann, immer wieder bedeutet hat.
' So darf ich von Herzen Ihnen alien
ineinen Dank darbringen. den innigen
Dank fiier die Guete und das Vertrauen.
die Hilfe und die Nachsicht. die Sie aile
mir iinmer wieder, utiermuedlich fiLsl.
gewuehrl haben. In dem. was mir mein
Leben ist. fuehle ich mich mit Ihnen
verbund en.
In Treue
Ihr
L. Baeck
The Council of Jews from Germany wishes
to pay homage to the memory of its beloved
President, and to express the gratitude of all
former German Jews for the leadership he
gave in Germany in good days and in the
days of despair ; for his sacrifices and for
the example he set to all of us.
As everything he did reflected his great
personality, so did his work as the leader of
German Jewry ; it was, as was the whole of
his life, like Goethe's, the expression of " one
great confession."
It was from the depths of his unshakeable
religious convictions that his feeling for
humanity sprang, his true humanitas, the
humanitas of a liberal aristocrat. Because
man was created in the image of God, his
dignity as a human being as well as his right
to liberty and social justice had to be respected under all circumstances. These convictions, his love for his fellow Jews and his
sense of duty, led him to take the helm of the
foundering ship of German Jewry in the
calamitous early summer of 1933.
He who assumes leadership generally does
so with the conviction that he will lead his
followers to victory.
Dr. Bacck did not
belieive that German Jewry, as a body,
would survive the pitiless onslaught. In his
first address as Acting President, he uttered
the formidable prophecy: " The thousandyear old history of Germany Jewry is at its
end ! " We did not want to believe those
prophetic words.
But, in a deeper sense, he was sure and
certain of the eventual triumph of those
eternal values which guided his life. Not for
one moment did he cease to believe that a
regime which was the incarnation of evil was,
in the end, bound to destroy itself. He never
wavered in this conviction, and it gave him
the strength to lead his community, daily
tormented as they were by ever new devices
of their persecutors.
I know mature Jews who confcs.sed their
religious conflicts to him. and asked him for
guidance in those days of the apparent
triumph of evil. He replied with calmness
and serenity, advising them to read the 91st
Psalm. By his indomitable courage, his
dignity and serenity, he instilled some of his
strength and confidence into the whole of
German Jewry.
" Thou .shalt not be afraid for the terror
by night nor for the arrow that flyeth bv
day."
Five times he was arrested the first time
when, just twenty-one years ago, he sent a
prayer of comfort to all Jewish congregations.
This prayer read :
" With the same strength that wc have
confessed our sins, the sins of the individual
and those of the community, we express our
Issued by the
'Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain"
8 Fairfax Mansions, Londoiu N.W,3
Editor: Werner Rosenstock
contempt for the lies with which we have
been assailed, and wc say that the calumnies levelled against our religion and its
teachings are deep beneath our feet. We
hold high the shield of our lofty religion
against all vituperations. Wc shall an.swer
all attempts to injure us by trying to walk
in the ways of Judaism and to fulfil its
Commandments."
In the summer of 1938 he set his name lo
a document describing in detail the horrors
of Buchenwald and the destruction of innocent Jewish life, and .sent that dcKumenl to
tho.se responsible for the crime, unmindful
of the personal con.sequences.
On the night of November 9, 1938. he
signed a protest against the planned pogrom,
although he knew any appeal would be in
vain.
On all occasions like these—and there were
many others he never once uttered a word
which could be interpreted as the outcome of
fear or which was not wholly compatible
with the dignity of Judaism.
I have heard, from his own mouth, how in
the concentration camp of Thercsienstadt he
met the man responsible for the extermination policy. This man was astounded to see
Dr. Baeck alive, as he had received word to
the contrary. Yet. he did not dare now to
give the murderous order.
" A thousand shall fall at thy side and
ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall
not come nigh thee."
What he did in the depths of the abyss
into which the foe had flung him, and with
him tens of thousands of European Jews, has
been described by survivors. We have to
visualise him. a tall upright figure, calm and
dignified a symbol of the indomitable spirit
which he radiated against the bleak background of a barracks room at Thercsienstadt.
There he would lecture before crowded
audiences of fellow-prisoners, in defiance of
regulations. He did not preach he lectured.
Amongst other subjects he spoke of the transition period from the Middle Ages to
modern times. Those who understood the
underlying implications drew courage and
hope from the analogy.
When, in 1945, Theresienstadt was set free
Dr. Baeck saw his convictions vindicated and
the message of the 91st Psalm fulfilled.
" Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold
and see the reward of the wicked " and
" for He shall give His angel charge over
thee to keep thee in all thy ways."
He found ho.spitality in this country and
he was grateful and happy here. He was
happy because he now lived in an atmosphere
where the absolute values in which he
believed were a living reality : humanity,
freedom, and respect for human dignity.
When he addressed us for the first time in
1945, he did not speak of his past experiences.
He spoke instead of religion, which had
once again shown its power to make man
immune from fear and to free him from
serfdom. He praised the land of Milton and
Locke, the spirit of Wilberforcc and John
Stuart Mill.
We, the Jews from Germany, owed him
even deeper gratitude than other communities, and yet we offered him a new burden.
We asked him again to lead us in the lands
where wc arc dispersed. He accepted this
burden and became the President of our
Council of Jews from Germany.
In this
office he asserted the rights of German Jewry,
now scattered all over the world. He felt il
a solemn obligation to provide for the aged
and those whose strength the past had sapped.
He equally encouraged the establishment of
a scholarly institution which would write the
proud history of German Jewry. This institution has been established and bears the
name " Leo Baeck Institute." Its first
publication has appeared today.
The life of this greatest and noblest son of
modern German Jewry not only fills us with
gratitude but makes it incumbent upon us
to carry on with the work which was nearest
to his heart. We will strive to be worthy of
his leadership !
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Richard Fuchs
A SOURCE OF STRENGTH
As yet we can hardly realise that Leo Baeck with a particularly affectionate devotion and
is no longer alive. The news of his having passed zeal. His book on the " Essence of Judaism,"
away came to many of us as a sudden shock. written at a comparatively early age and reThe undiminished vigour of his activities made flecting in its later editions the evolution of its
us forget his age; we relied upon his continuing author's mind, made him world-famous. In
to be with us for many years to come, as a addition to this standard book, he engaged in
blessing for Jewry, Jewish learning and for us specialised research into the history of the Jewish
who had come to this country from Germany as religion, the results of which he recorded, in
he did. Now, this rich and immensely fertile life masterly style, in numerous published writings.
has reached its end. All of us have suffered a It is significant that he devoted himself with
great bereavement. The world without him particular affection to the era preceding the
destruction of the Second Temple, a period
seems no longer the same.
This loss which we already feel with deep abounding in new religious movements and with
sorrow will reveal itself more and more to us in germs of new evolutionary stages which were
all its implications as time goes on. It will prove interrupted by the destruction of the Jewish
impossible to fill the vacuum caused by his death commonwealth and had to give way to the overin all the numerous fields covered by his ac- riding need of keeping Judaism alive in the foltivities. His life was devoted to unceasing work lowing period of distress, only to emerge again
in the service of Judaism and of the Jews, to an at a later period. Perhaps Leo Baeck was so
extent that makes it impossible even to enumerate, much attracted by this era because he sensed a
in the restricted space available, all his great close relationship between it and the spiritual
history of German Jewry in his own age to which
achievements.
When the darkness of National Socialist he himself had so eminently contributed. The
tyranny descended on Germany, Leo Baeck had first half of the 20th century was perhaps the
been for many decades
engaged in most fruit
AFTER MAIMONIDES LECTURE IN DUESSELDORF
ful activities as a rabbi,
a scholar, a teacher at
Jewish High Schools
and as the head of great
Jewish organisations.
When, under the rule of
Hitler, the Jews were
welded togetherintothe
"Reichsvertretung der
Juden in Deutschland,"
heappeared fitted above
all others to head that
organisation. In this
capacity he performed,
up to the bitter end, the
functions of the head of
German Jewry, with the
noble dignity so typical
of him, and with a
gentleness behind which
there was, in all essential matters, unyielding
courage and resolution
rejecting all comproPhoto: Heinz Bogler {.Duesseldorf)
Or, Baeck with Bundespraesident Hcuss
mise. In the course
of time, his position grew more and more climax of the spiritual history of German speaking
dangerous. His friends tried hard to persuade Jewry; it is sufficient to mention names like
him to emigrate from Germany. Shortly before Hermann Cohen, Leo Baeck, Franz Rosenzweig,
the outbreak of the war, 1, together with English
Martin Buber, Max Wiener and Theodor Herzl
scholars, had succeeded in advancing a plan for to appreciate the greatness of this period. This
the transfer of the Berlin " Hochschule fuer die evolution too was halted by the annihilation of
Wissenschaft des Judentums" to England, to German Jewry; today the vital needs of the
a stage at which it seemed possible to carry it Jewish people have first claim, and our thoughts
out in the near future; Leo Baeck was intended are centred on " Israel." But it is to be hoped
to be the head of the transferred institution. But that the spiritual achievements created by Jewry
though the plan appealed to the scholar in him, in Germany in this century will also bear fruit
he nevertheless declined: the shepherd refused again in the course of time. It seems as if Leo
to leave his flock. " As long as there is one Jew Baeck and Martin Buber, both bound to Israel
still left in Germany in addition to myself" he by a deep-rooted love, have already paved the
told me, " I shall remain there too." Nor could way.
this resolution of his be shaken. So, he was, at
But the work of the scholar and all his other
last, deported to Theresienstadt. There, amidst
misery, dirt and disease, he continued his tasks. practical achievements were perhaps surpassed
by Leo Baeck, the wan. Whoever met him, was
It was for all of us a precious gift and appeared deeply impressed by his personality and looked
almost as a miracle when in 1945, in his 73rd up to him with reverence and affection. Nonyear, he was able to rejoin his children in England, Jewish admirers have often called him a saint;
his body and spirit unbroken, the same man he himself would certainly have denied it. But
whom we had always venerated, and yet trans- his extreme kindness, his courtesy, deeply rooted
formed by the terrible years of suffering which in his heart, which never allowed him to hurt
had imbued him with a new and more profound anybody's feelings, his distinguished and noble
bearing with its unassuming modesty, his gentle
greatness.
It had always appeared almost inconceivable wisdom which, despite his vivacity, permeated all
how Leo Baeck, with all his tremendous work his words and acts, his grasp of the essential on
for the benefit of Jews, could find the time for which no compromise was possible for him, his
scholarly research. Yet this research was really courage prepared to submit to any sacrifice—all
the main element of his life, which he pursued this stamped him as a unique personality.
Page 3
T H E O D O R HEUSS
Bonn, 2. November 1956
Koblenzer Strasse 135
Frau
Berlak
283, Watford Way
London NW4/EngIand
Verehrte gnaedige F r a u !
Heute frueh erhielt ich die Nachricht
vom Heimgang Ihres Vaters, die mich
sehr bewegt hat. Ich darf Ihnen meine
aufrichtige Teilnahme aussprechen.
Es liegen ja einige Jahrzehnte - u n d was
fuer Jahrzehnte—zwischen heute und der
ersten Begegnung mit Ihrem Vater im
Hause meines alten Freundes und Studienkollegen Otto Hirsch. Zwischen Ihrem
Vater und mir, zumal auch meiner Frau,
war gleich eine Atmosphaere freundschaftlichen Verstehens. und diese unmittelbare
Verlrautheit im Denken und im Fuehlen
hat sich erneut bestaetigt, als nach den
schlimmen, schlimmcn Jahren Ihr Vater
Deutschland wieder besuchte.
Er hat
dann, wenn immer es moeglich war, bei
mir vorgesprochen oder ich habe einen
Vortrag von ihm. wie etwa in Duesseldorf
ueber Maimonides, angehoert, und jedes
Mai war das Zusammensein menschlich
wie sachlich eine Bereicherung. Ich habe
ihn bewundert und geliebt und spuere die
Verarmung, die Ungezaehlte mit seinem
Hinscheiden erfahren haben. aber sein
Gedaechtnis wird im Segen bleiben.
But nowhere did the essence of his nature
disclose itself more impressively than when he
was alone with a friend. Then the distance which,
with all his cordiality, he used to keep in his
intercourse with others, was sometimes dropped,
and he began talking of himself
The foundation on which this wonderful
personality developed was perhaps a deep sadness. This was not noticeable in his vivid talk.
