Thank God Natan Missed The Boat
![](http://www.terredisrael.com/Images/Photos%20Netanya/Archives/NathanStraus.jpg)
Today, the 27th of Tishrei, is the 86th anniversary of the founding of the city of Netanya in 1927. Netanya was named for Nathan (Natan) Straus (1848-1931), an American businessman who co-owned two of New York City's biggest department stores – R.H. Macy & Company and Abraham & Straus.
In 1912, Nathan and his brother Isidore were touring Europe. On an impulse, they visited Palestine, at the time a desolate country facing immense challenges. Isidore soon returned to England, where they were due to catch a ship at Southampton to travel back to New York, but Nathan was delayed in leaving Palestine and missed the boat.
Which was fortunate, because the boat was the Titanic.
![](http://www.oceanvillagesouthampton.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Titanic-at-Southampton-large-size-294x300.jpg)
Straus, grief-stricken over the loss of his brother, felt that his life had been spared via divine providence. He decided as a result to throw his energies into helping Palestine. Straus established a domestic science school for girls, a health bureau to fight malaria and trachoma, a free public kitchen, child-health welfare stations, and various medical centers. All in all, he gave away two-thirds of his fortune to the developing Jewish homeland. At a dinner in his honor, he once said the following:
I often think of the old saying, "The world is my country, to do good is my religion." ...This has often been an inspiration to me. I might say, "Humanity is my kin, to save babies is my religion." It is a religion I hope will have thousands of followers.
Netanya, then a barren area of sand dunes and malaria-infested swamps, is now a bustling and beautiful city. With nearly 200,000 residents and another 150,000 in outlying neighborhoods, it is the fourth-largest city in Israel.
Missing the boat was one of the best things that ever happened to Natan Straus - and to Israel.