Menorah · 1923-01-01 · Heft 1 · p. Seite 14

14 MENORAH T THE RETURN OF JEWISH WOMAN TO JUDAISM It has always been a prominent characteristic in the lifc of thc Jewish people, to honor the wife and the mother. Already in antiquity, at a timc when the Position of other people s' women was a very humblc one, the Jcws had a high reverence for their -wives, who have also been grateful for this. Wc know that in the times of the terrible persecutions the Jewish woman has been a true companion and comforter to her husbandn in all distress. She cherished in her heart the love for her faith and for her people; it was she who fostered for centuries the traditions of Judaism. The Jewish woman guarded the religious and national treasures in the quiet life of the Ghetto. She was the center of a healthy family life, and the national feeling which distinguishes that time of Jewish life, is chiefly due to her. When the walls of the Ghetto were torn down, we note a new period in the development of the Jewish woman. Suddenly world and freedom were attainable to her. She made the acquaintance of cultural life and her spirit, which tili then was restricted to her little world, was encrgettically displayed and eagerly took up all the knowledge avoidable to her. Soon the Jewish woman occupied a leading position among those who contended for emancipation and for their paiticipation in all lines of modern cultural work. The Jews have always distinguished themselves by a deep patriotism and love for their home, as if to show their gratitude to the country in which they were living, that there were no personal dangers in störe for them any more: in the same may the Jewish woman soon became very useful in all branches of woman's work. The development of woman's emancipation, her organizing activity in relief work and social care represents at the samc time the intellectual development of the Jewess, in the same way as the representatives of Judaism have taken a prominent part in the cultural and economical development of all countrics. But it is a sad and humilatig fact that the new cultural acquisitions and tasks have diminished her active interest in Judaism. Judaism does not fill up her being any more, it has been reduced to aminor affair. Always and every where she tried to join women working for the same aims who were of another confession. She wished to equal them, she tried to please them and thus she lost her individuality her pride and Jewish consciousness, wilhout attaining what she longed for. The Jewish woman can be sister only to a Jewess, helping, saving mother only to her own people; only Judaism will reward her with love and gratitude for her devoted work. Like the Jewish man, the Jewish woman has lost her steadiness when she lost her strong Judaism, and was degiaded to an intruder. And there came the great distress. Like a torrent war ovcrf loodedthe country and the people slaughtered each other like madmen. Thc terrible distress inspired the fervent wish to help and to bring sacrifices and the Jewish woman took pari in the relief work with all her heart and with all her capacities. Art' the same time, when the Jewish mother was separated from her sons, the Jewish wife and sister from her husband and brother, as they had to defend their country, they devoted themselves to the poor and needy war victims. This time with similar sufferings, similar agonies, and the same roadiness to help, they smoothed down all separating differences between the fighters on thc battlc ficlds and the assisting non — fighters. It seemed almost to come to a truce. There was not a single interconfessional relief mission to which Jewish women did not devote their organizing faculties and their work, and which they did not abundantly support financially. It is true that in war time the Jewish woman did not profit much in Judaism. In that time we worked merely as human beings for humanity and thus added to the honour of Judaism; for active efficient kindness does the greatest credit to the Jewish woman. This time of ardenl relief work, where all hearts and souls were united in the feeling of an immense pity, has passed. We were awfully naive in thinking, that in the time of rest which would follow peace, in the gravity of reconstruetive work, the good qualities of manking would continue to show themselves. After the immense bodily strain there came a time of relaxation and of soberness. The balance was Struck and it was a sad one both for the conquerors and for the conquered. People took delight in tearingbdown their former ideals into the mud, rude selfishness prevailed and life was considered froma sober materialistic point of view. The time of hysteric people with hysteric ideas followed, a time of haste and of regardless? rushing on? and in the pauperized world there began the fight at the feet of the golden calf. The Jewish people which always has taken part in all movements of its time took also a leading position in all crises of post-war times. Its success as well as many a fatal failure were followed by hatred, and nowadays, as in former times, the anger of the population turned against the Jews. The Jewish question is again much discussed. It is part of the European crisis, part of the crisis of mankind. An immense wave of Jew hatred overfloods Europe. We know that the present conditions are serious one. In all hard times the scape goat Jew has been the means of making people forget the critical events. And the present crises in all countries are serious ones. We know it from experience that the present cases of hatred of the Jews and oppression will be followed by still harder trials for us. There will be many who will say: In bygone centuries the Jewish population has suffered from still harder oppressions than our generation does now. We shall overcome these times without any particular precaution. But while the persecutions of former times increased the religious feeling of the Jews, we see nowadays a decline of Judaism Everybody goes his own way, and the feeling of responsibility with regard to his people has vanished. A portentious idleness has seized our hearts, and this explains our silently enduring all the oppressions to which we are now exposed. We must unite on the territory of Judaism we must feel it once more that we belong together, and the united Jewish strength must answer the attacks and the oppression. But we Jewish women are not to fight with the sword, educational work among our people is our task. Whoever wishes to live in freedom must join us. This makes us also look joyfully forward to the impending meeting of Jewish women from all parts of the world. The Council of Jewish Women, a large Organization, established in 1893 has called an American-European congress of all Jewish women which shall prove, that there are in all countries of the world women, who forget their evryday cares and all events of their personal life if they are called to discuss the interests of their people. The congress wil give the Jewish women an opportunity of exchangingtheir ideas, it will improve their minds; its aim s to promote the welfare of the whole people, but it will also promote every partakers plans and hopes. Women who do not join it, it will call bak to their dury, to work for their people. We highly approve of this educational part of thc congress. It is woman s task to oppose the increasing materialism with a high idealism, and to erect a wall of moral gravity in defence of the ever growing sefishness. The woman alone can foster ideals in the hearts of our youth and educate them to become men, who possess a strong will, courage and who are able to face sacrifices. At this Congress social work will be much spoken of too. Also here we shall have to seek and to find new ways, in order to raise it to such a high Standard, that it does not only bring material help, but as Achad Haam says, it brings about an Improvement of the hearts. We are quite aware, that we are obliged to help, but not only because we are charitable, but because we belong together. There isadefinite scieneeguides intellective vision as there ist a science which governs optic irision. There are many things one can better contemplate from near, other things that are better seen from a distance. Thus also this Conference of women, unititing from all parts of the world shall bring every one of us new knowledge and in our own seif criticism we shall be paying due respect to the aecomplishments of the others. Even if this congress should have no practical results whatever other than to teach us to see right, to behold the events in Jewish life, the Problems and necessities arising from them, even than has been very valuable to us. This congress of Jewish women could be the introduetion of a new chapter in the history of the Jewish woman, and we hope that Jewish historian of the days to come will give this chapter the heading: The Jeivish Woman s Relurn to Judaism. Annita Müller-Cohen