CENTRA Collection

Collection

Identifier: LBIJER 1016

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The Collection contains correspondence of CENTRA, the Council of Jews from Germany, the Irgun Olej Merkaz Europa, the Leo Baeck Institute in Jerusalem, and others. Topics include the Spanish translations of LBI publications and the collaboration of the Council of Jews from Germany with CENTRA. Mentioned is the possibility of establishing a permanent representation of the Leo Baeck Institute in Buenos Aires. A point of concern is the preservation of the German-Jewish heritage in Latin American congregations and organizations of CENTRA. Included are various materials on CENTRA's congresses as well as completed questionnaires about the German-Jewish communities and institutions in South America.

Also present are materials about Ernst Simon's trip to South America. These include correspondence by the Council of Jews from Germany, the Leo Baeck Institutes in Jerusalem and New York, CENTRA, and others; a report by Ernst Simon (manuscript); and newspaper clippings.

The collection mentions the following individuals and organizations:

American Federation of Jews from Central Europe; Asociación Filantrópica Israelita; Associação Religiosa Israelita do Rio de Janeiro; Behr, Werner M.; Berent, Ernst; Braun, Curt; Breslauer, Walter; Concordia Israel (Achdut Israel); Congregação Israelita Paulista; Congregacion Israelita de la Republica Argentina; Council of Jews from Germany; Crumach, Martin; Culto Israelita de Belgrano, Sinagoga Leo Baeck; Feuereisen, Hans; Fordanski, Willy; Gerling, Heinz; Grubel, Fred; Hirschberg, Alfred; Hirschfeld, Rodolfo; Hirschlaff, F.; Irmandade Bene Berith - Loja Hillel N.o. 1933; Keren Hayesod; Koch, Ernesto; Lemle, Henrique; Leo Baeck Institute, New York; Leschnitzer, Hans; Loewenthal, E.G.; Moses, Siegfried; Muller, Herman; Nueva Communidad Israelita de Buenos Aires; Nueva Congregación Israelita, Montevideo; Reichmann, Hans; Rosenstock, Werner; Sachsel, Felix; Siebner, Wolfgang; Sociedad Cultural Israelita "b'ne Jisroel"; Sociedad de Beneficiencia Israelita de 1870; Swarsensky, Hardi; Treitel, Paul; Wilk, Curt; Winter, Fritz.

Dates

1958-1971

Creator

Simon, Akibah Ernst, 1899-1988 (Person)
Centra (Organization) (Organization)

Language of Materials

This collection is in German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note

CENTRA was founded 1956 as an "umbrella organization of German Jewish communities in all major South American countries, it convened conferences and seminars, arranged summer camps for the younger generation, and generally promoted Jewish culture and traditions." (Walter Laqueur: Generation Exodus. The Fate of Young Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany. Hanover, NH 2001.)

In September/October 1959 CENTRA became a member of the Council of Jews from Germany.

In 1958 Ernst Simon was sent on a fact finding mission to South America in order to visit German Jewish congregations and organizations, determining their cultural and social situation.