PHILO-ATLAS HANDBUCH FÜR DIE JÜDISCHE AUSWANDERUNG Mit 20 mehrfarbigen Karten, über 25 Tabellen und Übersichten, über 600 Stichworten auf 280 Textspalten – Philo Atlas – Emergency Immigration Guide for Jews from Germany, Published Just Two Weeks Before Kristallnacht. Edited by Dr. Ernst Leventhal. Emergency guide provided urgent information for Jews regarding immigration and absorption in various countries around the world. It includes 20 color plates, tables, general surveys, and over 600 key terms. Published by PHILO G. M. B. H., JÜDISCHER BUCHVERLAG BERLIN – Philo Jewish Publishing House, Berlin, 1938. The Jewish-owned publishing house that produced this atlas was shut down by Nazi order just one month after this guide was published!
An essential guide designed to provide urgent assistance to Jewish immigrants escaping Germany. The guide includes a list of countries worldwide in alphabetical order, following the format of the well-known “Philo Atlases.” However, as stated in the introduction:
“The Jewish immigration movement of today has completely transformed Jewish life and has greatly expanded the scope of Jewish social work. The individual Jewish migrant faces tasks and decisions that require a vast amount of additional general and Jewish knowledge. The Philo Atlas is intended to help answer countless new questions that have arisen – information for the immigrant, a guide for the settler, and a bridge between those abroad and those here…”. Each country or city entry in the atlas provides urgent information about possible immigration options to destinations where Jewish survival depended at that time. It details in depth: Which countries accept immigrants, The amount of money required for immigration to each country, The occupations in demand in each country, The benefits and conditions by profession (for example, in the first entry, “Afghanistan”, it is written: “Only a few highly skilled craftsmen, particularly in manual trades, may find residence here.”), The prevalent diseases in various regions
Locations of local Jewish aid organizations that may assist immigrants
And much more essential information for the Jewish immigrant.
The most detailed entries in the atlas pertain to Palestine and the United States, as the two preferred immigration destinations for Jews. In addition to informational details, the guide provides an overview of the national idea shaped by Herzl and Ahad Ha’am in the 19th century, emphasizing that the Zionist movement prioritizes Palestine as the “center of immigration” over any other country. It also outlines all the required documents for a Jewish immigrant moving to Palestine. The entry includes: A breakdown of daily wages by profession in Palestine, A description of the activities of the Jewish Agency, The Jewish-to-Arab demographic ratio, Extensive information on educational institutions in the country, Details on the major agricultural settlements, And more. In the Jaffa entry, it is noted: “Since the 1929 riots, migration to neighboring Tel Aviv has been recorded, with training workshops for certified craftsmen…”. Additionally, under the letter J, there is a special entry not referring to a country, titled “Jüdisches Leben in der Welt” (Jewish Life in the World). This entry discusses pogroms against Jews from the late 19th century and presents the United States as the best refuge for Jewish immigrants.
The Philo Verlag publishing house, which was Jewish-owned, was forcibly shut down by the Nazis one month after the publication of this guide. At that time, the decision was made to prohibit any Jewish emigration from Germany, even to countries that had been willing to accept Jewish refugees under the resolutions of the Evian Conference held earlier that summer. Jews who remained in Germany soon found themselves trapped.
The atlas includes 20 color maps of countries and regions worldwide, including: A map of Palestine and a regional map of the Middle East,
A world map displaying distances from Berlin to the five continents,
Maps of the United States, Australia, and other countries.
6, 284 pages, + 20 color map plates. Original cloth-covered cardboard binding. General condition: good.