But when he was silent, deep in thought, his
veiled eyes and the firmly closed lips often
revealed a trace of an entirely unsentimental
sadness which we find in Rembrandt's portraits of
Jews. Like many outstanding Jews, Leo Baeck
was particularly susceptible to suffering. Any
one who was near him during the weeks after
death had taken away from him his beloved wife,
has experienced this. And how much must he
have suffered when so many friends and fellows
of his were murdered, like our unforgettable
Otto Hirsch, like Julius Seligsohn, Arthur
Lilienthal, Cora Berliner, Hannah Karminski,
and many other victims of National Socialist
persecution ! Leo Baeck did not forget easily
and his sorrow must have been all the more
bitter and lasting because he avoided talking
about it. Probably it was this great sorrow and
suffering, submerged in the depths of his mind,
which made him capable of sharing the sorrows
of others and giving them comfort. One had
only to sit opposite him and look at him to feel
the consolation which emanated from him, and
to feel one's faith in the spirit of true humanity
revive. Even far away from him and merely
thinking of him, one still felt this immense power
of consolation. Now he has left us for ever, the
memory of him will continue to be for us a solace
and a source of strength.
AJR SUPPLEMENT December, 1956
Page 4
Fritz
Kaufmann
BEWAEHRUNG DER LEHRE
In der Gemeinde " Hahoniiu " {New York) sprach vor einigen Monalen Professor Fritz
Kaufniann (University of Buffalo) iteber das Thema " Baeck mid Biiher." Ohwohl der
eigentlichc Gegensland des Vortrags eine Gegenueherstellung heider Persoenlichkeilen war,
glaithten wir cloch, uns ini Rahmen dieser Gcdcnknunmier auf die aiisziigsweise Wiedergabe
derjenigen Stellen des Referates beschraenken zu diierfen, die sich mit der geistigen Position
Leo Baecks hefassen.—Die Red.
Im Meer des Leidens, das das Judentum
umflutete, sind Baeck und Buber zumal den
deutschen Juden die unverrueckbaren Pfeiler
einer Gemeinschaft geworden und geblieben, die
im Leid ihre Weihe erfahren hal. Baeck hat
geschildert, wie im Sterbensraum von Theresienstadt jedes Gemeinschaftsgefuehl zu verkommen
drohte. " In einen immer mehr verengerten
kleinen Bezirk," so schreibt er, " wurden immer
mehr Menschen hineingepresst, sodass einer am
andern sich rieb und stiess : jede Selbstsucht mit
ihrer Gicr sollte aufwuchern und jede Anstaendigkeit verkuemmern." Das war die Wirkiichkeit.
Aber die Wahrheit dieser Wirkiichkeit hiess Leo
Baeck, sie traegt den Namen eines Kadosch, das
im Angesicht des Todes den hoechsten Namen
geheiligt hat. Es wurde ihm zuteil, was in diesem
Namen versprochen ist, dass Er mit uns sein wird
so wie Er geruhen wird mit uns zu sein—gerade
im Leid, in dem Licht und der Laeuterung, die im
echten Leide sind. Die schwere Gnade solcher
Gottesknechlschaft halte Baeck schon im Wesen
dex Jiidenlums eimiringWch und ahnungsvoll verkuendet : in Theresienstadt, wohin er, Riife ins
Ausland verschmaehend, mit seinem Voike ging,
lebte er seine eigene Gotlesknechlschaft im Tragen
unserer Schmerzen, im freien Opfer, dar.
Ein lieber Freund, Genosse im Schicksal,
schrieb mir dieser Tage, wie doch alle Lebensgemeinschaft auch Leidensgemelnachaft sei. Sie
ist es. Aber sie ist auch l.c'\den!if;emeinsclicifi. Es
ist Segen in ihr—vielleicht sogar Glueck—und
Segen geht von ihr aus. Das ist ihre Bewaehrung :
und die, die sie leislen, sind Bewaehrte, Zaddikim,
Hueter des Bundes
Zaddikim—jeder in seiner Weise—sind Buber
wie Baeck. Darum darf man ihre Namen
zusammen aussprechen. Sie sind Hueter des
Bundes. In dem Buechlein, das zu einem Teil
aus aengstlich versteckten Notizen im Konzentrationslager erwachsen ist, in " Dieses Volk,"
erinnert Baeck an das " dichtende Wort eines
Lehrers in diesem Volke " : "Als Gott am Sinai
den Bund mit dcm Volk schloss und das Volk den
Bund zu eigen nahm, da erst gewann die Welt,
die ein Chaos gewesen, ihr Fundament." LInd
cr bringt es zusammen mit der aramaeischen
Uebersetzung und mystischen Deutung des
" Zadik jessod olam" als: "der Bewaehrte ist
die Grundlage der Welt " ; er ist der Pfeiler, der
die Welten zusaminenhaelt. Ich erblicke Baeck,
wie ihn mir ein Schueler, der aus Theresienstadt
kam, geschildert hat : in einer ueberfuellten
Baracke, hochaufgerichtet in der Menge, stundenlang unbcwegt stehend und Ichrend aus der
Fuelle des Wissens und der Geschichte.
Nun 83, fast verjuengt im Ueberstehen eines
Unfalls und zweier Opeiationen, gross iind
knochig, mit einer Handschrift, die ungelenk ist
und einem spliltripen Holzschnilt gleicht; unermucdlich taetig als Lehrer und Sprecher, am
Schreibtisch wie auf Reisen von Land zu Land
und Erdtell zu Erdteil ; wie ein Juengling
kletterte er noch vor kurzem am Felsenufer der
Niagara-Faelle auf und ab.
Eine grosse, gesunde, lebenskraeftige und
lebenswillige Natur, wurzelt er tief im angestammten Grunde und ragt auch wieder hoch und frei
aus ihm empor. Im menschlichen Bereich
bedeutet das die Treue zum deulschen wie zum
juedischen Humanismus. Baeck betont noch
immer stolz den Beitrag des deutschen Judentums
zu deutscher wie juedischer Menschenbildung ;
und er liest und liebt noch immer die deutschen
Historiker—vor allem Ranke um der universalen
Sympathie willen, die ihm das Verstehen des
Menschlichen in alien seinen Formen ermoeglicht, jede gleichermassen " unmittelbar zu
Gott."
Baeck's stille Treue zum dunklen, schoepferischen Grunde haelt der lichten Freiheit die
Wage, mit dcr er sich ueber ihn erhebt. Er ist
immer ein Vertreter des freien Buergertums
geblieben—in einem hohen, einem gehobenen
Sinn. Sein Liberalismus, im Unterschied zu
Buber's religioesem Sozialismus, zeigt die Liberalitaet eines Grandseigneurs, eines Gaon, eines
Fuersten unter den Juden.
Maimonides als Vorbild
Baeck ist nicht zufaellig der liberalen Wissenschaft des Judentums verbunden gewesen. Seine
Londoner Society for Jewish Study ist ein Reis
vom selben Stamm, Wissenschaft des Judentums
ist in ihm und jenes freie Pathos des Wissenschaftlers, das der Waerme, ja der Innigkeit
nicht zu ermangeln braucht, das den echten Sinn
fuer Mass und Wert, das aber nicht leicht jene
vorwaertsdraengende Kraft hat, die—nach Rosenzweig's Zeugnis—den Buber der Reden ueber
das Jiulentum zum " Vor-und Fuersprecher der
Generationen, der meinen sowohl wie der nach
mir kommenden " gemacht hat. Dafuer ist sein
Bild fest geformt, nicht durch der Parteien Hass
und Gunsl, den Wechsel der zeitgeschichtlichen
Perspektiven verzerrt. DerSchimmerdes Heiligen
um ihn ist zugleich der milde Schimmer um
die Slirn des freien abcr verantwortlichen,
seinsvprbundenen doch nicht seins^'^'bundenen
Denkers. Den Typ solchen Denkens hal er
selbst in cinem Portrait des Maimonides gezeichnet : " Er war wie ein Mahner zu jener Andacht
des Denkens, die sich nicht verliert, weil sie um
das Wesentliche, die Idee, weiss, zu jener Rechenschaft des Denkens, ohne dices keineechte Erkenntnis gibt, zu jener Ernslhafligkeit und Treuc des
Denkens, die es sich nichl leichl machl, noch
auch die Aufgabe an nahe oder feme Halbheiten
verraet, jener Demut des Denkens, die immer
dessen gewiss bleibt, was noch zu tun ist, jener
Wahrhafligkeit des Denkens, ohne die alles
Wissen und aller Scharfsinn sich als unnuetz
herausstellen. Wer ihm innerlich nahe trat, hat
diesen Appell an das Gewissen vernommen,
diesen Ruf, in der Wissenschaft zu leben und
auch in der Wissenschaft fromm zu sein um des
Lebens willen, des Lebens und der Wissenschaft
wegen so auch ein freier Mensch zu sein, wie
keines Menschen Knechl so keines Trachtens
Knecht."
Es ist ein gemaessigtes, doch durchsonntes
Klima, in dem Baeck beheimatet Ist—ein freier
Gottesmann und ein frommer Wissenschaftler.
Er ist von Haus aus ein Theologe, und es ist
nicht leicht vorstellbar, dass er Bedenken truege
(wie bedeutsam auch immer) den Namen Gottes
auszusprechen, des Gottes, um dessen geheimnisvolle Offenbarung er weiss ; er bekundet das
Eine—die Offenbarung—und ruehrt leise und
scheu, nicht mit der Zudringlichkeit des Eschatologen, an das Andere—das Geheimnis.
Baeck's Freisinnigkeit ist alles andere als
Radikalismus. Sein Liberalismus ist aristokratisch. Darum moechte er im juedischen Volk
eine Demokratie von Aristokraten sehen: es ist
ein exclusives Volk, ein Volk, das Zeit hat und
sich goennen kann, seine Ruhetage zu halten.
Noch juengst, in einer Logenrede in Basel, zeigt
er diese Stadt, wie sie der geistige Patrizier
sieht : nicht als die der zionistischen Kongresse,
sondern als die eines buergerlichen Geistesadels,
die Stadt der Buxlorfs und Overbeck, der Burckhard und Nietzsche, die Universitaetsstadt, deren
grosse Namen uns im Kreuzgang ihres Muensters
begegnen und in Bann schlagen.
Religioese Politik
Die wohlineinende Konventionalitaet, die
Baecks Stil gelegentlich annimmt, hat etwas von
Goethes vornehmer Konzilianz, deren Milde die
Andern gern versoehnen moechte, iind die
gelegentlich zu bloss formaler Repraesentanz im
Winden rhetorischer Floskeln wird, nie aber zur
Einnahme rhetorischer Posen fuehrt. Freilich
handelt es sich dabei nicht um Standessachen,
um die Leutseligkeit des grossen Mannes oder
eine Politik der Schwaeche. Es handelt sich bei
Baeck wie bei Buber um eine religioese Politik,
hinter der ein starker religioeser Wille zur
Versoehnung steht, der messianische Wille zur
einen Menschheit, der sprachliche Antithesen
meidet, um wirkliche Gegensaetze zu mildern,
und der die Rache auch an den Moerdern oder
an den Wachmannschaften von Theresienstadt
verschmaeht und verhindert, um die Hoffnung
auf endlichen Frieden in Gott zu staerken.
Baeck's Sprache verraet seine Denkart. Sie
hat Eigentuemlichkeiten, die zunaechst befremden.
Da ist z.B. die Vorliebe fuer den unbestimmten
Artikel. " Das Gesetz," so heisst es in Dieses
Volk (S. 29), " zeigt in der Welt des Sichtbaren
eine Gebundenheit, eine Notwendigkeit, im
Menschen wird es zur Moeglichkeit, zu einem
Wege, zu einer Freiheil." Was ist an dieser wie
an andern Stellen vernehmlich ? Die Vorsicht
des unbestimmten Au.sdrucks, die mit grosser
Bestimmtheit von Gesinnung, Urteil und Tat
zusammengeht. Aehnliches gilt von Baeck's
Neigung, Adjektiven und Partizipien die Stelle
von Hauptworten zu geben : dadurch erhaelt das
behutsame Tasten des unbestimmten Artikels den
Charakter eines scheuen Zoegerns : " ein Wesentliches," " ein Eigentuemliches und Besonderes,"
" ein Bestimmendes," " ein Bedenkliches, ja ein
Gefaehrliches "—all diese Worte sind noch nicht
zu begrifflicher, substantivischer Fertigkeit gediehen. Die Partizipia erheben sich nur halb aus
dem Fluss des Geschehens, und auch die Adjektiva umschreiben etwas, das sie nicht begreifen
und nennen. Die Worte sind nicht scharf
umrissen ; sie haengen mit ihren Wurzeln noch
im Erdreich einer Erfahrung, die sie mit ehrfuerchtigen Haenden umhegt. Sie sprechen von einem
Geheimnis, das sich nicht voll ans Licht bringen
laesst.
