The Question of Domestic Employees Source: Israelitisches Familienblatt 9 January 1936 Introduction The Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour and the First Regulation for this law, prohibiting the employment of female domestic helpers of German blood under the age of 45 in Jewish homes, have raised a number of practical questions. As the agencies of the state have clarified only a part of the problem, some aspects remain shrouded in doubt. A clarification of these legal issues can be gained from the recently published essay on the legislation by Dr. Loesener and Dr. Knost, both of the Ministry of Interior of the Reich and of Prussia. The authors are the people in charge of these legal issues in the Ministry and their essay is therefore one of the most significant commentaries in this matter… The prohibition to employ German domestic help under the age of 45 is directed against Jews, i.e. full and three-quarter Jews and Mischlinge [mixed race] of the first degree (half-Jews). The nationality of the person is of no consequence. The law therefore includes also foreigners who have a permanent residence here. If a foreign Jew is visiting for a limited time, for example travelling through Germany for several weeks, he is permitted to employ a German maid (see Loesener and Knost p. 54). The prohibition is also not valid ex-territorially, as clearly indicated in a statement by the Fuehrer on 21 November 1935. The law does not apply in labour relations between Jews and female German nationals of German blood abroad, as laws of the Reich generally are only valid within the territory of Germany (Loesener and Knost p. 57). It is therefore permitted for a German Jew who has emigrated to Amsterdam to employ a German national female maid under 45 years of age over there. The same, of course, is true for Jews with foreign nationality… The law applies only to those maids who are female, of German blood and with German nationality or who are stateless. On the other hand, female persons of foreign nationality (for example Italians, English as well as those who are of German blood such as women from Danzig or Austria) may be employed, though they must have work permits. Furthermore, for the time being there are no restrictions on the work of Jewish Mischlinge (half- and quarter- Jews) in Jewish homes. The Jewish household When using the term "Jewish household" it must be emphasised that it does not signify what we usually understand under this term, but refers to what the law defines as a Jewish household… A household is not considered Jewish, as declared in a statement of the Minister of Interior of the Reich, if it has only women and children under the age of sixteen. There is no limit for maximum age [of a Jewish male household member]. A household is therefore considered Jewish according to the law, if there is a male member aged 75, for example. The temporary presence of a Jewish male in a household in a home (for example for a visit) will not turn it into a Jewish household. The law will not apply in this case (See Loesener and Knost p. 55)… Work relations The prohibition on domestic help of German blood applies to Jewish households. This clearly means that employment of German females in Jewish firms (such as shops, offices, industry and crafts, lawyers' and doctors' offices) is not included in this legislation. However, another restriction on Jewish households has yet to be made. Enterprises whose main occupation is housework (such as hotels, clinics, old age homes, asylums, health care homes) are not households in the sense of the law, even if they are charitable organisations… Another important case is that in which a female of German blood are employed in a shop (or any other firm or office) and her contract specifies that she must also perform housework. In these cases, the employee may not continue doing the housework, if all the other conditions of the law apply.