DEPUTAȚI BUCOVINENI ÎN PARLAMENTUL ROMÂNIEI ÎNTREGITE. BENNO STRAUCHER (LEGISLATURA 1920–1922)

An important leader of the Jewish community in Bukovina, Benno Straucher represented its interests both in the Bukovinian Parliament (where he had a long term as deputy of the city of Chernivtsi) and in the Viennese Parliament. He campaigned for the recognition by the Habsburg central authorities of the Jews of the Empire as a distinct nation, not only as a religious denomination, but equal in rights to other nationalities, while also being involved in defending the interests of his compatriots in Romania and Russia. This desideratum of the Bukovinian Jews will find its solution in the new legislative framework of the Romanian Kingdom. After 1918, Straucher continued his political activity in the new Romanian Parliament, fighting for the maintenance of the rights of the Jews of Bukovina. He protested against the unification policy promoted by the governments of Bucharest, especially in the field of education. In the 1920–1922 legislature, Straucher argued on issues related to unification and the situation of the Jews in Bukovina after 1918 (two of his debates are presented in the appendix). He also, together with other parliamentarians from Bukovina, initiated or supported several bills presented in this legislature. Throughout his career, Straucher has distinguished himself by condemning the spread of any form of anti-Semitism.