A Summer in Germany—Detroit Collegian
Finds Anti-Semitism, 'Unpalatable' Jews
By NORMAN DIAMOND
! of the people with whom I have
Editor's Note: Detroiter Norman spoken attribute this fact to anti-
Diamond, former Midrasha student, Semitic pressure.
spent the summer brushing up on
Another recognized fact is that
his German and working in Stutt- the Jewish population in Germany
gart, Germany. A graduate in-polit- is not increasing. Most of the Ger-
ical science from the University of man Jews attribute this fact, also.
Chicago, he plans to enter Harvard at least, partially to anti-Semitism.
this fall. ,
Everyone here either has grown
children who have left for Israel
There are two distinct and con- or the United States, or knows
tradictory attitudes to be met with .people who do.
among German Jews. Most of the
There is still no denying that
Jews in Germany are very much
anti-Semitism in various forms
aware of the existence • of anti-
remains the normal attitude of
Semitism. Some few eligious lead-
many Germans. In Stuttgart,
ers — perhaps con entrated en-
many of the bars and nightclubs
tirely in the Orthodo. communities
are owned by Jews. This type of
— insist, however. that there is
establishment is especially vul-
no anti-Semitism in Germany and
nerable, not only to vandalism
that all contrary reports are mere
and breakage, but also to legal-
sensationalism.
ized nuisance activity. Crowds of
Everyone who pays income taxes young people regularly conduct
a must register his religion with the
sit-ins, not buying anything and
police; his church-tax payment (9
occupying all the available space.
per cent) is then turned over to
One source of anti-Semitism is
the religious association of his of course. fascistic remnants and
choice. Even as a foreign worker nationalistic propaganda. An addi-
in Germany. I had to fill out forms tional source. however, is the re-
proclaiming my faith. Between 23- pression resulting from the sensi-
and 24,000 persons in West Ger- tivity to being thought of as
many are registered for this pur- anti-Semitic. My experience has
pose as Jewish. Everyone agrees. 'been that tacit restrictions, a re-
however. that the real number of action to Nazi anti-Semitism, have
Jews is about 30.000. Why? Most resulted in further anti-Semitism.
especially among the youth. Many
Germans feel that any criticism of
Problem of Evil
individual Jews, Jewish commun-
From Maimonides"Guide to the
• ities or Israel will be interpreted
Perplexed'
as anti-*mitic. Resenting this, and
You will frequently find persons
who hold that the evils in the feeling Ino responsibility for the
world outnumber the blessings. German-Nazi persecutions that cre-
Epigrams and poems of most of ated the- situation, they become, in
the nations express this thought: fact. anti-Semitic.
A typical example was the son of
they find that blessings are•few in
our world, while the misfortunes a member of the foreign diplomatic
are many and lasting. Not only the service. now serving his term in
common multitude errs in this. but the German army. Through his
father's influence he had been as-
even the supposedly wise men.
Al-Razi, whose famous Book of signed to the supplies and procure-
Theology contains many rash state- ment division. He told me that the
ments. presents the idea that if German army buys hand grenades
you compare the pleasures and from Israel. which he claimed are
happiness of man with the griefs, often defective, but they cannot be
pains. afflictions, loss of limb. un- returned for fear of charges of
rest, sorrows and troubles to which anti-Semitism. He claimed that he
he is subject—you will conclude himself was not anti-Semitic.
Why, then. do some Jewish lead-
that human life is an affliction and
ers deny that anti-Semitism exists?
4
a great evil.
In order to provehis thesis he A portion of the Orthodox leader-
enumerates the evils !on
e one. ship apparently :'e e 1 s that anti-
and sets himself against the think- Semitism is one of the forces keep-
ers who state that God's kindness ing German Jews together and pre-
and' benevolence are manifest in. venting further assimilation. In
creation, that He is the absolute their estimation, then, anti-
good. and that all. that emanates Semitism has beneficial effects and,
from Him is absolutely good.
being unwilling to -wholeheartedly
This erroneous idea is due to the combat it. they minimize or deny
fact that this unwise man and his its existence.
friends among the common multi-
The Wurttemburg Jewish com-
tud consider, the universe by ex; munity is probably the most
amining one individual person. closely knit in Germany. Six hun-
Taking that attitude, every fool dred of its 745 members live in
thinks that the universe was creat- Stuttgart. Its financial contribu-
ed for his sl ake alone. as if nothing
tions to Israel are the highest per
existed besides him. If something capita in Germany, and this is
happens that does not suit his interpreted as indicating its su-
wishes, he draws the conclusion perior organization.
that the whole universe is evil.
