LATE RABBI KATZ

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 118, 14 February 1944, Page 6

LATE RABBI KATZ

Large Attendance At *, Funeral The Jewish community of Wellington was fully represented at the funeral yesterday of the late Rev. Solomon Katz, Rabbi of Wellington. The Synagogue, on Wellington Terrace, was all too small for those who wished to show their respect, and hundreds waited outside till the sol-’' emn service terminated. Thanks to the sympathy of the Government a special plane was commissioned to bring the Rabbi of Auckland. Rev. A. Astor, to Wellington, to conduct the service. He was assisted by the Rev. S. Kantor, second minister in Wellington. The sole family mourner present was Mrs. Sidney Moses. The pall-bearers at the Synagogue were Messrs. D. Markham, C. Weinster, J. Benjamin, J. Heinemann, J. Meltzer, G. Treister, and C. Lust. Those assisting as pall-bearers at the graveside in the Jewish section of the cemetery at Karori (where was held a Masonic service conducted by Mr. R. A. Glen, Worshipful Master of Lodge Wellington), were Messrs. A. Ketko, S. Braham. P. Cher, A. Spolski, L. Rothschild, A. Fine, S. and D. Booek, M. Shapiro, L. Goodman, D. Lewis. L. Pizer, H. Beder, H. Klinberg. and M. Rozenthal. “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.” Using this text from the Book of the prophet Malachi, Rabbi Astor paid an eloquent tribute to the late Rabbi of Wellington. He said that his loss would not only be felt by members of his community, which he had served with conspicuous ability, but by a host of others with whom he came into contact during his long association with New Zealand. They paid tribute to one who was a true scholar and who loved to labour in the Lord? Throughout the course of his career, _ Rabbi Katz had striven to spread Jewish culture among his congregation, and there were many present who would acknowledge that in seeking the law at his mouth they were not disappointed. He was an eloquent and forceful preacher and public speaker. He had continued the tradition of civic service established by his revered predecessor, the late Rev. Herman Van Staveren. and had always striven for harmony and friendly relations with religious leaders of all denominations, fostering the great ideal of the prophets, the universal brotherhood of man. Following the eulogy. Rabbi Astor offered prayer, and finally chanted a traditional lament in Hebrew. Those present ineluded the Prune Minister, Mr. Fraser, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, the Bishop of Wellington, Rt. Rev. H. St. B. Holland, Canon> D. J. Davies. (Vicar of St. Paul’s ProCathedral), Rev. Gladstone Hughes (St John’s Presbyterian Church), Brigadiers Greenland Atherfold (Salvation Army), Mr. B. Van Staveren. president of ths Jewish Congregation, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, treasurei, Mr. C. Falconer (St. John Ambulance Association), and members of the armed services.