The Jewish Community of berlin was asked today whether it pays the necessary attention to the very serious situation created for the Jewish population in connection with the present political situation which is growing daily more acute.
What are the measures which are being taken by the Community to protect the position of the Jews in Germany, a number of speakers asked at a special meeting called here by the Jewish Community in cooperation with the Peoples Party and the Liberal Party, the two largest parties of German Jewry. The meeting was called for the purpose of discussing measures for the maintenance of the citizens’ rights of the Jewish population of Germany and for the protection of their political interests through their representatives of communities and county organizations.
The leader of the Peoples Party, Dr. Alfred Klee, explained at the meeting that the anti-Jewish student disturbances which have been occuring repeatedly in Berlin recently are merely one of the facts which illustrate the general position of German Jewry. The Jewish Community, Dr. Klee believes, could exercise its influence to make the necessary suggestions to the authorities. The Jewish population expects in these difficult times measures on the part of the Jewish Communities for the maintenance of Jewish rights, Dr. Klee said.
Herr Wolff, joint-chairman of the Berlin Community, declared that the Presidium and the Community did not have as yet the opportunity to define its attitude on the motion of the Peoples Party to act in political matters.
Dr. Kurt Fleischer, on behalf of the Liberal Party, declared that his party opposes most vigorously that the Jewish Communities should in any way discuss political matters. The Community has only to protect the social and economic interests of its members but it is by no means its duty to fight National Socialism. The Liberal Party is of the opinion that the motion of the Peoples Party should altogether not be discussed.
The views of Dr. Fleischer were supported by Dr. Meyer of the Liberal Party who declared that the Jewish Community is not an organization for the protection of rights of Jews as citizens. The first duty of a Community is to protect their financial integrity, he argued. Bruno Woyda, a Liberal, declared that when the economic position of Germany will improve, the position of the Jews would also improve. The political fate of the Jews is irrevocably connected with the fate of the entire population and could not be influenced by resolutions of a Jewish body, he stated.
Ministerial Counsellor Hans Goslar of the Peoples Party replied to the Liberal opposition. He emphasized that any outbursts, whether from the right or from the left parties are always directed in the first place against the Jews. He suggested the appointment of a permanent commission for the discussion of economic and political questions concerning the interests of German Jewry.
A motion made by the representatives of the Peoples Party/protesting against the occurrences in Salonika was rejected with 13 votes against 10 after an explanation given by Herr Stahl on behalf of the Presidium that at the last meeting a resolutions was already adopted expressing sympathy with the Jews in Salonika.
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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.
