Mischa Elman, world famous violinist who is leaving Los Angeles on a concert tour, declared in a letter to Walter S. Hilborn, chairman of the local United Jewish Appeal, that he refuses to have anything to do with Germany as long as the Hitler regime is in power.
Mr. Elman had received a letter from his former German manager asking him to give a series of concerts in Germany. The Jewish partner of this concern was dismissed by the Nazis.
In his reply Mr. Elman stated: “So long as Jews continue to be humiliated by the Hitler government and deprived of the rights that every other German enjoys in his own country, I will refuse to do business with German firms or individuals. I feel that I am voicing the opinion of the entire civilized world and also of many Germans in and out of Germany.”
The refusal of Mr. Elman to appear in Germany follows that of many of the most distinguished artists of the musical and theatrical world to appear in Germany, as a protest against the treatment of their German Jewish colleagues. The Nazi regime has recently made desperate efforts to induce well known artists to appear in Germany, only to meet with rebuffs.
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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.
