Union of Romanian Jews
Encyclopedia
The Union of Romanian Jews was a political organisation active in Romania
in the first half of the 20th century.
The UER targeted all Romanian Jews who had obtained citizenship and accepted its programme of integration into the Romanian state. It was organised based on geographic Jewish communities, without regard to social standing, and placed no restriction on membership. It did not consider itself a political party, but rather an action organisation that promoted Jewish interests.
In essence, it called for Jewish emancipation, and after the Union of Transylvania with Romania
, for the consolidation of the rights that Jews had won and for the participation of all Romanian Jews in the country's political life. It fought for the easing of the citizenship process for Jews who arrived in Romania after 1918 and for the organisation of an autonomous cultural and religious life. Its official newspapers were Înfrăţirea ("Unity"; 1909-1919) and Curierul izraelit ("The Israelite Courier"; 1918-1940, 1944-1945).
on November 27, 1909. The UEP actively campaigned on behalf of Romanian Jews
, addressing memoranda to the Romanian authorities and seeking help from abroad, especially from France
and Great Britain
. At the same time, it asked Jews to fulfill their duties toward the Romanian state, which had begun to grant them citizenship on an individual basis beginning in 1879.
At its February 1923 congress, the UEP became the UER and extended its activity into the whole country, greatly enlarged in the aftermath of World War I
. Officially, the UER called for participation in parliamentary elections on the lists of Romanian parties, a viewpoint not shared by the entire community. Jewish candidates did not run on separate lists in the 1919 elections, but for the 1920 election, a number of Jewish political coalitions appeared, of which the most important was the Jewish Bloc (Blocul Evreiesc), which ran candidates in ten Counties of Romania
and won no seats. At the 1922 election, a single faction, the Jewish Nationalist Group (Grupul Evreiesc Naţionalist), ran but did not achieve notable successes. At the same time, a significant number of Jews entered Parliament
, being elected on the lists of other parties, especially those of the Romanian National Party
and the Peasants' Party
.
At its 1929 congress, which brought together representatives of all Romanian Jews, the UER adopted a new statute, which specified that the UER fought to "defend the individual and collective rights of the Jewish population of Romania which proceed from the Constitution
and the laws of the country, as well as from international treaties". The UER maintained its tactical orientation, refusing to collaborate with those organisations that wished to found a national Jewish party. An intensification of internal political conflicts led to the formation of the Jewish Party
(PER) in 1931.
After 1933, part of the Jewish population entered the PER while others joined the Social Democrats
and other parties, diminishing the UER's authority. Nevertheless it continued its activity of raising cultural standards among the Jewish masses, placing particular emphasis on emancipation and equality through integration. The intensification of extreme-right activity led the UER to accept collaboration with the PER, so that in 1936, the Central Council of Romanian Jews (Consiliul Central al Evreilor din România) was founded with the purpose of uniting all Jewish political forces against right-wing extremism.
After all extant Romanian political parties were dissolved on March 30, 1938, the UER continued to undertake limited activities. After World War II
, the UER was reactivated, enjoying the support of the Jewish Democratic Committee (Comitetul Democratic Evreiesc, CDE). Together with the CDE and the Workers' Zionist-Socialist Ihud Party (Partidul Muncitoresc Sionist-Socialist “Ihud"), the UER participated in the Working Palestine Bloc (Blocul “Palestina Muncitoare"), which prepared, in a professional way, Jews who wished to emigrate
to Palestine. It ceased its activity during 1946.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in the first half of the 20th century.
The UER targeted all Romanian Jews who had obtained citizenship and accepted its programme of integration into the Romanian state. It was organised based on geographic Jewish communities, without regard to social standing, and placed no restriction on membership. It did not consider itself a political party, but rather an action organisation that promoted Jewish interests.
In essence, it called for Jewish emancipation, and after the Union of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania was declared on by the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia.The national holiday of Romania, the Great Union Day occurring on December 1, commemorates this event...
, for the consolidation of the rights that Jews had won and for the participation of all Romanian Jews in the country's political life. It fought for the easing of the citizenship process for Jews who arrived in Romania after 1918 and for the organisation of an autonomous cultural and religious life. Its official newspapers were Înfrăţirea ("Unity"; 1909-1919) and Curierul izraelit ("The Israelite Courier"; 1918-1940, 1944-1945).
