Mémoires du grand rabbin Deutsch

Pp. 69-126 contain the wartime memoirs of Abraham Deutsch (1902-1992), Chief Rabbi of Limoges between 1939-45, with an introduction by Simon Schwarzfuchs (pp. 63-67). The introductory essay by Pascal Plas (pp. 13-59), "Limoges, le rabbin Deutsch, 40-45", places the personal memoirs in historical context. Pp. 39-59 describe Rabbi Deutsch's social and political activities during the Shoah. When persecutions began in 1942, he took an active role in encouraging Jews to hide, and worked to liberate prisoners, or at least ease their conditions in the camp in Nexon. His efforts were hampered by ever stricter anti-Jewish measures following the German occupation in late 1942. In 1943 Deutsch was arrested for a while. Later, he represented the local OSE children's homes vis-à-vis the Vichy regime. He insisted on taking the children out of the homes, and helped them to safety through the Garel rescue network. His activity in the resistance included opening his office and home to illegal meetings and providing false IDs. In 1944 Deutsch was arrested a second time and liberated only when the Maquis entered the camp in Eyjeaux. After the war he became Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg and Bas-Rhin. Pp. 129-149 contain testimonies collected by Michel Kiener. (From the Bibliography of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)