Recording journey to

The incredible story of how the Central Zionist Archives and the Archive were saved from Europe

By SUZANNE BERNS Six months later,the Zionist executive informed Herlitzto take allstepsneeded to transferthe archives ilentwitnesses of the whole Zionist past gath- to Jerusalem. ered in dark stone basement, illuminated by Faced with the challenge of relocating Jewish ‘S seriesof electriclamps. At firstglance, the archive out of Nazi Germany, Herlitz’swife suggested: basement appears to be catacomb. Thousands of “The Prussians certainlyremained the strictofficials Jewish newspapers in differentlanguages, excerpts they have always been, even afterthe rule passed to from the non-Jewish press with articlesfeaturing the National Socialists….” , collectionof assortedbooks, brochures and Surprisingly,his request was accepted, although pamphlets on the Zionist movement and the Jewish few days later Gestapo officer appeared at the land; and, last but not least, colossal organized archives and took an interest in its contents. archive of the filesand documents of the Zionistorga- Overwhelmed by the amount of the documents and nizations,the treasureof our past.” their languages, he demanded that Herlitzwrite the These are the words of Dr. Hindos, an enthusiastic report in his place,which he would sign afterward. Zionist from New York, as he described his visitin Fortunately,everything worked out, and in the fall 1924 to the Central ZionistArchives in the newspaper of 1933, with the help of the WZO, the archives, Dos Yiddishe Folk. packed in 154 crates,arrivedin Jerusalem and moved Last summer, visitedBerlinfor the dedication of to the National InstitutionsBuilding. memorial plaque honoring the CZA centennial cele- Twenty-three years later,the 24th ZionistCongress brations.During my visit, stepped down the same confirmed the CZA to be the “historicalarchives of low flightof stairsto the catacomb-like basement the Zionist movement and organization and the described by Hindos many years before. Jewish Agency” with the following resolution:“All Dr. Georg Herlitzfounded the ZionistischesArchiv the offices and institutions of the World Zionist (ZionistArchives)on June 1,1919, at S?chsischestrasse Organization Executive and the Jewish Agency in 8, in room that had previouslyserved as bathroom Israeland the Diaspora are obliged to make allfiles,no of privateapartment. However, atthat time,ithoused longer necessary for ongoing work, accessibleto the the officesof the Zionistisches Zentralb?ro archives.” (Central Zionist Office Berlin).The CZA startedwith The small archive,with itsoriginallimited material only few dozen foldersand largestackof papers. content, grew into the CZA of today.In 1987,itmoved Itthen moved in 1924 to more spacious building, to its own building adjacent to the Jerusalem bequeathed to the Zionist movement by the Jewish InternationalConvention Center complex. century surgeon Dr. Friedrich Kabersky, on Meinekestrasse, later,with over 90 million documents, photographs, with many other Zionist organizations.Also housed private archives,maps and plans, the CZA isconsid- in thisbuilding was the Jewish Agency, which issued ered the largestand most important archive of the Dr. Georg Herlitzat the Central ZionistArchives in Jerusalem, the very sought-afterPalestinecertificates. history of the Zionistenterpriseas well as one of the 1947. (CentralZionistArchives,Jerusalem) The ZionistArchives in Berlin(1919-1933) included most extensive public archivesin . three sections:library,Zionist journals (including Herlitzwas not only the founder of the CZA but was photograph collection),and archival material of the alsovery involved in the Zionistenterpriseas Zionist Zionist institutions,including various Zionist offic- officialover the yearsatthe variousZionistCongresses. es, the , the agency and the Herlitzmet Moritz Reichenfeld at the 19th Zionist . Congress in Lucerne in 1935. Reichenfeld, the last Due to the instabilityin Germany in December surviving executor of Theodor Herzl’s lastwill,was 1931, Herlitzcontacted Dr. Leo Lauterbach, the head also cousin of Herzl’swife,Julie.AfterHerzl’sdeath, of the Organization Department in the World Zionist his private archive was preserved in the house of Organization, and warned him of the impending Johann Kremenetzky, founder of the JNF and Herzl’s danger of either the Communists or alternatively close friend and adviser. year afterKremenetzky’s Hitler’sNazis coming into power. He wrote: “There is death, Reichenfeld was looking for new home for no need to explain the ramificationsof such move. Herzl’sarchive and understood the urgency to trans- We believe that ifthis scenario comes to pass, then ferthe archive out of Austria. Zionistactivitieswillno longer be possiblehere.” To receiveHerzl’scollectionwas dream come true As cautionary measure, Herlitzused code to con- forHerlitz,as he had been trying foryears to add itto vey this message. He laterdisclosed the code in an the CZA’s collections.After follow-up visitin Vienna, interview on the 80th birthday of journalistAvraham Herlitzsucceeded in obtaining the approval to bring Elhanani: “The climate in our country isnot good for the Herzl Archive to Jerusalem. However, Reichenfeld the goods handle. Perhaps itisbetterto move itto had placed condition in the agreement, stipulating warmer country” (Davar, March 11,1965). that the Zionist Archives would have to appoint On February 1, 1933, the day afterthe Nazis seized specialcurator forthe Herzl Archive. power, Herlitz directed request to the executive branch of the Zionist organization to move the MEANWHILE, IN Austria, as the National Socialist archives to Palestine. movement grew stronger,an officialdeclaration for Once again, Herlitzused precautionary measures to moving the Herzl Archive seemed problematic. make sure the letterwould arriveat itsdestination.As Therefore, they decided to send the archive as the lettercensorship existedfrom the firstday of National “household goods” of the pioneer JosefKastein. Catacomb-like basement Socialistrule,Herlitzwas convinced that the censor year and half later,two large cratesarrived at of Meinekestrasse 10 in would read any message with the logo of Zionist Haifa Port. few days afterward, the CZA received 2019. (Suzanne Berns) institution.Consequently, he used plain envelope summons to carry out customs clearance forthe ship- and addressed the letterto Lauterbach’s home address. ment in the harbor. Fifthdiary of Theodor Herzl. On the bottom right, on September 3rd, 1897, Herzl notes: ‘“In Basel habe ich den Judenstaat gegr?ndet” (In Basel created the Jewish State).’ (Central ZionistArchives, Jerusalem)

