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Part of the American
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Jewish Women's Work for Charity
Theodore Roosevelt once paid the
following tribute to Jewish citizenship
"I am glad to be able to say that,
while the Jews of the United States, who now number more than a
million, have remained loyal to their faith and their race
traditions, they have become indissolubly incorporated in the
great army of American citizenship, prepared to make all
sacrifices for the country either in war or peace, striving for
the perpetuation of good government and for the maintenance of
the principles embodied in our constitution. They are honorably
distinguished by their industry, their obedience to law, and
their devotion to the national welfare."
Sadie American |
Bertha Kahn Elkers |
Rebecca Gratz
| Grace P. Mendes |
Annie Nathan Meyer |
Mrs. Caesar Misch |
Rose Mordecai | Bertha Floersheim
Rauh |
Julia Schoenfeld |
Rose Summerfield
And Simon Wolf, in his notable volume,
"The American Jew, as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen" gives the
names of nearly eight thousand Jews who served, on both sides,
in the Civil War. It is after all in the grand fabric of Jewish
charity, whose broad expanse extends throughout the land, that
the Jewish people and pre-eminently the women, have been able to
prove them-selves patriots and worthy citizens. Indeed in the
field of philanthropic efforts the Jewish citizens of America
may unhesitatingly claim to have built for themselves monuments
more numerous and larger by far than their proportionate share,
and their forces have been directed not to saving souls by a
chance or creed but by bettering the conditions of human
existence. The ideal of the Jewish religion, the universal
fatherhood of God and the direct responsibility of every human
being to the Maker of all, has steadfastly been upheld. But in
the Jewish charity, as in such work under the direction of no
other religious body, its forces have not been exerted in
striving to make good the seeming shortcoming of the divine
nature, but in striving to make good the essential shortcomings
of our human nature, by alleviating the distresses arising from
the constitution of society and by lessening the sufferings that
are inevitably incident to the conditions of life. To this end
the American Jewish citizens have organized a widely diversified
system of relief for the sick and needy, and while so doing have
not restricted their efforts within denominational bounds but
have opened their doors and stretched out their hands towards
all humanity. And not alone in dealing with conditions that are
inseparable from the social system, but also in dealing with
such as are removable, in educating and lifting up those of the
community who are in need of fostering care and in furthering
the spread of intelligence, have the Jewish women been
unceasingly active in their charitable organizations.
Moreover, it was remarked in the recent
political campaign of the Jewish voters, "Their quiet critical
analysis of political nostrums is most disheartening to the
district leaders of Tammany Hall," and the Jewish women in their
careful investigation, their sound sense and their zeal to
instill and foster independence in every individual should be an
inspiration and not a discouragement to the women of wealth and
careless thought who rush into hysterical benevolence.
How efficient the efforts of these
Jewish charity workers has been is amply demonstrated by a
glance at public charitable institutions. In the House of Refuge
on Randall's Island there were found, according to a recent
official report, only two hundred and sixty Jewish boys and
girls. In the Juvenile Asylum there were two hundred and
sixty-two Jewish children under sixteen years of age committed
for various misdemeanors. Compared with the entire Jewish
population of New York City this number is insignificant, and
the ratio will probably be found to be considerably lower than
in the general population. Furthermore, the records of the
department of charities in the city of New York showed that out
of the Jewish population approximating seven hundred thousand in
greater New York, in the almshouse in Blackwell's Island there
were only twenty-six pauper Jews, of whom the majority were
blind, idiotic, or possessed of some peculiar defect, which
prevented admission to existing Jewish charitable institutions.
And there is no indiscriminate
alms-giving among Jewish charity workers. The work of the United
Hebrew Charities of New York is typical of similar Jewish
organizations throughout the United States, and it is organized
and run as accurately and scrupulously as any large business
house. It is in their auxiliaries to these organizations that
the Jewish women have accomplished a work which richly deserves
mention in an account of what women are doing for America's
welfare. The sisterhoods in various districts co-operate with
the United Hebrew Charities. They give material relief, have
developed day nurseries, kindergartens, clubs and classes of
various kinds, employment bureaus, mothers' meetings and in fact
have become social centers for the poor of their neighborhoods.