About 35 of its families_ buy
But if a man•woUld regard the kosher meat from the butcher shop
universe as a whole and try to subsidized through the church tax.
understand how small a part he It has a Hebrew school where all
plays in it, he would realize the the Jewish children of Stuttgart
truth. It is obvious that the wide-; meet once each week. On the re-
spread misconception about the maining days of the week, the three
predominance of evil is never ap-1 Israeli teachers hired by the com-
plied to other than human spheres munity travel throughout Wurttem-
in the universe, such as vegita-
tion or the animals, but all atten- burg visiting every Jewish family
tion is focused upon some indi- with children. There is a Jewish
vidual cases among human beings. community center with clubs for
The proper attitude is to realize all age groups, movies, lectures and
that all mankind and, even more,1 discussions. Usual attendance at
all other species of living beings adult activities is the capacity 150.
In addition, there is an affilia-
are insignificant in proportion to
the universe as a whole. Great tion with the 'Jewish soldiers in
would be the gain if man would the U.S. Army forces stationed
realize his position and not errone- near Stuttgart. The synagogue,
ously assume that the universe which seats about 400, is full on
exists for his sake. In our opinion, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
the universe is in existence be-, Attendance on an average Sabbath
is about 50. Most of the Jewish-
cause the Creator wills it so.
The human race is altogether in- owned stores remain open on Sab-
significant in comparison' with the bath.
Stuttgart's Jewish community is
higher forms of existence. the
heavenly spheres and the stars. financially very prosperous. The
Man, however, is set above all communal organization, which in-
mortal beings. His existence is a cludes the synagogue, needs no
great blessing for him, and his
distinction and perfection is a div-, THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
ine gift. 18 -Friday, September- 4, 1964
voluntary donations and even owns
extensive properties, solely by
means of the church tax paid by
its members. The majority of Stutt-
gart's Jewish population has re-
mained in Germany entirely for
monetary reasons.
To those of us who are sensi-
tive to any criticism of fellow
Jews and feel uneasy at the at-
tempts of historians to find any
faults in Jewish communities,
the Stuttgart Jews are unpala-
table and nearly unimaginable.
Owning a bar in Germany is a
dirtier business than in the
United States, for there is a
much closer link to crime and
especially juvenile delinquency.
Little attempt is made to check
the ages of patrons. Fifteen- and
16-year-olds are . r e g u l a r cus-
tomers.
The Jewish American soldiers
tell me that most of the bars and
dives in Stuttgart have Jewish
owners; this is certainly true of
many. From these dives operates
Stuttgart's prostitution. which is
also controlled to a great extent
by members of the Jewish commun-
ity. These are the most profitable
businesses in Germany that can be
established with only a small initial
outlay of capital.
The conduct, character and
motivations of most of Stuttgart's
Jews can be explained in terms of
financial considerations. Most of
them freely admit that they are in
Germany because business is good.
There are mitigating circum-
stances, to be sure. in that these
people have suffered horribly and
many have definite mental aberra-
tions.
Much of the community's close-
ness derives from the necessity of
protecting each other against out-
siders. They are driven together
by current anti-Semitism and by
their memories. Separated from
Germans because they are Jewish
and from other Jews because they
remain in Germany. they have (Ally
each other. And the Deutsch mark.
MRS. LAURA NUSBAUM
MR. AND MRS. JOE FETTER
MR. AND MRS. IRVING NUSBAUM
of the
NEW YORK CARPET COMPANY
Wish Their Many Friends and Customers
A Very Happy and Healthy New Year
THE JEWISH CENTER
CULTURE CLUB
Wishes to extend Happy and Prosperous New Year
Greetings to all __members, social workers, and 'guest
speakers who have contributed their services to the club
C
for the past year.
.
David Gornbein, President;
Jennie Schubiner, Secretory.
The prayer for knowledge is first
among the Benedictions.
—
Talmud Berakot
.45 we _approach a New Year, we face anew the
great responsibility of providing the finest educational
media for our children, so that they may' be fortified
with the knowledge that is vital for Jewish existence.
May the New Year 5725 become one of the signifi-
cant periods during which learning once again will be
a source of pride for all Israel.
Arr. aild Mrs. _:4bc Kash' and Family
Classified Ads Bring Results
1964
5725
Best Wishes
To The Jewish Community
For A Year of
Health and Happiness
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