GERMAN JEWISH SOLDIERS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 197, 29 April 1915, Page 7

GERMAN JEWISH SOLDIERS

BREAK DOWN UNDER APPEAL BY raeSis. M. Samuel .Nuclei, a Russian tfrom the town of Nikolaleff, in She Province of Kherson, has had the u nique experience of spending four months with ithe Germans in Belgium and after being arrested and interned <of ibea.nl and allowed to leave The country, although he was an alien enemy. M. Nadcl says:—

“I had an unforgettable (experience <>n the Jewish fast-day, tin- Atom-Kip pur. or Day of Atonement. 3. went to the great Brussels synagogue. There a most curious sight met my eyes. About 200 German Jewish .soldiers, Including a number of Jewish army doctors, were there placed in a separate part of the synagogue, their rifles, from which they are never allowed to separate themselves, in their hands, their helmets on their heads acording to the Jewish custom, which reqni es the men in the synagogue to keep the ‘head covered, and the tales or praying shawl over their shoulders according to the rite. “The Grand Rabbi of ‘Belgium delivered a magnificent address in French, full of flaming patriotism, and ending with a splendid eulogy of King Albert. (I afterwards heard that this rabbi is a brother of the Grand Rabbi of Lyons, who has been, killed in the ••ar.) After the Grand Rabbi’s ad--1 ress. the organ began to play very softly the ‘Brabanconne,’’ the Belgian Yational Anthem. It was very moving. and profoundly affected me and •‘vorybody else there. Many of, the German soldiers mechanically stiffened at the salute. “Then another Rabbi spoke, this time in Yiddish. In very impressive language he asked the congregation, addressing particularly the Germans, : f they had forgotten the Tables of l ho Law given by Moses to the people of Israel, with their solemn warnings, •Thou shaft not kill;’ and ‘Thou shall

■ r.t steal!’ ‘You are all Jews,’ the preacher said, ‘so how is it possible ■hat any of yon should offend against '!;•> law except in so far as killing is hist’fied by the necessity of war? I >i merely hope that none of those ye sent has desecrated the name of Jew in tli is way! ’ “The effect on the Germans of: these earnest words was very strange. Some broke down and wept; others smiled sheepishly. After the service T talked to some of the Germans. • One told me frankly that if he got a chance to escape he meant to take it. for flic discipline was terribly severe, and one had to choose betwen a bullet in front or from behind.”