Supreme Court Justice William T. Collins stirred an audience of more than 1,500 persons in a speech Tuesday evening at the headquarters of the Grand Street Boys Association here on “A Christian Views New York Jewry.” The speech was broadcast.
Judge Collins reviewed the achievements of the Jew in America, from the time of Columbus to the present day, listing the names of Jews who took part in the country’s wars, civic development and commercial growth. He dwelt particularly on the part played by the Jews in the history of this city and state, listing among those making history here, Governor Herbert H. Lehman, a number of jurists, writers, musicians, conductors, philanthropists and publishers.
“Racial prejudice and discrimination against any particular faith, class hatred, attempted proscriptions, religious convictions by fiat, are not compatible with that justice and liberty which we hoped civilization had attained,” said Justice Collins. “They belong to the barbarous and the obsolete. Any nation which engenders hatred or propagates intolerance invites its own condemnation and courts destruction. Such was the fate of the ancient Assyrians, the Babylonians, the ancient Romans, Greeks and Persians.
“There is no place in an enlightened world for bigotry, individual or governmental. All real Christians hope for a cessation of the frenzy which is now challenging our civilization.”
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.
