Overcoming the Past

AJ R Information Volume XLVII No. 2 February 1992 £3 (to non-members) Don't miss . Vergangenheitsbewaltigung - a categorical imperative German pensions announcement p9 Everything that Overcoming the past rises must converge pi5 Street theatre or all that Europe tantalises impoverished would-be immigrants from the Third World much of its soil is, reprised pi6 thanks to Hitler and Stalin, manured with human remains. This obscenity is yet further compounded by F the rationalisations of some Europeans - not only Serbs and Croats -who attempt to justify one set of Planning atrocities by reference to another. The newly sovereign Baltic states show a deplorable The categorical imperative of Vergangenheits megadeath tendency to gloss over the war crimes of their own bewdltigung confronts all the countries and institu with nationals by arguing that these occurred in the heat of tions of Europe whose immune system collapsed paperclips battle against Russia, destroyer of Baltic indepen before the contagion of Nazi antisemitism. In recent dence. (The allies, of course, used a similar rationale months President Kravchuk of the resurrected he Wann in the Cold War when they assisted Gestapo torturer Ukraine admitted his fellow countrymen's culpability see meet Klaus Barbie to escape to South America.) in the Babi Yar massacre, and the Austrian Chancellor Ting in Jan Even the dread butcher of Lyons was, however, Vranitzky made a similar avowal of national guilt. uary 1942 at small fry beside the Croat Fiihrer Ante Pavelic who (Alas, in the country which, unlike the Ukraine, has which SS high-ups escaped along the 'rat line' with the active help of the been a democracy since the war, Vranitzky's state conferred with Vatican. The saving of Ustashe murderers from the ment came 40 years too late.) bureaucrats about hangman's noose is such a perversion of the concept Even in Western Europe Vergangenheits the murder of 11 of Christian mercy that it leaves the already dubious bewdltigung leaves much to be desired. In France million Jews has reputation of Pope Pius XII in absolute tatters. former Vichy police chief Bousquet lives in luxurious no counterpart in retirement, and in Belgium ex-Nazi collaborators the annals of have formed the Vlaams Block which is threatening human infamy. No the cohesion of the country. KGB document Here we face a situation in which positive and comparable to the negative aspects are precariously balanced. The Wannsee Protocol United Kingdom is unique in Western Europe in is likely ever to 'lacking' a party of the extreme Right. This healthy emerge: Stalin state of affairs was reflected in the reluctance of murdered individuals on the wilder fringes of Toryism to be seen haphazardly (as publicly in Le Pen's company. On the other hand, did the little though political antisemitism may be absent from the Stalins like Pol British scene, its social variant is not. The Maxwell Pot). Wannsee debacle has revived stereotypical images of Jewish reinforces the greed and crookedness current at the time of the point we have Guinness Trial. (Politically, too, we have cause to always made. Nazi worry when an — admittedly junior — member of HM genocide against Government like Alan Clark flaunts his friendship the Jews was with that egregious muckraker of the past, David absolutely sui Irving.) generis. It excludes More importantly though, the past will not relin comparison with quish its baleful grip on a Europe aspiring to the status any other atrocity of a new secular Holy Roman Empire until Rome in history. itself admits how often the fallibly human links in the Comparisons, once chain sanctified by the term Apostolic Succession have deemed odious, fallen far short of saintliness. Europe, whether secular now lead only to or Christian, can have no future unless it exorcises its trivialisation! D Crusaders on the rampage ancestral demons. AJR INFORMATION FEBRUARY 1992 A treat in store Profile BBC will be showing a televised version of Christopher Hampton's Tales from Holly- tvood later this year. The play, staged at the lor to five Lord Mayors of Manchester, the National Theatre in 1983, deals with Odon Mancunian mentor High Sheriff of the Manchester Judiciary, von Horvath's imaginary stay in the U.S.A. Christie Cancer Hospital, Morris Feinman and his encounter with an illustrious band Homes for the aged and the Manchester and of emigres: Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Southport Jewish Blind Societies. In addi tion to these special appointments Felix Bertolt Brecht, Lion Feuchtwanger etc. The Carlebach has continued teaching and lec TV cast will include Jeremy Irons, Sir Alec turing. His extraneous activities have Guinness and Sinead Cusack. D included a term as President of the B'nai B'rith Dr Moses Gaster Lodge. He is Vice- Inge Morath honoured President of the Council of Christians and Jews and President of the New Literary The Austrian Staatspreis fUr Fotografie has Society. been awarded to Inge Morath who was Recently, the city of Liibeck honoured its born in Vienna and lives in the U.S.A. Her erstwhile son and made Rabbi Carlebach a husband is the playwright Arthur Miller. D Freeman of the City by decree of Senate. 