“The Smiter”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

The persecutor. The history of the Jews in the dispersion is a most marvelous section of human annals. With the ascendency of the religion of the professedly Christian world, the persecution of the Jews assumed, at times, cruel and decidedly unchristian forms. In some countries they were taxed exorbitantly, and yet prohibited from making a decent living. They were driven from pillar to post, and at times exiled, although there was no place of refuge for them. The 11th-15th centuries were a dark period. In 1290 they were driven from England. In 1395, from France. In Germany they were at times, regarded as the property of the sovereigns, who considered themselves at liberty to buy them and sell them at will. And yet, the Jews, notwithstanding all persecution and suffering, have multiplied until today they number over fifteen million souls in all parts of the world. They have given to the world statesmen, musicians, philosophers, writers and, of course, financiers of great eminence. It has been said with truth that there is not now one country which does not count Jews among the foremost and most brilliant representatives of its progress. In World War I Great Britain had five battalions of the Royal fusiliers, exclusively Jews, many of whom lived in the United States. They were known as "Judeans," and they served with distinction in Allenby's campaign in Palestine in 1918. The Jews, as a nation, have their peculiarities, but as a whole they have, as stated in this poem of the servant, suffered patiently, and generally returned good for evil.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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