The Portland daily press., 1895-02-02
MISS BEN.0LIEL
The Jewish Mission In Jerusalem


Very Interesting Letter From This Re
markable Young Jewess-A Unique
Christmas scene-Miss Voltz, the
~Christian Dress Maker'' From Chicago
Other Facts.
Very many Portland people remember
with much interest and pleasure the visit
TO orr city Of Miss Florence Agnes Bon
0liel. the talented daughter of Mr.. A. Ben
Oliel the famous Hebrew from Spain, who
of home and family to become a Christian
1and est ablished the first Christian Jewish
Mission in jerusalem. she spoke in many of
Portland's churches, and the following
letter from her cannot fail TO be of much
interest to all who hear her remarkable flow
of language. intelligent thought and
Christian zaal.
Having settled down in our new mission
house, On our return from America and
England. we recommended the Jewish
mothers meetings and girls sewing classes
in the middle of November.
Before we left Jerusalem, Miss Birks, of
the London Jews society. called on me and
very kindly offered to look after any of my
women during my absence If would give
her their names. I gave her list of fifty
who had attended ny meetings.
ssOn our return she called Immediately to
know if I were about to continue my
mothers meetings. if SO she would send me
BAG my women. Miss Gardiner also wrote:
During your absence we found so many Of
your women missed you greatly. SO Miss
Blyth. (the Bishops sister, and consented
to take them once a week Until your return.
We hear that you are now recommending
YOUR classes. We shall therefore be very
glad to send back your women. as we al
ready have more than we desire
81 replied that If they could keep them on
should be glad, as was sure of getting as
many new ones as / could manage to take.
AS give them the material which they
make into Clothes for their children, l seek
the very poorest, and mothers of large
families, whereas Miss Birks and Miss Blyth
pay them for work done. When we came
hero ther, was no meetings where the
women were taught in their own language
Judeo-Spanish. Now there are these two
besides ours, and we rejoice for the poor
creatures to have occu patton and help, and
that they are thus brought within the sound
of the gospel We all hold cur meetings on
Wednesday afternoon so that the same
woman may not 60 to more than one. The
poverty is so great we are obliged to DO this
as many of them urge their need of clothes
AS we'll as money, and we all have more
than we can do to help little those who
come to US.
1.-THE CHRIS TMAS TREE.
s'On January End, we gathered the
II.
for the usual New Years little fete. Our
Young people had prepared a Christmas
tree for them and laid out the dolls. warm
scarfs. etc.. which had been sent us for this
purpose.
1.-THE women and girls had made them
selves. at the classes, nice warm bodices,
with the fannellette, kind friends had sent.
and the girls had also bright cOlored
aprons and work bags, which greatly to
their delight, were found to contain
needle book, pin cushions and tHimble. 10
the mothers we gave bags of rice and each
and all received a roll of bread. an orange
and bag of sweets for the children.
THE greatest excitement was when the
dolls were given. One mother said her TWO
boys had been counting the days till the
fete. SO that they might get doll! Thirty
were given in very short time. and then
there were tears Because there were no
more. Before the distribution began, the
texts they had been learning were repeated
and hymns sung. The girls repeated the
Ten Commandments beautifully, and Mr..
Ben-Oliel stopped them occasionally to ask
the meaning of what they were saying. and
explain it, especially did he point out the
evil of using the sacred name of God with
out meaning. They were told that TO honor
their parents meant not only 10 obey them,
but to live SO that their conduct might
honor them. At the close of his remarks he
offered prayer and all Joined in the Lords
prayer.
1.-The next n orning one of the girls said
she thought they were good words
that Mr.. Ben-Oliel had spoken to
them. She replied that she hoped they
would remember them.
miss Voltz. the Christian dressmaker,
who in Chicago offered herself TO come and
teach dressmaking to the young Jewesses,
as means of earning their living. arrived
last month, and is now beginning her special
class. She is supported by fund raised in
response to Miss Ben-Oliel' s.appeal to many
branches of the Young Women's Christian
association in England and America. She
is very patient and pains-taking, and most
anxious to be useful and will am sure. be
a great help an l comfort in our mission.
The classes are held in the morning, and in
the afternoon she and our daughters will
visit the Jewesses in their homes. They
much appreciate what We do for them.
When / was unable lately 10 take my moth
ers' meeting and the young people did it
without me. the women said surely God
would not let me be i'll long. because 1 was
SO kind to them.
''ln all these branches Of the work IS well
as the general maintenance of the Mission
We are entirely dependent Oh what the Lord
sends us through His people and very
urgent. IS the need if our efforts are to be
carried on successfully. 1t has been laid on
my heart to open a day nursery where the
poor mothers might leave their little ones
while they earn their living. We are so
DESTROYS of helping them to help themselves
rather than to pauperize them by simply