they wrote a book about their achievement. Mass movement won that fight.
THE GERMAN JEWISH ERROR
The Jews of Germany are not masters of their own fate, not even those who wish to disappear as German citizens of the Jewish persuasion. One can sympathize with the worst of their experiences, the tragedy of a theory destroyed by a fact. It is unnerving, but that does not prove that though they proudly claimed to be the intellectual leaders of world Jewry, and the path-finders to a new dispensation, that they were either wise or right. Gently as possible (for who would willingly add to their sufferings?), it must be pointed out that they failed completely in foresight and understanding, and in the cue they gave to all who followed in their path. It is not only within our right, but within our need, that we mention this blunder to each other, in order that we may give heed to the possible danger of the Hitler contagion spreading elsewhere.
No man is invited to martyrdom, for martyrs are self-elected, but we have every right and reason to consider that if we do not protest, successful Hitlerism may spread to other “enlightened” countries. Both we and the Germans of the “Jewish persuasion” are paying for an age-old affiliation and a deep-rooted disbelief in the sincerity of any Jews denationalizing or apostatizing.
NO BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Mr. Leftwich takes the conventional short-sighted view of the Hitler manifestation of anti-Semitism. A little of hope is still at the bottom of the well, and if there is none, let us conjure some. The “bolt from the blue” theory has been the curse and bane of the Jews, even though it serves as the daily source of excitation of nervous and naive Jewish journalists.
The attitude of the German Jews is as understandable as the urbane and disarming cables from Hamburg in the New York “Times.” The Hitler program was formulated in 1818 by Prof. Ruh who then occupied the chair of history at the University of Berlin. He probably did not invent it. Lack of space prevents my recording the occasions since on which the disfranchisement, declassing, segregation and boycotting of the Jews was seriously proposed and deliberated in the Prussian parliament, suggested to the Reichstag, discussed in public and agitated.
It was checked by circumstance, not inclination. It cost Lasker, Lassalle, Bamberger and Bernstein their political positions. It has in Germany as elsewhere produced Jewish anti-Semites. A people cannot be continually assailed without some of them becoming demoralized and joining the enemy. That is evidence of the persistence of anti-Semitism and not a witness to its incidental character. It galled Heine and cost Berthold Auerbach’s life.
MURDERS BEGAN LONG AGO
So far from being a “bolt from the blue” the Hitler program was discussed under other auspices during the war in the Prussian diet, the debate lasting two days, and the “night of the long knife” was agitated in 1916. Animus explains the deaths of Ballin, Rathenau, Rosa Luxemburg and Kurt Eisner, surely four diverse types. In advocating anti-Semitism, Hitler took the easy road to power.
A thousand circumstances contributed to making the arch-priest of the gospel of Jew-hatred popular, but those who believe that it is a post-war product or an incident arising out of the war, consign themselves to a fool’s paradise, and simply close their eyes to recorded fact. Equally stupid was the belief that Hitler would not carry out the one election promise that characterized him, and was the easiest of performance.
“SELF EMANCIPATION”
The protests will wear themselves out, and the helotry of the Jews in Germany will become as commonplace as it has become elsewhere. In our own interest we must think of permanent remedies. The Ruhr may not prove to be the impassable frontier of this disease. Out of the heat of protest there should come more than intensified self-consciousness. We must contrive and plan a real and permanent salvation for the demoralized victims of a century of constant hate; hate which every German does not share, but which few have reproved or opposed.
No policy of self-emancipation can succeed except by the road of self-emancipation. To ask England, France or America to open their doors is to embarrass ourselves, and to give new hostages to fortune. Anti-Semitism spreads with the expansion of the Diaspor—a wholly unwelcome, unpalatable and undesired truth, but an indisputable truth nevertheless. One too that the sacred policy of “hush” cannot forever conceal.
Last November when the German situation was as clear as a noonday sun to me I ventured to suggest that the time had come for a great confrontation with the stark reality of this problem. I conceive it to be our duty, self-interest as well as public obligation, to convene the Jews of America for a solemn and serious discussion of the problem. I believe there is a solution and that we can achieve it, once we realize that the ending of such catastrophes as now confronts the Jews in Germany is the major issue in Jewish life.
Undeterred by diplomatic efforts or the German requests that they be permitted “to stew in their own juice”, I repeat this suggestion. Petty strife and organization pride should not stand in the way.
It is a time to speak. It is also the time to act.
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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.
