The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-07
An Interesting Meeting OF
SuffragiStS.
Rabbi Blanstein'S Address on
Recent Tendencies.
Development Toward Organization
Among Women Of His Race.

At this afternoons meeting OF the
woman's Suffrage League, Rabbi Blsn-
stein of the Sons of Israel and David de-
livsred an interesting address on "Or-
ganization of jewish Women"
A. q preliminary the speaker gave q
briet rsview OF the different phases OF
human history and accounted for the
tendency Of the present day toward organ
ization as reaction from the individu,l-
ism of Adam Smith. lie called attention
10 the important point Of difference, how
ever, between the guilds, proceeding the
era VI indivtdualiEm, OF which the man-
agement and executive control were large
" hereditary anu always dictstorisl and
the spirit which prevails Ia modern fra
tsrnal organizations where everything Is
elective and the very purpose OF which 10
1t to allow the BROADER development OF
the individual through the greater OPP
portunities offered by mutual advantages
and the wider knowledge which comes
from honest debate, the willingness OF
each to see the good that there Is IN the
views of his fellows. This same tendency
has prevailed alike in religious, social,
economic and political matters.
Rabbi Blanstein then took up his
special theme, the organization OF Jewish
women.
twenty-five years ago, ne said. the
place of the Jewish women was exciu-
wss q nonenity. When CIR. vas born
Il was never mentioned, the daughter
never received religious instruction, she
never attended the synagogue until she
had become q wife and was then rele-
gated to the gallery. A religious quorum
consisted of ten but 1t had to be ten
men.
Wpen boy was born there was
demonstration and rejoicing among the
friends OF the father. A part OF the daily
prayer OF the man was to express grati-
tude that he had not been born woman.
Now II is very different. Tho jews be-
came Interested In charity, at the outset,
merely A. Q means OF helping . man TO
live according to the Jewish laws. That
is IL no earned Dot $40 week and 1t cost
him Si2 to observe all the dietary pro-
visions IL was tbe part of charity TO sup
ply the balance of $2. But that idea OF
assistance was superseded by the broader
one and the charity of the jews came to
mean something IN IN the inter, r.
merely further the interest OF Judaism.
bat mere the men were not sufficient (;
the natural instincts of kindness and
deicacy OF women, which are 30 Essential
TO true charity were found necessary
and the work called the women out.
This opened the door to PARTICIPATION In
The church work and the soclsl affairs.
1be women we're brought domn from the
gallery and given seats In tho main hills
Of the synsgogue. The church laws were
amened and women became eligible to
the quorum and the Sabbath Schools
were opened for the daug ghters as well
20 for the sons.
This change had been going on gradu-
ally without any central force ana
without much perfection OF o o'ganization
until three years ago when the Jewish
women were invited TO send delegates to
the parliament OF religions at the Worlds
fair. There was no society to address
the invitstion to and the managers
appealed to Mrs. Solomon of Chicago.
She wrote to the Rabbis throughout tho
country and the result was the forms-
tion OF the National Council OF Jewish
Women and its branch organizations.
There are 64 Of these branches i'm tho
country today and the Roger Williams
Circle of Providence 10 one of them.
=, The members discuss charitable
nethoSs, and social problems. Their or
aknizations are non-sectsriAD, tho donom-
national lines which divide the five
dinerept stcts OF Jews being lost sight Of
In the circles. Their missionary work Is
in the Interest OF humanity and not in
the support ofcreeds.
In conclusion the Rabbi gave some In
tevesting facts relative 10 the history of
bis race and mentioned the many move
ments In which Jews have taken the
initiative.