I regret to observe there is a notable increase in the number of suicides among Jews in this country, Hamabit writes in the Zionist Record” here. Within recent months in Johannesburg, he says, no less than six Jewish merchants have sought death by their own hand because they were unable to face the financial difficulties with which they were confronted. In the past the act of suicide has been very rare amongst Jews, and we used to pride ourselves upon this fact, for there has always been something in the composition of the Jew which made him meet his troubles with courage. stiffening of courage in the face of adversity is a quality which appears to be needed these days by a certain type of South African Jew.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.