Ein Werdendes Land: Furende Manner der Welt zum Palastina Aufbau – “A Land in the Making: Leading World Figures in Support of the Building of Palestine”, published by Keren Hayesod. “The building of Palestine is the only cause with the mobilizing power necessary to achieve effective unification of the Jews” (Albert Einstein, as quoted in the booklet). Berlin, 1928 – First edition. In German. Extremely rare.
A collection of statements from prominent leaders and public figures—both Jewish and non-Jewish—around the world, in support of the Zionist enterprise in the Land of Israel in light of the Balfour Declaration, as expressed during the decade following the declaration (especially in the years 1926–1927), including notable German personalities.
Among the statements featured in the booklet are those of prominent German figures, such as a representative of the Bernstorff Embassy:
“We see the building of the Land of Israel as a great social endeavor, and therefore we wish to join it with energy… This great work of peace deserves support in Germany from moral, social, political, and economic perspectives as well.” (June 1927); Dr. Konrad Adenauer, Mayor of Cologne at the time, stated:
“Article 4 of the Palestine Mandate guaranteed the establishment of a Jewish national home in the Land of Israel. All the governments represented in the League of Nations, including the government of the German Reich, assumed joint responsibility for the fulfillment of this promise made to the Jewish people…” (November 1927); The President of the Stralsund District declared:
“Jews should not view the work in the Land of Israel with fear, but with increased self-confidence… The Jews of Europe and America must successfully carry out this work, which, in its humanitarian aims and vast scope, ranks among the foremost creations of human idealism…” ; Professor Georg Bernhard, editor-in-chief of the German Vossische Zeitung, wrote:
“I believe that the development work in the Land of Israel must be supported by all Jews in Germany…” (March 1926) ; and more.
The booklet also includes declarations from public figures across Europe, such as the first British High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel:
“Let us express the hope and resolve that the second decade will yield results as magnificent as the first. It is a lofty goal, but with unceasing effort it can certainly be achieved.” (On the tenth anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, (November 1927); Albert Einstein is also quoted:
“I have no doubt that, in the current state of affairs, the building of Palestine is the only cause with the mobilizing power necessary to achieve effective unification of the Jews. It was Herzl’s enduring achievement to be the first to clearly recognize this fact and to draw practical conclusions from this insight. Therefore, in my view, every Jew who cares about the health of the Jewish community and the dignity of Jews in general must devote himself with all his strength to the realization of Herzl’s ideal.” (Berlin, 1926); Also included are statements by Chaim Weizmann, Leo Baeck, Martin Buber, and many others.
At the opening of the booklet appears a large group photograph of the participants of the German Pro-Palestine Conference, held in Germany on December 15, 1926. At the center stands Albert Einstein, flanked by: Kurt Blumenfeld, journalist and prominent German Zionist leader, Rabbi Dr. Leo Baeck, leader of German Jewry, Count Bernstorff, German diplomat and member of the anti-Nazi resistance, Dr. Hermann Josef Pünder, who would later (in 1944) attempt to assassinate Hitler and be deported to Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps, Moritz Sobernheim, politician, head of the Department of Jewish-German Relations since its founding in 1918, Zionist activist, and president of the Society for the Promotion of Jewish Science
Carl Heinrich Becker, German orientalist, and others.
Extremely rare. Not listed in the global library catalog WorldCat.
40 [2] pp. Tears with some loss along the edges of the cover. The booklet’s body is in good condition.