Ehrfurcht, die Ehrfurcht vor dem Geheimnis,
ist in Baeck, und sie webt eine Aura um ihn
selbst ; er floesst sie ein. Er hat, glaube ich,
keine Feinde ; es ist Frieden in ihm und um ihn ;
so ist er umschirmt von dem Volk, das er beschirml hat. Vielbeschaeftigt, ruht er doch im
Grunde und macht dessen Tiefe offenbar : so
kann auch die Existenz rein als solche eine
"Verkuendigung" sein. Das Geheimnis, um das er
weiss,^st das Geheimnis der Schoepfung. Der
Grund, in dem er wurzelt, ist nicht nur der einer
geschichtlichen Tradition. Es ist der Urgrund, der
unergruendliche Grund, aus dem—mit Buber zu
sprechen—" der ewige Kraftquell stroemt." Aus
ihm schoepfen wir. Seine Offenbarung ist das
Geheimnis des schoepferischen Menschen, der
sich so zugleich als Schoepfer und Geschoepf
betaetigt. Baeck hat das mit unvergleichlicher
Kraft in einer seiner schoensten Abhandlungen,
" Individiium ineffahile," ausgesprochen : " Alle
Schoepfung ist Offenbarung, d.h. Eintreten des
Einen, Ewigen in die Individualitaet ohne Ende,
und all dieses Eintreten, diese Offenbarung ist
eben die Schoepfung ; alles das, was ist, wie das,
was sein soil, kommt aus dem Einen, Ewigen
hervor und bezeugt ihn, und es ist unendlich,
eben weil es aus ihm hervorkommt."
Schoepfung geschieht in uns, solange wir uns
Continued at bottom of page 5
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Page 5
A PRECIOUS LEGACY
The number of people who feel the death of
Leo Baeck as a personal loss must be great. His
departure from our midst has taken away the
strongest remaining link between the present life
of the older generation and the world in which
they had their spiritual and intellectual origin.
It seems improbable, however, that any reflection
on such relevant but abstract fact should account
for the feeling of bereavement which came to
many homes with the sad message of November
2nd. We have lost a precious possession, of
which we always knew at the back of our mind
and which sometimes came to the foreground of
our consciousness : Leo Baeck's existence in this
country has given us an experience of personal
contact with human greatness, to which there was
no parallel in our life. In his unequalled gift for
kindness he felt it his duty to meet as a friend
everybody who had come to him once for advice
or encouragement whenever he saw him again.
That may seem an unimportant feature seen
against the background of the work for Judaism
and Jewry, which had been his task during a long
and dramatically eventful period ; but I believe
it was not unimportant for him. As a thinker and
preacher he sought for the religious roots of
genuine humanity, but more than anything else
he wished to live his ideal. It was this impulse
which brought heroism into the life of a humanist
when he stood up for the dignity of Man against
Nazi tyranny, and this friendliness, with which
he received all who came into his orbit, had the
same source.
To this task as magister vitae he subordinated
even his interest in scholarship and philosophical
thought, which remained intense with him to the
very end. But nevertheless it was the superiority
of his menial powers, almost equally dedicated to
the Jewish and to the Western tradition, which
was the main source of his authority before 1933.
This citizenship in two worlds defined his place
in the theological discussion, which was going on
in German Jewry. But he never became the
leader of a section, because he could never
accept an outlook where the emphasis was
concentrated on one aspect only. To dominate
men in any sense was completely alien to him ;
his work was to find common ground, lo establish
concord between men by appeal to the deepest
strata of their souls. To this purpo.se he applied
the polished art of his dialectics and his command
of language. At the height of his life he found the
most creative forces of contemporary Judaism in
two antagonistic camps : Hermann Cohen's
universalistic idealism and the new national
consciousness of the young generation. His endeavours as a thinker remained dedicated to the
task of working out an interpretation of Jewish
existence, in which both trends would lake their
place side by side. It is probably this aspect of
his life's work which will allow us to serve his
memory best. We cannot hope to pass on the
image of Leo Baeck, though it will be a part of
our life as long as we are here, but we must try to
keep the legacy of his written word alive as a
formative force for the future, in face of a period
inclined to accept simplification of thought as the
best basis for action.
"FUER DAS GANZE ZEUGEND"
" In der Sprache dieses Volkes,"
schreibt Leo Baeck in seinem letzten
Buche, " sind Treue, Wahrheit und Glaube
ein und dasselbe W o r t "
Vom Verstaendnis dieser Einheit aus kann man am
ehesten verstehen, wer Leo Baeck gewesen
isl.
Der Wurzelsinn jencs Wortes, aman,
laesst sich am besten durch " Beharren "
wicdergeben. Die Haende Mosc blicbcn
waehrend der Amalekschlacht signalhafl
in die Hoehe gestrcckt, " ein Beharren."
Wer in seinem Verhaeltnis zu seiner
Gemeinschaft unwandelbar beharrt, ihm
geschehc was da wollc, wird trcu genannt.
Wer das als recht Erkannte zuvcrlacssig
ausspricht und beharrlich verwirklicht,
ihm geschehe was da wolle, er und nur er
heisst wahr, Wer sich G o t t in solcher
Liebe ergibt, dass er im unverbruechlichen
Vertrauen zu ihm beharren kann, was
immer ihm von dem Unbegreiflichen her
widerfahre, ist der Glacubige. Diese drei
in einem sind Leo Baecks Existenz gewcscn.
In diesem Zeitalter der schwersten Probe
sind Maenner wie er, die gleichsam sinnbildlich fuer das Ganze zeugend beharren,
unser tcuerster Besitz.
QljoMn^P^
H A N S LIEBESCHUETZ
TALKING WITH ALBERT SCHWEITZER
Continued from page 4
nicht " im Starren wappnen "—nicht im Starren
der Gewohnheiten, aber auch nicht in dem toedlichen Schmerzes. Man kann den Toten die Treue
halten, nicht dem Tode. Das Chadesch jemeim
Kekedeni—" erneuere unsere Tage wie ehedem,"
nicht dass sie werden wie einsl (das kann und
soil nicht sein), aber wie Du sie auch vordem
immer wieder erneuert hast : dies Gebet findet
seine zunaechst nicht geglaubte Erfuellung in
denen, die sich—im Wissen um den Tod, auch
ums eigene Hinschwinden—doch dem Leben
erschliessen, dem Anspruch neuen Lebens Gehoer
geben und Gehorsam leisten.
"Diese Faehigkeit der Wiedergeburt" heisst es
in Baeck's Wege im Jiidentiim " ist die wahre
Religiosilaet. Aller Reichlum des Lebens, alle
seelische Begabung, alle innere Fuelle des
Photo: Enrico Pralt
Daseins ist darin gegeben. Immer wieder das
GeschatTensein, den Ursprung erfahren und zu
eigen gewinnen und damil aus allem blossen
Ereignis heraustieten, dieses Wiedererstehen ist
Verbundenheit mil Golt. Das erst und das
allein ist Religiositaet."
Das Geschoepfliche und das Schoepferische,
der ergebene und der entschlossene Wille,
Austragund Auftrag, Mystik und Ethik, "Geheimnis und Geboi," alle diese scheinbaren Gegensaetze
sind hier eins.
. . . . " Aller Alltag," sagt Baeck, hat fuer uns
" sein Sprechendes, seine Stimme aus der Tiefe,
alle Prosa ihr Gleichnis, ihr Wort aus dem
Verborgenen." Da ist " Versoehnung des Tages
mit der Ewigkeit, der Naehe mit der Feme, des
Daseins mit dem Sein " und mit dem Herrn des
Seins, dem " Ich bin, der Ist," dem Sein, in dem
sich das ewige Ich enlhuellt (" Wege im Judentum," S.424 ; " Dieses Volk," S.114).
In dieser Gegenwart des hocchsten Ich als des
eigenilichen Seins zu leben, das heisst das Leben
heiligen. Der Kuenstler tut es, der all das Hiesige
nicht so sehr fuer sich selber braucht, als dass er
fuchlt und als Auftrag versteht, wie es uns
braucht und seltsam uns angeht. Ihm isl gegeben,
" das einzelne zur allgemeinen Weihe " zu rufen,
das Vergaengliche ins Ewige zu transfigurieren.
Ins Herrliche gehoben, wild es dem Herrn des
Seins dargebracht. Voellig bewusst ist diese
Verherrlichung freilich nur im Sakrament, im
Feier-lag und Weihespiel des religioesen Lebens,
in dessen Segensspruechen wir Juden ganz
eigentlich das Leben segnen. Wir segnen noch
dies das Zeitliche Segnen selber, naemlich den
Tod. Wir tun es im Kaddisch, im Trinken des
Leidenskelches. Baeck wie Buber, haben sich
fuer dies sakramentale Leben als den Weg des
Menschen auf Weg und Weisung des Chassidismus berulen, diese Emeuerung der Lchre " dass
nichls in der Welt leer und ungeweiht, nichts
profan ist, dass in allem ein Heiliges sich verbirgt
und seiner Erioesung harrt, dass es darum Gebot
fuer den Menschen ist, im Gemeinen dieses
Heilige zu suchen, um es zu befreien, damit alle
die Wesen auf Erden, die vielen, init dem einen
Wesen, dem Ewigen, dem Heiligen geeint
wurden." ("Dieses Volk," S.122). Dies sind
Baeck's Worte, und alle Buecher Buber's, nicht
nur die chassidischen, sind " Stadien auf diesem
Lebenswege." Sie sind Schrilte im Gang eines
Lebens, das noch im Vergehen sich fasst, in Gang
setzt und darbringt, eines noch in der Bedrueckung gehobenen und geweihten Lebens, das
wir wie eine Liturgie zu zelebrieren suchen—
muehsam oft, doch willig dem Vorgang der
ewigen Weisheit folgend : " Ich war bei Ihm, wie
em Pflegling, alles ordncnd, und zwar in Entzuecken. Tag um Tag, spielend auf Seinem
wohnlichen Erdkreis." Diese Weisheit—unsere
Vaeter haben sie in Schmerzen erworben.
Baeck hat uns leibhaft bezeupt, wie man sie in
Schmerzen bewaehrt.
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Page 6
Rabbi Dr. Ignaz
EMBODIMENT OF
Maybaum
THE GREAT RABBI
The annus mirabilis in Leo Baeck's creative
life is 1905 when he published his Wesen des
Judenlums. To this statement has to be added at
once that the other publications which Baeck
published afterwards are more important to
Jewish learning, than this Jewish classic of 1905.
But his Wesen des Judentunis was more than a
contribution to the world of letters. It was the
action by which a rabbi made himself the leader
of his generation which was in dire need of
guidance in a perplexing situation. Numerous
are the books in which others followed Leo
Baeck's example and wrote their own Wesen
des Judenlums. Most of these books cannot
escape the criticism that they belong to the type
of Jewish writing which give, what has been
called, " Quotation-Judaism." Through encyclopaedic compilation of texts no help is rendered to a new generation which has to be
brought again before Sinai. Leo Baeck's
Wesen des Judentums was a creative action
which mastered the dangerous situation in which
Jewry of the liberal age found iLself The threat
came from the possibility of a disintegration. If
the difference between Judaism and Christianity
is as negligible as the liberal age saw it, why
stress this difference ?
Baeck gave the answer. Harnack had in 1900
published his Wesen des Christentunis. In 1928
Harnack's book had 71,000 reprints and was
translated into 15 languages. It was the classic
of liberal Christianity. A Christianity was
expounded which recommended itself to the
educated class of society as a faith in which the
old Christian dogma was no longer visible. The
New Testament can be valued because—to
quote H a r n a c k ^ we find in it " the highest and
purest message about God and the good." This
liberal view of Christianity has later been called
" Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark." But
in the decades before the first World War it was
convincing. From this historic background
Baeck's We.sen des Jiideniunis must be seen.
A Challenge of our Age
Baeck stood up to a challenge in the face of
which Moses Mendelssohn was still helpless.
Lavater offered Mendelssohn a Christianity in
harmony with the philosophy of reason. Mendelssohn withdrew into his Judaism, his Phaedon is
the document of his unshakable Jewish faith
but an answer to Lavater it was not. In Baeck we
see the changed historic situation. Modern
Jewish learning had advanced; the Jewish
theology which Abraham Geiger yearned to
establish had come to the fore and could express
Jewish ideas in the language of the new age. In
Leo Baeck a Jewish theologian appeared on
the scene who could answer a Christian theologian
of world repute.
All who have known Baeck personally will
remember him as the man whose kindness is
unforgettable. To conclude from this kindness
thai he was as a theologian for neutrality or
compromise is absolutely wrong. This man, who
was always prepared to see the point of view of
the numerous people who came to see him, was
determined and unmovable as a theological
writer. He was passionate in his Romanti.iche
Religion to a point which will amaze everyone
who reads this work. In this Jewish treatise
against Pauline Christianity he was as outspoken
as were those in the medieval Jewish-Christian
disputations who stood up for their Jewish faith.
