German Jewry last night openly voiced its protest against the growth of anti-Semitism in a resolution adopted at an impressive mass meeting held under the auspices of the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith.
The throng which came to attend the meeting was so large that it completely filled the largest auditorium in the Lodgen House, with room for 1,000 and the overflow audience had to be accommodated in two additional auditoriums in the same building. The same speakers addressed all three meetings.
Special police details were on guared to prevent any disturbances.
Dr. Julius Brodnitz, vice-president of the Central Union, presided. An outstanding impression was made by the appearance and address of Dr. Bernhard Weiss, deposed vice-president of the Berlin Police Department. Addresses were also delivered by Dr. Bruno Weil, outstanding Central Union leader; Dr. Alfred Hirschberg, press chief of the Central Union, Dr. Wiener, and Rabbi Leo Baeck.
Dr. Weiss, who received a remarkable ovation, openly accused the present government of forcing him to leave his police post as a concession to the Nazis. “I was dismissed primarily because I am a Jew,” Dr. Weiss stated.
He appealed to the Jews to fight fearlessly for their rights and to meet the present serious situation with dignity. The tragedy is, he said, that German Jews now feel isolated in their own country. He blamed the Christian church in Germany for tolerating anti-Semitism.
In an impressive address, Dr. Bruno Weil scored the Nazi terrorization tactics and attempts to limit the rights of the Jews. Such an attempt, he said, will reflect on the rights of the German national minorities in such countries as Poland and Czecho-Slovakia.
He expressed certainty that no foreign Jews residing in Germany will suffer because their governments will protect them, while German born Jews will remain unprotected.
Dr. Weil indicated that there is a section in the minorities treaties which would offer some protecton to German Jewry were efforts made to infringe on their rights.
Dr. Wiener described the terror prevailing in the provincial cities. The Jews there, he said, are afraid of appearing in the streets in the evening. Jewish children are isolated in the schools. Jewish houses are stoned. Berlin is paradise compared to the provinces, he said.
Dr. Brodnitz urged every Jew to go to the polls on Sunday. He emphasized that while the situation is serious, there is no reason for panic.
Dr. Hirschberg asserted that Germany is compromising itself abroad by tolerating the Nazi tactics. He quoted foreign press comment condemning anti-Semitism in Germany.
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.
