Frankfurt am Main, 4 October 1933

The Herr Reich Chancellor,

Berlin.

The undersigned, the most respectful Free Association for the Interests of Orthodox Jewry, has the honour, also on behalf of the two co-signatory organizations, to submit a memorandum on the German Jewish question in the hope that it may receive favourable consideration.

With humble respects

FREE ASSOCIATION

FOR THE INTERESTS OF ORTHODOX JEWRY

Dr S. Ehrmann

MEMORANDUM

TO THE HERR REICH CHANCELLOR

The undersigned Orthodox Jewish organizations, representing that section of German Jewry which considers the Jewish religion as the sole ground and justification of the historical existence of the Jewish people,* feel compelled, Herr Reich Chancellor, to set forth openly and honestly their attitude to the Jewish question. In the wake of the National Revolution and the measures taken by your government, this question has become so burning an issue that it must be resolved in one way or another if German Jewry, and ultimately Germany herself, are not to suffer the most serious damage. Struggling National Socialism lumped Judaism, Marxism, and Communism together and ignored the Jewish religion. Victorious National Socialism will be unable to solve the Jewish question without taking the Jewish religion into consideration, if, that is, the solution is to reflect the principles of justice. This fact compels us to speak out, and also fills us with hope that our voice will be heard.

Marxist materialism and Communist atheism have nothing whatever in common with the spirit of the affirmative Jewish religious tradition, with true, historical Judaism, with the Orthodox Jewish doctrine binding on the Jewish people.

For as long as can be remembered, we have, in speech and in writing, been battling against this anti-religious attitude. In the instruction of our youth, in public lectures and from the pulpit, and in the Orthodox religious press, we have always countered the corrupting spirit of materialism with religious idealism, by stressing man's responsibility to God and the nation. We have declared war on the atheist movement and engaged it in combat.