JEWISH VICTIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 167, 18 July 1938, Page 3

JEWISH VICTIMS.

NAZI PERSECUTION.

INTERCESSION PRAYER.

" BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS."

"With the annexation of Austria, Hitler has given the German mob another 300,000 scapegoats upon whom to vent their hate," said the E*v. Alexander Astor, in the course of a service of prayer and intercession held by the Auckland Hebrew Congregation yesterday. The service, held in common with other Jewish communities throughout the British Empire, was on behalf of Jewish victims of Nazi persecution in Germany and Austria. He made an appeal for financial assistance to remove sufferers.

"All the sins of pre-war and postwar Germany are fastened on the heads of innocent victims. A people that has produced some of the greatest and noblost minds in history is branded as a depraved race, as pariahs whose blood contaminates and whose ieve'ry . thought denies," he said. "Facing Untold Miseries." "The scenes of the Book of Lamentations are again being enacted in Nazi Germany and Austria," Mr. Astor continued. "There our brothers and sisters are facing untold miseries, indescribable insults and degradation. Never have .such vast numbers been subjected to persecution so destructive and deceitful.

"A new religion has been proclaimed by the Nazis. A new cult teaches the negation of the Ten Commandments and all the moral and ethical principles which form the basis of our civilisation. Nazi Germany knows not humility, despises mercy and outrages justice. The world, however, is slowly realising that the conflict is not only against the Jew, but all religion," said Mr. Astor. "Hitler hates the Jew because he really hates religion. Although helpless, the Jews are not without faith and hope, strengthened and encouraged by world leaders, giving voice to the indignation of civilisation at the attempt to degrade a whole section of humanity. We are deeply grateful to the many non-Jews who have evmced their sym.pathy by contributions for the assistance of refugees.

"We pray that as a result of the conference at Evian new avenues of escape will be opened to refugees and that. >in view of the urgency of the situation, immigration restrictions may be relaxed for a time by the democratic countries of the world."