Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-21
WOMAN ACTS As RABBI
In the Sinai Temple Pulpit at
Chicago.
Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon the First
Of Her Sex in the History OF
] udaism to Fill the Position Will
Create q Sensation.
Chicago Times-Herald.

Chicago Times-Herald.
Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon, the first
woman in the history of Judaism to act
as rabbi, filled the pulpit Of Sinai Tenn
pie yesterday morning. 1t could have
happened in no Jewish Temple but DR..
Hirsch's, and the congregation predicts
that the incident will put it farther
from orthodoxy than other innovation
which it has been its pride to make.
1t makes Sinai and its leaders the talk
of the Hebrew world.
The temple was filled. There were
more heads of families than young
men-patriarchs who had never dream
ed that their creed could get so far from
the traditions as to tolerate woman as
teacher. 1t was accepted as a new page
in modern Judaism-as remarkable as
the incident which allowed a Catholic
bishop to pray before the council Of
Jewish women during the congress Of
religions. President Fisher, the head
of the congregation, sat on one side and
Professor Kohn, of Northwestern Uni
versity.. sat on the other side, at this
ceremony, where Mrs. Solomon placed
herself as the target of the scholars and
the critics of all the church-save Sinai.
EVERY VOICE PRAISED HER.
There was not a vacant seat in the
gallery or elsewhere. There did not
seem to be a voice from the congregd-
ton save one Of praise for the woman.
Professor Kohn read the opening ser
vices. The magnificent choir sang with
especial enthusiasm, and the Sinai choir
sings as none other can sing IN the
city
President Fisher introduced the
daughter of the congregation He con
fessed that he was pleased that Sinai
and its Judaism had advanced to the
point in orthodoxy where 1t was pos
sible for a daughter to stand in the
place of the rabbi.
This incident makes history, he
said. 1T is the first time in all the his
tory of our worship that such a scene
as this has been possible. 1t is a tri-
umph for womanhood and triumph
for Jewish womanhood. 1t means
as much to do as did the memorable
sight of the congress Of religions to all
Christendom. A Protestant minister
presided. He asked a Catholic bishop
for the invocation He asked rabbi
for the benediction. The influence Of
that incident of brotherhood Is equaled
by this incident which places woman
for the first time since the days OF
Abraham as a teacher Of the law.
SHE TALKS or WOMAN'S MISSION.
Mrs. Solomon then came to the pull
pit. unrolled her manuscript proceeded
much as DR.. Hirsch might have done,
save that she read, and was thus una
BILE to walk about the platform and
talk while leaning over the tops OF the
big chairs. She made the work OF the
council of Jewish women her theme
She was epigramatic and logical.
THE woman question is settled as
far as this country is concerned, she
said. 1T is all over. There are a
great many men who do not think the
civil war is over. They have a right
to both views. There is no law against
ignorance Of any kind.
The man who sneers at woman s Work
and womans higher mission sneers al most
everything else in life.
Tt was necessary for Judaism that wo-
men organize and save the traditions OF
Judaism. The women confessed they were
ignorant Of the traditions, and, the mothers
being ignorant. there was but little hope
that the coming generations would know
of them except as memories. The cere-
moniaI beauties We're becoming a closed
book. It is our plan to open it and save
the beauties.
JEWISH MOTHERS MUST SAVE IRA
DITIONS
1T has come to pass that the world is
asking whether any religion is worth saw
! ing. There are many who have lived
Alright without religion. but there are few
who can live Alright without its influence.
! It is the Jewish mothers who are going
to save the traditions of the ages, the
prophets and the philosophers of Judaism.
/ Women are more emotional than men.
and religion IS the science Of rational emo
| tionallsm.
1T is the lot of women who organize to
be criticised. They charge that we neglect
our homes. They have yet failed TO prove
that all the sick children are in the homes
Of club women. or that all the bad ones
! are there. 1t is TO help the homes of our
J own and the homes Of others that we or
ganize.
some Of US write papers, and some OF
US write pretty poor ones. The critics fail
| to see the mission Of the amateur. Pro-