New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-17
THE JEWISH SISTERHOOD.
HOW 1T HELPS THE POOR TO BECOME
sELF-RESPECTING CITIZENS.
THE MAIN PURPOSE TO UPLIFT THE INDIVIDUAL
WITHOUT DEGRADING OR PAuPER-

Since its earliest existence the Jewish synagogue
has made 1t an imperative duty TO uplift It's faen
ones and in the alienation OF their distress !" mas
ever relied upon the aid Of its women, "he'hei III
the olden times. when It thrust them into It's mr.
thermost corner during divine service and care
fully screened them from view, or to-day when
u welcomes them TO It's front pews no longer fear-
,, that their presence will detract from the proper
A.corum Of the place or cause the thoughts OF men
TO stray from higher and holier things
So from the beginning. 1t has been the Work OF
1ths Jewish women 10 succor the poor. and the
sweetness Of their charity has never been Ques-
,ioned II is not alone the ties Of kin-strong as
these undoubtedly are-nor yet the stern Dehest
of the Mosaic law that prompt the Hebrews or To-
day to help their poor to become Independent ana
self-respecting citizens They are actuated oS
Il still another powerful and praiseworhy motive.
Here or abroad the Jew, recalling the long cent
ures Of awful persecution. is deeply grateful for
the light OF freedom that at last has been per-
mitted to shed It's rays upon his head. and once
again. standing erect, he proudly resolves That the
land that offers him free and peaceful home
shall not be burdened by his poor and helpless
Prosperity made easy the endowment Of the
great institutions whose doors open alike TO Jew
and Gentle and whose able administration
fleets honor upon those who support and conduct
them. But the great hospitals and asylums and
homes extend relief only to the sick, the orphan
and the aged leaving unsolved the problem OF
caring for the ever-increasng mass Of the pow
erty-stricken.
Various wel-known sociological factors. easy TO
recognize, and equally easy 10 account for. but.
as things 90. wholly impossible TO prevent or
neutralize, multiplied the numbers OF families
moro or less dependent upon others for aid. Char
table societies found it expedient to unite and
through central Office to continue their good
work. but the arrival Of the hordes OF penniless
Russian exiles and the prevalence of disastrous
strikes in the trades by which the majority were
trying to earn bare living. magnifed the difi-
culties Of the situation thousandfod. More now
than mere money, more than good judgment II
It's expenditure was needed to raise these people.
more. too, than the influence Of the schools and
other educational movements that with an eye TO
the future were once set afoot.
SO the rabbi Of Temple EMANUEL, the Rev Dr.
existence The first ssierhood Of Personal Service.
and one by one others, naming themselves from the
sdy %nsg to into ShG line Tc ned
them at once set about reaching the helpless fam
at least one Of them TO its feet and teaching 1t to
They quickly learned that this was not so easy
as It seemed and that It could be accomplished
Gn sy scEn @1d dG h
to The poor Than 70 the rich must be absolutely
these people, SO long at the bottom that they sui
lenly resent all advances save those OF money or ITS
motive in every act Of Kindness from the woman
too nne 10 wear shawl upon her head Yst SIOw t
themselves felt, often in entirely unlooked.for d.
and children when sisterhood visitors expected
II the first visible favorable sign.
In NewYork City the SlSterhoods have found IL
best TO work in connection with the United Hebrew
Charities. each accepting the city district allotted
10 II, and caring for the poor. the sick and the
suffering within its limits. occasionally defraying
the entire attendant expense and always adding
from their own fund TO the sum allowed by the
central office.
WORK ON SETTLEMENT LINES
In order 10 accomplish its work in practical
manner. house is hired within the district. ntted
out as inexpensively is consistent with it's needs
the important feature of resident workers The
ssterhood subdivides itself into as many sections
as It's means and the number Of its active workers
VIII permit Under an efficient guide. each section
assumes a certain share Of the work and Is named
accoroingy. Thus there are the sewing" boys
ciuos, working-girls friendly " relief OF the
SICK ana needy" and employment bureau" sec
lions The house offers meeting rooms TO the dit
ferent classes. clubs and social gatherings Of its
bsnefctare,s and although the centre OF the COM
cispensa,ion OF aims. Money is not given without
previous investigation. save In special crcum-
stances. and the, records of the tniicd Hebrew
Charities facilitate the ready detection Of impos-
Each Ststerhood sends its delegates 10 the
monthly meetings OF the Federation OF Sisterhoods.
Hero methods OF work compared, reports OF
failures as well as OF successes frankly submitted.
sented themselves offered for consideration The
discussion thus elected always develops good and
practical suggestions, oftca aGCDted with profit.
Although tho Federation is still in its infancy. II
enabled the individual Sisterhoods to exert a wider
Influence In the community, to make their work
peter known and understood and 20 enlist into
their ranks numbers Of wiling and earnest re-