The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People Jerusalem (CAHJP)

Transcription

1 The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People Jerusalem (CAHJP) PRIVATE COLLECTION RABBI ABRAHAM J. KLAUSNER P 68 Abraham Judah Klausner (April 27, 1915 June 28, 2007) was a Reform rabbi and United States Army captain and chaplain. He became a father figure for the more than 30,000 emaciated survivors found at Dachau Concentration Camp, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Munich. He arrived with his unit in May 1945, three weeks after the camp had been liberated on April 29, Rabbi Klausner worked tirelessly to find the 32,000 survivors bedding, food (including kosher provisions), clothing, dictionaries, and religious objects. He also put together lists of survivors at Dachau (called Sharit Ha-Platah "surviving remnant") and eventually published six volumes that he distributed worldwide. He traveled throughout Bavaria looking for survivors in order to help to reunite families and set up a center for survivors at the "Deutsches Museum" in Munich. Klausner and Zalman Grinberg, a survivor of Dachau, established the Central Committee of the Liberated Jews in Bavaria (a part of y) on July 1, 1945 to be the official representative body of the Jewish Displaced Persons (DP). The purpose of the Central Committee was to champion the interests of the Jewish DPs and draw international attention to their plight. He corresponded extensively with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military and other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area. With growing frustration at the prevailing terrible conditions in the camps, Klausner did whatever he felt was necessary to get the Jewish DPs what they needed. This included setting up Jewish hospitals and procuring clothes, food and medical supplies. While he did a great deal of good, his actions often put him at odds with the army, the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), and various Jewish organizations. When Earl G. Harrison was commissioned in 1945 by President Truman to conduct an inspection tour of camps holding DPs in Europe, Klausner met with him in Dachau and served as his guide during visits to the camps at Landsberg, Feldafing, St. Ottilien, and elsewhere. Klausner made sure that Harrison became acquainted with representatives of the Jewish DPs and observed first-hand the actual conditions. Harrison s report to President Truman maintained that the living conditions of the DPs under the supervision of the United States Army were not much better than they had been under the Nazis. On orders from General Eisenhower, conditions soon improved in the camps.

2 After the establishment of the State of Israel, Klausner left the military and began recruiting pilots and nurses for the Israeli Defense Forces in the United States. He became Provost of the Hebrew Union College in 1948, was the Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Boston from 1949 to 1953, and earned a Doctorate in Divinity at Harvard University. He was the rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Yonkers from 1954 until his retirement in 1989, after which he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rabbi Klausner wrote several books, including his memoir, A Letter to My Children: From the Edge of the Holocaust (2002). He was also featured in the 1997 Academy Award-winning documentary The Long Way Home, about Holocaust survivors in the immediate aftermath of the liberation of the concentration camps. (Some content is from March 22, :00am) Correspondence on behalf of the "Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria" P68/1 Correspondence of Chaplain A. Klausner on behalf of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military, and other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area; correspondence regarding the lists of survivors that Klausner compiled, called the Sharit Ha-Platah volumes; correspondence with individuals trying to locate family members July - Sept p. P68/2 Correspondence of Chaplain A. Klausner on behalf of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military, and other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area; correspondence regarding the lists of survivors that Klausner compiled, called the Sharit Ha-Platah volumes; correspondence with individuals trying to locate family members Includes: letter to Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein regarding the arrival of the first child in the Bavarian Zone, Nov 19, 1945; Clipping from the Christian Science Monitor regarding a speech given by Dr. Grinberg on the camps, Nov 3, 1945 Oct - Nov 1945 Engl, French, 148 p. 2

3 P68/3 Correspondence of Chaplain A. Klausner on behalf of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military, and other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area. Correspondence with individuals trying to locate family members. Includes: Report from Dr. Paul Katz-Norris Director of Team 551 and D.P. Hospital St. Ottilien to Col. Elliot Chief Medical Officer regarding urgent improvements to the hospital; Letter to Aufbau, containing the story of Sakiki, the first child found in the camps by Klausner, Feb 19, 1946; List of Employees of the Jewish Committee of Munich, list of registers given to the military government regarding Jewish life, April 14, Other lists and figures. Letters from the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to Klausner regarding his report on the activities of JDC, April 19, 1946 and Klausner's reply Jan - April 1946 Yiddish, 170 p. P68/4 Correspondence of Chaplain A. Klausner on behalf of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military, other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area. Correspondence with individuals trying to locate family members. Includes: Lists of students invited to a Seder; Correspondence with Dr. Simon Federbusch, Abba Hillel Silver and Philip S. Bernstein regarding setting aside a Memorial Day to note the date of liberation - May 15, 1946; Klausner's correspondence with Lipton about the process of Jews immigrating to the United States, May 30, 1946; Klausner to Brickner on the important and most well informed individuals regarding the Jews in y, Dec 26, Folder 2: Familiar correspondence with Beatrice "Bee" Cuntz from the Office of Military Government May - Dec 1946 Yiddish, 110 p. 3

