Robert Weltsch
Encyclopedia
Robert Weltsch was a journalist, editor and prominent Zionist.
He was editor of the Jüdische Rundschau (Jewish Review), a newspaper published twice a week in Berlin
, Germany
during the years the Nazis were gaining influence. The newspaper had a peak readership of 37,000. He edited and wrote for the Rundschau from 1919 through its demise under the Nazi regime in 1938 . His best-known contribution was a reaction to the April 1, 1933 Nazi-led boycott of Jewish shops, which was the first meaningful anti-Jewish action of the newly-empowered Nazis. In his editorial Weltsch used the phrase, "Wear it with pride, the yellow badge
." This was a call for strength and solidarity, and a lone voice in reaction to the Nazi boycott. It was not a reference to the forced-wearing of yellow armbands, which the Nazis didn't force on Jews until 1941, but rather a call for unity to a German-Jewish community that had until then thought of itself as comfortably assimilated into German life.
Weltsch was born in Prague when it was part of Austria-Hungary
. The city had a strong Jewish community which was culturally German. Weltsch fought in World War I
on the German side. His cousin, Felix Weltsch
, was a good friend of Franz Kafka
and Max Brod
, and Robert was also life-long friends with the latter; they shared a strong interest in idealistic Zionism.
From 1925 to 1933 Robert Weltsch was active in the Zionist organization Brit Shalom
which advocated a binational solution
in Palestine
, with Jews and Arabs living together. In this cause he was befriended by Martin Buber
and Albert Einstein
, among others.
After fleeing to Palestine in 1938 (which at that time included all the territory of modern-day Israel
, as well as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank), he continued agitating for accommodation with the Arab population of Mandate Palestine. He was friendly with Chaim Weizman, who would later become the first president of Israel.
Weltsch worked for many years as a correspondent for Haaretz
, a major Israeli newspaper. In 1945 he moved to London
, becoming Haaretz's London correspondent. In this capacity he covered the Nuremberg Trials
. He was a major force in establishing the Leo Baeck Institute, named for a rabbi and leader of the German-Jewish community during the Nazi years. The Institute is a group dedicated to preserving German-Jewish history and culture and is still acive. Weltsch edited the Institute's Yearbook from 1956 to 1978.
He was editor of the Jüdische Rundschau (Jewish Review), a newspaper published twice a week in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the years the Nazis were gaining influence. The newspaper had a peak readership of 37,000. He edited and wrote for the Rundschau from 1919 through its demise under the Nazi regime in 1938 . His best-known contribution was a reaction to the April 1, 1933 Nazi-led boycott of Jewish shops, which was the first meaningful anti-Jewish action of the newly-empowered Nazis. In his editorial Weltsch used the phrase, "Wear it with pride, the yellow badge
Yellow badge
The yellow badge , also referred to as a Jewish badge, was a cloth patch that Jews were ordered to sew on their outer garments in order to mark them as Jews in public. It is intended to be a badge of shame associated with antisemitism...
." This was a call for strength and solidarity, and a lone voice in reaction to the Nazi boycott. It was not a reference to the forced-wearing of yellow armbands, which the Nazis didn't force on Jews until 1941, but rather a call for unity to a German-Jewish community that had until then thought of itself as comfortably assimilated into German life.
Weltsch was born in Prague when it was part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. The city had a strong Jewish community which was culturally German. Weltsch fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on the German side. His cousin, Felix Weltsch
Felix Weltsch
Felix Weltsch , Dr. jur et phil., was a German-speaking Jewish librarian, philosopher, author, editor, publisher and journalist...
, was a good friend of Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
and Max Brod
Max Brod
Max Brod was a German-speaking Czech Jewish, later Israeli, author, composer, and journalist. Although he was a prolific writer in his own right, he is most famous as the friend and biographer of Franz Kafka...
, and Robert was also life-long friends with the latter; they shared a strong interest in idealistic Zionism.
From 1925 to 1933 Robert Weltsch was active in the Zionist organization Brit Shalom
Brit Shalom
Brit Shalom was a group of Jewish 'universalist' intellectuals in Palestine, founded in 1925, which never exceeded a membership of 100.The original "Brit Shalom" sought a peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Jews, to be achieved by renunciation of the Zionist aim of creating a Jewish state...
which advocated a binational solution
Binational solution
The one-state solution and the similar binational solution are proposed approaches to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Proponents of a binational solution to the conflict advocate either a single state in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, or a single state in Israel and the West...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, with Jews and Arabs living together. In this cause he was befriended by Martin Buber
Martin Buber
Martin Buber was an Austrian-born Jewish philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a form of religious existentialism centered on the distinction between the I-Thou relationship and the I-It relationship....
and Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, among others.
After fleeing to Palestine in 1938 (which at that time included all the territory of modern-day Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, as well as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank), he continued agitating for accommodation with the Arab population of Mandate Palestine. He was friendly with Chaim Weizman, who would later become the first president of Israel.
Weltsch worked for many years as a correspondent for Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, a major Israeli newspaper. In 1945 he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, becoming Haaretz's London correspondent. In this capacity he covered the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
. He was a major force in establishing the Leo Baeck Institute, named for a rabbi and leader of the German-Jewish community during the Nazi years. The Institute is a group dedicated to preserving German-Jewish history and culture and is still acive. Weltsch edited the Institute's Yearbook from 1956 to 1978.