The Contributions of the Jews

Newspaper Editors are not usually in­clined towards giving tributes to the Jews, hence our interest in a recent paragraph from the Adelaide “News”.

Entitled “Our Gain”, and opening with reference to the Jewish New Year 5722, we read:

“Australians owe much to the Jewish community in their midst. As in all countries, they have contributed greatly to the culture as well as to the material progress of this land. The tragedy of the Nazi persecution of the Jews had, for us, at least one good result.

It sent us many refugees who brought fresh ideas and created wealth in their homeland.”

We cannot gauge the response of the reading public, but there would be few, we feel, who would recognise and appreciate the benefits that Jewish thought and effort brought, not only to those of this country, but to all humanity.

The contribution of the Jews to modern civilization represents the best discoveries in Science, Industry, and the Arts.

These have meant better health, less suf­fering, greater knowledge, and improved living conditions.

Our readers will know of reasons why the News Editor should not limit Our Gain to material benefits only. In explanation they will point to the words of a first-century writer, which incidentally, have a greater circulation than any modern news­paper article.

He enumerated the benefits received, and transmitted, by the Jews, and showed how they would be effective in securing the spiritual well-being of those who shared them.

His listed items of “Wealth” that become “Our Gain” are specified as

“Having been entrusted with the Oracles of God” (with all that this entails). That to them “belong the son-ship, glory, covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises, the patriarchs, and of their race is—Christ.”

All of which is summed up collectively as meaning “riches for the Gentiles”.

Two points of view are here presented to us which are a challenge to our choice.

One is focused on material wealth and gain, the other on spiritual values.

The issue was fully and finally determined in the verdict given by Jesus Christ, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself.”