The clarion., 1885-01-28
Woman's Perfect Equality.
Times Democrat

connected with the synagogues.
In reviewing the position of womel
in Israel in former years, he stated tha
she was not the slave nor the Gagged birC
of the harem, nor the beautiful play to,
of man. Her untranslatabe name il
Hebrew characterizes her as man
equal. The very Genesis of her exist
ence places her on equal footing witt
man. The wife was never among us :
being abandoned TO the arbitrary capric,
Of man, but was an independent person
protected by the law of the State anC
shielded by the best instincts of society
The Bible takes great care to inform
us that God said to Abraham, being il
great doubt as to what he should dc
with Hagar and Israel, ''Whatsoevel
Sarah tells Thee, listen to her voice"
The Hebrew woman entered into all
the pleasures of society, took part in
public gatherings without jeopardizing
ner respectability. He special field oi
labor, however, was her home, and the
/ education of the children her principa
duty.
! We find women as judges, prophets,
poets, songstresses, excelling in pru-
dence, valor, patriotism, etc.
Notwithstanding this, woman has
never played any rule in the govern
ment OF the synagogue. There were
Two solid reasons for this, namely: The
men of Israel had warm heart for
their faith, and secondly, the ceremonial
law as practiced in the synagogue was
not obligatory upon women. At the
same time, cannot find in all my in
vestigations that the spirit of Judaism
4 ba ha
| permitting women TO exercise her infu-
ence in the government of the syna-
gogue.
Our history abounds in examples
where women came to the rescue when
Israel was on the verge of destruction.
lhe principle, so tar as the fitness OF
women TO govern and the sanction Oi
Jewish law Is concerned, was hereby
amply established. At the same time /
must admit that l know of no single in
stance III ancient or modern history of
our synagogue that a woman was per
united 10 exercise executive powers in
It's domain. Nevertheless, it is now pro-
posed to initiate woman as governing
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
yegtige OF lsraeFs former glory. What
Is To be done in this emergency? Shall
we idly stand by and serve as grave Dig
gers ready to bury IsraePs dearest child?
Or shall we try to find the elixir of life,
revlvlng the dying child of our bosom,
and carry 1t again triumphantly into
our temples and homes.
L prefer the latter, and / am willing
to submit to any remedy if it promises
the desired end.
1t Is not the first time that Israel has
been at the brink of religious disinte-
gregratiOn--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 forgot
ten the privileges position accorded
them.
l am of the opinion that the efficacy
OF the remedy is beyond doubt; this is
not based upon a gallant impulse or a
wild speculation--no, for the churches
of the whole Christendom, find their
main strength in women, and for very
excel Mt reasen she represents idealism
in our modern system of existence. In
our days, man, so it seems, has but one
aim, and that is, gain and gold; to this
Moloch every possible sacrifice is offer
ed.
The whole world is pandemonium, a
gigantic race after the material; this is
ieit in every sphere OF life. Art has
degenerated to a crude exhibition of
vulgar nudity; literature is the play
ground of a realism that shocks aud
saddens every finer organized nature; it
has undermined commercial honesty; it
has robbed our homes of their warmth
and theft cheerfulness, and has swept
from the soul of man that beautiful
dew which is borrowed from its heaven
ly home. Are you, then, surprised to
find that it has entered into our congre-
gational life, dispeopling our synagogues
and temples? | am not! For every
instinct which Is not material is trampled
under foot. And here, friends, We
understand what the Scripture meant
when it says, at the very beginning of
mans career, Il will make man help
mate" to stand by him when he, made
of earth returns even during his life to
earth, she will take his soul and keep
it pure and ideal until he finds himself
again at the altar of his God, led back
by the gentle influence of the custodian
Of his better sell.
Her finer organization, her nobler in
stincts, her warmer affections, her pure
sphere of life, her deeper hope and trust
in the infinite, fit her par excellence for
the guardianship of our ideal religious
interests.
Our men have left US and the women
remain the only visitors in God's temple,
proving without doubt the truth of my
assertion. To this must be added the
fact that nearly the whole education of
our children in these days devolyes
upon the mothers.
The father hardly takes any interest
in it.; he leaves it to the guardian angel
of his home.
Besides this the life of man is at all
times under the influence of woman as
mother and wife. If this be true why
no. permit woman to try her influence
as leader in our religious life; it is
pretty well established that whatever
she undertakes she does with zeal and
enthusiasm unsurpassed by man.
From this standpoint / claim, that If
we permit her ruling hand in our
affairs, she will exercise an influence
over her husband and children, which,
| under all circumstances, must tend to
our good and the glory of our cause.
When we see but enc way, women per
ceives a thousand to reach her end, and,
| therefore, she should have representa-
| Iion in our councils as matter of abso-
lutte justice.
| At the same time, we dare not forget
that the progress of women upon all
fields of labor is beyond the compre-
hension of many of us. Woman has
learned, or must learn, to stand by her
own resources-she cannot lean always
upon the shoulders of some one else, the
realities of life impel her to battle with
difficulties. Therefore, every congrega-
ton must take into consideration the
problem whether or not women can be-
come legal members of Jewish congre-
CATION We have the kindness of ac-
lcepting pew rent of widows, but we re-
fuse them the rights of members. Is
there a sensible reason why women
lsingle or married, should not have the
privilege of joining us? Woman would
cheerfully give us, besides her means,
her work, her enthusiasm, her influence
and her great moral support.
i Our women would soon learn to ap-
preciatc the great trust imposed on
them: and with all the cunning and
Isuasion of their sex would bring back to
4 4 -