The events in Palestine, which should have brought about the union of all Zionists, divided rather than united the Zionists of Germany, declared Dr. Max Kollenascher, in an article, “The Crisis in German Zionism,” published in the “Juedische Rundschan.”
The Zionist Organization of Germany and their dependent press have not read the signs of the times, he declares. While the Zionist General Council in London has reached some decision which are entirely appropriate to the situation, the Zionists of Berlin have not been able to achieve an “energetic political attitude.”
Every reference to the Arab crimes is considered to be out of place. Neither the systematic plans of the Arab provocation nor the real causes and external attitude are treated as basic questions. They do not hesitate to speak of Jewish acts of provocation, and to attribute to them a part of the responsibility for the Arab excesses. Dr. Kollenscher writes. They do not dare to recognize the heroic courage of the self-defense organization. They lack the spirit to insist upon the legal aspect of the case and to demand of England and the League of Nations the actual fulfillment of the mandate. All these concessions are being justified by two self-evident principles; co-operation and peaceful understanding with the Arabs. If political Zionism should make good the claim that it embraces all of Judaism, it would have to awaken the political instincts of the Jews, keep ever before them the political aim, and point out to them the political routes by which they could achieve their aim.
Dr. Kollenscher relates that after his efforts to influence the policy of the Zionist Federation of Germany along the line of his views had proven unsuccessful, he resigned from the executive committee, and that he is now summoning the general Zionists of Germany who do not belong to any faction, to gather around him. The others have lost the feeling and the possibility of solidarity with the united Zionists of the world, he states. The statements of Dr. Weizmann at Albert Hall, the expositions of Harry Sacher (Continued on Page 4)
in the “Manchester Guardian” should be the foundation for the rejuvenation of German Zionism, he declares.
Attached to this article is a declaration of support signed by Dr. M. Aschor, Ernst Holitzki. George Kareski, Rabbi Emil Levy, Prof. Karl Lewin. Dr. Aron Sandler and others.
In the same issue of the “Judische Rundschau” Kurt Blumenfeld, the president of the German Zionist Federation, meets the statements of Dr. Kollenscher with the declaration that the directorate of the Zionist Union of Germany has adopted resolutions in which the decisions of the Zionist General Council were approved. After protracted debates, the General Council adopted the point of view of the German Federation advocating instead of mere relief work, the principle of continuing the constructive work under the motto of “Help Through Upbuilding.” The appeal of the Jewish Agency which was received as a powerful plea to the Jewish people, was worked out by Bernard Fiewel, Dr. Hermann and Mr. Blumenfeld.
Deliberate and dignified expressions of principles are more effective than hysterical statements, he declares. To attempt to use Dr. Weizmann’s and Mr. Sacher’s statements against him is to forget the history of Zionism in recent years, Mr. Blumenfeld declares. The Zionist Federation’s convention will have to decide what will be the policy of German Zionism in the future.
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.
