Reorganization of German Jewry Results in Unique Solidarity

1-(Under-the reorganization plan agreed upon recently, German Jewry achieves a solidarity unrivalled in its centuries’ old history. At the same time, according to authoritative Jewish quarters, the new organization does not signify any drastic change in the policy or purpose of Jewish organizational life.

As an indication of this continuity of policy, the agreement provides that the men now at the helm of German Jewry shall remain there for another two years at least. Furthermore, it was stipulated that Rabbi Dr. Leo Baeck, now president of the Reichsvertretung der Juden in Deutschland, shall remain president for life of the Reichsverband which will displace it.

A person in close touch with the situation explained the new organization as follows in an interview with the J.T.A. here:-

“What we have done is to bring within the framework of a central body – the new Reichsverband – several elements of German Jewish life which have up to now maintained a strong degree of independence. This was particularly true of the Jewish communities, which for centuries have formed the foundation of Jewish organizational life here.

“These communities, varying in size and importance, supported their own synagogues, religious teachers, rabbis and social and communal life. From 1813, the communities banded themselves into unions or ‘Landesverbanden,” which corresponds roughly in area to the old German States. The first such union was founded in Baden in 1813; the States of Wurtemberg, Bavaria and Hessen followed.

“These four unions were recognized in the constitution of their respective States and were given power to collect taxes in support of Jewish community life in co-operation with the State tax office. Later the great Prussian union was established which, unlike the others, did not have the power to collect taxes but did have a certain control over expenditures. The sixth union formed was that of Saxony, whose powers were more akin to those of the south German States.

“Each of the unions has its own tradition and its own history of important local accomplishments. Attempts to unify them under a central body failed both before and after the War. It was not until 1933, when the whole basis of Jewish life was shifted overnight and problems essentially nation-wide in scope pressed vitally for solution, that a national body called the Reichsvertretung was founded. This body comprised all the principal organizations and represented all political fronts, inasmuch as it was originally conceived by leading Zionists, non-Zionists and members of the Jewish Ex-Servicemen’s Union.

“As the communities are now considered part and parcel of the Reichsverband, rather than merely represented on it, their own organizations – the Landesverbanden – are changed into district organizations of the Reichsverband. They will, however, continue to administrate their own affairs under the general direction of the central body. The Prussian union is merged directly with the Reichsverband for administrative reasons. It has been arranged that the funds of the various Landesverbanden will be taken over gradually by the Reichsverband over a period of two years.

“In certain respects these changes were made absolutely essential by the recent law which reduced the communities from semi-public to private status. In other respects the changes – particularly the strong emphasis on centralization of authority – have been called forth by the steadily increasing pressure against German Jewry economically, culturally and spiritually. At least German Jewry will now have a body which will be legally representative of all its elements.”