Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 1.pdf/462

414 — Alliance lBra«ito TJniverBello



THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

of t-<-i-|iit ha.sU-n und Mtlidify iitiiipU'lo enfranililsfiiii'nt by the Inlelleotuttl and imiral iVBi'mrutlim nse<'rates llielf."

TIlis

program

Program.

is definitely formulated in Article 1. of the statutes: "The society of the Alliance Israel-

ite I'niverselle

has for

its

aims:

To work every where

for the emancipation and moral projrress of the .lews. "(//) To i;ive elTectiial support to those who arc sulTerinj; persi'cution because they arc .lews. '(<

"(<•) To encourage promote these ends."

all

publications calculated to

To this projrram the Alliance has steadfastly and faithfully adhered. It must be admitted that the founders had a very pniclical conception of their undertakin!;. any project which Disrejrardin'j; mifflit cause dissension, they limited their field of activity to such (piestions only as to which there could be no diversrejice of opinion anioni; the .lews. It was in this spirit that they declared at the outset that all political ([uestions should be excluded, and that the Alliance would take no account of cither the political convictions of its mcnibcrs or of their reliciousopiMions. It recoirnized neither Orthodo.x nor Liberal, neither Conservative nor Heformer as such it desired lo stand u])on the one idatform of the defense and the rcfieneration of tlx' .lews, exclusive of all polilical or llieoloj;ical distiuitions. From tlu- beirinninir the Alliance numbered many Protestants ainoni; its friends, clergymen as well as laymen. Dr. Pelavel of Xeiichatel First and his sons, who at once sent their Struggles, congratulations and good wishes to the infant soeietv, deserve particular

men-

Amongother Christian subscribers, Alexandre Pumas, the younger, and Jules Simon, must be men-

tion.

tioned: they remained faithful adherents until their death. The Alliance encountered obstinate opjiosition among the timorous, among those who haled action, and among those who thought that evil could be cured by ignoring it. There were distinguished men in Jewry, too, who cond)ated the i)roject writers and rabbis who sought to hinder the foundation of the society. The Jewish journals of IsODand ISf.l are full of vigorous poleinicson the subject; but time, reflection, and experience have iiuietcd the o]iposition. At the iireseiit day there is very little diversity f>f opinion in the .Jewish world as to the positive service rendered by the Alliance, imrticularly in the domains of

—

education and iihilaiithropy. Until ISSO the so(ieiy had to struggle with internal dissensions, especially after the Franco-German war of 1870-7L Again and again, both at general meet iugs and at other gatherings convened by theCentral Committee, it was proposed to split up the" I'ni vcrs;d Alliance" into a number of "National Alliances." At Berlin in 1872 and again in 1879 this idea was su]v ported by men of great intluence among the Jews of Germany. Fortunatelythey failed in their endeavors: a division would have greaily weakened the Alliance and the scattered fragments would have been unalilc to accomplish anything durable or important. What happened in Englanil and in Austria should be convincing in this regaiil. In l.**"! the Knglish JeAvs created in London an institution entitled " The Anglo

Jewish Association"

connection with the Alliance This association has for the most part the same objects as the .lliancc. It has almost daily correspondence with theCentral Com mitteeof the Paris institution, and contributes to the Alliance funds for the support of certain schools but in

Israelite Universelle.



414

sphere of activity can not well extend beyond llie British empire, and it would bi- dillieult for it to undertake work throughout the world or t^i approach the diplomatic authorities of any country but F.ngland. The .Vlliance Israelite, on the other hand, because of its universal character, is active everywhere and in all directions: appeals to sovereignsand governments indiscriminately :and foundsschools where the leachits

carrieil on in German. English, French. TurkArabic, or Bussian. Another .society, " Die Israelitische Allianz zu Wien" (The Israelitish .Mliance at Vienna), was formed upon the same model in lS7:i; but its sphere of action is limited toAustria, and ils principal purpose is to work for the elevation of the Israelites of that country. At present the Central Committee is composed of 23 inemliers living in Parisanil H!»

Denmark,

1

in

in

till-

munities out.side of Paris are not ri>pri'.siMited in the Committee, nor are those of Algeria or Tunis. According to article 8 of the stalules. the Central Committee is elected by the members of the sociely. liy a majority of the votes ca.st, Article provides that the members of the Committee shall hold office for nine years three members retiring every three years, all being eligible for reelection. The first elections were held in 18(!2; he sub.setpient ones on the following dates: .Mav21, Isc,.-,; .Alav :i. 1808; Oct. 2(1. 1872; March li). f.H7(i; Feb. 11, is.s;^; .March 10. 1S.S7: Oct. 18. 1889; Ocl. 8. 1S9;!. Up lo the present time elections have thus been held almost regularly. In 1879 exceptional ciicumslances prevented an election. In 1897 the unanimous sense of the meniliersof theCentral Committee, supported by the great majority of local committees, decided that the electoral machinery should not be employed in that year, and that it was preferable to ap|)oint the neees.sary new members of till' Committee by the vote of the existing mem:

I

bers of (he board. The society is managed by the Central Committee Non resident members participate resident in Paris. in the work, but indirectly. They receive every month notice of the iiucslions which are to be discussed and are invited to send in their ojiinions. When these iiuestions are of general importance, the major part of them communicate their views in writing, ami occasionally some of them are present at the sessions in Parisand t;Uvean active jtart in thedeliberations. The Central Commitlee was presided over from IKliO to 18fi:i by L. J. Konigswarter; from 1863 to 1.S67 by .ilolphe Cremieux; in 18G7by Solomon JIunk. At his death, the post remained vacant for a year: Cremieux br'ing reelected in 1868, an<l retaining the office until his dealli in 18,'<0. Out of respect to him il was left vacant until lis.S-', when S. II. Goldschniidt was ajipointed to the office, which he hehl until his death on Feb. is, 1S98. From this date the presidency has been entru.sted to Xarcis.se Leven, one of the original founders of the Alliance, its general secretary from ls(i3 to iss:^, and ils vice-president from 18.S3 to 1898. Article 13 of the statutes provides that the Central Committee shall convene a general meeting of the members at least once a year, and shall present a report of the condition of the society. During the first years of its existence this provision was regularly observed but from 1874 general meetings have taken place only on March 14, 187.5; Aug. 12, 1878, and May 16, 1881. The Central Committee keeps in touch with the members of the Alliance by means of local or