Left:Firstnewspaper announcement (1919) of the CZA founding. (Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem)

But before the representative of the CZA, Dr. Alex Bein, was able to comply with this request, an incident occurred that almost destroyed the Herzl Archive. An arsonist set fireto the customs warehouses of the Haifa Harbor, destroying several buildings and their contents. Below: By miracle, the flames came to stop next to the wall Letter from by which the Herzl Archive was stored. With the arrival in Jerusalem, the travailsof Herzl’s Dr. Georg Herlitzto Dr. Leo Lauterbach, archive were yet to be over. On June 29, 1946, on the Sabbath known as the “Black communicating the politicalsituation Shabbat,” at a.m. the general secretary of the Zionist of 1931 Germany. Executive (the Jewish Agency) woke Herlitz up and informed him that British police and military were (Central Zionist Archives, searching the offices of the National Institutions Jerusalem) Building, including the CZA. He asked him to hand over Central Zionist Archive, the keys of the archive’s safe. 2019. (Shalom Rabani) As the keys were in the archives, Herlitz dressed quickly and went with the police car waiting for him to the archives. Britishpolice officer,already expecting him, inquired about the safe’scontents. Herlitz responded: “Only historicalmaterial from the early days of Zionism, which will certainly not be of any Reading room of the Central Zionist Archives in Jerusalem, in the 1950s. interest to you,” to which the officer replied: “You are (Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem) mistaken, exactly this isof great interestto us.” Left with no choice, Herlitz opened the archives’ safe. After about half an hour, in which the officerbrowsed through various documents, loud alarm sounded announcing the breakfast break of the British.Immediately, allthe are stillvarious institutions and private collectors holding police and military personnel leftthe building. lettersand documents of Herzl, the CZA, with itsextensive Though surprised by the event, with the building empty, Herlitz collection of over 30,000 documents, preserves the official quickly used the opportunity and hid relevant documents, including archive of Theodor Herzl. Itconsists of personal and family circularsand pamphlets, from the Jewish underground movement. records, his diaries, letters,his literary works, artifacts, After the break, allthe contents of the safe were loaded in 10 black Zionist writings and documents of his politicalactivities. boxes and transported away. Fortunately, Herlitz’sconcerns that the Throughout time, Herzl’s insightful writings have been Herzl Archive was lostwere unfounded. After four weeks, everything the basis of various books, articlesand studies.Researchers, returned with red note saying “On his Majesty’s Service, Room 20” students, and the general public on each fileand box. Each of Herzl’s 18 diaries’end pages, between enjoy Herzl’s thoughts and visions the cover and the firstpage, were carefully separated to see whether for the Jewish statethrough visitsto any “hostile to the state” material was hidden in it. our reading room, lectures, or group visits to the Herzl Archive HERZL WAS prolificwriter.He wrote most of his time, be itfor his itself. work or in his private life,on small pieces of paper, at the corners of To see Herzl’s original diaries, newspapers or in his diaries.Thankfully, he had the foresight to safe- manuscripts and letters is very guard most of it. emotional experience, which After Herzl’s death, the Inner Action Committee (Engeres Actions inspires young and old alike. Comit?) launched an outreach program to collect Herzl’s letters.In the 1950s, the CZA also pursued collection of letters,with the hope The writeristhe curatorof the that ifpeople find letters,maybe from their parents or grandparents, Theodor Herzl Archive at they will donate them to the CZA. the Central Zionist Archives: Both campaigns turned out to be successful.Today, although there [email protected]