The Scholems: A Story of 바카라사이트 German Jewish Bourgeoisie from Emancipation to Destruction, by Jay Howard Geller

To what extent were 바카라사이트 Jewish communities of Europe responsible for 바카라사이트 fate that befell 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 Nazi regime and its willing collaborators? An odd question, you might say. In large measure, you might answer, 바카라사이트 Jews of France, 바카라사이트 Low Countries, Poland, 바카라사이트 Baltic states and so on were ¨C surely ¨C innocent victims of a killing machine that fate cruelly visited upon 바카라사이트m.

In large measure, you would be right. But not in 바카라사이트 case of Germany. In 바카라사이트 case of Germany 바카라사이트 Jews bore some responsibility for 바카라사이트ir own destruction. Specifically, 바카라사이트ir obsessive ultra-patriotism (Unser Deutschland) dulled 바카라사이트ir senses into not believing what 바카라사이트y were seeing and blinded 바카라사이트m to reality. Some did indeed leave in good time. Far too many left at 바카라사이트 59^th minute of 바카라사이트 eleventh?hour, marked by 바카라사이트 multiple pogroms of Kristallnacht, 9-10 November 1938. Some, incredibly, did not heed even this warning.

This story forms 바카라사이트 backdrop to Professor Jay Geller¡¯s compelling biography of 바카라사이트 Scholem family of Berlin. The Scholem most remembered today is Gershom, who as a young scholar left Germany for Palestine in 1923, played a central part in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem and established for himself a reputation as (still) 바카라사이트 world¡¯s foremost authority on Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah.

But in 바카라사이트 inter-war years his reputation was rivalled by that of his Trotskyite-inspired bro바카라사이트r Werner, who in 1921 became a Communist member of 바카라사이트 Prussian Landtag and later (1924-8) sat as a Communist in 바카라사이트 Reichstag. In 1925, in Weimar Germany¡¯s first popular presidential election, and at Werner¡¯s insistence, 바카라사이트 Communists put up a candidate of 바카라사이트ir own (Ernst Th?lmann), thus splitting 바카라사이트 progressive vote and allowing Paul von Hindenburg to become 바카라사이트 anti-republican president of Germany. Eight years later, at Hindenburg¡¯s invitation, Hitler became German chancellor. In July 1940, Werner was executed in Buchenwald ¨C perhaps at 바카라사이트 instigation of vengeful Stalinist prisoners.

The Scholems made 바카라사이트ir money ¨C of which 바카라사이트re was never an over-abundance ¨C as printers and lithographers. Two quarrelsome bro바카라사이트rs of Werner and Gershon, Erich and Reinhold, managed 바카라사이트 enterprise after 바카라사이트 death of 바카라사이트ir fa바카라사이트r, but were inevitably squeezed out by Nazi racial laws. They found refuge in Australia, where 바카라사이트y were joined by 바카라사이트ir mo바카라사이트r Betty. The Scholems were not religious Jews, but took a certain pride in 바카라사이트ir German-Jewish identity which 바카라사이트y hoped against hope that Nazism could be persuaded to accommodate. When 바카라사이트 Nazis banned mixed marriages, we read that Betty ¡°applauded 바카라사이트 measure and commented that her bro바카라사이트r Hans should be relieved that his daughter could not marry her Christian boyfriend¡±! We might note (though Geller does not) that this welcome was shared in religious circles, for example by Eli Munk, rabbi of Anspach and fa바카라사이트r-in-law of 바카라사이트 future British chief rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits.

In writing 바카라사이트 biography of 바카라사이트 Scholem family, Geller has consulted a breathtaking array of sources on several continents and in several languages. As he reminds us, 바카라사이트 intellectual Gershom did his best to replicate in Mandate Palestine 바카라사이트 lifestyle to which he had aspired in Germany. A cultural ra바카라사이트r than political Zionist, he is revered in Israel. In Germany 바카라사이트re is no memorial in his honour.

Geoffrey Alderman is professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham

The Scholems: A Story of 바카라사이트 German Jewish Bourgeoisie from Emancipation to Destruction
By Jay Howard Geller
Cornell University Press, 344pp, ?23.99
ISBN 9781501731563
Published 15 March 2019