BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 12

BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

MR. N. A. NATHAN HONOURED

JEWISH CONGREGATION'S GIFT.

SILVER MODEL OF SYNAGOGUE.

A unique presentation was made yesterday to Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, head of tho firm of L. D. Nathan and Company, by tho members of the Jewish congregation in Auckland, when ho wa3 asked to accept ■on the occasion of his SOth birthday a handsome silver model of the Auckland synagogue.

Tho presentation was made on behalf of the congregation by tho treasurer, Mr. Claude H. Moses, who apologised for tho unavoidable absence of Rabbi Goldstein, who had gone to Wellington to officiate at the funeral of Rabbi Pitkowsky. Mr. Moses said that it was some little time since Mr. Nathan had celebrated his birthday, but it had been thought advisable to postpone the ceremony until the members of the community had returned from the holidays. Mr. Nathan had been a leader of Jewry, not only in Auckland, but also throughout New Zealand for many years. His father, Mr. David Nathan, had laid tho foundation-stone of the Auckland synagogue and for the last 30 years Mr. Alfred Nathan had presided . over the destinies of tho congregation. He was an ardent Zionist and some years ago had visited Palestine, retailing his impressions on his return for the benefit of members of tho community in New Zealaud. The Jews in Auckland were proud of Mr. Nathan's leadership and felt that lie was an able and worthy representative of the faith. There was no activity of the synagogue in which he had not taken part and he had contributed to every fund which had for its object the uplifting and enlightenment of the Jews of the world. Tho speaker added that he voiced the feelings of them all in expressing the hope that Mr. Nathan would long bo spared to carry on the high traditions which he had established, Mr. Moses then presented Mr. Nathan with the model of the Auckland synagogue, which is a beautiful piece of workmanship executed in oxidised Waihi silver. It was madfi in Auckland by Mr. W. H. Worrall. It stands upon a base of oak, 12irc. square, and the building itself covers an area of 9in. by Bin., standing about 7in. There is an appropriate inscription. '■

On rising to reply Mr. Nathan was greeted' with rounds of applause. He said that he felt unable to express adequate thanks for the honour which had been done to him. Ho did not think that he deserved the praises which Mr, Moses had accorded him, for what he had done had be<yv merely the things-which he had been able to do, and were the putting into practice of the ideals which had been instilled into him by. his parents. He hoped that he would continue for several years to help in any work for the benefit not only of the Jewish congregation, but also of the whole community of Auckland, to' which he felt lie. owed a great deal.