Roosevelt by Rabbi Neches

Address Delivered on KMTR Radio Station

Sunday Morning, April 15, 1945

RABBI DR. S. M. NECHES

Dean, Western Jewish Institute
Los Angeles, California

Published by the MEN'S CLUB of the Western Jewish Institute
Publication No. 29 of the Institute
7269-75 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles 36, California

Rabbi Neches was a very public figure in the life of Western Jewry. The address that follows indicates the high esteem, the almost Prophetic role in which Franklin Delano Roosevelt was held by Jews during his presidency. Revisionist history questions that role, feeling that Roosevelt might have done more for Jews in the Hitler era. W.K.

The physical part of the great, noble and godly man, FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, has been, by the will of God, removed from our midst. Our country, and the world at large, has thus been deprived of the physical presence of this good, wise and pious great leader at a time when he is most needed.

But the Neshamah, the soul, the spirit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt will, from now on and forever, remain here as a living force for the good in all ages to come.

Many will attempt to erect monuments for this great man. Monuments of stone, bronze, and concrete, but his real monument he himself has built while he was walking this planet, called earth. A spiritual monument which no hand will be able to destroy.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a true son of God, for he loved ALL of God's children, who were to him like brothers and sisters. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not only TOLERANT, but he fully recognized the RIGHTS of every human being in the common house, of their One Father, the God Almighty, who created and established this house, called world, for the good and welfare of ALL his children.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a true American in mind as well as in action. His religion was to be most faithful to the trust given to the stronger and more fortunate, which is the protection of the less fortunate, for God is good to ALL.

Roosevelt always spoke of being a good neighbor. He under-stood this term in a very broad meaning, embracing all the good relationships as between one citizen and another of one country, also as between one nation and another, and as well as between one faith and another. He was cognizant at all times of the presence of God, and motivated his conduct in accordance with this belief. He believed that in the presence of God there is no room for DOUBTS, for FEARS, for IGNORANCE and GREED, and it was his task in life dedicating himself to be the instrument of God to remove these evils from the face of the earth. And as a leader of a free people, under God, as President of the United States of America, he directed all the forces at his command in destroying the makers of war, the breeders of hatred, wherever they are in America, Europe or Asia.

For these great and most sacred ideals he paid the supreme price. He paid with his earthly life, leaving to the world a great spiritual inheritance which we must now earn in order to possess it.

We pray that the consciousness of the people of our country, as well as of the peoples of the entire world shall be awakened. All shall fully respond to the call of this illustrious man, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and that an enduring peace, based on justice and on righteousness, shall be established in this universe. Salvation shall come to this afflicted world and its suffering peoples, among them the Jewish people, to whom justice shall be accorded through the returning to them the land of their fathers Eretz Israel (Palestine).

MAY THE MEMORY OF THIS ZADIK, THIS RIGHTEOUS MAN, FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, BE A BLESSING TO ALL FROM NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.