Article by Professor Hellpach on the Jewish Question published by the T. B. – Zeitung.
Berlin: T.B.–Zeitung, 1928. Loose leaf. Folio. 4pp. Original newsprint with black lettering, protected by modern mylar. Article by Willy Hellpach, sixth State President of Baden, from 1928 in which he takes a pro-Jewish position, pages 55–57 of the T. B. –Zeitung, at a time of rising anti-Semitism. The article was published in 1928, the same year of the release of his book "Politische Prognose für Deutschland," and represents the end of the third chapter of the published book, his writings on the Jewish Question (Judenfrage). The article is published with an explicit disclaimer by the newspaper, saying that despite of its disagreement with large parts of the article, the sincere attempt of a man of Hellpach's statue, to be fair to the Jewish population and culture, deserves the publication in order to allow the reader to study Hellpach's position and come to its own conclusion.
In view of the miniscule share of Germany's total population, 62 million Germans and half a million Jews, Hellpach calls it a delusional idea to manufacture a Jewish Question and stoke anti-Semitism with reference to ritual murders and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. This he claims, "is an attempt to make the Jews a people within a people." Though he acknowledges the differences in appearance and social conduct, Hellpach claims that these differences would hardly be noticeable if not for the concerted efforts to differentiate between the two groups. He emphasizes that a close look at the "milling masses" of Bavaria, where anti-Semitism is cultivated, at the Oktoberwiese for example, one hardly would experience unfettered aesthetic joy for a noble race. Hellpach states that the physical differentiation is nothing but a tool of non-Jews wielded against the Jews, pointing out that this approach has its roots in three facts: the Jew's steadfastness of kin, their prosperity, and the intellectual curiosity of Jews.
Hellpach elaborates and gives examples of cases contributing to the division of the two ethnic groups, cites the Russian revolution as a major reason for the unusually high immigration of Jews into Germany, and concludes that politically, in view of the self-image of Germany as a democracy, there is only one way of dealing with the problem: the absolute equality of Jews in public life. A nation like Germany ought to be able to absorb the positive values of Jewish culture. These four pages include an open letter on the subject to Bruno Glaserfeld, including the answer, a contribution by Professor Grimme on "The Stones of Sinai," and a note on German-Jewish playwright Ernst Lissauer's successful premiere of his play "York" at the Cologne Theater. Includes several illustrated and classified advertisements. Article with wear along edges, small chips and closed tears along horizontal fold. Age-toned. g. Item #45882
Price: $250.00