Purim Krovetz 1935 – extensive references to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany – includes a humor section ...

Purim Krovetz 1935 – extensive references to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany – includes a humor section mocking Hitler

Adloyada – “Purim Krovetz, 5695” – the official newspaper of the Tel Aviv Purim Celebration Committee, 14 Adar II 5695, third year, 1935. An issue marked by rising antisemitism and the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, featuring jokes and satire mocking Hitler and the Nazi Party.

This issue was published during a time of intensifying antisemitism and the mounting decrees imposed by Hitler’s government on the Jews of Germany, and it includes extensive reference to current events. At the beginning of the issue appears an article by N. Avrahamov under the title: “Purim in the Land of Haman”, depicting the German Haman in the image of the Nazi oppressor. The article is accompanied by a photograph titled: “Purim of Haman’s Heirs in Germany.” The photograph is described as follows: “Nazi thugs dressed up during the February 1934 carnival in Cologne as Jews fleeing Germany for the Land of Israel. Signs on the car read: ‘The Jews are leaving’ and ‘Cologne – Jerusalem.’” The photo documents an antisemitic parade held at that time in Cologne. In German folklore, carnivals were traditionally held to mark various events. With the rise of the Nazis to power, these carnivals took on an antisemitic character—especially in southern and western Germany. The parades featured people dressed as stereotypical Jews, with slogans such as “Jews out, ” and included various antisemitic displays.

Also featured is an article by Edward Fuchs titled “The Jews in World Caricature.” In his article, Fuchs discusses at length the antisemitic caricatures appearing daily in the German press at the time, illustrating how they directly incite violence and pogroms against the Jews of Germany. Additionally, the issue includes a section titled “From European Humor of the Past Year, ” presenting jokes that mock Hitler and the leaders of the Nazi Party. On this page appears an illustration of Hitler as a house painter, erasing the names of great Jewish figures (including Einstein), with a concentration camp in the background. At that time, only Dachau and a few other camps were operating in Nazi Germany. The illustration’s caption reads: “Civilization: What are you doing? Hitler: I’m erasing the names of these Jews (Heine, Einstein, Mendelssohn, etc.). Civilization: Grass shall grow on your cheeks, Mr. Painter, but those names you shall never erase. Paint does not rule over them. They are eternal!” The issue also includes a passage by Bialik under the title: “How Could He Fear the Fire”, referring to the pogroms against the Jews of Europe. He asks: “Have the bonfires prepared for us by the rulers of evil and folly throughout the ages succeeded in annihilating the People of Israel?... The fire shall not prevail over you. Logs are consumed - but letters fly into the air.”

52 pages. 34 cm. Stains on the cover. Good condition.