CAN JEWS BE PATRIOTS?

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 72, 24 March 1916, Page 7

CAN JEWS BE PATRIOTS?

The Sabbath service in the Christchurch Synagogue was taken on Saturday by the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, senior minister of the Auckland Hebrew congregation, who is at present on holiday in that city. In the course of his sermon, Rabbi Goldstein made eloquent reference to the part which has been and is being played by the Jewish people in the great war. He said: —"In the titanic struggle, unparalleled for magnitude, • which is convulsing nearly the whole of- Europe, the Jews of all nations are bearing their full share, yielding to none in loyalty and patriotism. Not only in our glorious Empire, which stands for freedom, and grants to all citizens, regardless of religion or creed, the fullest liberty, full civil and political rights, but in lands where they are scarcely allowed to breathe they are vying with their fellow-citizens in their manifestations of practical patriotism. We are showing the world that the Jew shares with his fellowcitizens a deep-seated love of the country which gave him birth, or has become his adopted home. The world can no longer accuse the Jew of cowardice on a lack of those qualities which make for true citizenship. This war is going to destroy once for all many a time-bolstered myth and misconception regarding the Jew. In obedience to authority, bravery, courage, under trying conditions, he is everywhere proving himself worthy of his country’s confidence. Jewish blood stains many a battlefield. We have given a complete answer to the late Goldwin Smith’s question, ‘Can the Jews be patriots?’ We have answered it with our blood.”