RABBI VAN STAVEREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 10

RABBI VAN STAVEREN.

'The religious community he led was, comparatively, a small one, but the late Rabbi von Staveren impressed his personality far beyond its limits, not only in his own city, Wellington, but in all New Zealand. One of his leading principles was that there should be no question of creed or any other difference when there was suffering to be relieved or wants to be supplied. In consequence, his name has been honoured, and his loss will be mourned by thousands outside his co-religionists and those of his own race. His record of service to his own people stands almost unrivalled in length and devotion. If that had been the whole of his life, his death would have been a Jewish loss only, and the rest of the community might have felt little more than sympathy with his congregation and the detached admiration such a life deserves to command in those who have had no point of contact with it. That, however, has not been all. The Jewish people have always been active in good works in New Zealand. Going far back into history, it may be remem-, bered that when one Sunday morning Auckland first heard of the sack of Kororareka, first realised that relief for the refugees from the north must be organised, the congregation, interrupted in its morning devotions, was speedily joined by a representative of the Jewish comimunity already established here, and he was actively associated with the good work done. That is a typical early example of cheerful cooperation to answer the call of need. The whole life of Rabbi van Staveren exemplified the same spirit in the highest form. . It is no occasion for comparisons, but it would be surely difficult to find ah equal to the unremitting and wholehearted devotion he showed in the work of organising the chief public charity of the city in which he lived. It always received emphatic recognition from the Wellngton public. It is well known everywhere in New Zealand. It may be taken for granted that his life included many labours and sacrifices only his own people knew, but all New Zealand is aware of enough to make the people join with his congregation and his co-religionists everywhere in mourning him now the last call has come to him.