When, in old age, Baeck returned lo this subject
in his Essay " The Faith of Paul," published in
this country (The Journal of Jewish Studici1952), he did not change his principal point of
view but amplified it with wise words about the
possibility of Jewish-Christian co-existence. The
experience of the years before and after 1933
made the Jewish theologian, Baeck, the speaker
for a Jewish-Christian co-operation against the
new paganism. Here and on other occasions,
Baeck who for decades taught and admonished
his fellow Jews, took up a new office : he spoke
to the Christian world. The theological writer
Leo Baeck became a prophetic figure.
Franz Rosenzweig made his blissful appearance
with the flashlike vehemence of a miracle. His
impact on Jewish life can not yet be assessed by
the historian. He will influence us posthumously
even more than he did throughout his life.
Martin Buber is the good companion of diverse
groups. History will decide to which of his
achievements the Jewish people owe their
greatest debt of gratitude.
Leo Baeck's leadership was the leadership of
the teacher, so different from the leadership of
the politician. Throughout his life Leo Baeck
remained the man who was the son of a rabbi,
and remained what his father was. He lived with
his congregation. Eventually World Jewry
became his congregation. Leo Baeck was both
the Rabbi from the time of his father and the
Rabbi to whom the rabbis of the future will have
to look as their model. He was the rabbi of
both the Babylonian Talmud and the European
Talmud. After Baeck rabbinical leadership is
only possible as the kind of leadership which he
had exercised.
Baeck's greatness cannot be expected in every
rabbi. Greatness does not come to man through
his own effort. Greatness is like blessing. It is
given by God. God gave it to Leo Baeck. But
this greatness must not become an obstacle for
GERMAN-JEWISH
HERITAGE
In Leo Baeck German Jewry possessed its
most authentic representative. He was the
living embodiment and the most mature
expression of its collective individuality.
His survival of the holocaust symbolised the
carrying over from the past into the future of
what was most precious in the GermanJewish heritage. In the noble, upright figure
of Baeck—a legend already during his lifetime—we venerated both the man and the
tradition for which he stood.
Everyone of Baeck's utterances bore the
impress of a spirit that was at home in
Judaism and in the world, without any split
between them. To be in his presence meant
being raised lo a higher level of experience:
to share and feel secure in the openness and
fidelity of his mind.
We gratefully acknowledge all we owe to
him and bless his memory.
Rabbi Dr. A. ALTMANN
the many who have to follow his example. The
rabbi of the future must be like Leo Baeck,
even if only in a most humble way. He will have
lo be the student of Talmud and Midrash and
also of the works written by the men of the
European Talmud, from Moses Mendelssohn to
Franz Rosenzweig, and to those who follow
afterwards in this new chain of the old tradition.
Talmud torah, as the Jewish people, eternally
proceeds from generation to generation.
Leo Baeck
ii
UM DER MENSCHHEIT WILLEN99
hinschauen: war ihm seine Zukunft nicht
gewaehrt, so war auch der Menschheit keine
Zukunft
gegeben. Und wenn es nach einem
Volk auf Erden.
Wege ausblickte, der zuletzt zu Tagen der
Sein Weg hat es durch Tage und bisweilen
Menschheit hinfuehren wuerde, dann musste
durch Zeiten gefuehrt, und wohl auch der Gedanke des Gerichts in ihm erwachen,
fuehren muessen, in denen cs ihm zu seiner der Gedanke der ahndenden, ewigen GerechGeschichte wurde, dass es die Menschheit tigkeit, die allein der Menschheit den Platz
suchte und nicht fand. Eine fremde Well schaffen wird. Um der Menschheit willen
stand ihm gegenueber, bitter und hart, kalt musste dieser Gedanke lebendig werden.
und grausam, eine Welt des Unrechts, des Denn nur wenn das Strafgericht Gottes sie
Unvcrstandes, des Frevels. Eine sittliche alle Iraf, diese Herren und Knechte des
Kluft, ein seelischer Abgrund schien sich Frevels ueberall, dann wuerden die Laender
aufgetan zu haben, es stand allein da. Wenn dort wieder rein werden und frei und weit,
es um sich blickte, sah es nirgends die Staette, so dass die Menschheit dort nun leben
wo die Menschheit war. Um der Menschheit koennte. Es ist ein Zorn, ein gluehender Zorn
willen musste es sich von den vielen Voelkern
oft, der hier spricht, abcr in ihm suchen
geschjeden fuehlcn.
Dem Verfasser des
die Menschheitssehnsucht und das MenschBuches Daniel, dem Vater der Apokalypsen,
heitsgewissen ihren Ausdruck. Es ist darin
erschienen einst alle die grossen Reiche, die
mehr Menschlichkeit als in manch suessem
Herren der Macht und der Kultur, im Bilde
Sange vom Menschen. Der Geist eines
von wilden Tieren, und nur sein Volk sah er
Menschheitsvolkes ringt hier. Der Ruf
in menschlichem Bilde.
" zum Bunde der Voelker " hat hier die Seele
Dachle dieses Volk in solchcn Tagen an die ergrilTen.
. . . In einem Bunde, der alle Voelker in
sich schliesst, ihnen alien gilt, steht dieses
Zukunft der Menschheit, dann konnte es nur,
ja dann musste es, zu seiner eigenen Zukunft
{Aus " Dieses Volk"
Europaeische Verlagsanstalt Frankfurt a. M.)
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Page 7
H. G. Adler
LEO BAECK IN THERESIENSTADT
1
Zur Erfiillung der Sendung aller Weiscn
gehort das Leid, es ist keiner gross geworden,
der durch seine Schrecknisse nicht hindurchgeschritten wiire Seltsam : nach dem Tage
der Vollendung, und in den darautfo'genden
Zeitcn noch immer mehr, verklart sich die
Tragik selbst der dunkelsten Gcschehnisse.
die Nachwelt sieht nur noch den Sieg und
vielleicht sogar den Triumph. Doch wollen
wir vorsichtig sein, so nahc den Schatten, die
uns noch umgeben, das Wort Triumph zu
sagen, das Leo Baeck cntschieden von sich
gewiesen htitte Wahr bleibt aber, dass alles
Ueberwundene uns im Lichte der Verkliirung
erscheint, und so ist es auch gut, denn nicht
von der voUzogenen Bosheit, nicht vom
Ungluck lernen wir, sondern von den
unablassigen Bemiihungen, ihm zu widerstehen und zu seiner Ueberwindung beizutragen.
Jeder grosse Mensch reprasentiert durch
sein Leben und Wirken die gesamte Menschheit, doch in seiner personlichen Eigenart:
er steht fiir etwas da, fUr seinen Gott, fiir
sein Volk, fiir seine Ueberzeugung, fiir seinen
Auftrag. Leo Baecks Auftrag war der
Dienst an seinem Volke, an seiner weitgespannten Gemeinde in dunkelster Zeit. Daher
muss heutc in un.serer Trauer und spiiter bei
jeder Wiirdigung Leo Baecks seines Lebens
und seiner Tatigkeit in den 30 Monaten
gedacht werden. die er sich in Theresienstadt
aufhielt.
Bestehen vor dcr Wirkiichkeit
Wohl wird jeder voni Lcben gereift, wie er
auch sci, aber wer Wesentliches verkorpert,
iindert sich nicht; Leo Baeck war wescntlich.
Schwachc und miide Menschen zerbrachen an
der Wirkiichkeit eines Konzentrationslagers,
an der gespenstischen Wirkiichkeit von
Theresienstadt mit seiner betorenden Scheinwelt. Eine starke Personlichkeit wurde von
ihr nicht verschont, auch sie wurde gepackt
und geriJttelt, aber sic blieb bestehen, eben
weil sie wesentlich war. In der bedriickenden
Nichtigkeit alles Unwesentlichcn, alles Verganglichen, hatte Leo Baeck nicht nur
Bestand, er war nicht nur fiir sich .selbst da,
wie es so manchen Lagergefiihrten gliickte,
die sich hier zu bewiihren wussten, nein, er
zeigte und lehrtc, wie es nur ganz wenige und
schwerlich dann so beispielhaft vermochten,
uns alien den wahren Bestand. Er lehrtc
uns, was wesentlich war, er bewies uns, was
wesentlich ist und bleibt.
Dies ist es wahrscheinlich, was um die
iiusseren Umstiindc von Leo Baecks
Aufenthalt im Lager sehr bald schon, gleich
nach dcm Kricge, Legenden gerankt hat,
uber die Leo Baeck im Gesprach oft liichelte.
ohne ihnen cntgcgenzutretcn. Er sagtc:
" Wie ich es auch anstelle, sie verstehen es
doch nicht, und kaum habe ich elwas ausgesprochen, so stellen sie es auch schon anders
dar." Zu dieser Legendenbildung wollen
wir keineswegs beitragen, denn dies hiesse die
Wahrheit verkennen, die Leo Baeck teuerer
war als alles andere. Es ist niemandem damit
gedient, aus ihm einen Wundcrmann zu
machen, vor dem die graue Wirklichkcit sich
in eitel Licht verwandclt hiitte. So war es
A
nicht, und ich glaube auch : es ist richtig,
dass es sich anders verhielt. Leo Baeck
wollte nie mehr, aber auch nie weniger, als
ein Mensch sein. Das hiess fiir ihn: immer
bemiiht bleiben, immer zur Stelle sein, nie
der Bequemlichkeit nachgeben, das Mdgliche
leisten, Bcispiel geben, aufmuntern, triisten,
aber auch noch Eines: immer der eigencn
Schwiiche und Unzuliinglichkcit cingedenk
sein. So erforderte es nicht nur die Uemut,
sondern mehr noch dcr ungctriibte Sinn fiir
die Wirkiichkeit.
Grenzen der Hilfe
In den iitzenden Einschriinkungen, denen
ein jeder in der Seelenwiiste Theresienstadt
unterworfen war, erwies es sich als besonders
wichtig, die engen Grenzen zu erkennen, die
dem Men.schen gesetzt sind. Diese engen
Grenzen haben hier einen einfachen Namen
—sie heissen Hilfe. Wenn etwa 1000 oder
2000 Menschen aus Thcresienstadt verschickt
werden solltcn, und es einem bekannt war,
dass damit iiber die Opfer das wahrscheinliche Todesurteil ausgesprochen war, dann
wiire ja nur eines die entscheidende Hilfe
gewescn, niimlich: dieses Ungliick abzuwenden. Das konnte keiner, und das konntc
auch nicht Leo Baeck. Er konnte nur zu
jenen Juden gehen, die in grausamster
Vcrstrickung sich dem Zwange ergaben. als
Helfershclfer bei dcr Vcrnichtung ihrer
Gefiihrten zu wirken, fiJr Bedrohte zu
bitten, die seine Hilfe erbeten hattcn. Mchr
zu tun. ohne selbst zum Helfcrshclfer zu
werden, das iiberstieg die gestecktcn Grenzen.
Er wusste es und hat daruntcr in fheresienstadt und in den Jahren danach uncndlich
gelitten. Dies anders darzustellcn, wiire
Lcgcnde, auf die wir verzichten, ja wir
glauben sogar, dass wir dem Gediichtnis des
Verehrten besser dienen, wenn wir diese
bitterste Wahrheit eingestehen.
Was aber bleibt dann noch zu verehren ?
Dcr Widerstand des Herzens, die Strcnge
gegen sich selbst, die Milde gegeniiber scincn
Niichsten, die nicht Strengc gegen seine
iiberwindlichen Miingel ausschliesst, und
schliesslich Hilfe, doch nur sehr viel Hilfe.
Gewiss, wir sahen es bereits, Hilfe mit oft
gebundenen Hiinden, aber doch so viel Hilfe,
dass wir alle die Leo Baecks Tatigkeit in
Theresienstadt
ein
wenig
beobachten
konnten, und die wir die Priifung mit ihm
Iciblich Uberdaucrn durften, davon fUr unser
weiteres Leben reich zu zehren haben.
Woran das lag, ist im Rahmen eincs kurzen
Aufsatzes schwer zu beantworten, aber es
wiire auch noch .schwierig, wenn wir einen
ausfUhrlichen Bericht versuchen wollten,
denn es war Leo Baecks Eigenart, sich jedem
so zu eroffnen. als ware gerade er der
Vertraute, der alles wissen diirfe. wiihrend es
sich bald zeigte, dass andere ganz anderes
wussten.
