The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-15
JUDAISM IS PLEA
OF CLUB SPEAKER
Mrs. HI. Davis of Chicago
Addresses Local Sec
ton of N. CD. w.

gogue, will be operated by the mem
bers of the Racine Kenosha section of
the Council of Jewish Women, is the
result of the Tuesday afternoon meet
ing held at the Moose home and at
which time the members heard a talk
by Mrs. H. j. Davis, chairman of the
religious school department of the
Chicago chapter.
]. d. Rosenblum was present to con-
fer with the women on the school
proposition and it was decided that
Mrs. S. Gottlieb and Mrs. S. Goldberg
investigate the working of the Hebrew
school so that the best possible coop
GRAFTON exist between the two educa-
eral discussion as to just what would
be taught in the school and feasible
working plan will be adopted from the
many valuable suggestions offered.
Foundation of Schools.
In introducing the speaker for the
afternoon, Mrs. Gottlieb told of the
foundation for the present religious
day schools. At the time of the Roman
siege of Jerusalem there lived a wise
old rabbi who realized that the weaker
nation must be conquered but who
wanted at least to continue the spark
of Judaism by teachings. The gates
of the city were closely guarded and
only funeral professions were allowed
to pass through. On a certain day
news of the rabbits death was pub
lished and shortly afterward a funeral
procession passed through the gates.
Once out of sight of the guards the
rabbi was freed from the coffin and
made his way to the headquarters of
the Roman general. The general was
very pleased to see him as he had
heard much of his wisdom and seer's
ability. In reply to the generals
question as to what the future neid in
store for him, the rabbi said that he
saw the throne Of Rome The general
was so pleased that he agreed the
rabbi was to be granted any wish. The
wish Of the rabbi was that he might
open religious school in order to
keep alive the spark Of Judaism, and
it is due to the establishment of this
school that the religious institutions
have come down through the ages.
a4oda Forces Against Judaism.
Mrs. Davis has spent years in the
study of the religious institutions in
Chicago and was able to give concise
view of the present day needs of
Judaism. She said that there were
many outward and inward forces at
tempting to destroy Judaism. Of the
outward forces she named anti-s enit-
ism, unfounded prejudice and the
work of missionaries. The missionary
work was elaborated upon. She told
of the investigation Of conditions in
Chicago where it was found that the
missionaries, who Of course did their
work because of love and kindness,
established centers in the hearts Of
the Jewish districts, The poor fam
lilies who cannot afford to pay for GER
tain needs are taken into the homes
and the mothers and children given
every aid possible. In return for the
use of the dispensaries, kindergartens,
sewing classes, ETC., the missionaries
ask that the children be sent to them
and while. they are under the infiu-
ence of the missionaries they slowly
become converts. A lunch room at the
present time conducted by wealthy
women in the downtown district is
exerting the same influence over the
girls who are employed in the big loop
buildings.
The inward forces are those of inter
marriage and indifference. Statistics
show that at the present rate of inter
marriage there will be no more Jews
in France within the next two genera
tions and no more Jews in Italy with
in the next five generations. The in
difference to religion is what Mrs. Da-
Wis considers needs the most serious
attention. 1t is so much easier to fol-
low the line of least resistance and
not to do the things required. That the
reformed congregations suffer from
this more than the Orthodox was
shown by Mrs. Davis in the fact that
those who become reformed Jews
think that they relinquish all the Jew
ish customs whereas the reformed doc
trine really is merely the progression
of the times and makes Judaism prac-
ticable under the present day condi-
tion.
She pleaded that the fundamental
differences between Orthodox and re-
formed Jew was such small mat
ter in the really big things of the
world that followers Of both doctrines
should cooperate in seeing that Juda-
ism survives. The way to do this is
to reach the child, teaching him the
traditions and history of his religion
so that he will have firm foundation
for his beliefs and as the desire for
this learning is instilled in the child
the religious schools will be the only
practicable solution in the supplying
of the demand.
Have Fine Speakers.
The local section has been very for.
tunate in securing fine speakers to
address them at the various meetings.
Mrs. Nathaniel Harris Of Bradford.
Pa, who addressed the chapter at the
last meeting, also explained Judaism
in such beautiful manner that she
inspired them to consider the step of
the establishment Of the religious
school. The. further discourse on the
subject yesterday, in which Mrs. Davis
brought out the development of Juda-
ism through the ages, showed that the
adults too could profit by study of the
Jewish history and it is probable that
provision for such study will be made
in connection with the children's
school.