Der Jude 1916-1928

'Der Jude' was founded in 1919 by members of the World Zionist Organization and Martin Buber. Its aims, advocating the rights of Jews to settle in Palestine, cultural autonomy for the Jews in Eastern Europe and the recognition of the Jews as a nation, were regarded as radical in Germany at that time. The founders and funders of the journal were aware that they could only succeed if their publication was of a high literary quality and covered not only political but also cultural issues. Special emphasis was placed on the Eastern European Jews in order to justify their national demands at home and to improve the situation of the war refugees in Germany and Austria. The 'Jewish Renewal' in Europe, documented by 'Der Jude', was not restricted to Zionist or Jewish-nationalist issues; it also showed the broad spectrum of Jewish culture in the German-speaking area at that time.