JEWS RETURN TO ANCIENT LAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 9

JEWS RETURN TO ANCIENT LAND

DR. GOLDSTEIN AT SYNAGOGUE AUCKLAND’S YOUTHFUL JEWRY A TALL pale-faced Jew, black of eye, and lopg in nose, once attended a meeting at which one of his race spoke of the ideal of the Jews—national restoration to their ancient home in Palestine. To-day that tall pale-faced Jew is known as Dr. Weitzmann, head of

the Zionist Association, and a man who has played an enormous part in this great undertaking. ‘ There are Jfewish boys here to-day black of eye with long- noses who might yet emulate the example of this great leader of our race,” Dr. Alexander Goldstein, the Zionist Missioner, told Auckland Hebrew boys and girls at a meeting at the Synagogue school-room this morning. PROUD TO BE A JEW It was a proud heritage to be called a Jew, he said, and to be a good Jew and a good citizen should be the ambition of every‘young Hebrew. Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, president of the congregation, welcomed Dv- Goldstein. Rabbi Goldstein moved a vote of thanks, which was heartily carried by the Jewish children. Others present included Messrs. L. Phillips, I. Meltzer, and Max Robinson, of the Zionist Association. Dr. Goldstein recalled to his youthful hearers the Biblical figures of their race. Abraham, Sarah and Leah, had all lived in Palestine, the home to which the Jews were now returning. The importance, however, of being able to speak Hebrew —the tongue of the Jews now in the Holy Land —was emphasised by Dr. Goldstein. “The children in Palestine all speak it,” he said, “Why, they even quarrel in it!” THE WOMEN’S PART The work of the Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organisation, which has done, and is doing, so much for the good of women and children in the cradle of the Jewish race, was commented upon. Dr. Goldstein, too, spoke of the Hebrew University, the new seat of learning and culture. How the Jews were again cultivating the land which their fathers had tilled. How the land would again run with milk and honey. “But there are Jews in different parts of the world who are not as fortunate as you,” he told the Hebrew youth of Auckland. “There are members of your race still living in torment, in oppression, and in persecution.” It was to alleviate the lot of these men, women and children that he appealed to the prosperous Jewry of the world. So that they might return to the land of their fathers, even as the prophets had declared.