'The people of Liibeck treated me like a Second thoughts in Bonn long-lost king', he said of his visit. This is no small honour. Past recipients of the Free The German government has revised an dom of Liibeck have included von Hinden earlier decision to reduce the pensions burg, Thomas Mann and Willy Brandt. previously paid to victims of Fascism in the Felix Carlebach feels very much at home in DDR. All Jews living in East Germany had ^B this illustrious company and his pride in been in receipt of such pensions. D Rabbi Carlehach. Photo: Newman. being given such an award is apparent in his eagerness to display the beautifully bound Better late than never abbi Felix Carlebach was born in Ehrenbiirger certificate with which he was Ltibeck, Germany, 81 years ago. He presented. After a debate lasting 19 years the Univer looks much younger. His manner is The city of Manchester, too, has taken sity of Oldenburg has been renamed Carl- R best described as avuncular; a fine, wide Felix Carlebach to its heart, the Halle von-Ossietzky-Universitat in honour of the smile and cheery white beard give one the Orchestra performs an annual Rabbi Felix Nobel Peace Prize winner done to death in a impression of a sort of Jewish Santa Claus. Carlebach concert in his honour. This concentration camp. Ossietzky is the first A glance at the Carlebach curriculum special tribute is an indication of the many- anti-Nazi martyr to be commemorated in vitae, however, provides the reader with faceted nature of the man. The Halle pay this manner. D ample evidence of hard work and ambition their tribute not only in recognition of his fulfilled. work as one of Manchester's best known From 1933, when he was only 21 years religious leaders, but also to an accom old, to 1938 Felix Carlebach was the plished musician whose talent they acknow Deputy Headmaster of Jewish Secondary ledge. His extra-curricular activities have East-Germany Schools, Leipzig. included earning a degree in music and he is Rabbi Carlebach left Germany in 1939, a well-known conductor who has per one of 200 rabbis and teachers who received formed in front of large audiences all over and Berlin special travel permits, arranged by rabbis Europe. (He was personally asked by the Hertz and Schonfeldt, and were granted Mayor of Liibeck to conduct the city's We give immediate attention. immigration visas by the British Consul in orchestra.) We process and buy properties/claims. Berlin. He arrived in England, with his wife, The Rabbi describes his life's high-points Babette, pennyless and unable to speak the with the aid of large scrap-books. While >Vepaycash. language. going through these he refers to himself in Within a very short time the North the third person: 'Here is Carlebach con We have proven track records and furnish London United Synagogue had a new 'war ducting', 'Here is Carlebach making a documentation. time' minister. Replacing the regular minis speech at the Town Hall' etc. ter, who had been drafted into the armed Rabbi Felix Carlebach is much admired Write to: forces, Rabbi Carlebach spent six years in in the 'Capital of the North', his congre Nagel & Partner London, in Palmers Green and Southgate. gants are almost as proud of his achieve Kurfurstendamm 182- 1000 Berlin 15 In 1946 he was offered the position of ments as he is. In answer to the question: Phone:030-882 56 31 Senior Minister at the South Manchester 'Do you think of yourself as lucky when you Fax:030-881 39 16 Synagogue, where he remained until his look back at your life?' the Rabbi answered: retirement in 1987. He takes the credit for 'No, I was never lucky, just humble and raising the unit from a 'war-torn and grateful'. The Mancunian congregants with tattered community' to one of the U.K.'s whom I spoke expressed themselves proud premier congregations. In addition to his of, and grateful for, Felix Carlebach's regular congregation the rabbi has been works on their behalf. Honorary Chaplain and religious counsel D M.N. r ',piA'm '.i:.W.»,'''.i.«:^g«»W!tilWB'i5IJIt»M AJR INFORMATION FEBRUARY 1992 Reviews previous work. The novel is 'written back- 1938/9; that particular Frau Wagner was Exploitation or wards', with everything in it happening in dead by then. exorcism? reverse. It is not just the unreeling of a story The plot unfolds in the 1960s, in Argen from the end to the beginning; no, taxis take tina.

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