JEWISH PRAYERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23092, 18 July 1938, Page 12

JEWISH PRAYERS

NAZI PERSECUTION APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE SPECIAL AUCKLAND SERVICE In common with Jewish communities throughout the British Kmpire the Auckland Hebrew Congregation held a service ol' prayer and intercession yesterday 011 behalf of the Jewish victims of Nazi persecution in Germany and Austria. The Rev. Alexander Aster preached to a large congregation and made an appeal for financial assistance to remove sufferers from " the scene of horrors and struggles to countries where they will bo l'reo from the hand of the oppressor."

, "Only a few years ago wo had learned to hopo that the time of Israel's mourning was over," said Mr. Astor. "Alas I our sorrows to-day are greater than they have ever been. The scenes of the Hook of Lamentations are again being enacted in Nazi Germany and Austria, where our brothers and sisters are facing untold miseries, indescribable insults and degradation, battling for their very lives against a tidal wavo of fanatical hysteria and racial persecution that threatens to destroy them. Never have such vast numbers been subjected to persecution so destructive and deceitful." The New Nazi Cult

"With the annexation of Austria Hitler has given the German mob another 300,000 scapegoats upon whom to vent their hatred," continued Mr. Astor. "All the sins of pre-war and post-war Germany are fastened on the heads of innocent victims. A people that has produced some of the greatest and noblest minds in history is branded as a depraved race, as pariahs whose blood contaminates and whose every thought defiles. "A new religion has been proclaimed by the Nazis. A new cult teaches the negation of the Ten Commandments and all tho moral and ethical principles which form the basis of our civilisation. Nazi Germany knows not humility, despises mercy and outrages justice. It deifies might, glorifies war, outlaws the Jew and crushes all human freedom. Objective truth must no longer be the goal of research a;id investigation, but propaganda. Conflict Against All Religion

"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 lie 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 sectioji of humanity. Wo are deeply grateful to the many non-Jews who have evinced their sympathy by contributions for the assistance of refugees. "The catastrophe of European Jewry should stimulate us to show all our strength," Mr. Astor added. "We cannot close our cart to the plaint of misery and woe, and we dare not plead lack of ability to help. 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."