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The Collaboration of Martin Buber and Fritz Mauthner (1906 - 1923) Martin Buber was born in Vienna in 1878; he spent his childhood in Lvov, Galicia at the house of his grandfather, a businessman and well-known scholar of rabbinical literature. He then went on to study art history and philosophy at the Universities of Vienna, Leipzig, Berlin and Zurich. He was very active in the Zionist movement in the early years, especially in its cultural and religious aspects. In 1901 he was appointed editor of the Zionist journal, "Der Jude", a most respected voice of German Jews. From 1924 - 1933 Buber was Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Religion at Frankfurt University. In 1920, together with Franz Rosenzweig he founded the "Freie Jüdische Lehrhaus, an Institute of adult education. He left Germany for Palestine in 1938 where he was appointed Professor of Sociology of Religion at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He was very active in the Yihud movement devoted to Arab-Jewish understanding and the creation of a bi-national state. He was the author of many books in the field of Jewish philosophy and religion in which he expressed his belief that the Old Testament was a dialogue between God and Man. In later years he became interested in psychology because the treatment is based on dialogue between doctor and patient. He believed in an Utopian communal socialism and he thought that the Israeli kibbutz was an ideal example. It was for him most important that decisions were taken after discussions of members of a group. Martin Buber died in 1965 in Jerusalem. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence Via Solferino 2 April 24, 1906 Die Gesellschaft Editor: Dr. Martin Buber Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, I would like to invite you to collaborate in a project of mine: a collection of social psychological essays to be called: "Die Gesellschaft" (Society). I am thinking of a presentation of the origin of human communities and of the influence human beings have on each other. I know that my request will interrupt you important work and so I hesitated for a long time, but I feel strongly, that I must go ahead because my project needs you, needs you more than anyone else. Finally I found the courage to ask you. I can well imagine your reaction: a friendly letter to me saying "No," and thinking, "go away!" But I urge you to consider the matter seriously, even if everything seems to point to "no". There are subjects simply waiting for you, always for you, because there is nobody else to take your place and it would be a pity not to deal with these subjects. I want to name only one, "Die Sprache" (Language). Your work deals mainly with social psychology, and I believe that a review article of what you have been saying would be immensely valuable. And so I plead with you to at least consider my request "in principle". And if you can find a way to join me in my enterprise, I would like to ask your permission to come and visit you when I am going to be in Freiburg in the middle of May to discuss details with you. I am enclosing a list of contributions; the first volumes are already at the printers, among them a very valuable paper of Simmel. If it is all right, I would like to send you a small book "Die Geschichte des Rabbi Nachmann" (The History of Rabbi Nachmann). In the introduction I am quoting some linguistic critique from the Kabbala. I cannot resist the temptation to give you a quote right now from the Sohar, written at the end of the 13th century:
to think is the beginning of everything that exists; yet it is only in your mind and thus unknown to others. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence May 8, 1906 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Thank you very much for your kind answer which I think I may interpret as an acceptance in principle. I have, therefore, put you on the list of collaborators, but without indicating the topic, in order to preserve the general character of your acceptance. I will be in Freiburg during the last days of this month; since I will probably stop in Freiburg only between trains, I should like to know what time of the day would suite you best. With friendly greetings, Martin Buber A word of Rabbi Nachmann: All thought of human beings are words and expressive movements, even if they themselves are not aware of it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frankfurt June 7, 1906 Lieber und verehrter Herr Mauthner, Thank you very much for your postcard. Please be good enough to send the promised news to Berlin W. post restante Potsdamer Platz. Would you mind if I asked you for some advice? I dare do it, confident of your great kindness which you have shown me. The question is the following: some time ago I proposed to Harden that he become a collaborator of "Die Gesellschaft". He declared himself willing in principle, but until this moment I have been unable to get a definite answer: first he mentioned that he was too busy; later on he told me that he was not well. Do you believe that I should give up, or can you think of any way to persuade him to collaborate? My preference would be an essay on "Die Diplomatie" (Diplomacy). What do you think of the topic and what do you suggest I should do? I also would like to have a volume by Walter Rathenau about "Die Bank" or "Die Industrie". I am afraid he will be a harder nut to crack than Harden. I am planning to leave tonight for Berlin and may be successful in either case, but I would like to know your opinion first. I should be most grateful, if you could drop me a line while I am in Berlin I am writing to you in Freiburg, since I do not know your present address, by registered mail, so that the letter will be forwarded to you. Herr Winz has made no move; I will call him when I am in Berlin. I already have permission to publish two volumes which should be of great interest: Harry Graf Kessler "Die Nationalität" and Hugo Münsterberg "Die Universität". With