Since a large percentage of the distress which is met with is
occasioned by illness, medical relief of all kinds has been
organized, each district as a rule, having its physician and its
nurse.
The Home for Aged and Infirm at Yonkers,
New York, is managed by well-known philanthropists but all the
kitchen utensils, linen and all household articles are provided
by a Ladies' Auxiliary Society composed of twelve hundred
members.
Of all the problems which confront the
average charity organization, possibly the most perplexing is
the one of the family where the mother must be wage earner. The
kindergarten and the day nursery have done something to solve
the problem, but the Chicago Women's Aid, an organization of
Jewish women for literary and philanthropic purposes, has thrown
much light on the most creditable way of helping these women.
This society has for three seasons supported a work-room for
women. The workroom is in charge of a paid superintendent but
the members of the society take an active part in the executive
and personal service departments. Work is provided for about
five months each year during the winter, and the rooms are
within walking distance of Hull House, thus being convenient for
women who wish to leave their young children at the Hull House
Day Nursery. The hours are from nine a. m. to twelve m. and from
one to four p. m. The superintendent is assisted by one
permanently employed cutter and several who work part of the
time. In extreme cases work is supplied at home, but it is
preferred to have the women come to the workroom. All sorts of
garments are made, the workers receiving seventy-five cents a
day. The beneficiaries of the workroom are such women as would
ordinarily be entitled to the benefits of relief societies,
especially the United Hebrew Charities, but in this way, by
requiring them to give at least a partial equivalent for what
they get, their self-respect is retained even though the
charities are in reality helping them. It has proved far
superior to the old-time method of unconditional giving, tending
to keep them away from relief agencies and is in many ways a
most wholesome substitute for alms. It gives those who
ordinarily spend their days in dingy unclean tenements an
opportunity to leave the crowded quarters for seven hours a day,
to breathe purer air, to learn the value of cleanliness, and to
live in an atmosphere of cheerfulness and refinement. And this
is far from being the only successful experiment by the Jewish
women of America.
In Philadelphia, besides the main bureau
of the United Hebrew Charities, various organizations of women
have been formed as auxiliary to the United Charity, such as the
Ladies' Auxiliary Committee, the Ladies' Volunteer Visiting
Committee, and the Personal Interests Society, whose activity
has aided to a great degree in mitigating the suffering among
the Russian Jews. Another of the older charities of
Philadelphia, the Esrath Mashim, or Helping Women, is to be
noted in this regard. This society was organized in 1873 in aid
of lying-in women at their homes, and after the year 1882
devoted its effort chiefly to the needs of the refugee
immigrants from Russia. In 1891 the demands on this charity as
on all others grew beyond the confines of the organization, and
the society was reorganized as the Jewish Maternity Association,
establishing a hospital known as the Maternity Home, which has
grown to be one of the large charitable institutions. A training
school for nurses was added in 1901, and at the same time a
branch of the work inaugurated at Atlantic City as the Jewish
Seaside Home for invalid mothers and children. This splendid
work has enlarged immensely in the more recent years. In
Philadelphia, too, we find a loan society conducted by Jewish
women, which makes loans without interest to deserving persons
in amounts of from five dollars to twenty-five dollars,
repayable in installments. So we find in every city these
evidences of the intense vitality of the Jewish women's spirit
for uplifting unfortunates. We find Jewish women on the
committees for improved housing in the congested sections of our
cities. We find Jewish women serving on the boards of trade
schools, figuring in the organization of bureaus and federations
of the United Hebrew Charities, opening public baths for the
poor and investigating tirelessly the conditions of health and
sanitation among them. It is with great regret that we are
obliged to curtail the list of individual endeavor, for
certainly many of the names of the Jewish women of America
belong on the honor roll of her womanhood:
There is Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer, a niece
of Jefferson Davis, whose benevolences are famed; Kate Levy,
well-known worker for health and sanitation in Chicago;
Henrietta Szold, secretary of the Jewish Publishing Society of
America, with others too numerous to mention.
