Zionist Report from Berlin - 19 September 1935 
 
 Report of Yitzhak Ben Aharon of Hehalutz in Berlin to Ben Gurion, 19 September 1935 
 
 Source : Ben Gurion Archive, Sde-Boker, Correspondence. 
 The Nuremberg Laws defined the framework for the national, human and social existence of Jews in Germany. The abrogation of citizenship, which decreed a separate national life for the Jews, legalised a situation, which had already been in place for a long period of time. Official declarations regarding the laws claim that Germany is the first state in the world to accept the demands of Zionist leaders by creating a basis for national autonomy through the establishment of total and absolute separation between Jews and Germans... The renewed orders to the party prohibiting actions by individuals against Jews indicate that the state wishes to solve the problem by administrative measures without relying on violent action by individuals. It is clear that if the state fails to accomplish this separation, new measures will be taken not only by the state, but also by the movement [party]. 
 There is no consensus as of yet among German Jewry on the meaning of the laws and on the practical outcome they are likely to have for them. No single position has yet been agreed upon by all of German Jewry. The Zionist approach is as follows: The leadership of German Jewry – The Reichsvertretung (Representation of German Jews) and the regional associations – is still largely in the hands of assimilationists. This leadership is mentally and spiritually unable to adapt to the new situation. Nor is it able to exercise a policy which would recognise the new framework and which would take all practical measures leading to both a true building of Jewish autonomous life in Germany and to effective emigration. The first step should therefore be a change in the leadership, in which at least 50% of the members of all agencies should be Zionists. After the change in leadership, a comprehensive program should be prepared and submitted to the government based on three points: a substantive plan for emigration to Palestine and other countries with the goal of liquidating German Jewry over a period of 15-20 years. The authorities will have to permit all necessary prerequisites, such as taking out capital, vocational training and political activity. The government will have to recognise that the realisation of such a liquidation plan...is possible only if the Jews remaining in Germany in the short term will be granted the possibility for economic subsistence... Now that the new legal situation of Jews in Germany has been created, to attempt a cessation of the defamation campaign. This program should be submitted to the decision-makers in the government in order to reach an understanding regarding the reconstruction of Jewish autonomy and an increase of emigration. It must be pointed out that there is no assurance that such a program would be accepted by the other side. The non-Zionist leadership tends to be unwilling to share leadership with the Zionists, and they claim that they remain the only legitimate representative of German Jewry. A meeting of all representatives of all the Jewish communities of Germany will take place in a few days. The goal of this meeting is to reach a conclusive settlement on the question of leadership. On the other hand [in spite of their unwillingness to share leadership], the non-Zionists are ready to accept [the emigration] plan and to attempt to reach an agreement with the government. The Zionists insist that neither they nor the World Zionist Movement will engage in the execution of such a plan if they do not have decisive influence over the negotiations with the government and implementation of the plan. The revisionists, led by Kareski, are attempting a putsch. Kareski, who apparently has contacts with some figures within the regime, is trying to establish a national council of Jews and to negotiate with the government, bypassing the Reichsvertretung… There is constant emigration of leading personalities of the Zionist Movement in Germany. This places the claim for leadership of German Zionism in question. Should the Zionists obtain the position of leadership, which they demand, we would find ourselves with an insoluble problem of manning positions with people from Germany... 
 A basic change has been observed in our Hachschara situation in recent weeks. In the past two years we have encountered almost no difficulties with our Hachschara program. In certain places we have even been supported by some local and governmental authorities. In the last two weeks we have lost about 200 Hachschara positions due to direct pressure on farmers to refrain from employing Jewish workers and official measures taken by the local labour offices. In some parts of the Reich employment of Jewish workers by Aryan farmers has been officially forbidden. In other places, no addition of Chalutzim was permitted. If we do not succeed in obtaining official permission from the central government to continue our Hachschara program, it can be assumed that within a short period of time we will be pushed out of all our Hachschara positions. This must be the first issue to be dealt with by the political representatives of German Jewry, because it is an essential part of our situation and work in Germany. 
 Shalom! signed Ben-Aharon