The Denver Jewish news., 1919-11-19
"REiIeIoN FOR OUR CHILDREN
Address Delivered by Mrs. Frank
pfaelaer of Philadelphia of Rodef
Silalom Congregation.

If had not heard very conserv;l-
tive business man say the other day
that he always appreciated the prlvl-
I,re of showing II stranger thru his
plaDt in order to get the criticism ana
suggestion that came from the eyes OF
enc unaccustomcd to his business.
should hesitate to speak to you TINS
evening Eat, coming, rs ! have, from
another city, and an orthodox syna-
gvg, perhaps have seen some OF
your problems with different eyes.
And the one thing that has struck me
with force and deep regret Is the lack
OF religion II real living religion among
your children. have heard our Ra''-
bi plead cloqucntly. pnssionatcly. from
the pulpit for your children, begging
you to bring them TO services and to
bring them to religious school and
wondered Whit manner of children
were these. what manner of synagoe
was this. that knew not each other.
For | have always believed that all
children were religious. deeply, fer
ycnfly religious. and that they love to
worship in Gods House. and to pray
and observe all the ceremonies. For
were not all these ceremonies of Ju-
daism conceived for the children ?
Were not our forefathers commanded
to observe their forms and rituals in
order that the children might under
stand Judaism? Was not the Seder
commanded so that thy son shall un-
derStand" why his ancestors We're de
liyered out of Egypt, and the Succot!i
TO remind your son and your sons
son of the wanderings, of the children
Of Israel?
And wondered what manner 81
children were these who were deaf to
the beauty and call Of these observ-
| ances. And then I learned to know
your children and your home and I
| understood. The pulpit can plead for
! yolif children and Judaism can call in
vain and you blame both for lack of
! appeal. when 1t is the parents of the
children in this community who are
| killing religion in their children.
The children are just as religious
| ae the children used to know. they
| still crave for prayer. for observances.
| for the joy of reverence. but instead
| nf Sabbath service and Sabbath school
/ they are given Saturday dancing
| classes, Saturday shopping trips, sun
/ day rest days or country club outings.
/ and skcptical soothing. irreligious par
| cnts. In how many homes do they see
/ Jewish ceremonies. in how many homes
/ do they see regular synagog attend
/ ahcc in how many homes IS Saturday
/ a day set apart. real Sabbath:
/ Do you think that your children ac-
cent your lack of religion without
\ question? DO you think that they do
| not judge you?
4 When | hear my friends. and Nour
I friends in their eagcrncrs. sometimes
/ misguided 10 give their children the
I hest in life, arguing what sort of re-
ligion to give them. and when | see
the children in the meantime growing
up without any religion mt all / won.
der il they are not robbing their chill
tlrcn of one of childhoods greatest
treasures. of one of childhood's great
solacrs and greatest beauties. and II
in any other way they can make w
for what they are depriving their cllil.
dren. And sometimes those ambitious
Parents reach the decision of letting
their children grow Up without ans
! formal religion ut all and OF giving
them the privilege of choosing the r..
ligion which satisfies them when tho
children reach an age of discretion
And do you believe that this is pos