Preface to the English Edition
The theme of this book-the relation between Jews and Freemasons-has been the subject of countless books written, mainly in German and French, by propagandists of anti-Jewish or anti-Masonic leanings or by apologists in counterargument. Historians, however, have paid little if any attention to this subject. This is not surprising, for to the scholar presumed connection between Jews and Freemasons seemed little more than myth; any sources that could have clarified the assumption were hidden in the libraries and archives of the Masons, and usually inaccessible to the probing historian.
My own interest in this subject arose from studying the emergence of Jews into modern society, and my attempts to trace the routes by which these former ghetto-dwellers found their way into the social circles of their neighbors. It occurred to me that the semi-clandestine societies of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries might have been among these. My initial inquiries indicated that I had come upon an important but unknown facet of a social process; but only later investigations, which took me from country to country, library to library, and archive to archive, revealed the wealth of material on the subject and its significance to modern Jewish history-indeed, to the history of modern Europe.
My work on this subject was begun in 1962-63 when I was a visiting professor at Harvard University. The treasures of Widener Library afforded me the first clues on the subject. I thank the personnel of this and of many other libraries where I pursued my research. I should like to make special mention of the Masonic libraries of Berne, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Paris, which assisted me with great courtesy. Most significant was my acquisition from the library of the Grand Lodge of Holland in The Hague, where I was graciously admitted and where I spent many fruitful hours in research. I extend my gratitude to Mr. B. Croiset Van Uchelen, the Curator of the Library, a great expert in Masonic bibliography, who assisted me in solving many problems related to my work.
Jacob Katz
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
January 1, 1970
Jews & Freemasonry 1723-1939 Preface
Jews & Freemasonry 1723-1939 Chapter 1
Jews & Freemasonry 1723-1939 Chapter 2
Jews & Freemasonry 1723-1939 Chapter 3