History
At first, the group was called the Union of Native Jews (Uniunea Evreilor Pământeni, UEP), founded in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
on November 27, 1909. The UEP actively campaigned on behalf of Romanian Jews
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
, addressing memoranda to the Romanian authorities and seeking help from abroad, especially from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Great Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. At the same time, it asked Jews to fulfill their duties toward the Romanian state, which had begun to grant them citizenship on an individual basis beginning in 1879.
At its February 1923 congress, the UEP became the UER and extended its activity into the whole country, greatly enlarged in the aftermath of 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...
. Officially, the UER called for participation in parliamentary elections on the lists of Romanian parties, a viewpoint not shared by the entire community. Jewish candidates did not run on separate lists in the 1919 elections, but for the 1920 election, a number of Jewish political coalitions appeared, of which the most important was the Jewish Bloc (Blocul Evreiesc), which ran candidates in ten Counties of Romania
Counties of Romania
The 41 judeţe and the municipality of Bucharest comprise the official administrative divisions of Romania. They also represent the European Union' s NUTS-3 geocode statistical subdivision scheme of Romania.-Overview:...
and won no seats. At the 1922 election, a single faction, the Jewish Nationalist Group (Grupul Evreiesc Naţionalist), ran but did not achieve notable successes. At the same time, a significant number of Jews entered Parliament
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
, being elected on the lists of other parties, especially those of the Romanian National Party
Romanian National Party
The Romanian National Party , initially known as the Romanian National Party in Transylvania and Banat , was a political party which was initially designed to offer ethnic representation to Romanians in the Kingdom of Hungary, the Transleithanian half of Austria-Hungary, and especially to those in...
and the Peasants' Party
Peasants' Party (Romania)
The Peasants' Party was a political party in post-World War I Romania that espoused a left-wing ideology partly connected with Agrarianism and Populism, and aimed to represent the interests of the Romanian peasantry. Through many of its leaders, the party was connected with Romanian populism , a...
.
At its 1929 congress, which brought together representatives of all Romanian Jews, the UER adopted a new statute, which specified that the UER fought to "defend the individual and collective rights of the Jewish population of Romania which proceed from the Constitution
1923 Constitution of Romania
The 1923 Constitution of Romania, also called the Constitution of Union, was intended to align the organisation of the state on the basis of universal male suffrage and the new realities that arose after the Great Union of 1918. Four draft constitutions existed: one belonging to the National...
and the laws of the country, as well as from international treaties". The UER maintained its tactical orientation, refusing to collaborate with those organisations that wished to found a national Jewish party. An intensification of internal political conflicts led to the formation of the Jewish Party
Jewish Party (Romania)
The Jewish Party was a political party in 1930s Romania.The PER came into being as a result of dissensions within the Jewish community. The Union of Native Jews , believed that a separate Jewish party was unnecessary, as it would isolate the Jews politically after they had struggled for decades to...
(PER) in 1931.
After 1933, part of the Jewish population entered the PER while others joined the Social Democrats
Romanian Social Democratic Party (defunct)
The Romanian Social Democratic Party was a social-democratic political party in Romania. It published the magazine România Muncitoare, and later Socialismul, Lumea Nouă, and Libertatea.-Early party:...
and other parties, diminishing the UER's authority. Nevertheless it continued its activity of raising cultural standards among the Jewish masses, placing particular emphasis on emancipation and equality through integration. The intensification of extreme-right activity led the UER to accept collaboration with the PER, so that in 1936, the Central Council of Romanian Jews (Consiliul Central al Evreilor din România) was founded with the purpose of uniting all Jewish political forces against right-wing extremism.
After all extant Romanian political parties were dissolved on March 30, 1938, the UER continued to undertake limited activities. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the UER was reactivated, enjoying the support of the Jewish Democratic Committee (Comitetul Democratic Evreiesc, CDE). Together with the CDE and the Workers' Zionist-Socialist Ihud Party (Partidul Muncitoresc Sionist-Socialist “Ihud"), the UER participated in the Working Palestine Bloc (Blocul “Palestina Muncitoare"), which prepared, in a professional way, Jews who wished to emigrate
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Palestine. It ceased its activity during 1946.
Notable members
- Adolf Stern (president, 1909-1919)
- Willy Fielderman (president, 1919-1938)
- Iacob Catz
- Horia Carp
- Gabriel Schaffer