Schon bald nach Leo Baecks Ankunft am
28. Januar 1943 sprach es sich nicht nur
unter den Juden aus Deutschland, die ja
meist schon von ihm wussten, sondern auch
weitgehend unter den iibrigen Gefangenen
herum, dass hier ein besonderer Mann
gekommen sei, jemand, der sich nicht damit
begniigte. dass man ihm die zweifelhaften
Ehren einer Icitenden Stellung in der gefesselten " Selbstverwaltung " iibertragen hatte.
aber etin Mann, der seine Aufgabc ganz
anders iibernahm als die meisten seiner
Mitarbeitcr, ohne doch je Trager eines
Widerstandes zu werden. wie wir ihn nach
dem ehrwiirdigcn Beispiel Warschaus und
anderer Lager im Osten verstehen. Gewiss
hiitte er sich auch einer politischen Widerstandsbewegung nicht versagt, aber die kam
bei dcr geselLschaftlichen Zusammensetzung
der Gefangenen von Thercsienstadt gar nicht
in Frage. Hingegen begrilf sich Leo Baeck.
cr hat es .selbst ausgesprochen, als Mittelpunkt eines sittUchen Widerstandes. Er
praktizierte und lehrte ihn, das heisst, er
verhielt sich so, wie sich seinen Begrilfen
nach cin Mensch immer und iiberall und
unter alien noch so widrigen Umstiinden zu
verhalten hat, giitig. wahrhaftig und wohlwollend. Das wurde vielen Insassen des
Lagers deutlich, auch wenn sie nicht wissen
konnten, wie sich Leo Baeck in den Silzungen
des Aeltestenrates betrug, wie er auf den
Judeniiltesten einzuwirken trachtete, wie er
in den verschiedenen internen Haupt- und
Nebcnamtern des Lagers, zu denen er als
Mitglied des Aeltestenrates freien Zutritt
hatte, stets bemiiht war, gerade fiir die
Aermsten, fiir die Greise und Kranken, eine
gerechte Behandlung, eine ordcntliche
Verteilung dcr Nahrung, der Kleidung und
anderer Giiter zu erreichen.
Mitleid und Feuer
Freilich gab cs dcr Ungerechtigkeiten zu
viele, und jeder Tag war nur kurz. so dass
selbst von diesem nie Erlahmenden nur ein
Teil von dem geleistet werden konnte, was
er durchzusetzen wiinschte. Aber allein das
Mitleid und das Feuer, mit dem er sich eines
Falles annahm, strahlte auf die Menschen aus
wie die Gnade selbst. Sie hatten das Gcfiihl,
nicht vcrlas.sen zu sein, und das war schon
das Wichtigste. Wie oft habe ich es gehort,
dass jemand sagte : " Ich gehe zu Herrn Dr.
Baeck " oder " Herr Dr. Baeck weiss schon
davon," und das allein verlieh schon Kraft,
Ausdauer oder doch zumindest Trost. Oft
waren es die hochgchaltcnen Mizwoth, die er
nie vernachliissigte, von dencn sehr viel
Freude auf die Gefangenen ausstrahlte:
Krankenbesuche (fast immer mit cinem
herbeigezauberten
kleinen
Geschenk),
Besuche nach Sterbefiillen, Besorgen kleiner
Begiinstigungcn fiir besonders Benachteiligte, etwa fiir Blinde und Kruppel.
Doch selbst von dicsen rcich gespendeten
Beweisen unermiidlicher Sorge fur Einzelne
wie fiir die Gesamtheit ging noch nicht so
viel Wirkung aus wie von Leo Baecks
Tatigkeit als Rabbiner, Lehrer, Vortragender, als—um es mit einem Wort zu sagen—
Erzicher seines Volkes, zu dcm wir wie zu
cinem Vater aufblicken durften. Leo Baeck
war fiir uns in Theresienstadt. Er war ganz
gegenwiirtig, er hat sich uns nicht entzogen.
Er hat seinen Auftrag crfUllt. Wir haben
ihn nicht immcr verstanden, weder den
Auftrag noch den Menschen Leo Baeck, abcr
die Ehrfurcht, die ihn erfiillte, fuhrte uns und
liess auch uns ehrfiirchtig werden, denn wir
fiihlten, dass der Herr mit diesem scinem
getreuen Knecht war. So waren wir nicht
ganz verloren.
Page 8
Rabbiner
Dr. M.
Eschelbacher
FUEHRUNG DER DEUTSCHEN RABBINER
Leo Baeck ist 1922 zum Vorsitzenden des
Nach dem Krieg und der Vernichtung
Allgemeinen Rabbinerverbandcs in Dcutsch- tauchte er, in jeder Gefahr geheimnisvoll.
land gcwiihlt worden, und cr hat diesc Wiirde wundcrbar, behiitet, aus der Sintflut auf als
bis zum schrecklichen Endc durch zwanzig der natiirliche Rcpriisentant der deutschen
Jahre hindurch beklcidet. Seine drei Vor- Rabbiner. Er driingte auf einen Zusammenganger, Sigmund Maybaum, Jakob Gutt- schluss der noch ueberlcbcnden mit den
mann, und Nehemias Anton Nobel, waren, wenigen, die noch, odcr wieder, auf dem
jeder in seiner personlichcn, unnachahmlichen Kontinent wirkten, er war die treibende Kraft
Weise, hervorragendc Miinncr, und Baeck bei der .SchalTung eines Europiiischen Rabschliesst ihrc Reihe gliinzend ab.
binerverbandes und der Vorsitzende auf
Der Rabbinervcroand war " Allgemein," dessen Tagung in Mondorf, im Herbst 1955.
d.h. er umschloss die Kollcgen allcr Dort erhob cr die Forderung, dass nach dem
Richtungen. Ausserhalb stand nur die Tren- Untergang des deutschen Judentums seine
nungsorthodoxie Ein Mann, der das ganze besondere jiidisch-deutsche Tradition crhalJudentum in sich darstellte, rnusste ihn fiihrcn ten und der Nachwelt weitergegeben werden
und die verschiedenartigen, oft einander miisse. Eine weitere Tagung sollte vor
widerslrebenden Richtungen zur Einheit einigen Monaten in Briisscl abgehalten
zusammenfassen. Bacck war dafiir die werden. Sic ist nicht zustande gekommen.
berufene Pcrsonlichkeit.
Der Vcrband weil Baeck schon krank war und nicht hiittc
erslrebte " die Wahrung der Wiirde und des teilnehmcn konnen. Er war einer der sellenen
An.sehens des Rabbinerstandes."
Baeck Menschen. die durch ihre Abwesenheit nicht
gehorte der grossen Welt an, der jiidischen, weniger wirken. als durch ihre Gegenwart.
wie der nichtjiidischen. und war dadurch der Bei dem ergreifenden Trauergottcsdicnst in
Repriiscntant seines Standes vor einer weiten der West London Synagogue hat ciner dcr
Oeffentlichkeit. Der Vcrband hatte zum Ziel Rabbincr vom Kontinent, Melchior aus
" die Fordcrung .seiner Milglicdcr in amtlicher Kopenhagen, die Gedcnkredc, die seiner
und wissenschafllicher Tiiligkeit." Dcr Autor wiirdig war, gehalten, ein Symbol von Baeck
des " Wesen des Judentums," der Rabbiner als der Vcrkorperung des Rabbiners, nicht nur
grosser Gemeinden, dcr akademische Lehrer des deutschen, nein. auch des europiiischen
an der Lehranstall fiir die Wissenschafl des Judentums.
Judentums, wie spiiter am Hebrew Union
Auf einer Ausschussitzung des Verbandes
College in Cincinnati war auch nach dieser in frohlicheren Zeiten hat Kaatz-Zabrzc bei
Tisch Baeck gefeiert. Wenn cin Kind geboren
Richtung der kundige Fiihrer.
In den Ausschus.silzungcn des Verbandes werdc, sagte er, komme eine gute Fee und
wurden die Fragen der Zeit, des Judentums kiisse das Neugeborenc. Kiisse sie es auf die
und des Standes lebendig. .Stunden, die wir Stirn, dann werde es ein grosser Denker,
hier diskutierend, mit einander iibcreinstim- wenn auf die Brust in der Gegend des Herzens,
mend und mil einander ringend, verbracht ein guter Mensch, wenn auf den Mund, cin
haben, bleibcn jedem Teilnehmer unvcrgess- grosser Redner, und wenn auf den Arm, ein
lich. Die letzte Sitzung hat am 8. Juni 1938 tatkriiftiger Mann. " Unseren lieben Leo
in Miinchen stattgefunden. Sie war von Baeck," .schloss er. " hat die gute Fee auf Stirn
tiefer ,Sorge um das Schicksal des deut.schen und Herz, auf Mund und Arm gekiisst." Mit
Judentums iibcrschaltet. Wahrend der Vcr- Grazie und Hcilcrkeil hat er damit auf die
handlungen wurdc dcr Parnos der Miinchener giitige Vorsehung hingewjosen, die durch die
Gemeinde, Geheimrat
DIE WUERDE DES DEUTSCHLN .lUDENTUMS"
Neumeyer,
herausgerufen.
Er kam
y^ ^UwA I ^ '^ H ^ l/y^K. MJLtx W w
zuriick,
gebrochen,
vernichtet. Auf dem
Ministcrium war ihm
Hvti^ iWU*. M v ^ / w /^»^Wl, P V ^
br>>ib^.
erdlfnet worden, die
Synagoge werde abgerissen, dcr Abbruch
beginnc morgen. Wir
fanden uns wenige
t^ ^ JM. /n-'>ny^^ ^
^ j ,
^ ^ ^ Ju Jt%U^
Stunden spiiter in dem
dem
Untergang
geweihten Gotteshaus
mit der entsetzten, vor
Schmerz
erstarrten
Gemeinde zu eincm
iitj tJh UJi^.
/ ! - • 'wi/^UM^^ jCi
Trauergottesdienst zusammen. Baeck war
immer zuriickhaltend,
sein inneres Leben hat
er auch im Kreise
seiner Kollcgen nicht
offenbart. Aber solch
eine Schicksalsstunde
verbindet die. die sie
Seite an Seite mit
einander erieben, fUr
Brief nach einem Besuch im Londoner Altersheim
immer.
^k
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Fiille ihrer Gaben Baeck zu dem gemacht hat,
was er geworden ist, zum Repriisentanten des
dcutschen Judentums, und in diesem Rahmen
auch zum Vorsitzenden des Allgemeinen
Rabbinerverbands in DeuLschland.
THE GRAND PRESIDENT OF THE
B'NAI B'RITH IN GERMANY
The Jewish history, in retrospect, has always
proved that God has not forsaken Israel. In the
three thousand years of the development of
Judaism each generation has given birth to men
who were the leading spiritual power in times of
unceasing oppression. In our generation this
personality was Leo Baeck. All facets of Jewish
life and spirit were focused in him. When the
catastrophe occurred in 1933 the leading posidons
of all important organisations in German Jewry
were vested in him.
Dr. Baeck had been elected Grand President of
the German district of the Order of B'nai B'rith
in 1924. This world-wide Jewish society was
founded in America in 1843 by an engineer
Henry Jones, from Hamburg, together with some
of his associates, with the idea of harmonising
Ihe immigrants' Jewish heritage with the culture
of their new homeland. After, under the principles of Benevolence, Brotherly Love and
Harmony, many societies of this kind, called
Lodges, had spread over North America, the
first Lodge in Europe was installed in Berlin.
This was the beginning of District VIII of the
Order of the B'nai B'rith. The Lodges in Germany influenced the spiritual and social life of the
Jewish congregations by valuable suggestions in
welfare work and by deepening the religious
spirit. When the Nazis came into power there
existed in Germany 103 Lodges with 13000
members. They were dissolved by the Nazi
regime in 1937.
Altogether four Grand Presidents succeeded
each other leading the Lodges in Germany during
thefifty-fiveyears of their existence. The greatest
of them was Leo Baeck. The ideal of the B'nai
B'rith was the unity of mankind. It was rooted in
the general belief of the nineteenth century. In a
very important address in 1928 Dr. Baeck defined
this idea in a modified way. He said that the
world situation in general and the Jewish situation
in particular had changed alter the First World
War, especially because of the rise of Zionism
and the upsurge of anti-Semitism. A new conception of the Lodges' " Menschheilsideal " was
necessary. It meant that a man could only serve
humanity if he was true to himself and to the
community from which he originates. " We
experience human society as our Jewish society.
Man in general is a distant, abstract aim, the
Jew is a positive beginning. The ideal becomes
in this way more concrete, more personal . . .
Not away from Judaism, but through our
Judaism the way leads to the fulfillment of our
idea of humanity."
This address put forward a programme which
was not approved by all his listeners. When,
however, the Nazi persecution of the Jews took
place a few years later, we all agreed that his
words had been a prophetical vision and that Dr.
Baeck had proved right. In the beginning of
those terrible times he appealed to the Lodges to
open the doors as wide as possible to the youth,
to younger persons. The years of trouble and
danger have, of course, even more than normally
concentrated the work of the Order on practical
help.
Once more, a year ago, Baeck welcomed the
new" District Grand Lodge Continental Europe"
on the occasion of its installation at Basle, In
an address showing deep insight into life and
history, and with intensive wisdom, he explained
the hopes for the future of the Order B'nai
B'rith. He was the embodiment of the ideal and
the principles of this great ethical society.
