Jews of Saar District Free of Anti-semitism

The Saar District, which after the war was made temporarily independent of Germany and placed under the supervision of the League of Nations and the aegis of France, now contains more than 3,000 Jews, a large proportion of whom came there since the war from Eastern Europe. Of this number, 2,600 live in Saarbruecken, the capital of this little republic.

Jews are prospering today in the Saar District, which is virtually free from the anti-Semitic virus. Recent attempts to import Hitlerite propaganda into the Saar District from Germany have failed. Of the sixty aldermen in the City Council of Saarbruecken, only one belongs to the anti-Semitic National-Socialist party.

German Jews play a prominent part in the business life of Saarbruecken, being well represented there as factory owners, exporters and proprietors of department stores. Ninety percent of the Polish Jews are peddlers, who go from house to house with a pack on their back and sell on installment.

A year ago the Jewish community of Saarbruecken called Rabbi Dr. Ruelf to be its spiritual leader. He has already accomplished much in his endeavor to achieve unity between the German and East-European Jewish elements in the town. Rabbi Ruelf is devoting much time to the Jewish education of the young.

There is also a B’nai Brith lodge in Saarbruecken, which does fine cultural and philanthropic work. A Jewish women’s organization arranges regular lectures and discussions on Jewish topics. A year ago a Jewish sport organization was also founded. The Polish-Jewish immigrants have their own organization in Saarbruecken, which carries on an intensive cultural and social activity among its members. A local branch of the Central-Verein of German Jews carries on an intensive campaign against anti-Semitism.