The Juedische Rundschau prints an editorial headed “We German Jews,” on Dr. Goebbels’ speech in the Sport Palace, where he said the Jews would be left alone if they did not put forward the claim to be recognized as of full and equal value. “Dr. Goebbels’ speech must have been devastating for many Jews,” it says. It reminds Jews that to be a Jew has become a very serious matter.
“We German Jews know we are not looked upon in the German Reich as equal citizens of full value. We have no illusions that the Jewish legislation will be repealed. Nevertheless, because we are bound to this country, and because we feel the inward obligation to do our duty in the place appointed to us we shall do our duty fully and loyally, and will respect the laws. We will not and we cannot stand aside from the work of restoring the inward relationship towards the German people on a new basis. In Germany today we are not of equal value. We accept this lot, but as Jews, we feel that we are of equal value on the level of humanity.
“When we are denounced as a murder people, we cannot slink away and hide. We shall not thus gain the respect of other people. The old methods of controversy have been abolished in the new Germany. They never helped much. but where there is talk of a murder people we cannot be prevented from coming forward and saying: Here we are, not a murder people but the Jewish people, that like any other group of humanity feels shame and hurt, creates and takes a positive stand towards the world, and above all is sensible of its honor, and after a long interval of anonymity and of dreaming, even of denying itself and of self-de-gradation is striving today towards a new. constructive, creative life, associated with all the pains and all the joys of creative work.
“And from this aspect, from this self-recognition we desire and we hope for a free understanding with the peoples of other nations. We Jews are today in the process of finding our way back to our own nationality.
“After the experiences through which we have passed even the Jew who has hitherto been blunt to all that is Jewish, had turned from all things Jewish, and regarded himself as a member of another community, now realizes that the Jew is linked with Jewish fate. This conception of a Jewish unity which finds its crown in the idea of Palestine upbuilding can be of help to us, of inward help. We Jews understand the return to our people as a step towards a better incorporation within humanity, not as a segregation. The Jewish renaissance can have meaning only if it renews the ideals of prophetic Judaism.”
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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.