Rabbi Dr. ARTHUR LOEWENSTAMM
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Ellen
Page 9
Littmann
UNSER LEHRER
Mit Leo Baeck ist ein grosser Lehrer des
Deutschen Judentums von uns gegangen.
Fuer viele seiner Schuelcr—das Wort moge
hier in seinem umfassendsten Sinne genommen sein—bedeutete die Beruehrung mit Leo
Baeck und seiner Leihre einen wirklichen
Wendepunkt in ihrcm Leben. In ihm begegneten wir cinem Menschen voll des Wissens
um Juden und Judentum, voll auch des
Wissens in alien geisteswissenschaftlichen und
humanistischen FLichern.
Viel, sehr viel
konntcn wir in .seinen Vorlesungen und
Uebungen ueber Midrasch und vergleichende
Religion.sgeschichte, ucber Homiletik und
PLidagogik des Religionsunterrichtes Icrncn ;
grossartig war oft der Weg, auf dem er uns
mit den altcn hebraischen Quellcn bekannt
machte und uns ihre tiefere Bedcutung ahnen
liess ; aber das alles—so wichtig, so schon
und interessant es auch immcr gewesen sein
mag—es war nicht das Einzige, nicht das
Wesentlichc, das Leo Baeck uns zu geben
vemiochte.
Wie kaum einer wusste Leo
Baeck um die erhabenen Ideen dcr Religion,
noch tiefer aber spuerte er den innersten
Regungen religiosen Erlebcns nach, denn er
selbst war ein Mann tiefer Religiositiit.
Fuer viele von uns, die im alien Rationalismus des liberalen Judentums erzogen waren,
war es Leo Baeck, der ihnen als Erster den
Weg wies in das Irrationale, der es sie
erfas.sen liess, dass allc echte Religiositiit
ihre Wurzeln im Gehcimnis hat, dass alles
Leben aus dem Gchcimnis kommt um wiedcr
ins Geheimnis zurueckzukchren. Sein Wort
auf der Kanzel wie im Horsaal hatte bis in
seine letzten Tage hinein eine geradezu
faszinierende Kraft, es stromte von ihm ein
Fluidum aus, das wie ein Funke auf den
andcrcn uebcrsprang. Was immcr cr sprach
und lehrte, seine voile cinzigartige Pcrsonlichkeit sprach aus ihm, stand hintcr jedem
seiner Worte Die echte Religiositiit war es,
die jeden anzog, der in seincn Bannkreis trat,
die ihn selbst dann noch anzog, wenn cr
inhaltlich nicht mit ihm uebercinzustimmen
vermochte.
In diescm weiten Sinne des
Wortes war er cin gros.ser Lehrer. F.r hat
es einmal selbst in einem seiner Aufsiitze
ausgesprochen,
dass
ReligiositLlt
und
Erziehung aus der gleichen Wurzel sind.
" Religiositiit ist eine nach innen gewandte
Erziehung, Erziehung eine nach aussen
gcrichtete Religiositiit; sie ist das Hinausdringen des bewussten frommen Eriebnisscs
vom eigenen Ich, von der eigenen seelischen
Welt zu dem Ich des anderen hin." (" Wege
im Judentum" S.160)
" Zu dem Teh des anderen hin."
Das
eigentlich ist es, wovon alle die zu erziihlcn
wissen, denen das Glueck beschieden war,
irgendwann und irgendwo in ihrcm Lcbcn in
eine nilhere Bezichug zu Dr. Bacck zu
treten. Er hatte eine wunderbare Fiihigkeit,
sich in den anderen hineinzuversetzen, den
anderen aus seinen eigenen Bedingungen
heraus zu verstehen. Nur der Philister, der
Spiessbuerger, der kleinliche Schulmeisterder immer recht bchaltcn muss, sie waren
ihm fremd, mit ihnen konnte er zuweilen
ungeduldig werden. Er hatte so viel liebevoUe Ehrfurcht vor jedcr echten Individualitiit, deshalb konnte er so vielen helfen
mit seiner alles Menschlichc umfassenden
Einsicht und mit scincm Wissen, aber auch
mit der aus wahrer Religiositiit fliessenden
rechten Tat zur rcchten Zeit. Es war in ihm,
bei aller selbstverstiindlichen Distanziertheit,
so viel von innercr Bescheidenheit, wie sie
nur wahre Grdsse kennt. Es ist, als hiitte
cr hier von sich selbst gesprochen, wenn cr
einmal in seincm "Wesen des Judentums"
(S.143) sagt: " Mit der wahren Demut verhiilt
es sich genau so wie mit der entsprechenden
Eigenschaft in dem Verhaltnis der Menschen
zu einander, der Bescheidenheit.
Es ist
garnicht so leicht, bescheidcn zu sein ; man
muss schon etwas gelcistet haben, um
bescheiden sein zu konnen."
Weil seine
Bescheidenheit ihre tiefsten Wurzeln in der
Ehrfurcht vor Gott und dem Menschen hatte,
machte er es den Menschen nicht schwer,
Hilfe bei ihm zu suchen und zu finden. Viele
wcrden sich heute dieser seiner Hilfe dankbar
erinnern.
Was war es nun um das Eigene seiner
Lehre Was machte ihn zu einem der letzten
gros.sen Lehrer im deutschen Judentum ?
Wenn man einmal wicder sein " Wesen des
Judentums " zur Hand nimmt, so findet man
in ihm, wo immer man es aufschliigt. einc
fast erdrucckende Fuelle von tief religiosen
Gefuehlen und Gedanken. von religioser und
philosophi.schcr Wcishcit. Und doch ist es
eigentlich ein Buch, in dem es nur um ein
Thema und seine mannigfaltigsten Variationen geht: " Gott und der Mensch " " Der
Mensch und sein Gott." Es sei mir deshalb
gcstattet, nur ein paar Siitze zu diesem Thema
hicr zu zitieren: -" Religion, die dcr Mensch
besitzt, besteht so nicht darin, da.ss er crkennt,
dass es einen Gott gibt.
Unscrc Religion
haben wir vielmehr erst damit, dass unser
Leben sich an ein Ewiges gekniipft weiss,
dass wir uns mit Gott verbunden fuehlen, dass
er unser Gott ist. Und er ist unscr Gott,
wenn wir wie das alte Wort es ncnnt ihn
lieben, wenn wir durch ihn unscr Vcrtrauen
und un.scre Demut, unseren Mut und unsere
Stille haben, wenn wir uns zu ihm crheben
und zu ihm betcn konnen, wenn sich unserem
Inncrstcn seine OITenbarung und sein Gebot
erschliesst."
" Dadurch erst wird die
Gottesidee religios, das erst gibt ihr ihre
religiose Kraft." (S. 99/100). " Nur wo der
Mensch nach seinem Gotte ruft, vermag er
ihn auch anzurufen . .. was immer im Gebete
sich ausspricht. ob Verlangcn nach Erhebung
der Seele zu ihrem Gotte, nach einem
reineren, freieren Leben, ob Verlangen nach
Errettung aus Not und Gefahr odcr nach
Erlosung von Suende und Schuld, ob Verlangen nach den Guetern des Lebens und
nach dem Wege des Segens, immer ist es
diese Spannung zwischen dem Gefuehl der
Erhabenheit Gottes und seiner Gegenwart,
woraus die Empfindung dessen, der zu dem
Ewigen seinem Gotte fleht, hervorquillt. . . .
Der Gott der Feme wird zum Gott der Niihe,
. . . Es ist das Ich des Menschen, welches
das alles erfahrt. mit Gott sich verbunden
weiss, das Ich, welches sein Du verlangt und
darum seine Zwiesprache mit Gott hiilt . . .
darum sein Du zu ihm spricht." (S. 108/9).
Grundthema seines Lebens
" In der ewigen Tiefe ist das Ich des
Menschen gegruendet und in der sittlichen
Tat tritt es hervor. um otfenbar zu werden.
Die Einheit vom Geheimnis und Gebot gibt
ihm seine wahre Einheit." " Gott offenbart
sich dem Menschen, und der Men.sch olTenbart sich seinem Gotte." (S. 130-131). Das
ist, wie mir scheint, das Thema, das sich
durch das ganze Buch zieht, das bei der
Behandlung aller Problcme, die zum " Wesen
des Judentums" gehoren, immer mit
anklingt, und das mit Stellen aus dem
juedischen Schrifttum zu belcgen Leo Baeck
nicht muede wird. Diesem Grundthema hat
er zu alien Zeiten seines Lebens neue Sciten
abzugewinnen gesucht.
Als er uns aus dem Lande der Holle, aus
Theresienstadt zurueckgegeben wurde, da
erfuhren wir es so mit einer fast erschiitternden Dcutlichkeit. dass seine Lehre im Leben
Stand gehalten hatte. ja dass sich in jhm
diese Lehre zu einer letzten Wirkiichkeit
gestaltet hatte. Von dieser letzten religiosen
Wirklichkcit, von cincr Seele, die nicht
gebrochen werden konnte von all dem
Furchtbaren, das ihn sein Gott erieben liess,
zeugt .sein in Theresienstadt zu Ende
geschriebenes Buch " Dieses Volk."
Das
nun aus dem "Ewigen," " Er. der ist"
wurdc, zeugt von der letzten, dcr tiefsten
Bindung, die Leo Baeck zu seinem Gotte in
den schwersten Jahren seines Lebens finden
konntc, auch wenn wir wissen, dass diese
Uebersetzung auf Buber-Rosenzweigschen
Einfluss zurueckgcht.
Vielleicht ist fuer ihn und seine Religiositael nichts charaklcrislischer in diesem neuen
Buch als das, was cr auf S.54 If. ucber
Gercchtigkcit und Rache sagt: " Die Rache,
die Vcrgcltung ist ausgenommen.
Sie ist
gleichsam Gottes Rcservat, sie ist sein
Geheimnis, dem menschlichcn Begreifen
und menschlichen Handeln verschlossen."
" Nur das Gebet des Menschen darf hier
seinen Weg haben, diescn Weg zu Gott hin."
" Der Mensch darf um dicsc Rache beten,
und das will sagen, cr soil ihrer barren, ihrer
geduldig sein." (S.54.) Dass Gott ihm diese
seine Geduld gelohnt hat, dass er ihn seiner
Familie und uns erhalten und ihn uns noch
fuer mehr als 10 Jahre als unseren Lchrer
wiedergegeben hat. dafuer sind wir alle tief
dankbar. Vier Tage vor seinem Tode hat
er den zweiten Teil dieses Buches fuer den
Druck fertig gemacht und signiert. So moge
cr auch nach seinem Tode durch das neue
Werk. wie durch seine alten. unser Lehrer
bleibcn ! Ein grosser Lehrer im deutschen
Judentum isl dahingegangen. Wir haben viel
an ihm verloren. Aus seinem Munde habe
ich einmal die feinsinnige Bemcrkung gehort,
dass, wie Hiob sclbst, so nur der Trauernde
und kein anderer zum Trost die Worte
sprechen darf: " Gott hat gegeben, Gott hat
genommen, der Name Gottes sei gelobt."
Wir seine Schueler auf der ganzen Welt
duerfen in wahrer Trauer um ihn sprechen:
Page 10
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Siegfried Moses {Jerusalem)
DER EXPONENT DES DEUTSCHEN
JUDENTUMS
Die folgenden Zeilen .sind einem im
"Mitteilungsblatt" (Tel Aviv) er.schienenen
Nachruf entnominen, den Dr. Siegfried
Mo.ses (Jeru.salem), Vize-Praesident des
" Council of Jews from Germany," verfasst
hat.
Als im Sommer 1933 untcr dcm Druck der
durch das national jozialistische Regime
geschaffenen Lage endlich eine Gesamtorganisation
der
deutschen
Judenheit
geschaffen wurde und die Reichsvertretung
der deutschen Juden ins Leben trat, da
ergaben i-ich mancherlei Probleme in Bezug
auf die Zusammen.setzung der neuen Korpeschaft und ihrer Leitung. Abcr in einem
Punkte gab es keine Zweifel oder Meinungsverschiedenheiten: uns alien war klar, dass
Dr. Baeck der Prasident der Gesamtorganisalion werden musste, weil er der Einzige war,
der als der legitime Sachwalter dcr Angelegenheiten des deutschen Judentums empfunden
wurde und das uneingeschriinkte Vertrauen
aller Gruppen und Schattierungen genos'.
Ich habe noch sehr lebhaft in der Erinnerung,
wie eine Delegation der Griindungsversammlung ihn in seiner Wohnung aufsuchte, um
ihm die Mitteilung zu iiberbringen. dass cr
zum Priisidenten der
Reichsvertretung
gewahlt worden sei; wie schicksalhaft diese
Wahl in sachlicher und per.sonlicher Hinsicht
war, konnten wir in jencm Augenblick nur
ahnen. . . .
