Jewish Party (Romania)
Encyclopedia
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 (founded in 1909, turned into the Union of Romanian Jews
(UER) in 1923), believed that a separate Jewish party was unnecessary, as it would isolate the Jews politically after they had struggled for decades to win Romanian citizenship. The Union stated that specific demands could be obtained more easily by participating in Romanian parties and collaborating with the Romanian government. This viewpoint was not shared by a group led by Theodor Fischer and Adolf Stern, who founded the Jewish Party on May 4, 1931 in Bucharest
.
The party was created by merging a number of regional Jewish organisations. Its central office was led by the president and by an eight-member committee. Its official newspaper was Tribuna evreiască ("The Jewish Tribune"). The party's programme sought to raise awareness among Romanian Jews
that they belonged to a larger Jewish people, while at the same time re-affirming their devotion to the country in which they lived. The PER fought for legal, moral and material rights, with a view toward the spiritual development of the Jewish minority (including state support for primary and professional schools, as well as for Jewish worship). The programme noted the need to promote collaboration with other nationalities' political organisations.
The PER took part in the June 1931 election, obtaining 2.19% of the vote and 4 seats in the Assembly of Deputies
; in July 1932 it took 2.26% and 5 seats. A powerful setback followed at the 1933 election, when, winning 1.29% of the vote, the party lost all its seats in parliament. After the Nazi
régime was established in Germany
, the PER stood in solidarity with the parties that defended constitutional parliamentarism. It organised meetings to condemn the anti-Semitic actions in Germany and the manifestations of extreme-right sentiment then gaining currency in Romanian political life.
On January 26, 1936, the PER agreed to sign a pact of collaboration with the UER, together forming the Central Council of Romanian Jews (Consiliul Central al Evreilor din România), which fought in defence of Jewish rights and against anti-Semitic actions. Running on its own lists in the 1937 election
, the PER won 1.42% of the vote. The Jewish Party, along with all other parties extant in Romania, was dissolved by royal decree on March 30, 1938.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in 1930s Romania
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...
.
The PER came into being as a result of dissensions within the Jewish community. The Union of Native Jews (founded in 1909, turned into the Union of Romanian Jews
Union of Romanian Jews
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...
(UER) in 1923), believed that a separate Jewish party was unnecessary, as it would isolate the Jews politically after they had struggled for decades to win Romanian citizenship. The Union stated that specific demands could be obtained more easily by participating in Romanian parties and collaborating with the Romanian government. This viewpoint was not shared by a group led by Theodor Fischer and Adolf Stern, who founded the Jewish Party on May 4, 1931 in Bucharest
Bucharest
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....
.
The party was created by merging a number of regional Jewish organisations. Its central office was led by the president and by an eight-member committee. Its official newspaper was Tribuna evreiască ("The Jewish Tribune"). The party's programme sought to raise awareness among 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....
that they belonged to a larger Jewish people, while at the same time re-affirming their devotion to the country in which they lived. The PER fought for legal, moral and material rights, with a view toward the spiritual development of the Jewish minority (including state support for primary and professional schools, as well as for Jewish worship). The programme noted the need to promote collaboration with other nationalities' political organisations.
The PER took part in the June 1931 election, obtaining 2.19% of the vote and 4 seats in the Assembly of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Romania
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house in Romania's bicameral parliament. It has 315 seats, to which deputies are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms...
; in July 1932 it took 2.26% and 5 seats. A powerful setback followed at the 1933 election, when, winning 1.29% of the vote, the party lost all its seats in parliament. After the Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
régime was established in 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...
, the PER stood in solidarity with the parties that defended constitutional parliamentarism. It organised meetings to condemn the anti-Semitic actions in Germany and the manifestations of extreme-right sentiment then gaining currency in Romanian political life.
On January 26, 1936, the PER agreed to sign a pact of collaboration with the UER, together forming the Central Council of Romanian Jews (Consiliul Central al Evreilor din România), which fought in defence of Jewish rights and against anti-Semitic actions. Running on its own lists in the 1937 election
Romanian general election, 1937
General elections were held in Romania on 20 and 22 December 1937. It was Romania's last election before King Carol II dissolved Parliament and instituted a royal dictatorship the following February. By the next elections under the 1923 Constitution, Romania had passed through two dictatorships and...
, the PER won 1.42% of the vote. The Jewish Party, along with all other parties extant in Romania, was dissolved by royal decree on March 30, 1938.
Notable members
- Theodor Fischer (president)
- Adolf Stern (honorary president)
- Mişu Weisman
- Michel Landau
- Ernest Marton