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The
first of April, 1933, will remain an important date in the
history of German Jewry indeed, in the history of the entire
Jewish people. The events of that day have aspects that are
not only political and economic, but moral and spiritual as
well. The political and economic implications have been widely
discussed in the press, though of course the need for
agitation has frequently obscured objective understanding. To
speak of the moral aspect, that is our task. For
however much the Jewish question is now debated, nobody except
ourselves can express what is to be said on these events from
the Jewish point of view, what is happening in the soul of the
German Jew. Today the Jews cannot speak except as Jews.
Anything else is utterly senseless... Gone is the fatal
misapprehension of many Jews that Jewish interests can be
pressed under some other cover. On April 1 the German Jews
learned a lesson which penetrates far more deeply than even
their embittered and now triumphant opponents could assume....
We
live in a new period, the national revolution of the German
people is a signal that is visible from afar, indicating that
the world of our previous concepts has collapsed. That may be
painful for many, but in this world only those will be able to
survive who are able to look reality in the eye. We stand in
the midst of tremendous changes in intellectual, political,
social and economic life. It is for us to see how the Jews
will react.
April
1, 1933, can become the day of Jewish awakening and Jewish
rebirth. If the Jews will it. If the Jews are mature and have
greatness in them. If the Jews are not as they are represented
to be by their opponents.
The
Jews, under attack, must learn to acknowledge themselves.
Even
in these days of most profound disturbance, when the stormiest
of emotions have visited our hearts in face of the
unprecedented display of the universal slander of the entire
Jewish population of a great and cultural country, we must
first of all maintain: composure. Even if we stand shattered
by the events of these days we must not lose heart and must
examine the situation without any attempt to deceive
ourselves. One would like to recommend in these days that the
document that stood at the cradle of Zionism, Theodor Herzl's
"Jewish State," be distributed in hundreds of
thousands of copies among Jews and non-Jews....
They
accuse us today of treason against the German people: The
National-Socialist Press calls us the "enemy of the
Nation," and leaves us defenseless.
It
is not true that the Jews betrayed Germany. If they betrayed
anyone, it was themselves, the Jews.
Because
the Jew did not display his Judaism with pride, because he
tried to avoid the Jewish issue, he must bear part of the
blame for the degradation of the Jews.
Despite
all the bitterness that we must feel in full measure when we
read the National-Socialist boycott proclamations and unjust
accusations, there is one point for which we may be grateful
to the boycott Committee. Para. 3 of the directives reads:
"The reference is...of course to businesses owned by
members of the Jewish race. Religion plays no part here.
Businessmen who were baptized Catholic or Protestant, or Jews
who left their Community remain Jews for the purpose of this
Order." This is a [painful] reminder for all those who
betrayed their Judaism. Those who steal away from the
Community in order to benefit their personal position should
not collect the wages of their betrayal. In taking up this
position against the renegades there is the beginning of a
clarification. The Jew who denies his Judaism is no better a
citizen than his fellow who avows it openly. It is shameful to
be a renegade, but as long as the world around us rewarded it,
it appeared an advantage. Now even that is no longer an
advantage. The Jew is marked as a Jew. He gets the yellow
badge.
A
powerful symbol is to be found in the fact that the boycott
leadership gave orders that a sign "with a yellow badge
on a black background" was to be pasted on the boycotted
shops. This regulation is intended as a brand, a sign of
contempt. We will take it up and make of it a badge of honor.
Many
Jews suffered a crushing experience on Saturday. Suddenly they
were revealed as Jews, not as a matter of inner avowal, not in
loyalty to their own community, not in pride in a great past
and great achievements, but by the impress of a red placard
with a yellow patch. The patrols moved from house to house,
stuck their placards on shops and signboards, daubed the
windows, and for 24 hours the German Jews were exhibited in
the stocks, so to speak. In addition to other signs and
inscriptions one often saw windows bearing a large Magen
David, the Shield of David the King. It was intended as
dishonor. Jews, take it up, the Shield of David, and wear it
with pride!...
Juedische
Rundschau, No. 27,
April 4, 1933. |