kind regards, your devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Innsbruck June 28, 1906 Lieber und verehrter Herr Mauthner, Only now, after a very tiring business trip, do I find time to write to you. Have I told you already that Harden and Rathenau have accepted? Harden will write an essay on "Die Diplomatie", while Rathenau gave his acceptance in principle only. In your last letter you did not write anything about your own work. May I ask you to let me have a few words about it? When do you think I can expect the manuscript? Would it be all right in draw up a contract at this time? You will understand how much your acceptance means to me, and hopefully, you will forgive me. When I visited you, you mentioned that you might come to Tyrol; what are your plans now? We are planning to move to the Volderwand, a quiet, peaceful spot. Would you give us the great pleasure of a visit here? I was finally able to get a hold of Mr. Winz; he proposed a general essay on a religious subject, but I have not made a decision at this time. With kindest regards from both of us, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volderwand near Hall July 6, 1906 Lieber, sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Is there any possibility that you might send us your manuscript earlier - around November 15th? Delivery in the spring would mean publication in the summer. I would so very much like to have your article in the Third Series which will come out at Christmas time and which should be a particularly strong one. Would that be at all possible? After all, it only means putting on paper matters that you have thought about for a long time, an it need only be a long essay. It just occurs to me that I am speaking in a very egotistical manner, thinking only of my own wishes, but, still, I think you will understand. So any date you suggest I will accept. However, do send your manuscript as early as possible, but write to me only after the return of your secretary. My wife sends her best regards. In faithfull devotion, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volderwand August 23, 1906 Lieber und sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Just as I predicted, there is still no news from Mr. Winz. I am afraid I shall have to issue a public statement to make my position clear. If only the Jewish press were not in such a deplorable condition. There just is no paper that is at the same time independent and decent, and in addition they have only a very few readers. Today I am sending you my introduction to the series; in it I tried to discuss my aims in a general manner. Could you let me know when I can expect your contribution; you wrote to me on July 8th that you would be able to give me a date in a few weeks. I have to tell my publisher one of these days which volumes I want to bring out this year, and I am very anxious to receive your permission to have yours among them. It would give me great pleasure to publish in the Christmas series one work of "absolute significance", and I cannot tell you how grateful I would be to you, if you would grant me that pleasure. With the warmest greeting from both of us, your devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frankfurt October 16, 1906 Lieber und verehrter Herr Mauthner, I am pleased to enclose your contract with Rütten and Löning which you should sign and return to the publisher as soon as possible. Could you let me know how you are? Your introduction was for me a rare pleasure, even if I could not help remembering some unpleasant events. I will send you the book by Nachmann next week. I will be in Berlin by the end of the week where my address will be: Post restante Berlin W 50. Please accept my sincere greeting, your truly devoted Martin Buber The contract between a representative of Rütten and Löning, Fritz Mauthner and Martin Buber was drawn up on October 13, 1906 for a monograph, called "Die Sprache" (Language). It was to be published in the series "Die Gesellschaft" (Society), edited by Martin Buber, the manuscript to be ready by March 1, 1907. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berlin November 2, 1906 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, I am quite worried because I have not heard from you. Are you not in good health? Or did you not receive the contract? Could you drop me a line? Today I sent you the book by Nachmann which the publisher, for unknown reasons, brought out only now. He added another chapter, without letting me know, perhaps to make up for the delay. Sincere greetings from, your devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berlin, November 18th, 1906 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, My warmest wishes to you in your new role, being a grandfather. I enclose a copy of the contract in the hope that you will return a signed copy very soon. Mr. Winz wrote that he could not print my open letter because the paper was now owned by the Alliance. That was sufficient insight for me. With warmest whishes, your truly devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 5, 1907 Sehr verehrter und lieber Herr Mauthner, It would be most helpful if we could start printing soon so that we will not get the book out in the summer season. Would it be possible to send a part of the manuscript at this time, even if the book is not finished? It would facilitat the completion of the book at an early date. Sincere greeting from your truly devoted M. Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2, 1907 Verehrter und lieber Herr Mauthner, I should appreciate it, if you could let me know whether you will send the corrected proofs to me or the publisher - you should have received them yesterday. I would prefer to receive them myself. With best wishes, your truly devoted Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 23, 1907 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Unfortunately I only received your postcard of the 22nd. I should indeed be grateful if you would send your revisions to me. That you received three copies of the revisions was my doing. Do you consider a table of contents absolutely necessary? In most other volumes we did not include it. Kindest regards from your most devoted Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 6, 1907 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, I was not at all well during the last weeks and am still struggling with a bronchial catarrh. I hope you will excuse my late answer. The state of the book is the following: another volume in the series was delayed and, in spite of my constant requests, the publisher refused to go ahead with your volume until the other was done. I was terribly upset about the constant changes, but was unable to do anything. Finally now, the five volume in the series have been finished, and I cannot think of any reasons for a further delay. I hope to receive them in a few days. I have repeatedly explained to the publisher that the time after the 15th would not be favorable, and I only hope and pray that he will listen. But even so, I think it would be useful, if you could write to the publisher and express your surprise at the delay. Point out to him that it was most important to finish the volume as soon as possible. Perhaps that would be more helpful than all my efforts. I hope that the publisher will send you a copy of the book as soon as possible. I will send them the list as soon as I know the publishing date because they seem to be more reliable at that point. Please excuse this messy letter; I feel pretty miserable and had a hard time writing this. With warmest regards, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zehlendorf June 7, 1907 Verehrter und lieber Herr Mauthner, Since I mad a few corrections in the proofs, I will ask them to send you the latest revisions. It will be at least two weeks until the book is out, perhaps a little longer, since there was an unexpected delay in bringing out another volume. The other day I found the following quote in an essay by Oldenburg:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Martin Buber Berlin January 4, 1911 Rütten and Loening Frankfurt am Main Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, May I ask you a favor? It is important for me to know when and by whom the word "rinascimento" was first used to describe Italian cultural history. I also would like to know when other countries accepted the term "renaissance" and the idea of a revival of classic art and literature in their own culture. I cannot think of anyone but you to give me some informaton on this literature in their own culture. I cannot think of anyone but you to give me some information on this difficult subject. I would be most grateful if you could drop me a line about this problem. I would also be grateful if you could let me know whether you have already chosen a publisher for your autobiography. With sincere admiration and devotion, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seis, Tyrol August 17, 1911 Lieber und sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Thank you very much for your kind invitation to contribute to your series. I would be very glad to do so, but only if I do not have to give you a firm date. Of course, I would like best to write about Cusanus. However, I believe that it would not be enough to discuss the "docta ignorantia". It would be necessary to include a selection of his most important works; I am thinking of showing his intellectual development which I tried to trace some years ago in an essay on Cusanus. It would be important to avoid all repetition; each phase should be represented by its most mature and purest expression. What do you think of my proposal? With kindest regards, your most devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim April 15, 1919 Lieber Herr Mauthner, It will be necessary to publish an appeal in favor of Gustav Landauer. My suggestion is that you and a few of your friends form a committee of persons willing to take a stand in favor of Gustav Landauer. You should select people who are above the political fray, who are not only sucessful, but who have outstanding human qualities. I would like to ask for your own acceptance of such membership on the committee and would also like to have your suggestions. No action is possible at this time, but we must be prepared, although the situation is not clear at this point. My suggestion for the committee are: both of us, Dehmel, Frau Dumont, Professor Einstein, Mombert and Frau von Bendermann - who else? Only this for today. Sincerely, Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim April 19, 1919 Lieber verehrter Herr Mauthner, I just received your telegram and want to answer it at once, in a great hurry. I want to say that we do not want to judge the political situation - our only consideration is that we admire Landauer's human qualities. In addition, the situation is still unclear, the news in the papers contradictory, there has been no direct news for a few days - all we can do at this moment is to be prepared for direct action, if necessary. Your sincerely devoted Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 22, 1919 Sehr verehrter und lieber Herr Mauthner, Since I have heard that Landauer is still free at the moment, I am planning no further action. I will only use your name if intervention is necessary. I am only thinking of a personal expression of people who admire Landauer, a statement pointing out his human qualities and the importance of saving his life, without discussion of his political views. My heart is saddened by what you write about my words of criticism. To know that I have hurt your feelings pains me more than it could possibly distress you. I did not want to change your beliefs, but merely give you an idea of my view of these matters. I hope with all my heart that you understand this. I probably did not make that clear in my comments, but I hope that I now have made my position quite clear. With my continued devotion, your Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim January 12th, 1921 Lieber verehrter