Rhodes Moslems Repudiate Turk Press Attack on Jews

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The anti-Jewish agitation of some Turkish newspapers on the ground that Sephardic Jews in Turkey were alleged to have sent a message of congratulations to the King of Spain on the occasion of the celebration in Spain of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America, still resounds in the Turkish press.

The Turkish paper, “Yanikyord,” in its attack on the Turkish Jews, particularly charged the Jewish community of the island of Rhodes with hostility and injustice toward the Moslems. Ali Noury, vice-president of the Islamic community in Rhodes, in a letter published today in the “Yanikyord” states that the accusations against the Jews were entirely without foundation.

“The Jews of this island have been friendly to Turkey and served the common interests of the Moslem citizens. We have lived in close friendship up to 1912, when the island was occupied by Turkey. Since then, during the last fourteen years, even a greater friendship between the Jews and the Moslems has developed,” Noury declares.

Dr. I. Seth Hirsch, X-ray expert of Bellevue Hospital, who was suspended in February by the board of trustees for neglecting his work, was reinstated by the trustees.

The medical board of the hospital had opposed his suspension. Its members explained that the salary of the expert was only $3,500 a year, which he used in paying an assistant, and that he worked under an agreement by which he was to have considerable free time. Dr. James J. McGrath, president of the trustees, said:

“Charges heretofore preferred against Dr. Hirsch have been withdrawn and the suspension lifted and he has been restored to duty. No further action in connection with the matter will be taken by the board of trustees. Everything in connection with the matter has been properly explained and adjusted. Neither myself nor the board at any time has questioned the attainments or ability of Dr. Hirsch.”