Rabbi Urges Roumanian Senate to Enact Legislation Tolerant to Jews

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A description of the present situation of the Jewish communities in Roumania was given by Rabbi Zirelsohn, member of the Roumanian Senate for Bessarabia.

During his address in the Senate Rabbi Zirelsohn made the following declaration in behalf of the Jewish population:

“In recent months a disturbing wave of anti-Semitism has swept the country.

“Hatred which can bring to the State only harm and disorder has been sown among the citizens of the country. The Jewish population expects of the Government, which is inspired by the slogan ‘Order, Law Obedience and Honesty,’ that it will oppose the injustice and violence committed against the Jewish population,” the Senator declared.

“The Jewish minority in the country has always been ready to bring the greatest sacrifices for the Fatherland. We demand of the Government that in the interests of the country it suppress, while still in its early stages, the anti-Semitic will of lawlessness and that it abolish all legal disabilities and persecutions directed against the Jewish population. We hope that in connection with the bill on the minorities the Government will recognize the Jewish population as an ethical minority which is indeed the largest minority in the country.

“When the bills on education, religion and communal organization are passed, the interests of the Jewish population must also be taken into account. The degree of civilization which a country has reached is determined by the relation of the majority to the minority, particularly its relation to the defenseless Jewish minority. We hope that the new legislations will be passed in a spirit of tolerance and understanding of the needs of the Jewish population,” the Senator declared.