The Denver Jewish news., 1923-11-08
Problems of the Modern
Synagog

What are the problems of the mod
ern synaeog?
Students of the questions of organi-
zation Of the average modern synagog
have found four that seem to be the
most pressing.
Briefly summarized they are:
Shall pcws be assigned or unns-
signed?
Shall women he elected on boards of
trustees?
Shall the amount paid as dues de-
termine the right to vote. .
Shall Sunday services he held?
These four headings were included In
n questiOnnaire recently mailed by The
Union Of American Hebrew Congrcga-
tions to Its 23S affiliated synagOgs.
The answers are revealing. Eighty
one congregations have the una assigned
pew system. The officers Of the Union
regard this as gratifying innovation
because II makes for democracy i'm the
synngog-the elimination within its
walls Of the same artificialitics of rank
which mark the w1skaday world
The presence of women on congrcgn-
tiOnnl boards is decidedly modern.
There are tiS congregations that have
already so amended their constitutions
as to allow women to bc trustees. /.
The " law of the land is law is one
Of the rabbinical formulas that applies
in this instance. and since ii is mat
tor Of law that. American women are
citizens. they are consequently privi-
legged to become members of the synn-
gOg In their own right. Once accepted
as members. it is in keeping with
AmcricanisIn. it is argued. that tliey
he permitted to voice their opinions on
matters pertaining tn the administra
fiOn and policy of their house of wor-
ship. In this spirit, women are now
welcomed on congregational boards.
afrOrtling her officially an influence she
has always unofficinlly exercised in
guiding the destiny of congregations.
The rul,his of old held that men and
women have each been assigned spe-
cnal spheres of activity. but there was
no lack 0f appreciation Of the tnlents
and en,lOwmcnts Of women. They on
tcrtninetl lofty opinion of wOmanhood
and expressed their admiration of her
ability and usefulness in religious
work. 1t was due to the pious women
of that generation" said they. ''that
the lsraelites were redeemed from
ito participate in the making of the
golden calf" In fact. women were the
first. according to the rabhis, to accept
ESMsr6faK. as fhry wcrc the first to
receive 1t.
Despite these exalted nppreciations
of womnnhOOd. her right of admission
into the academies of old was ques-
toned. Indeed. not until Grr own day
hive women been granted the right TO
he full participants in religious mat.
ters.
There are 36 congregations in Amer
ica holding regular Sunday services.
either supplementary to regular Satur-
dny morning or Friday evening serv-,
ices. or independently.
The advocates of n Sunday service
insist that the Sabbath idea is local to
all JudTism. and that 1t is only to
guarantee n vitnl observance III this
all-impOr.ant institution that they are
ready to lay less stress on the particu-
lar day to Ike observed
Save in few instances, the privi-
lege of voting is not governed hy the
amount OF dues paid. Only in sixteen
congregations Is this method still fol-
lowed.
This removal Of financial res:ric-
tions on the voting privilege is indeed
modern and Nespe,dks better concep-
ion of NIL tharhpn1