While on the subject of skeptics who cannot find any Divine sanction for the upbuilding of Eretz; Yisroel, it is also worthwhile to mention another undesirable type of individual in our midst. He is the one who never contributes at all to any of our funds, but who hastens to join us in expressing our joy upon the acquisition of new tracts of land, the establishment of new factories, the rise of immigration to Eretz Yisroel, or upon any similarly happy occasion.
To such persons we can rightly ask: Why weren’t your voices heard, your power felt, when we were in the midst of battle, struggling against great odds and overcoming many stumbling stones and obstacles in our colonization [!!!] work. Why were your ears deaf to our brethren’s plaintive appeals for help, your hands motionless to extend aid and succor to those who asked for it, your eyes blind to see the calamity that faced our nation if we did not act quickly to cut the claws of the beasts of prey in human disguise who are a disgrace to mankind?
RABBI JACOB D. GORDON
Congregation B’nai Zion, Bronx, N.Y.
Pesach 1945
From the RCA sermon manual
