The Washington herald., 1913-12-01
Wife of Rabbi Abram Simon
breaches in Boston Temple
Declares that the Obligation
to Be Useful to the Nation
Rests Upon Israel IN the
Land at Present Time.

Social to The Washington Herald.
Boston, Mass, Nov. 30.-Responsibility,
not suffrance, or suffrage, is the badge
of Israel, declared Mrs. Abram Simon,
wife Of DR.. Abram Simon, of Washington
in a sermon delivered from the pulpit OF
the Temple Israel in this city tonight
The presence of a Jewess in the pulpit
q not a challenge OF authority" said Mrs
Simon; sit is not a stupid clamor for self
glorihcation. 1t is not part Of militant
and revolutionary program to upset the
sacred traditions of Israel In my own
heart I realize ii Is but a modest recogni-
ton Of the call of the sister"
Mrs. Simon said. in part: Israel stands
today in the midst of a pulsing and glor-
iously restless American life. Thousands
of forces are waiting to make the final
American product No part of this nation
can separate itself from the great politi-
cal, social and moral unit which we call
America. That sect, or race, or party,
which will only take and not give is un-
worthy Of American protection. Surely
This same obligation of usefulness TO the
hation rests upon Israel in this land.
synagogue His Anchor.
Il dare say that the synagogue was the
greatest enterprise which the Jew un-
hertook, and which in the course Of his
thor-sheet Of his hope and the reasonable
ause Of his survival The average Jew
bught to know that for the past 2,O0J
ears the modest synagogue was Israefs
over OF strength, its fortress Of safety.
within its unpretentious walls he found
hope, a home, tie that binds.
I'VE bring to America the religionizing
beauty of the synagogue The temple,
we call il, has come to stay and to
ha T1Ioraa his hiPhRSt homes
n it. he continues to find in it the ex-
ponent of his religious convictions. He
Iinds in it the authority for many obser-
Eations and the inspiring charge for
coRtinued loyalty.
Religion is destined to be the Ell
husiasm in earnest Of the spiritual re-
gival in our country. Is crepe hanging
pn the church doors? Are all the priests
ind prophets Of religion embalmed? Is
Eehgion's voice dying music of a swans
beng? None that sees and hears anc
SnOws will confess that religion IS
doomed.
Plea for Law and Order.
We, as Jews, must stand for law ana
order We must stand for the sacredness
'of the marital tie; we must bring the
fwhole force Of religious authority toward
the creation OF reverence and the prob
ilems of juvenile delinquency. We must
arm ourselves for the honor of Jewish
cha stity, Jewish charity, Jewish integrl-
|ty. We feel that we must fashion sue
"a type of men who will be civic leaders,
exemplars of commercial morality, para
gers OF domestic purity. We can do IT.
|Te must do it
rs there any connection between the
Snaissance of religion and the rise Of the
vnan movement? l think there is. And
feve that there will be a still more
snate and positive relationship between
the synagogue and the American Jewess.
The synagogue shall hear the call OF the
sister. The synagogue Is not a masculine
institution. II must find a place Of equal
privilege, prayer. activity. and responsi-
bflity' for the Jewess. Shall she be the
creator of the new enthusiasm in Israel?
1T is not your duty to raise money, but
to raise Jews, to raise hopes, to raise the
standard. If men seem backward in ap-
preciating the Temple IL is the woman 5
to step forward into the
breach. If the women of the Jewish con-
gregations in this land were in dead
earnest would the trustees or rabbis re-
fuse them a respectful hearing? AS /
know our rabbis, ] feel that they are
waiting for some genuine. whole-souled,
and fervent expression of and co-opera-
ton with them along these lines.
so in closing may I leave you with
this sentiment:
To faith that gloWs in womAn's eyes.
And the faith that weeTs when woman Sghs;
To the faith which soars beyond the skies
And yet doth win life's richest prize.
To the sisterhoods motto full and wise;
Here's to faith, that lies never tires never
dies!'