Moldava Bishop Attacks Jews in Roumanian Senate Debate on Government Bill

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The discussion in the Roumanian Senate on the government bill to reorganize the Jewish communities in Greater Roumania was the occasion for a sharp attack on the Jews made by Bishop Tritianu of Moldava.

The Jewish senators, Rabbi Niemerower and Bercovici, took exception to the ecclesiastic’s remarks. They also protested against the terms of the bill, which, they stated, will create chaos in Jewish community life, instead of introducing order by establishing the principle of a unified kehillah. The Jewish senators declared that they will vote against the bill which aims at splitting the Jewish community.

Bishop Tritianu in his address expressed his doubt whether the purpose of the bill will ever be achieved. The purpose of the bill, he stated, was to draw the Jews into the service of the country.

“The Jewish people is a people of extreme contrasts; it is believing and Godless, idealistic and greedy, externally united but internally split,” he said. “It is philanthropic and egotistic. The Jews, by observing their Sabbath, compel us to buy our provisions on Friday. On the other hand, there are Jewish pupils in the schools who participate in the celebration of Christmas and adopt our national garb.

“A father of a Jewish high school pupil confessed to me that his son prays to Christ before going to bed.” the Bishop continued. “I know the influence of the Jews upon our Moldava. You Jews are alone responsible for the unpleasant events recently. The Jews of Groswardein are more dangerous irredentists than the Hungarian Count Aponyi. Besides, Cuza is not the greatest enemy of the Jews, but the Jewish senator, Carp, whose newspaper is filled with hatred of us,” the Bishop of Moldava stated in his tirade.

Senators Niemerower and Bercovici, in protesting against these remarks, expressed their regret that it was clergymen like Tritianu who exercise an influence upon the people of Moldava.

Senator Bercovici, in speaking against the bill, declared that the measure is anti-social and anti-state. “I as a true liberal will vote against the government bill.”

Rabbi Niemerower appealed to the government that it enable the Jews of Roumania to observe the tenets of their religion by promulgating such a law which would correspond with their needs. “The sad events of the recent days have made it clear how necessary such a bill is. These events prove that human passions disregard even the sanctity of houses of worship and the Holy Scrolls. Why compel Jewish school children to write on the Sabbath? What good purpose will it serve the state? Why is it impossible to coordinate the principles of law with the authority of the state?

“We will be grateful for provisions in the bill creating a state budget for the needs of the Jewish religion and for the maintenance of a rabbinical seminary, but the most important point of the bill, pertaining to the disunity of the community, notwithstanding the minor differences between the Sephardim and Ashkenazim in Old Roumania and the Orthodox and the modern in Transylvania. The interest of the state too, demands a unified form of community organization. Failing this, there will be no end to the possible harm to the state which may result from the creation of many factions and sects,” Rabbi Niemerower declared.