University of Kassel
Jüdische Wohlfahrt in der Weimarer Republik und im Nationalsozialismus
This project shall make a contribution to an as yet scarcely noticed field of Jewish social history, the welfare services. During the Weimar Republic the welfare is at the height of modernization, by creating a specific legal constitution and by building load-bearing institutional structures. A central concern is to show the welfare as a part of Jewish life that have an efficient effect on its environment by innovative findings in different social areas but that is also deeply characterized by the German surroundings. The Jewish associations are the starting point because they have been existing since the Middle Ages all through the Empire until the National Socialism as basis of middle-class engagement especially for rectification of plight. Apart from the rapid growing organizations and societies the modern institutional welfare blossomed out. A point for discussion will be which role these associations play inside a developing welfare state. From the different welfare fields one can draw the conclusion that Jewish life was very varied. Associations of women, poor and for funeral as well as help for wandering Jews reflected accordingly the life in Jewish society. One can see the tightrope walk between tradition and the modern trend. Two main aspects are important: Firstly the setting up and the flourishing of the associations in co-operation with the public welfare and secondly their destruction and the expulsion of the Jewish poor and the local social security benefit.