Language:
English
Year of publication:
1988
Titel der Quelle:
Modern Judaism
Angaben zur Quelle:
8,2 (1988) 101-118
Keywords:
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
;
Morgenthau, Henry, Political and social views
;
Wise, Stephen S.
;
Jews History 20th century
;
Jewish leadership History 20th century
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Influence
Abstract:
Discusses the fragmentary and divided nature of the Jewish leadership and its effect on their attempts to influence the U.S. administration's response to Nazi persecution of the Jews. Despite American Jews' overall support for Roosevelt, Jewish intellectuals and lawyers who had access to him were mostly far-removed from Jewish concerns. They were anxious about accusations by antisemites of their excessive influence on New Deal policy. The exception was Henry Morgenthau, who became radicalized during the Holocaust and confronted obstructive officials; he persuaded Roosevelt to establish the War Refugee Board. However, in most cases, Jews close to Roosevelt were reluctant to help community leaders, like Stephen Wise. Denies recent accusations that Wise was inactive - yet he was unable to do more than protest, since Roosevelt did not fully understand the significance of the Nazis' Final Solution and gave no priority to rescuing Jews.
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