Gandhi, the Jews & Zionism: Remarks During Discussion with Christian Missionaries

Take the question of the Jews on which I have written. No Jew need feel helpless if he takes the non-violent way. A friend has written me a letter objecting that in that article I have assumed that the Jews have been violent. It is true that the Jews have not been actively violent in their own persons. But they called down upon the Germans the curses of mankind, and they wanted America and England to fight Germany on their behalf. If I hit my adversary, that is of course violence, but to be truly non-violent, I must love him and pray for him even when he hits me. The Jews have not been actively non-violent or, in spite of the misdeeds of the dictators, they would say, “We shall suffer at their hands; they knew no better. But we shall suffer not in the manner in which they want us to suffer.” If even one Jew acted thus, he would salve his self-respect and leave an example which, if it became infectious, would save the whole of Jewry and leave a rich heritage to mankind besides.

Sources: GandhiServe Foundation - Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service (reprinted with permission)