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ow Should a Jewish Mother Maintain a Jewish Home
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in 1875 the Union of American
]S made toward the religious
ation of the Jewish woman. It
n through the influence of Dr.
W . president, who lived and loved
ijrion with all the fervor of his
that Rabbis were trained to place
in the synagogue on an equality
vv ;,l, en. This, however, did not mean
that they were to build up the synagogue
tpense of the home. On the con
trary, the home was to remain, as it
was, the beginning and the end of
ligious training. It was still to be
the reservoir of Jewish knowledge and
Jewish idealism.
It was there that those reared from
childhood were to be impressed that Ju
daism is a most precious jewel, so pure,
vo beautiful, so rich in tradition, that
every Jewish heart should overflow with
pride and gratitude for the glory and
beauty of our great past and be filled
with courage to labor for the still more
glorious future when Israel’s message will
be fulfilled.
Judaism is the basic truth of religion
and. as truth, is eternal. Greater even
than knowledge of it is love for it. That
is where the Jewish woman is best fitted
for the role she can take in the preserva
tion of the sacred cause.
Woman is the great inspirer. May
'he always share with GOD as the
Keeper of Israel.
Once she has a true knowledge of the
past, the task to transmit it will not be
difficult. Her children will readily im
bibe what she has to give. They will
gladly respond to the call of the blood.
Our past is part of us. Something
within us crossed the Red Sea with
Moses, stood at Mount Sinai, listened to
Isaiah, fought with the Maccabees, pro
nounced ‘‘The Shema.” That part is a
real part.
I radition is more than memory. Its
deep-rooted influence stirs us to become
the advocate of liberty, justice, and peace
and softens our hearts to the woes of
mankind. We feel that we still have a
reason for separate existence. We still
lm\e a message to bring to the world,
that our conception of how “To do jus-
how “to love mercy,” and how “to
■‘Ik in humility with GOD,” is worth
pre-erving and presenting to the world.
Iewish idealism has not died. In or-
dt r to give our homes this idealism we
t give it an atmosphere of joyfulness
* gladness. Without joy we miss a
r way to GOD—in our lives, and our
- would be just so many more lost
"i’t'urtunities.
Ian was created in the image of GOD.
' therefore his aim to become God-
! i ke.
Man creates the home, but it is the
man who builds and moulds that home
’ a place of beauty, joy and com-
She can make it a real sanctuary,
the holiness of home is as vital
r he holiness of the house of worship.
°ne of our prayers, the home spirit
portrayed in these exquisite words:
this hour, O GOD, Thy messenger
peace descends from on high, to turn
hearts of the parents to the children
the hearts of the children to the pa-
■ strengthening the bonds of devo-
in the household and making it a
tuary worthy of Thy presence.”
'e Jewish woman, the Mother in Is-
has an obligation as an educator,
highest duty is to train her chil-
f°r future life. Her love for the
must become contagious. Of this
mothers seemed to have been fully
E SOUTHERN ISRAELITE *
By Mrs. Renette de J. Weill
aware. They were what someone hap
pily termed “Calendar Mothers.” Their
"hole lives centered about the festivals
and observance of them. To them Spring
meant Pesach; Summer, Shabouth, Fall,
Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kipper and Suc-
coth, Winter, Chanukah and Purim. Each
season held its own duties and associa
tions, which marked time for them. These
they tried to so observe in the homes that
ever after through life with each change
of season their children would continue
to follow in the precepts.
Family reunions and holidays lend
themselves to the warmth and glow of
Jewish Rituals. Some may ask: “Does
the average woman care for such cere
mony?” The answer is returned: that
consciously or unconsciously, all of them
perform social, patriotic, business, and
domestic ceremonies day by day and make
no critical comment about them. Re
ligious ceremonies have the same justifi
cation and serve even more essential
needs.
I he spiritual side of Judaism must be
stressed by Jewish women if we ex
pect our children to remain Jews. To
make progress we must do so by retrac
ing our steps. In our case it means not
only discovering something new, but re
finding something we have lost, the home
and the religious atmosphere surround
ing it. This is something we must re
cover and among the first things we
should introduce into our homes is the
beauty of the customs which cling around
our festivals. Of these the Sabbath cere
monies are preeminent. Each week day
is associated with another, the first with
the second, and so on, but the Sabbath
stands alone.
The lighting and blessing of the candles
on the Sabbath-eve are the special obli
gation of Jewish womanhood. I.et us
not neglect it.
I'he observances of all other sacred
days are also of vital importance. Let
us make each a beacon of spiritual light
to illumine our path in life with the grace
of holiness by reintroducing the ancient
customs into our homes and by attendance
at services at the synagogue or in our
family circles.
I he Jews, who have won honor and
fame in this world have clung to Juda
ism. I hey are proud of their heritage
and the world respects them more be
cause of it. They pity the Jew, who
would, if he could, escape his Judaism.
I'he Jewish home implies an atmos
phere where the traditions of Israel have
their play and piety; where religion in
prayer and in practice pervades the fam
ily life; where discipline is not lost in
love and where GOD is a household com
panion.
If Judaism is a heritage and a his
toric record; if it is an education and
involves a discipline; if it means a life
rather than a theory, then the home is
absolutely essential to the preservation
of our religion, and is a real contribu
tion to it. We must vitalize our Faith,
live it out in practical life and not let
it stalk on like a ghost from the storied
past. If we recreate the Mothers of Is-
real we shall reestablish Jewish home
life.
If we plant lilies, lilin will grow,
If wr plant rosies, rosin will grow,
If wr plant the seed of love and religion
into the hearts of our children, that,
too, will grow.
Albert J. Woodruff
I)«*<•«!itr, Georgia
< iantlidiitr
GEORGIA PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION
To Surrced Myself
Am nerving my first full term.
I timed on my record, am ask
ing the usual endorsement of a
second term.
1*1(1 M A lt\ NKI’TE.MIIKR II, l#.1H
NO COIN *
ENOUGH
THERE’S not a coin in circulation small enough to
count the cost of most of the jobs electricity does in
our homes each day. If you paid for electricity as
you used it, one-sixteenth of a cent, or less, would
be the cost of your shaving light in the morning. An
hour of music, drama, humor or even crooners (if
you go in for them) over your radio would call for
the payment of only one-third of a cent. Percolating
your breakfast cup of coffee, browning the toast,
lighting your book or paper, keeping the porch light
burning until daughter comes home from her date—
all these things are measured in fractions of a cent.
They are homely samples of the amazing bargain
which electric service represents in your home.
And who is overlooking bargains in this day and time?
Geo
gia
POWER
COMPANY
A
C I T I Z E N
WHEREVER WE SERVE
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