St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-31
In THE SYNAGOGUE.
Rev. n. L. LeWcht DiscOuTses ON
the Subject Of WOman'S
Perfect Equality.

Leucht, pastor OF the Synagogue
Touro, addressed his congregation
upon the subject Of admitting wo-
men into the councils of Jewish
congregations and permit them to
help in governing the religious
schools connected with the syna-
gogues.
In reviewing the position Of wo-
men in Israel in former years, he
stated that she was not the slave
nor the Gagged bird Of the harem,
nor the beautiful play toy of man.
Her untranslatable name In Hebrew
characterizes her as mans equal.
The very Genesis of her existence
places her on equal footing with
man. The wife was never among
us a being abandoned to the arbi-
trary caprice Of man, but was an
independent person, protected by
the law of the State and shielded
by the best instincts Of society.
The Bible takes great care to IN
form us that God said to Abraham,
being in great doubt as to what he
should do with Hagar and lsmael,
whatsoever Sarah tells Thee, lis
ten to her voice.
The Hebrew woman entered into
all the pleasures OF society, took
mart in nnbIic gatherings without
leopardizing her responsibility.
Her special field Of labor, however,
was her home, and the education Of
the children her principal duty.
We find women as judges, pro-
phets, poets, songstresses, excelling
In prudence, valor, patriotism, etc.
Notwithstanding this, woman has
never played any role in the govern
ment Of the synagogue. There
were two solid reasons for this,
namely: The men Of Israel had a
warm heart for their faith, and sec
ondlY, the ceremonial law as prac-
ticed in the synagogue was not
obligatory upon women. At the
same time, I cannot find in all my
Investigations that the spirit of
Judaism is anywhere against the
innovation of permitting women to
exercise her influence in the gov
eminent Of the synagogue.
Our history abounds in examples
where women came to the reason
when Israel was on the verge of
destruction.
The principle, so far as the fitness
of women to govern and the sane
ton Of Jewish law is concerned, was
hereby amply established. At the
same time L must admit that I know
of no single instance in ancient or
modern history of our synagogue
that a woman was permitted to ex-
ercise executive powers in its do
main. Nevertheless, it is now pro-
posed to initiate woman as a gov
erning element into the synagogue.
propose to present my views OF
this question.
No one will deny that the outlook
Of Judaism is not very bright. /
have shown in previous discourses
that our temples are deserted, and
the Sabbaths neglected, and that
as a consequence materialism is
about to annihilate every yestige of
Israei.s former glory What Is TO
be done in this emergency? Shall
we idly stand by and serve as grave
diggers ready to bury Israels dear
est child? Or shall we try to find
the elixir Of life, reviving the dying
child of our bosom, and carry it
again triumphantly into our temples
and homes.
I prefer the latter, and I am will
ing to submit to any remedy If it
promises the desired end.
It is not the first time that Israel
has been at the brink of religious
disintegration and at all times the
proper men offered and the best
means were suggested for bringing
Judah back to Jehovah. In this
modern interregnum woman is
urged, based upon the truth that
often in our history women were
true to God and His laws, when the
men had forsaken them and had for
gotten the privileged position ac-
corded them. b
ON IF tho o,,inioY, that +Ln Of