Alle selbstverstandlich, dass Dr. Baeck Prasident dieser Organisation wurdc. . . .
In den letzen Jahren begann der Council,
sein Interesse auch kulturellen Aufgaben
zuzuwenden, und es wurde einc TochterOrganisation errichtet, deren Aufgabe es ist,
die Erinnerung an das deutsche Judentum
und seine Leistung durch Forschungen und
Verdffentlichungen wach zu halten. Dieser
Aufgabenkreis war naturgemiiss Dr. Baeck
in besonderem Masse teuer, und es war fiir
die Griinder der neuen Organisation selbstverstandlich, dass angcsichts seines Lebenswerks under seiner Personlichkeit die Institution seinen Namen tragen musste: " Leo
Baeck Institute of Jews from Germany";
Dr. Bacck wurde zum Priisidenten des
Instituts gewiihlt. . , .
Mit dem Heimgang von Dr. Leo Baeck
haben wir nicht nur eine reiche geistige
Persdnlichkeit
und
einen
verehrungswiirdigen Menschen verloren ; sondern wir
sind iirmer geworden um die Gestalt des
Mannes, der als Letzter die besten Traditionen
des deutschen Judentums verkdrperte und der
zum Symbol wurde fiir Alles, was dem
deutschen Judentum gemeinsam war.
Rudolf Callmann {New
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
REICHSVERTRETUNG
We, the former members of the Executive
Board of the Reichsvertretung der Deutschen
Juden, now residing in the United States, feel a
deep and everlasting obligation towards Leo
Baeck.
Under his leadership we were permitted to
participate in the guidance of Jewish life in the
gravest period of its destiny. His ideas, his far
reaching sight were the initiative and forever
moving force in our work. His unsurpassed
personality united us in a community which did
not despair in the face of the tremendous obligations which faced us then.
Jewish suffering, which we all shared, was grave.
But with Leo Baeck, and through him we knew
that the Jewish spirit could not be destroyed if
only people acknowledged their belief in this
spirit.
Our lives were then and are now deeply influenced by his personality. Our gratitude
towards him is eternal.
Rudolf Callmann
Max Gruenewald
Kurt Alexander
York)
EIN GROSSER MENSCH
Auf der Trauerkundgehung in New York am \ 5.November sprach Dr. Rudolf
Unter veninderten Umstanden trat Dr.
Callmann, Praesident der "American Federation of Jews from Central Europe,"
einU'itend die folgenden Worte :
Baeck nach Kriegsende wiederum an die
Spitze einer deutsch-jiidischen ZentralIn einer Stunde politischen Ernstes finden schrift: " Was ist der Mensch, dass Du sein
organisation. Im letzten Abschnitt dcs wir uns heute zusammen. So gesellt sich zur achtest."
zweiten Weltkrieges ergab sich zum ersten Trauer die Sorge, die Sorge um Israel, die
Wenn wir wussten, dass wir ihm begegnen
Mai seit der Auflosung der Reichsvertretung Sorge um vieles Andere, vielleicht um Alles.
fiir die Gruppen von aus Deutschland In solcher Stunde fuehlt man umso staerker wuerden, dann begannen wir unbewusst eine
ausgewandcrlen Juden. die in Jisrael, in den Vcrlust eines fuehrenden Menschen. innere Vorbereitung, und wer das Glueck
Amerika
und
England
lebten,
die Man sagt, jeder Mensch sci ersetzbar; das hatte, ihn allcine zu sprechen, durfte erMoglichkeit einer FiJhIungnahme. Anfang aber ist nicht wahr, wenn wir den Verlust warten, dass jedc Besprechung, jede Unterhaltung zum bedeutsamen, foerdernden Ge1945 beschlossen wir, wicder eine Gc;amt- eines grossen Menschen zu beklagen haben.
spraech
wurde, und er liebte es, in der Form
organisation deutscher Juden zu griinden,
Nichts ist im mcnschlichen Dasein gefreilich auf einer wcsentlich schmiileren Basis, walliger als das Erlcben cines grossen Men- des Apercu Richtung und Atmosphaere des
die dem so erhcblich verringerten Ausmass schen. Zumeist hoeren wir nur von ihm, Gespraechs zu bestimmen. Ob er lehrte oder
gemcinsamer Interesscn cntsprach: es enl- lesen ueber ihn, aber wir erieben ihn nicht. mit Einzelnen alleine war, ob er Versammstand der Council oF Jews from Germany. Wir abcr, die wir Leo Baeck gekannt haben, lungen oder Sitzungen der Reichsvertretung
Damals wussten wir nicht. ob Dr. Baeck noch sind vom Schicksal ausgczeichnct worden; und des Council leitete, die Ebene, auf der er
am Leben sei. Als er jedoch nach Kriegsende wir haben erfahren, was es heisst, von mensch- sprach, war immer hoch. Er zeigte, dass jede
aus Theresienstadt zurijckkehrte und in Lon- licher Groesse einen Hauch zu verspueren, Erscheinung des AUtags Bedeutung hat als
don Wohnsitz nahm. da war es wiedcrum fiir denn Leo Baeck, der in den letzten 2 | Jahr- das Lebendigwerden eines Prinzips, als das
Symptom eines Gesetzes.
zehnten fuer uns gelebt hat und nach dcin wir
MESSAGES
ausschaulen, wie nach eincm Leitstern, dessen
So sehr wir ihn nicht nur verehrten,
Among the numerous messages received hy the Hinscheiden in jedem Alter verfrueht gewesen
"Council of Jews from Germany" were the fol- waere war ein grosser Mensch. Er war gross sondern auch liebten, das Wort Freundschaft waere fuer unsere Beziehung zu ihm
lowing ones:
in der atemraubenden Kuehnheit seines
With profound sorrow we learned of passing of .seelischen und koerperlichen Mutes, er war nicht der passende Ausdruck gewesen;
Freundschaft setzt Gleichheit im Niveau, im
your President Doctor Leo Baeck. Over many
decades we had privilege of including him among gross in seiner geistigen Konzeption, er war Geben und Nehmea voraus. Er aber war,
our most valued leaders counsellors colleagccs gross in dcr Form, in dcr er auftrat, in der er wenn ich ein Schillersches Wort abwandein
and friends. His courageous leadership and sprach und schrieb.
darf, wie eine Erscheinung aus der Fremde:
devotion to Jewish causes were an inspiration to
Wir haben ihn verchrt und bewundert in Bescligend war seine Naehe und alle Herzen
our agency and World Jewry and his presence will den Aeusserungen seines Denkens und Han- wurden weit, doch eine Wuerde, eine Hoehe
be sorely missed. Please accept deepest sympathy
delns, in dieser einzigartigen Verbindung entfernte die Vertraulichkeit. Es gab eben
for both your Council and Family.
zu ihm keine Beziehung, die nicht durch
American Joint Distribution Committee von Geistes—und Tatinensch, und wir haben Scheu und Ehrfurcht ihre besondere Toenung
ihn geliebl in der ruehrenden Schlichthcit, der
Deeply grieved at loss your outstanding leader grossartigen Einfachheit seines Wesens. Er erhalten haette, und wie jeder von uns ihn
Rabbi Doctor Leo Baeck who represented haette es in seiner Demut wohl verstanden, in seiner Art erlebte, das werden Ihnen
boldest tradition German Jewry and whose great
jetzt diejenigen hier unter uns sagen, die
contribution to Jewish learning and thinking we dass ein Praesident von Harvard die Inschrift ihm in der traurigsten Epoche moderner
auf einem Gebaeude: " Der Mensch ist das
deeply respect and cherish.
World Jewish Congress Mass aller Dinge" unwandelte in die In- juedischer Geschichte begegnet sind.
Page II
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Menachem
Gerson {Kibbutz
Hasorea)
VERSTEHEN IM HUMANISMUS
seine inhaltsreichen Midrash-Vorlesungen genau
mit dem Glockenschlag am Morgen begann—
und doch nie ein hartes Wort den vielen Nachzueglern sagte. Wir merklen schon damals etwas
bei ihm vom Geist der Bewaehrung des Humanismus im Alltag. Aber im Grunde verstanden wir
ihn nicht. Er erschien uns als der Mann des
Kompromisses—und was koennte einer bewegten
Jugend ferner sein als das Kompromiss. 20
Jahre spaeter unterhielt ich mich mit Dr. Baeck in
London ueber diese Zeit. Seine Haltung ermoeglichte voile Offenheit im Gespracch. So erzaehlte
ich ihm, wir haetten in seinen homiletischen
Uebungen bisweilen den Eindruck gewonnen, cr
wollte uns von klarer Stellungnahme in aktuellen
Fragen, wie z.B. Sozialismus, zurueckhalten.
Ein anderer, weniger mit menschlicher Groesse
Begnadeter, waere vielleicht verletzt gewesen.
Dr. Baeck blickte mich sinnend an und sagte
schliesslich: " Sie verstanden mich falsch. Ich
wollte zur Vorsicht und Zurueckhaltung des
Rabbiners auf der Kanzel erziehen: er muss
bedenken, dass es dort keine Diskussion gibt und
er slets das letzte Wort hat. Das verpflichtet."
13 Jahre sahen wir ihn nicht. Die Jahre, in
denen wir in Israel Hasorea aufbauten und Dr.
Baeck der Vertreter and Sprecher des Deutschen
Judentums war, in der Zeit seiner tiefsten Not.
ERINNERUNG AN DUNKLE
Von feme hoerten wir ueber seinen Mut, seine
TAGE
Wuerde—und seinen Leidensweg. Und schliesslich war es uns vergoennt, ihn 1947 in Hasorea
Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Breslauer I
wiederzusehen. Wie wir ihm zuhoerten, erinnerEs ist fuer mich ein tiefer Schmerz, dass ten wir uns an Meister Eckhards Wort: " Das
cs mir versagt ist, an der Beisetzung von schnellste Ross, das dich zur Vollkommenheit
traegt, ist das Leid." Nur in engstem Kreis war
Dr. Baeck teilzunehmen und so dem Mann er bereit, etwas ueber sein r)ersoenliches Schicksal
die letzte Ehre zu erweisen, mit dem in diesen furchlbaren Jahren zu sagen: wie er
zusammen ich in dunkler Zeit an so vielen jeden Vorschlag, fuer sich selber zu sorgen,
Graebern gestanden und desscn Persoenlich- abgelehnt hatte, wie er schwere koerperliche
kcit ich gerade in dieser Zeit zu respektieren Arbeit zu tun hatte. Und jeweils, mit seinem
feinen Laecheln, fuegte er hinzu: " Der Mensch
und zu verchrcn gelernt habe.
kann viel aushalten." Wir merkten ploetzlich
Sie und Ihre Mitarbeiter an dem konstruk- (ich glaube: beiderseits) was uns so tief verband.
tiven Werk. dem wir Juden aus Deutschland Das Eine: Dr. Baeck war der vollkommene
so viel verdanken, werden besser als wir Ausdruck der besten Werte des deutschen Judenanderen zu wuerdigen wissen, was wir an Dr. tums: seine menschliche Wuerde, seine WeltoffenBaeck besassen und was wir nun verloren heit, .sein humanislischer Weg in juedischer
haben. Sie haben Dr. Baeck in den Jahren Wissenschaft, seine hohe Kullur.
vor dem Kriege und in .seiner Taetigkeit nach
dem Kriege gekannt und haben ihm in all
diesen Jahren nahegestandcn. Ich habe mit
ihm zusammen die Zeit im Berlin des Krieges
Wenn wir aus starkem Lebensdrang heraus
und in Theresienstadt erlebt, ich konnte uns gegen den Tod auflehnen, wenn wir die
ahnen. welchen Gefahren cr ausgesetzt war Schoenheit der Schoepfung verslehend bewundern
und wclchen Widrigkeiten cr standzuhaltcn und uns nicht von ihr trennen inoechten, dann
vergessen wir ganz die furchtbaren Abschiede,
hatte.
Ich konntc aber auch beobachten, die uns bevorstehen. Unsere Freunde sind
wie er uncrschuettcrt seine Wuerdc bcwahrte unsere Engel hier auf Erden, die wir nicht gehen
und seine Arbeit weiterfuchrte, bis er seiner lassen wollen, aber einer der Teuren nach dem
Gemeinde nach Thcresienstadt nachgeschickt anderen entfernt sich. Wieder einmal heisst esein
ewiges Lebewohl sagen im Namen aller Juden,
wurdc.
Nur wenige von den Ueberlebcnden die einen grossen Gelehrten und Fuehrer verloren
haben. Aber es ist nichl der Philosoph, den ich
werden ueber das Ausmass seines Wirkens hier besonders wuerdigen moechle, sondern es
und seines Einflusses im Aeltestenrat in ist der grosse Mensch Leo Baeck, den ich zum
Theresienstadt unterrichtet sein.
