German Jewish Body in Resolution Disagrees with Zionist Position

(J. T. A. Mail Service)

The following resolution on the Zionist question has been adopted by the Biennial Conference of the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith by 97 votes against 62.

“The public propaganda carried on, by the Zionists has resulted in the idea previously held only by the enemies of the Jews that there is a distinction between Germans and Jews, gaining ground continually among the general public.

“The impression is being spread abroad as if the German Jews do not belong to the German nation but that they belong to a jewish nation which is scattered all over the world and has its home in Palestine. This state of affairs is placing in grave danger that which has been won in over a hundred years of fighting for emancipation. The Central Union must therefore oppose more effectively than hitherto the Zionist conception, according to which Judaism is presented as a national and cultural community of all Jews with Palestine as their hational and cultural centre. The task of the Central Union is to strive to obtain an understanding in public opinion for its conception of Germanism and Judaism, as against the effects of the Zionist propaganda.”

The thesis presented by Dr. Hollaender, director of the Central Union, on the question of Zionism and the German Jews which was adopted unanimously by the conference, was formulated by him in the following manner: I hold the national Jewish Palestine work to be false and damaging. Only practical work in Palestine is to be promoted, in so far as it contributes to the alleviation of Jewish distress. We are in favor of Jewish settlement work and settlement work can be carried on also in Palestine. The decisive point is the rejection of the national Jewish idea. But here too the conflict of opinion ought to be carried on in an un-objectionable manner and in a brotherly spirit. In the Palestine question, it is possible from our standpoint to held differing opinions. Eeveryone must act in this question in such a way that he can reconcile it with his conscience. This is not a cardinal question. In the principal questions there is no compromise. In the other questions, however, there should be every possible elasticity.

A resolution which sought to declare that membership of the Central Union is not reconcilable with membership of the Pro-Palestine Committee was rejected with only a few votes in favor.