The generosity of the Jews of Auckland

There were not many Jews in Auckland in the 1840s, but then there were not that many people either. The good citizens of Auckland collected funds for the "Sufferers at Wellington and Cook Strait" in December 1848. The list of donors that appeared in the newspapers included a number of Jews among the 86 names: Joel Polack, a few Keesings [6], Nathans [2],  Ashers, Hart, Hyam Josephs, Newman, perhaps also some others. Jews were an influential and significant part of the the population of Auckland of the 1840s. The population of Auckland grew into a city of some million people, but now Jews form an tiny insignificant proportion of these. They punch above their weight, their influence is still significant, but their community as part of world Jewry did not keep apace with the growth of the city's population. Is it because these early settlers did not bring enough of their Jewish cultural baggage with them, or failed to transmit this cultural baggage to their children and grandchildren in a meaningful way, or was it just too difficult, the burden of the mitzvot, the keeping of the commandments too great, or was it a little of all these? Perhaps the question we should ask is not why there are not more Jews in Auckland, but why are there any at all? What does it say about being Jewish in a society that is so tolerant that it does not matter whether you are Jewish or belong to any other faith and culture. Opting out was an easy choice for Jews in New Zealand. It is opting in that was a challenge. For the future of Jewish life in New Zealand it is the choice of opting in that we should look at. There are those who see the merit of Jewish life, culture and values, and seek conversion. But there are many, an unquantifiable number, who don't need conversion, just an appreciation of their heritage and its vast richness. For historical comparison in 1886 there were 6000 Jews in Johannesburg, about the current number in New Zealand, Now there are about 50,000, even after many had left.