Dankbar letzten Male gruesse. Wie alle bedeutenden
aber haben alle, die ein offenes Herz dafuer Persoenlichkeiten, war er aus einem Guss und
hatten, empfunden, welchcr Scgen von der vollkommen. Nichts an ihm haette man sich
Persoenlichkeit Leo Baecks ausging, wie anders gewuenscht, nichts haette anders sein
koennen. Sein ganzes Wesen war aus reinster
sein stilles Tun, sein Vorbild, seine Vortraege Harmonic geformt.
und seine ganze aufrcchte Haltung die
Er war der Typ eines Gelehrten und trotz
geistige Widerstandskraft derer, auf die cr seines sicheren Auftretens lugten hier und da eine
wirken konnte, erhoehte und befestigte.
gewisse Weltfremdheit hervor, und der Wunsch
Mit Dr. Leo Baeck hat das deutsche recht schnell wieder in die Einsamkeit seines
Judentum einen seiner besten Sachwalter und Studierzimmers sich zurueckziehen zu koennen.
geistigen Fuehrer, haben viele in alien Lagern Grosse, guelige Persoenlichkeit Leo Baeck,
ineinen letzten innigen Dank dafuer, dass er uns
cinen Mann verloren, dem sie die hoechste ein Maezen war. Anlaesslich meiner ersten
Verehrung cntgegengebracht haben.
grossen Ausstellung in Berlin stiftete er viele
Rahmen. Es war weniger die Tat, die mich
D R . J A C O B JACOBSON
Dr. Baeck ist von uns gegangen. Das Herz
weigerl sich, es zu glauben. Es scheint so kurze
Zeit vergangen zu sein, seit er mit uns, raschcn
und ruestigen Schrittes, durch die Pflanzungen in
Hasorea ging, voll tiefer Freude ueber die
Kinder am Wege und die schwellende Frucht
auf den Baeumen. Und war es nicht erst gestern,
dass der 78-jaehrige darauf bestand, den Besucher
in seiner London-Wohnung zur Autobus-Halteslelle zu begleiten, da man auf dem Hendon-Way
die Strasse reparierte. Iinmer erschien uns diese
Ruestigkeit als der Sieg des Geistes ueber den
alternden Koerper.
Wir Chaverim in Hasorea, die seine Schueler
waren und die sich heute so tief verbunden mil
ihm fuehlen, waren in unseren Studenten-Jahren
an der Hochschule fuer Wissenschaft des Judentums ihm oft fern. Er war der Vertreter der
liberal-religioesen Auffassung des Judentums—
wir rangen um unsere Verwurzelung in der
national-juedischen Bewegung. Er war, nach
Weltanschauung and Lebensfuehrung, liberal—
wir verwarfen den Liberalismus and waren linke
Sozialisten. Und dennoch spuerten wir auch
damals elwas von der Groesse des Lehrers, der
THE MONDAV MORNING LECTURES
When Dr. Baeck came to this country, the
Society for Jewish Study was established and he
became its President and Principal. Here he
found a new field for promoting Jewish learning.
Again he proved his profound scholarship and
incomparable eloquence as a public lecturer.
His favourite place for instruction was the
Monday Morning Seminar where he addressed
us week by week with indefatigable energy and
regularity whenever he was in London. He
always gave a series of lectures extended over
months on one subject. Among his themes may
be mentioned; " The Great Religions of Asia " ;
" The State of Modern Theology " and, in the
nine months before July last, " The Epochs and
Periods of Jewish History." Dr. Baeck very
rarely made incidental remarks about himself,
from which we could realise that, as a dynamic
personality of a dynamic view of life, he had
entertained vast connections with great personalities in all lands. He sometimes quoted the
words of Washington: " I cannot recognise
anyone as a wise man who will be absolutely
today where he has been the day before yesterday "—and he added from his own experience:
" True wisdom is youth."
Dr. A. L,
Das Zweite: aelter und reifer gewordon
verstanden wir Mapamniks, dass wir uns mit
dem liberalen Rabbiner im Wesentlichen als
Bundesgenossen treffen: in einem echten, unverfaelschten Humanismus. Dr. Baeck's tiefes
Interesse fuer unser Leben, seine innige Anteilnahme an unserem Aufbau-und Erziehungswerk,
sein Verstaendnis fuer unsere sozialistische
Haltung, seine staendige Sorge um die Beziehungen mit den arabischen Nachbarn, bewiesen
uns das. Wir haben den humanistischen Inhalt
des Sozialismus nie vergessen und im Lichl
seiner menschlich erschuetternden Bewaehrung
im Leid konnten wir nun endlich Dr. Baeck's
Humanismus verstehen. Was an jenem gluecklichen Tage begann, fand seine Fortsetzung in
vielen Gespraechen und Begegnungen von
Chaverim aus Hasorea mil Dr. Baeck in London,
in denen er seiner inneren Verbundenheit mit
unserem Aufbauwerk Ausdruck gab.
In diesen dunklen Tagen erlosch sein Lichl.
Aber sein Andenken bleibt mit uns als ein
Segen.
EIN WORT DES DANKES
beeindruckte, als
die Art seines Gebens.
Denn er zeigte eine Dankbarkeit, dass man sich
an ihn gewandt halte, die keine Gedruecktheit
des Bittstellers aufkommen liess, noch stellte er
irgendwelche Fragen. Niemals half ein Maecenas
so freudig und so schnell. Zweimal waehlte er
sich meinen Mann als Maler seines Portraets
und sass viele Silzungen mit unermuedlicher
Geduld.
Erwarten wir, dass diejenigen, die von den
hoechsten und heiligslen Dingen, naemlich von
der Religion, aussagen, sich durch besonderes
edies Benehmen auszeichnen, so verkoerperte
Leo Baeck in vollendetem Masse dieses Ideal.
So wie ein Edelstein nur in kostbares Material
eingefasst wird, so war sein Wissen umschlossen
von vornehmster Menschlichkeit. In den Spruechen der Vaeter heisst es : " Jede Liebe von
einer Sache bedingt hoert auf, wenn die Sache
endet, aber Liebe durch nichts bedingt hoeret
niemals auf." Leo Baecks Liebe war durch
nichts bedingt, denn sein war die hoechste aller
Lieben—die allgemeine Menschenliebe.
So lasst mich denn auf diesen Gedenkstein
verehrender Erinnerung, den ich hier fuer Leo
Baeck aufzeichnete, den Wahlspruch schreiben,
der so ganz und gar auf ihn passt : EX FIDE
VIVO,
ELSE MEIDNER
Page 12
Werner
AJR SUPPLEMENT December 1956
Leonard G. Montefiore
Rosenstock
" . . . AND GIVE YOU PEACE"
These were the last words which Leo
Baeck spoke in public, when, as in previous
years, he pronounced the Priestly Blessing at
the end of the Rosh Hashana service. During
the service, he was seated among the other
congregants, joining in their prayers as one
of them and not claiming any privilege due
to his exalted position. At the end of the
service he came forward and spoke the
ancient words embodying all the wishes and
hopes a human being may cherish. The way
in which he did it gave everybody the feeling
that he had been personally spoken to. Yet
the signs of his illness were already visible,
and our gratitude for the comfort and
encouragement he had given to us was mixed
with forebodings of what the New Year
might have in store for him. Now we know
that his voice will not convey to us again
the message of the priest.
It was the nearness to everybody who was
privileged to know him which gave real greatness to Leo Bacck. The man who counted
heads of states among his friends was equally
ready for the humble.
When, in his address
at the A J R meeting on
the 20th Anniversary
of the Boycott Day, he
recalled the happenings of the past, he
paid tribute nol only
to the perished leaders
of German Jewry, but
he also mentioned the
names of two unknown staff members
of the " Reichsvertretung"; their services,
he said, and those of
many others who did
their duty in an inconspicuous way, deserve
our gratitude as well.
Countless episodes which bear witness to
this attitude come lo mind. It may seem
trivial on an occasion like this to quote some
examples taken at random ; but it would be
an omission if we did not also recall with
gratitude this aspect of Dr. Bacck's personality. There was the little boy with whom
he would sit down on a sofa for a chat and
who realised, with a child's instinct, that the
great man who talked to him took him
seriously. There was the policeman in
Hendon who was so attached to Dr. Bacck
that he visited him in hospital after a street
accident last year. During his stay in
America he learned, by chance, that a
refugee of his acquaintance in England
had found a home after many years of
waiting. Spontaneously he wrote to him
to show that he shared his joy. Whenever he liked an article or a publication he
would write to the author or editor, only to
express his appreciation. He would invariably express his thanks for the smallest
favour which anybody else would take for
granted. The man who, right up to the end,
had set himself to important tasks and for
whom time was really precious, always felt
the urge to do something in addition to what
was absolutely necessary. His was an innate
kindness which went beyond conventional
politeness.
Only a few months ago. he visited the
Otto Schiff House, the Home for the Aged.
He was shown round and spent the afternoon
with the residents. When the time was over,
he thanked those who had invited him.
Others would have left it at that. Yet two
days later, the following letter from him
arrived :
" Die Stundc, die ich gestern im
Altcrshcim verleben durfte. hat mir eine
innere Erhebung geschcnkt. Ein Stueck
der besonderen Aufgabe, die uns heutc
gestellt ist, die moralische und gcistigc
Wucrde dcr deutschen Juden zu wahren
und vor die Blickc dcr Menschen hinzustellen, ist hier erfuellt.
Meinc treuen Wuenschc beulciten Ihr
Werk."
Dr. Baeck's deep insight into the human
soul, combined with the accomplishments of
THE SOUL OF THE
RIGHTEOUS
As 1 attempt to frame a tribute lo the
memory of Dr. Baeck my thoughts turn to
another Jewish scholar who died over eighteen years ago, my father, Claude Montefiorc.
lo whom Dr. Baeck dedicated the English
version of his book, " Das Wesen des Judentums." If the souls of the righteous meet in
Paradise my father's spirit will speak with
Dr. Baeck again, and together they will enjoy
the peace of the hereafter.
We are all, in some measure, in greater or
less degree, disciples of Baeck, we are all in
some degree his pupils. That does not mean
we all received formal teaching, but it means
he taught us by example to prize those great
virtues that ennoble man, courage, humility,
piety, and forgiveness.
We have read of his courage in Germany,
how he was arrested five times, released,
and rearrested, till in 1943 he was sent to
Thcrcsienstadt.
In 1945 he came to England already
famous, indeed renowned. He remained
completely unassuming and showed a gentle
courtesy to the most insignificant of his
friends. I like to think that he was happy in
England, whose citizenship he valued greatly.
Of his deep piety we were all conscious.
His public utterances and private conversation alike revealed a man who walked
humbly with his God.
a great stylist, made him an unsurpassed
master in the assessment of the achievements
of his fellow-men. His profiles, dedicated
lo personalities in all spheres on joyful or
sad occasions, were classics in substance and
form. To sum up the individuality of a life
which had come to an end he would often
coin a phrase which, being repeated in different contexts, served as the leitmotif of
his eulogy. Thus, when he spoke at the
grave of Ludwig Tietz, his address centred
around the words " Aufgcwachsen und
cmporgewachsen," and when his colleague
and lifelong friend. Rabbi Dr. Warschauer,
was put to eternal rest the leitmotif of his
tribute il was to be the last memorial
address delivered
by him was the
" Umhcgtheit," which had designed the life
of the deceased. Words of this kind do not
die—they keep on ringing in the ears of those
for whose consolation they were spoken.
On many occasions our journal had the
honour of publishing contributions by Dr.
Baeck. It is not the object of these few
recollections to appraise his achievements as
a writer. Yet also from the administrative
point, no editor could have wished for a more
conscientious author. This busy man, with
He worked right up to the end. Some of
you may have read his last book, " Dieses
Volk." Throughout the summer he had been
working on a second volume The typescript
was finished, the last pages written when, four
days before his death, his secretary found
him dressed as usual, but obviously very
weak. He insisted on dictating a letter to his
publisher, and with a hand that could hardly
hold the pen signed his name. His work was
finished, that last task was completed, he
could rest from his labours, knowing the end
was near.
Great men, famous men have in their times
found refuge in England, but among the illustrious names that of Leo Bacck is not the
least.
.Address at the Memorial Service
of the West London Synagogue
his innumerable commitments, excelled in a
punctuality which the proverb describes as
the courtesy of kings. And more than this:
even the posting of a manuscript was not a
mere matter of routine for him. He would
always add a few personal lines. As it
happened, he once sent an obituary and a
birthday appreciation with the same mail.
In the covering letter he wrote : " Mortuos
plango, vivos voco."
The order of th'^
original quotation seemed to have bee.i
reversed on purpose.
True, his greatness
always revealed itself when he had to say the
last word at the end of a man's life. But to
speak to the living was still more important
to him. He will always .speak to us.
u