»Betrieb und Idee«. Salman Schocken's universe in the Jerusalem archive

The research project will explore the history of the Schocken Archive in Jerusalem as a transnational repository of knowledge and show new approaches to the work of the merchant, publisher and patron Salman Schocken (1877-1959). The Schocken Archive is one of the most important archival holdings on Jewish history in Germany, especially Saxony, before 1945 and its further development after the Second World War. The project will result in a publication and an exhibition at the institute to coincide with the »Tacheles« year of Jewish Culture in Saxony in 2026.

An »S« adorned the advertising of Schocken department stores until 1938; a »ש« became the signet of the Schocken publishing house in Tel Aviv at the end of the 1930s and, again as an »S«, the distinguishing mark of Schocken Books New York after 1945. As early as 1932, a journalist remarked that »S.« stood for »the company and idea of ›Schocken‹«, which leads the project to search for a principle in the diversity of Schocken's activities.

Starting from a store in Zwickau, Salman Schocken built up one of the most modern department store chains in the Weimar Republic. He supported cultural institutions and authors, acquired books, art and autographs, supported the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and founded Schocken-Verlag Berlin in 1931/32, one of the most important Jewish publishing houses during National Socialism. This life in Germany came to an end in 1938 with the forced sale of the group and the liquidation of the publishing house – but continued in Jerusalem and New York under completely different conditions.

Schocken's work was characterized by the combination of economic, social, artistic and literary thinking. In connection with the Research Center for Judaism at the University of Leipzig, the DI works out these connections, by exploring the history and knowledge systems of the translocated archive.

The project builds on a long-term collaboration between the Dubnow Institute, the JTS Schocken Institute for Jewish Reseach and the Schocken Family.