date 1931, October 2
Place -
Source The Jewish chronicle, London, Mahatma Gandhi Research and MediaService
Author M. Gandhi
Title Interviewto the Jewish Chronicle, by Gandhi
INTERVIEW TO THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
BY GANDHI
THE JEWISHCHRONICLE
I have a world of friends among the Jews. InSouth Africa I was surrounded by Jews, and I have had a Jewish shorthand writerand typist who was regarded more as a member of the family.
I cannot, however, say that I have made a proper study of the Jewish religion,but I have studied as much as a layman can. I think the Jewish religion is avery fine religion, being so closely allied to Christianity in many respects.For example, the Prophets of the Old Testament are all Jews, and Jesus himselfwas a Jew.
I visited the Synagogue at Johannesburg during the Festival of the Passover, andyou can almost say I was keeping the Passover with my Jewish friends, because Iwent to their house every night and I heartily enjoyed, what do you call themnow?
"Matzos", interjected our representative.
Yes, matzos. I think matzos are very nice and crisp.
I have, however, attended two or three Jewish services, which I think are veryimpressive; but my own feeling is that "the heart was lacking". Thatis to say, the spirit was lacking. They were too ceremonial, although I must saythe ceremony was very nice. The Jewish Rabbi was a celebrated scholar, and hedelivered a learned discourse, but it did not touch my heart.
My attitude towards Jews is one of great sympathy. I am very much attracted tothe Jews, firstly, because of selfish motives, since I have very many Jewishfriends; secondly, for a far deeper one - they have got a wonderful spirit ofcohesion. That is to say, wherever you find Jews there is a spirit ofcomradeship among them. Moreover, they are a people with a vision, if I may putit without impertinence, they do not themselves realise.
I am sometimes asked whether I regard Jews as the Chosen People, and I say,well, in a sense, yes. But then all peoples consider themselves to be chosen.
Zionism in its spiritual sense is a lofty aspiration. By spiritual sense I meanthey should want to realise the Jerusalem that is within. Zionism meaningreoccupation of Palestine has no attraction for me. I can understand the longingof a Jew to return to Palestine, and he can do so if he can without the help ofbayonets, whether his own or those of Britain. In that event he would go toPalestine peacefully and in perfect friendliness with the Arabs. The realZionism of which I have given you my meaning is the thing to strive for, longfor and die for. Zion lies in one`s heart. It is the abode of God. The realJerusalem is the spiritual Jerusalem. Thus he can realise this Zionism in anypart of the world.
Mr. Gandhi added that unfortunately he had not been to Palestine yet, but thathe hoped to go there some day.
I should love to go, for I have read so much about the Holy Land. Anti-Semitismis really a remnant of barbarism. I have never been able to understand thisantipathy to the Jews. I have read Zangwill`s Children of the Ghetto, and when Iread it, I realised what unmerited persecution Jews had already gone through andI felt then as I feel now that this persecution is, if I can again say so in allhumility, a reflection upon those who, in the name of Christianity, havepersecuted this long-suffering race.
The remedy? My remedy is twofold. One is that those who profess to be Christiansshould learn the virtue of toleration and charity, and the second is for Jews torid themselves of the causes for such reproach as may be justly laid at theirdoor.