Freund Mauthner, Together with a new edition of Landauer's Eckhart translation (where I was able to add some corrections) I am sending you a book of the Palestinian teacher and linguist Lipschütz about the living Hebrew Language. I think you will find in it much that is of interest to you. Some time ago we discussed it and I imagine that you will have read the excerpts from the book that were published in the "Juden". I would like to give you a small sign of my gratitude with this present for all that I have learned from your volume on "Atheism". Please let me know how you and your wife are doing. In the meantime I have learnt what severe illness means, but the upset has done my soul a lot of good. We had planned to visit you in the winter, but shall have to wait a little. In the meantime I hope to send you various essays. We send you both our warmest greeting, your Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim April 8, 1922 Lieber und sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, I write you today to ask you two favors. I would like to publish from the ever growing number of Landauer's letters a first selection in the "Neue Rundschau", as they have asked me for permission to publish them. It would be a great pity, if none of your letters were among them. I feel deeply about this and believe that you must feel the same way. You can give me the originals or copies. I would like you to mark passages that you would like deleted, either a few sentences or longer passages. We will follow your instructions scrupulously. If you would like to read proof yourself, I promise that you will get them in time; otherwise I vouch for a most careful reading, taking your wishes very seriously. If you consider explanations of some passages necessary, I would greatly appreciate your cooperation and help. It would be invaluable, if you could point out related material. I should like to ask another favor. I heard from Lotte that the ashes of her father are kept in an undignified place. I believe that moving the ashes would be the task of all of us who remember him so well. Would you be willing to sign such an appeal? - of course, it must be completely unpolitical. I should like to see such a request signed by you, Louise Dumont, Margarete Susmann and myself could you think of any other names (Mombert? Beckmann?)? May I ask you to include in your answer a report about your health? With warmest wishes from both of us, yours sincerely devoted Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim August 24, 1922 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, The collection of Landauer's letters has progressed so well that we now have to make a decision about whether we should include your letters. I would like to ask for your decision now. I have told you many times, directly and indirectly, why I believe Landauer's letters to you should be a part of this volume. Your accusation that I included an essay in the volume that Landauer had never published is not correct, as the copy of the "Weltbühne" shows. You say that some of what Landauer wrote in this essay is offensive. I am prepared to leave the decision whether this is the case to a neutral adviser, chosen by you. I am willing to do this, although I believe that you should trust me in this matter. Your sincerely devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim January 24, 1923 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Since your doubts about the judgement of the editor are the only obstacle to the publication of Landauer's letters, I make the following proposal: I give up the editorship of the letters, and we try to find a person whom we both trust to be fair and ask him to complete the collection and selection of the letters. I am prepared to cooperate fully with the new editor and promise to let him make all the decisions. As always, your devoted Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim April 8, 1923 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, If it were possible for you to complete the selection of the letters, or if you could ask someone to do the work for you, it would be a great help, as it would then be possible to publish the volume of his letters. With warmest wishes and best regards, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heppenheim February 1, 1923 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, Let me say first of all that this letter does not require an answer, that I want to avoid causing you any worry or effort. If I did not believe that, I would not write. But I do want to thank you for your generosity in regard to the Landauer letters and would like to express my warmest appreciation of your actions, especially since I do realize that you still have doubts. I shall be glad to wait until your wife can make a selection; of course, you can delete some passages, of you would like. I promise you that nothing will be published without your permission. In addition, my offer to find another editor remains; if some time in the future you would prefer someone else, I am willing to renew my offer any time. This offer stands until a copy of your manuscript is in my hands; I will obey your wishes without any hesitation. I can guarantee that these arrangements will remain in force. With sincere greeting and warmest wishes for a speedy recovery, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gustav Landauer "Sein Lebensgang in Briefen" (His Life in Letters), edited by Martin Buber with the assistance of Ina Britschgi-Schimmer, was published by Rütten and Loening in Frankfurt in 1929. The letters are full of the political and cultural life of Germany at the turn of the century. Landauer, a non-Marxist utopian socialist, became the editor of the journal "The Socialist", and wrote a pamphlet "Call to Socialism", which was widely read. He was also the editor of the papers of the philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte. To make ends meet he wrote on cultural topics for journals and newspapers and gave lectures to various groups.
