Now-editorial Notes

by Herman Bernstein

On January 17, discussing the appeal for a World Jewish Congress issued by the American Jewish Congress, I wrote as follows:

“It is quite clear that the present unpredecented crisis in Jewish life, brought on by Hitler’s war on the Jews, calls for wise deliberations and heroic measures. It calls for the coordinated efforts of a united and representative Jewish leadership. The Jewish problem has been made an international problem. The anti-Semites of various lands have united. It is high time for the Jews to deal with this problem and with the tragic plight of Jewry in certain European countries fearlessly and openly. The truth and the right are on the side of the Jews. The enemies of Jewry are conducting their destructive work cunningly and thoroughly. The Jews must face this actuality.

“But if a World Jewish Congress is to be called, it must be representative. It must include also the representative leaders of those Jewish organizations that believe in more conservative methods of dealing with the problems of Jewish rightlessness and Jewish distress. These leaders are just as deeply concerned with the Jewish tragedy.

“The unparalleled Jewish crisis must be dealt with by a united Jewry. There is no danger that the anti-Semites will renew their accusations that the Jews are united. The real danger lies in the fact that the anti-Semites are united, while the Jews are thus far divided. The civilized world will undoubtedly be sympathetic to the united Jewish efforts to devise ways and means of defending themselves against deeds of violence and organized, destructive and false propaganda, and of readjusting the awful situation of our people in Germany and other lands where they are subjected to unspeakable sufferings as a result of racial or economic discriminations. The world will understand an Assembly of the leadership of the various groups and factions in Jewish life if it will be responsible, dignified and courageous.”

The World Jewish Congress is now scheduled to take place in August, 1935. While the conference that made the decision was not representative, we are faced with an accomplished fact. The situation of world Jewry is just as grave today as it was at the close of the World War, if not graver. At that time the leaders of the various groups in Jewry surmounted all obstacles and overlooked all differences in order to come before the peace conference as a united people, through the Committee of Jewish Delegations. The present Jewish tragedy demands sacrifices on the part of Jewish leadership. Instead of indulging in new conflict and strife, Jewish leadership should unite again in this grave crisis. Only in this way can blunders and extravagant decisions be avoided and positive achievements attained.

JUDOPHOBIA FOUNTAINHEAD

It is reported in the Polish pro-government newspaper Kurier Wilenski that the Nara anti-Semitic activities in Poland were financed from a foreign country, from Germany. Evidence of this was found during a search in the home of one of the arrested Nara leaders. Arrests of members of the Nara organization are being made in various parts of Poland.

Other unconfirmed reports recently stated that France had given financial support to the Naras, presumably for the purpose of irritating and annoying the Pilsudski government |because of its unwillingness to join the Eastern Locarno and of its friendly attitude toward the Nazi government. This theory is rather far-fetched.

We have pointed out on several occasions that the Naras in Poland have been instigated and financed by the Nazis.

The Hitlerites are doing in Poland what they are doing in Rumania and in other lands. The recent visit of Professor Cuza to Naziland resulted in intensified anti-Jewish activities in Rumania. Germany has now become the fountainhead of Judophobia and anti-Semitic leaders come there from other lands to draw Hitlerite inspiration and German marks.