JEWS IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 7, 9 January 1943, Page 6

JEWS IN N.Z.

CENTENARY HELD

PROUD RECORD OF SERVICE

WELLINGTON, this day.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Jewish community in Wellington to-day celebrated the 100 th anniversary of the local establishment of their Church. At a special service Rabbi Katz said it was just 100 years ago to-day when the first Jewish religious service was held under the leadership of Abraham Hort, a man who cherished his religious faith and ideals, and devoted much of his time to the organisation of the religious life of his co-religion-ists in Wellington and laid the foundations of Judaism in the Dominion.

Although the Jewish settlement dated back to 1840, said the Rabbi, the inauguration of Jewish communal life had been chosen for their anniversary. They met in worship and thanksgiving to God, Who directed their fathers to these blessed shores, where they found a haven of peace in a land of freedom and justice and opportunity, and where barriers of race or religion did not exist. It was with profound gratitude they looked back upon all the past years of undisturbed and steadfast growth and development of their community in New Zealand. It was a source of justifiable pride to them that the Jew had not been found wanting in a sense of loyalty to the country wherein he had made his home.

Jewish Record In New Zealand The. Jews had written a proud record of patriotic service in the annals of the Dominion, and had made outstanding contributions to its development and welfare in war and peace. They never failed to give of their best. They were a potent factor in the development of trade relations. They had filled many offices of State with distinction, including that of Prime Minister and other Cabinet posts, and high office in the civic administration of the largest cities. In the judiciary, in the liberal professions, and in institutions of learning the Jew had earned for himself a reputation of conspicuous ability and conscientiousness.

Recalling his predecessor, the late Rabbi Van Staveren, who presided over the congregation for more than 50 years, he said Rabbi Van Staveren has hot confined his activities to the Jewish community, but had extended his benevolent services to all worthy causes. • It was. not, however, of their merits they ought to think of to-day, but rather of their obligations to Providence in the first place and to this glorious country in the second. Someone had said the reward of doing well was the obligation to do better. They prayed to God that Nazi tyranny might be speedily broken, and deliyerance and salvation come to Israel and to the world at large.

"Pledge Ourselves Anew" To our fellow citizens here in New Zealand we pledge ourselves anew upon this momentous occasion that we shall ever stand ready to be one with them in every endeavour to further the best interests and welfare of this our beloved common country. May God bless this land, and keep it in His protection. May His light shine over it, and His peace abide •in it. This is our earnest player on this anniversary day. Answer it God in Heaven in Thy mercy, amen.." •

The Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, sent a message, joining with his colleagues and all sections of the community in paying sincere good wishes, and expressing a hope that the Jewish people, and all other citizens, would before long enjoy the happiness and peaceful progress in search of which they came to this country 100 years ago.

A message from the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz, invoked God's blessing on the Wellington community, which, under the guidance of the British Rabbinate, had ' upheld Jewish loyalty and high civic ideals, and praying that upon all the opening of the new century might bring the rapture of the salvation of European Israel,- and a righteous peace to all nations.