Governor Lehman, speaking at the fifth annual Maccabean Festival, said the Jews of today should follow the heroic example of the Maccabees of old and “learn the lesson of spiritual dignity which alone gives worth to humanity.” The affair was held at the Seventy-first Regiment Armory Saturday night.
The Governor who was given an ovation on his arrival, praised the “inspired” example of Jewish pioneers in Palestine, asserting:
BACK TO LAND
“Thousands of young men and young girls have come back to the soil, to live the life of productive workers on the land and to contribute the products of that spiritual and physical energy to Palestine.
“No one even slightly familiar with the chalutzim can fail to be thrilled and inspired by this example of the primal physical and spiritual energies generated from devotion to a greater vision.”
Referring to the persecution of the Jews in Nazi Germany, Governor Lehman declared:
NEED MORAL FORCES
“At no time have we been more {SPAN}#orely{/SPAN} tested. At no time is there greater need for reserve moral and spiritual forces to resist these oppressions.”
Pointing out that many Jews are currently the victims of “terrible” intolerance, the Governor said Jews in the past were persecuted because of their religion but in the Third Reich race is used as the basis of persecution “despite the fact that they have lived in that land for twelve centuries and in the face of the outstanding contributions which German Jews have made to the industry and culture of their country.”
NO ONE SOLUTION
Governor Lehman asserted he does not believe there is one solution to the “complicated” Jewish problem.
“I am in sympathy with many Jewish movements. I support with all my soul the constructive pioneer movement in Palestine. I am also as deeply interested in the attempts made by the Joint Distribution Committee and the other constructive forces which are attempting to help our suffering people in the Diaspora.”
He commended the festival as an attempt “to refresh one historic continuity and the old Jewish verities which cannot too frequently be repeated.”
The festival, held under the auspices of the New York Zionist Region, presented a combination of theatrical and sports events, with Harry Hershfield and Benny Leonard as masters of ceremonies.
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