Interesting information concerning the mysterious figure of Father Schlessinger who converted Hans Herzl to Catholicism was disclosed here today by men who have an intimate knowledge of the priest. He represents a unique type among Jewish apostates. According to his conception and definition he is what he terms a “Jewish Christian.” He is proud of his origin and propagates a theory which lends itself to the creation of a type of Christian National Jew. He even declares himself to be an ardent Zionist. Schlessinger is a brother-in-law of the well-known German poet, Hugo von Hoffmansthal, who is living in Vienna, the author of the libretto of Richard Strauss’ “Rosenkavalier.”
It is further revealed today that Hans Herzl had intended two years ago to settle in Palestine but the Zionist Organization advisedhim not to do so. During the time of Hans’ residence in Vienna he led a lonely existence, mingling mostly with his mother’s family which belongs to the class of Jewish bourgeoisie in Vienna which keep themselves aloof from Jewish communal affairs. Hans grew to be a proud, self-centred, distrustful and conceited fellow. He suffered greatly on account of his not inheriting his father’s greatness. He even at one time bore resentment against the Zionist Organization which did not offer him a leading position in the movement.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
