N.Z. Jews And Relation To New Jewish State

Chronicle (Levin), 26 April 1949, Page 7

N.Z. Jews And Relation To New Jewish State

WELLINGTON, April 25. • The position of Jews in New Zealand in relation to the Jewish State of Israel, was referred to in an address by Sir Miehael Myers when he unveiled the roll of honour at the Synagogue, The Terrace, today. "It is appropriate, ' ' said Sir Miehael, "that the erection of this roll of honour should synchronise with the settle ment in a pernianent home of the rem naut of our perseeuted and displaeed eo-religionists of Europe, and with the establishment of their claim to those moral and human rights of which the tyranny and wiekeuness of Hitlerism and Nazism had deprived them. Thev are no longer stateless for Zionisi leaders have aehieved for the Jeyvish people of Palestine and Zionists gener ally, a nationhood and a statehood that has now been recognised by other nations. By no means all Jews have been or are Zionists or followers oi those Zionist leaders but whether Zion ists or uot, we can rejoice that there is now a national home to fohicli Jews, and partieulariy displaeed Jews, can take their steps if they wish. "There is, however, oue thing 1 wam to emphasise. Those meu and women of our eommumty who took theiT plaee with his Majesty 's forces and whom we now liouour, all served as New Zeaianu and Britisli eitizens. Jews everywhere are of one religious faith but that is a very diif'erent thing from nationality oi eitizenship. The Israeli Jew has now his own nationality, his own eitizenihip, the nationality and eitizenship of the State of israel, but we who iive in 1 and are eitizens of any part of the Britisli Douniuons or Empire, are stiil ijritish eitizens and subjeets and have imt one allegiance, an undivided and unqualilied allegiance to the country or u iucli we are eitizens aud uationals. if any sucli person wislies to become an Israeli national, he is entitied to do ao mu oniy ijy sui rendering his Britisli nationality lirst. There is, of course, no reasuu why any of us, whether a Zionist or not, should not lielp the new State of Israel financiaily or in any other way so long as it ma1 ntain.friendly relations with the State to which our allegiance is due. "