4 P68/5 Correspondence of Chaplain A. Klausner on behalf of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria with American and British Jewish organizations, the U.S. military, other chaplains about trying to receive aid for the Jews living in Dachau concentration camp and the greater Bavarian area. Correspondence with individuals trying to locate family members. Includes: Letter from Nelson Glueck regarding honorary degree from the Hebrew Union College, April 8, 1948; Steinberg to Klausner on Klausner's memorandum of the programs and activities in the camps, May 9, 1948; Klausner to Panzer of the United Jewish Appeal on the UJA's fund raising influence that might not be fully good; Statistical report on members of Camp Herzog 1947, 1948, 1952, no dates Yiddish, Hebrew 30 p. Articles, reports, correspondence P68/6 Articles, parts of articles and reflections on - Situation of European Jews - The story of Samuel Aaron Wasshal, August Reports on the Arab buildup of an army, Nov Report on the 7th session of the Arab League regarding manpower, reinforcements, armaments, funding - Reflection on Klausner's visit to Palestine but mostly no dates Engl. 35 p. P68/7 Correspondence - Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein to Chaplain Eli Bohnen about how Bernstein met with the Joint Distribution Committee and put pressure on them to do a better job in their role as the accredited agency for Jewish rehabilitation and relief in Europe, 2 pages, Sept. 5, Ernst Landau to D. Joseph Dunner, Oct. 15, 1945 (): Want to buy a printing press in order to print own material and provide jobs for survivors, 3 pages Aug 23, May 27, p. 4

5 - Hans Armin Schrey of the newly created "Association of Persons with Common Interests" to members about claiming compensation for persecution under the Third Reich, along with fears of a new anti-semitic movement and announcements and updates from the members, 3 pages, January Draft of a Law Against Race Madness and Hatred of Other Nations that was passed by the Minsters' council. Written by Dr. Wilhelm Hoegner Bavarian Mister President to the Office of Military Government of Bavaria Colonel Jackson, 2 pages, March 13, Joseph J. Schwart to the Central Committee of Liberated Jews disavowing Klausner's employment with the American Joint Distribution Committee, 1 page, July 29, Report to Captain Hyman in the Case of Reich Bogachi by Chaplain Joseph Miller regarding the reopening of Bogachi's case and preventing the death penalty from being executed, 2 pages, August 21, Correspondence with I.L. Kenen from Philip S. Bernstein and others regarding rationadjustments for displaced persons. 1 page, Nov Jan Confidential correspondence to I.L. Kenen from Rabbi Philip Bernstein answering Kenen's inquiry into letting Klausner return to y. Bernstein tells Kenen that it is extremely unlikely Klausner will go back to y in light of the fact the authorities did not agree with Klausner's "attitudes and methods", which is why Klausner's requested extension to stay in y was denied before, January 6th and 8th, Rabbi Philip Bernstein to I.L. Kenen of the American Jewish Committee regarding refugee immigration to the United States, Jan 20,

6 P68/8 - Valedictory words by B. Konichsky (former DP) in light of Klausner leaving. On the impact Klausner had on Konichsky's life and how he gave it a direction, Dec 18, Praise from Philip Bernstein, July 5, From the Central Committee of Liberated Jews to the Friends of the Shearit Hapleta (surviving remnant) praising Klausner, July 7, Praise from former DP by Dr. Zalman Grinberg, 4 pages undated in Dec 18, July 7, p. P68/9 - Report on Stateless Jews and a plan for their transfer to Palestine - Report from Rev I. H. Zuckerberg, cantor of Manhattan Beach Jewish Center on activities on behalf of displaced persons in Europe, 2 pages, Sept 14, "Jews in Europe Today: Two Reports by Jewish Relief Workers in y" A: Interview with Rabbi E. Munk on his work in Celle, near Hannover. B: Interview with Mrs Miriam Warburg on the condition of Jewish children in Bavarian Rehabilitation Camp, Nov Survey of Anti-Jewish acts in the American Zone, 5 pages, Feb-June, Report to the Vaad HaHatzala Rehabilitation Committee regarding the religious needs of displaced persons, Dec 27, Reports to the JDC and an evaluation of JDC, Jan 17, Reports on the American Zone, March 20, Report to the American Jewish Conference, May 2, Report by William Haber to the American Jewish Conference (evaluation of Klausner's memorandum), May 26, Report by William Haber regarding supplies sent into the Kassel area, June 5, 1947 (wrong year possibly?) - IRO supplies for children and others, per day, July 25, Final report by Abraham S. Hyman acting advisor on Jewish affairs to the US commands in y and Austria, Jan Aug 4, Jan 30, 1950 Engl. 80 p. 6

7 P68/10 - Letters about expenses of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria - Reports, receipts, financial statements Nov 16, May 26, p. P68/11 Newspaper articles, including Center Courier Feb 1946, March 1946; the front page of Unzer Welt dated Shabbat Nachamu, Aug 1947 (Yiddish); Jewish Exponent Oct 29, 1971 Forward May 3, , 1947, 1971, 1978 Yiddish 15 p. 7