Treatment of the 15,000 Jewish children evacuated from Greater London was lauded today by Dr. Nathan Morris, director of Hebrew education, following a 16-day tour of reception areas. He said in a statement:
“Such a store of humanity and kindness towards these little children of another faith and upbringing surely is a thing to be passionately fought for. Only in this country could Europe’s last Jewish community keep alive its identity. The good will and imagination shown by little countryside families who have received the children into their homes are moving beyond belief.
“They have done everything, and more than everything, to understand the children’s ways. The wives and families of the fishermen of distant Cornwall and of the colliers in South Wales have shown an intuitive grasp of the needs of the children temporarily adopted by them. They have escorted them to and from their Hebrew classes and, through snow and rain, have taken them to their religious services. All this goodness, sympathy and toleration must never be lost. As a race, we will fight beside this people to the last ounce of strength and effort in order to preserve it.”
Dr. Morris declared he had not heard of one case of unkindness. He said: “All these Jews were cared for by non-Jews. All these simple village folk tried to restore the faith of those of a different faith.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
