A Proposal

It is the same goal that the praiseworthy and renowned Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith [Central-Verein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens] has set itself for years and has been pursuing with energy and perseverance. The valiant association has scored several remarkable successes. It has accrued the great merit to have shown the way along which we need to proceed. However, despite substantial participation, the Central Association comprises only a small fraction of German Jewry and it is unlikely that this proportion will change significantly. Most important, the Association and its noble leaders have no clear mandate to speak on behalf of all German Jewry.

There is only one solution: a General Assembly of German Jewry, and not as a one-time event, but as a permanent institution.

However, this solution is only helpful under the condition that it really lives up to its name by being attended by qualified representatives of German Jewry from all over Germany. Our southern German coreligionists would voluntarily have to join their northern German counterparts. A failed experiment, partial or unqualified participation would be damaging and increase the internal confusion as well as the contempt of the world around us. Therefore the assembly would have to be carefully planned and generate all-round activity on its behalf. If that were the case, it would be enormously useful.

What would be the task of the General Assembly of German Jewry?

It would be arrogant if we anticipated the decisions of such an assembly in this preparatory paper. However, we would like to suggest what we consider its tasks to be.

First, the General Assembly of German Jewry must draw up a solemn declaration of our constitutional rights; in temperate words, but clearly and sharply, it must lay out the persistent infringements of these rights, and it must pass an appeal to the government and the public recalling them to their legal and constitutional duties while pointing out the constantly demonstrated civic and patriotic commitment of our religious community. If it were constantly repeated in the press, in assemblies, in petitions, such an appeal to the essence of the state cannot remain without effect.

Second, the General Assembly of German Jewry should organize in itself a permanent body for political purposes. Its task would not be to influence teaching, science, or even the ritual life of German Jewry. Other institutions and offices are doing that. No, this permanent body would be charged only with the defense of the constitutional rights of the Jews and with influencing public opinion and the leading circles of the states and the empire. Among other things, it would be charged with negotiating with the government and the political parties, and with bringing about the election of delegates of Jewish faith, who possess both real interest and the necessary knowledge to be effective in serving the cause of equality and freedom in our favor.