The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-17
Temple E1anu-EL Has Taken Front Rank Among Jewish Congregations of the South
Builders in Religious Life Social Development Charity and Education-Under Leadership of Rabbi Morris Newfield the Temple Has Realized Great
 Development for Everybody
By CAROLYN II. ELLIOTT

By CAROLYN N. ELLIOTT
 The reception at the Phoenix Club given some time ago by the Sisterhood of the temple in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Morris Newfield brought to the minds of many friends who did not attend this love feast appreciative remembrance of these two who for twenty-five years have had a large and unsel6srpart in the upbuilding Of a greater, better Birmingham.
 Many of the newcomers, and most of the older citizens know what pr. New fields ministry has meant to this city in the promotion of it's religious and intel lectual life But how many have stopped to consider what the many ministries of the congregation of Temple Enanu-El mean to Birmingham?
 The building itself on Highland avenue is one of the handsomest houses of wor- ship in the country, and is considered quite the best equipped among the Jewish temples of the south. Every few weeks Dr. Newtield has a request for the plans of the building, only yesterday wire from Portland, Ore, from a congregation who wishes to reproduce it in that west ern city.
 MEMBERSHIP
 "As to our membership at Temple Emanu-El," Dr. Newfield commented warmly q believe our people are drawn
  spirit of fellowship. and in their desire to lend helping hand wherever their services are needed
 The work of the congregation, he said 'is conducted along religious, edu- cational and philanthropic lines. Our con- gregation of 900 families is one of the few in the country not represented solely by the heads of families. Hitherto our membership was based on the family as but within the last two years we have enlarged so as to give greater priv ileges and responsibilities to the ndlvid- ual members of the family. Since this plan has been adopted the wife and also the young men and women who have reached their majority, and who are not dependent on the head of the family for financial support, are counted with the membership. They accordingly contribute their share financially, as well as spirit ually, to the activities of the congrega- t;on Another departure from former days is that the women of our congre- gatiou now have the privilege of voting and holding office we'll as the men,"
 NEW DEPARTURE
 This is indeed departure. since Dr. NsWfield explained that the privilege Of voting and holding office had been granted to women in only half dozen congregations in this country, and the governing board of Temple Emanu-Ed now numbers among its members such able women as Mrs. Samuel Adler. Mrs. David Cronheim and Mrs. M. Lenk, rep resentine the Council of Jewish Women. and Mrs. Avery Joseph. representing the Sfsterhood.
 "A number of organizations are afflh- ated with the work of the tempie,' Dr. Newfield stated. 'Among the first is the Sisterhood, with it's active membership Of 1n. of which Mrs. Avery Joseph is presi- dent The main activity of the sisterhood is to promote greater religious spirit III the homes of our congregation, to increase the attendance of young and old at sne services of the temple, and to enron them in the Sunday school. Next to this. tbe members are interested in promoting feIyowship in the congregation. They arc so successful in this that nobody IS a stranger long at our services, where every one is made to feel quite at nome.
 Dr. Newfield reminded that the oio system of rented pews had also been abolished. and that with the warm wei- come extended place was assured 'he visitor free of any cost e
 SECOND ORGANIZATION
 "A second organization connected witn our activities that is accomplishing great good is the Council of Jewish Women, Dr. Newfield stated. Their work is man. ly educational and philanthropic, and IS not confined to our congregation All example of their community spirit IS the starting of the lyceum course that Will be given this winter in connection Wi'i the vomen's clubs. With Mrs M. Lenh at the head of this council, through the raartv co-operation of its membership, r,anv lines of community service are en- gayinp their attention. Perhaps one ol their greatest services here is in teaching classes of immigrants and in the pig pro eramme they had for Birmingham m the Americanization of the immigrant
 s.The work of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, with Mrs. Morris Adler as prest- dent and Mrs Levi Lazarus as assistaht' ;s very important" commended Dr. New field .sbe<.ause the members are in charge of all charity cases that come to our at tention This is one of the oldest U, ranizat;ons of the temple, which IS all ways in direct touch with the poor
 ..vhe work of the sewing circle IS aiso worthy story in itself,' he contihueu The members spend every luesuas ,, inc temple sewing for the poor, as weii as for different institutions Of the clty. includiug the children of the MeIey Horne. Among the active members or .ne circle whose thoughtful care IS appre- ciated by the half that doesn hnoM how the other half lives, are Mrs' Le Lazarus, Mrs. Dreyfus, Mrs. MOTIFS au- Ter. Mrs Gelders, Mrs Herzieio, . n Rernheim. Mrs. Jacobson, Mrs. d. heil- nan Mrs IT. I.andsberger and others"
 Dr Newfield was enthusiastic In ms .nnrec;ation. as he told of the work oi inc Federated Charities of the teinpie'
 nr,he membership consists of repfesen- tatiyes of the congregation, or tne DIS t@,hood the Ladies' Benevolent society inc Council of Jewish Women ana the l. O. B. B. lodge.' he stated.
 rAs the name indicates. this oisaii ,I' .S .ion is for the purpose of distriputihs ene ,sa.;ty f,,nds that are given by members of the temple, and not collected from '"' ether source.
 o'' COMPETITIONS
 nrvarv member contributes appfoNi- ,,,atelv S5 per cent above the amount ne nays for the support of the tempe ine' inc fund of Federated Charities, ne eA' , ,,,s;red .sThis is distributed annuahs
 r,ong the various national charhy III, stitutions, such as the Jewisn Wiuu"9 and Orphans Home and the louro ,ios e - o;,al at New Orleans, the Leo M- iTV Hospital at Hot Springs the two nosp the in Denver for tubercular patients the I,z,oiprant Aid Society of New York ano palastinian charities. A local fund, 's also reseryed for distribution to com munity needs of Birmingham. such as !hs t,,hsrcrJosis camp and to Northside Com, ,,,,,n;tv House. Money IS distributed through this organization to lndlVioua charity cases. . ,r make beggars, but to heip ,ne poul " heln themselves" Dr. Newfield added
 Arother phase of the temple worA ol rrt;ch the rabbi spoke enthuslastcaiis l.; the iunior organization. composed ol vo,np men and women under the age of 21