French Canadians and Jews
Public
Statement by Dr. Rabinovitch [English] (following his resignation) Montreal
Gazette, Tuesday June 19, 1934, p. 11 In
making my decision, I have had to consider three things : 1st.
The direct insult which the Jewish race has just received; 2nd.
The plight of those unfortunate and suffering patients of this and other hospitals,
who are suffering through lack of proper care occasioned by the strike of the
internes; 3rd.
The embarrassing position in which the directors of the hospital, who have stood
so nobly by me and behaved so decently towards me, are finding themselves in. I
feel certain that in handing my resignation, the Jews will approve of my action
since it is the interest of humanity which had always been of primary importance
to the Jewish people. I
feel deeply grieved that the French internes have taken up a racial question where
the care of the sick should be their first and only consideration and that they
have completely disregarded the first duty of their oath which they have so recently
taken. The duty
of a captain is not to abandon; the first duty of a soldier is not to desert his
post; and the first duty of a physician is not to desert his patient. Taking all
that into consideration I feel that it is my duty as a physician and as a Jew
to decide upon an action which will be in the best interests of humanity to remove
the obstacle which is preventing the relief of the suffering and to show my appreciation
of all those who acted on our behalf. ©
1999 Claude Bélanger, Marianopolis College |