Aufbau (journal)

Founded in 1934 in New York City as a newspaper for German Jewish immigrants, it was reinvented in 2004 in Switzerland as a glossy magazine for German-speaking Jews of the 21st century.

Hannah Arendt, Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, and Stefan Zweig wrote for the original publication.

[1] The original purpose of the journal was as a monthly newsletter for the club, which included information and helpful facts for Jewish refugees.

[2] Later that year in June, the Aufbau released an issue detailing pro-Nazi groups as a warning for readers in Yorkville.

The focus of the journal shifted from primarily being about the club and community promotion, to depicting more of what was happening to Jewish people in German cities.

The Aufbau then began to strive for a greater sense of unity amongst the Jewish communities around the world by beginning to report on what the situations were like for those still in Europe as opposed to those who had immigrated to the United States.

The general tone of the paper changed their design to focus more on the realities faced by the Jewish communities in Europe.

George took the journal from a monthly newsletter to one of the leading anti-Nazi publications of the German press in exile (Exilpresse).

[2] In one of the first issues with George as editor, he emphasized the uncertainty present in the futures of Jewish people at the time and encouraged sympathy and neutrality.

The purpose of this was to educate Jewish immigrants in the United States on mainstream American culture and practices, like the presidential election between Franklin D, Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie.

It included 192 pages detailing American life and everything that someone might need to know, like the political system or the lyrics to the “Star Spangled Banner”.