Heppenheim June 29, 1923 Sehr verehrter Herr Mauthner, I am sure it will be of interest to you that I have enlisted the help of my friend Dr. Haus Lindau, since I do not have the time to do all the editing. I am sure you are aware of his admiration for you and your work. With sincere greetings and warmest wishes, Martin Buber ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was deeply moved by Bubers suggestion that he relinquish the editorship of a volume of Gustav Landauers letters in the hope of getting the letters in Mauthners possession. I, therefore, would like to add a few words by those who knew him personally. Nahum Glatzer was a colleague of Paul**** of Brandeis University in the fifties. The Glatzers were our close friends and I often heard Nahum talk about Franz Rosenzweig and Martin Buber. In the "Memoirs of Nahum Glatzer," edited by his daughter Judith and Michael Fishbone, there is a description of his first meeting with Buber.
I wrote a letter to Buber, introducing myself, and received an answer from his secretary giving me a date for the meeting. I was thriIled and spent days preparing myself for the event. I did not stay long, but when I left I had the feeling of having undergone an important experience." Mrs. Blumenthal met Martin Buber for the first time in New York, but it was only a short get together; a few years later they spent an afternoon together in a beautiful Dutch garden. She enjoyed this relaxed and friendly meeting which came to an end when Buber had to leave for dinner with Queen Juliana. The next meeting brought them closer. They met in Buber's study, sitting at his large desk covered with books and manuscripts. They talked about his new life in Israel, and it became clear that he no longer enjoyed the general respect that he had been shown in Europe. He pleaded for a peaceful understanding between Arabs and Jews, suggesting a bi-national state. The most pleasant meeting took place in Switzerland in the Hotel-Sanatorium Sonnmatt, high above Lake Lucerne. Buber was cheerful and lighthearted, enjoying the beauty of the landscape, smiling and in the best of moods. The moment of saying good-bye came far too soon, although they had spent many hours together. "The car to take me to the station was waiting in front of the hotel. Buber stayed with me until the last moment - then a hug and kiss, waving to each other until we could see each other no longer - and then this lovely day was over, my last meeting with Martin Buber. I was happy to read about this meeting at the Hotel Sonnmatt because my parents had spent many happy days there in the fifties, and later Paul and I visited good friends there, in this most beautiful spot, high above Lake Lucerne. And then there is another Swiss hotel, high above Lago Maggiore, where both Martin Buber and I stayed, but unfortunately not at the same time. In the summer of 1984, I spent a delightful holiday with an old Berlin schoolfriend, now living in New Zealand. After she left I stayed for a few days in a charming hotel in the hills above Lago Maggiore which had been the favorite meeting place of anarchists and other free spirits earlier in the century. I loved every moment of my stay. I was delighted to find the other day a book called Ascona Monte Verita by Robert Landmann, with an inscription: with best wishes to friends and guests of Monte Verita. Johannesburg June 18, 1979 He writes:
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