The book deals with a historically unique case of international transfer of professional
knowledge and techniques in social care and social work.
Principles of modern social work were introduced to the Jewish Jishuv (pre-state
community) in Palestine largely by German-Jewish welfare experts who immigrated
in the 1930s. These social workers, mostly women and trained at the schools for social
work in Weimar Germany, used the experiences they had gained in Germany and
modified them according to the conditions in Palestine.
This book outlines the steps that have led to the establishment of a modern system of
social welfare (social policy, social work, social pedagogy) in Germany, in the Jewish
community in Germany and finally in Jewish Palestine. The beginning of this process
can be traced back to the late nineteenth century and extends to the late 1940s.

Franz-Michael Konrad is Professor Emeritus at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-

Ingolstadt (Germany). His areas of specialisation are history of education, social work

and social pedagogy in Germany and German-Jewish History.

Acknowledgements - Introduction - On the Way to Modern Social Work: Some Aspects of the Reform of Poor Relief in Germany from the End of the 19th century up to 1933- From Rahmanuth to Zedakah: The Reform of Jewish Poor Relief in Germany from the end of the 19th century to 1933- The Development of a Modern System of Social Welfare in the Jewish Community of Palestine (1917-1948)- Bibliography - Index .