The National Representation (Reichsvertretung) and the Union of Jewish Front Veterans
The National Representation (Reichsvertretung) and the Union of Jewish Front Veterans (RjF)
Source: Juedische Rundschau , 27 February 1934. Cited in a sourcebook edited by Avraham Margaliot, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1972.
'The RjF considers unqualified identification with the German homeland a fundamental tenet of its work. It has no goal and no ambition outside of this German homeland, and it vehemently resists any effort to alienate us German Jews from the German homeland. It also believes that on this basis, within the framework of today's [German] State and its laws, it is still possible to settle the Jewish problems in Germany in an honourable manner. From this point of view, it seems to us that in no way can we co-operate with other Jewish organisations that have a different view on the problems of shaping relations between ourselves and our German surroundings - the German people and the German state. For this reason, we do not believe it possible for the National Representation (Reichsvertretung) to serve as an inclusive representative of German Jewry in this respect, as long as people with different and contrasting views may exert equal influence there in dealing with these problems'. [The excerpt presented above is from an article by the leader of the RjF that appeared in the movement's journal, Der Schild].
...Unfortunately, we must assume that by making this statement, the RjF intends to create a bulwark within the Jewish camp. This attempt should be protested, and it should be hoped that the National Representation (Reichsvertretung), which has built up its authority to the extent needed by the most recent conference, will come out vehemently against such manifestations.... As Jews who acknowledge that they are different, we believe - and the Juedische Rundschau, of all voices, has expressed this attitude vigorously for the past year - that our integration into the new order of the German State is possible. Jews who are overtly loyal to their Jewishness will, ipso facto, be better citizens of the new German State than Jews who conceal their Jewishness and have lost their entire inner affinity for it.
