The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881, 1879-12-12
A Jewish SisterhOOd.

CluCc Cue OdyS Wuell CIle OduSuGcTS u
Zelophehad vigorously demanded
share in their inheritance, Jewish his
tory has been fragrant with examples of
women rising to prominence in the
state, and exercising happy influence
on society and literature. They have
not been treated as puppets as among
other Oriental nations-but have en-
joyed rights and privileges which have
made them co-workers with men. As
poets, writer's, translators, teachers, as
well as queens of society and patrons Of
art and science, Jewish women have
carved out a worthy name for them
selves and redeemed their race by their
answering faith, purity and courage,
as many saying in the Talmud and
many an incident in modern history
testify.
1t was reserved for our age, perhaps,
to witness the Jewess assuming a role,
which, while not unfamiliar to her in
other ages, was never performed with
such unselfshness, such breadth and
grace as in Jewish centres like New
York, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Pesth,
London and Philadelphia and in many
a less pretentious place, ghere as minis
4SC19d5 uuSCl w OIlCH pOoI dHu sLfiC dt~
ficted, she maintains the traditions of
Jewish WON nhood. At Breslau, the
-wealthiest Jewesses, Of rare refinement
and personal charm, attend the soup
kitchen for the Jewish poor, and with
their own hands serve out meals for the
needy. In London, women like the
Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, Lady
DAvigdor, and Miss A. NJ Goldsmid,
personally visit the poor, and in all the
charitable societies display the warmest
interest. In Berlin, it is Lena Morgen-
stein who is one Of the most charitable
workers of that world-centre. In Wen
ma, Jewesses have established most
needful institutions in Pesth and
Paris, the same story is told.
In America, and particularly in New
York and Philadelphia, the growing
Jewish Sisterhood, uncanonized and
not confined to cloisters, or banded to-
gether like vestal virgins, has received
it's grandest accessions. We need not
speak of the distinct Orders for Jew
esses, or the ordinary ladies' societies
connected with single synagogues, which
do so much good; but, referring now to
New York alone, look at the many in
stitutions founded and managed by
Jewesses which supply almost every
want in an unobtrusive way. Scarcely
week passes in winter without their
appearing before the public in praise
worthy manner. Whether they be
simply sewing societies, or societies for
poor infants and children, or societies
for supplying shoes to the needy, or in
active connection with our Charities,
their totality of work is superb, and the
morale they exert gratifying Nor
must those generous Jewesses be for
COTTON who personally visit the poor
and whisper consolation to the sick or
dying-those quiet worshippers whose
doings are never chronicled, whose gen.
tie visits are never seen, save by God.
These form no consecrated sect of pale
faced nuns, (and we are far from belit-
tling the work of the Sisters of Char
ity), but as sisters, wives and mothers,
they hasten to accomplish as much
good as they can. They need no new
teacher to bid them be charitable
charity has ever been the loveliest gem
in the crown of Jewish womanhood,
not the charity of aims giving, but the
charity which is lit up by personal SYM
pathy and cheerful aid.
Let the good work continue. Let the
Jewess vie with the Jew in the cause
of charity and education. Her infu-
ence is needed to day. Let her not for
get, however, to trim the light of charity
at home and train her children early in