Annie Nathan
Meyer 1867 ~
1951
Simon Wolf gives in his "Jew as an American Citizen, Soldier and
Patriot," the names of nearly eight thousand Jews in the Civil
War. There has been made unfortunately, no such muster of the
Jewish women who have shown such public spirit for the good of
American citizenship. But near the head of such a roll call
would appear the name of Mrs. Annie Nathan Meyer, author and
worker for the advancement of women. She was born in New York
City in 1867, the daughter of Robert Weeks Nathan. She belongs
to a prominent Jewish family and is a cousin of the late Emma
Lazarus. She was educated at home in her childhood and afterward
entered the School for Women, a branch at that time of Columbia
College. She was one of the first to enter the women's course
when it was opened in Columbia College in 1885, and eventually
she became one of the founders of Barnard College, affiliated
with Columbia College, and the first women's college in New York
City. After this institution had received full sanction and
recommendation at the hands of the faculty of the brother
college she became one of the trustees and at the same time
edited "Women's Work in America," a volume containing
the result of three years earnest work and research. She married
Dr. Alfred Meyer of New York, in 1887. Mrs. Meyer is opposed to
women's suffrage, unless the franchise be restricted by laws
providing for educational qualification. It is her theory that
legislation should follow in the footsteps of education. She is
a gifted woman, a poet and essayist, though most of her
activities have been expended in philanthropic reform and
charitable work. Her home is in New York City.
Mrs. Caesar Misch
1869 ~ 1941
At fourteen years of age organized and taught a Sabbath school
in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a community too small to support a
Rabbi. She was the first president of the Providence Section
Council of Jewish Woman; has bees auditor and chairman of
religious school. Commander of National Council of Jewish Women;
president of various charitable societies; member of board of
directors Providence Society for Organizing Charity; member
board of managers Providence District Nursing Association;
member Sex Hygiene Committee of Rhode Island State Conference of
Charities; first woman appointed on Providence Playground
Committee, having been appointed by both Republican and
Democratic mayors, and having entire charge of purchasing all
the supplies. Chairman of North End Free Dispensary, which she
organized under auspices of Providence Section, Council of
Jewish Women. Has lectured in various cities and has written
newspaper articles on Jewish topics and on White Slave Traffic.
Has written a "Children's Service" for use in the
synagogue and compiled a book of ''Selections for Homes and
Schools."
Rose Mordecai
1839 ~ 1936
Prominent Jewish woman. Miss Mordecai says of herself, that she
is simply Miss Rose Mordecai "without either romance or mystery,
but one who loves his fellow men." She was born in Washington,
D. C, February 14, 1839. Her father was Major Alfred Mordecai
Sr., a distinguished officer of the old army before the war, who
resigned in preference to fighting in the Civil War, opposed to
the idea of brother against brother. He went to reside in
Philadelphia where Miss Mordecai, with two sisters, kept a
private school for forty years. Her father was an intimate
friend of Mr. W. W. Corcoran the great philanthropist, of
Washington, and Miss Mordecai now resides in the Louisa Home;
established by Mr. Corcoran. Her mother's aunt was Miss Rebecca
Gratz, the noted Jewish beauty of Philadelphia, whose beautiful
character is believed to have been portrayed by Sir Walter Scott
in his Rebecca of Ivanhoe.
Bertha Floershelm
Rauh 1865 ~ 1952
Bertha Rauh was born June 16, 1865, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Daughter of Samuel Floersheim and Pauline Wertheimer. Educated
in the Pittsburgh public schools. Graduated 1884 with second
honor degree, Pittsburgh Central High School. Married Enoch Rauh,
president Milk and Ice Association, and of the Juvenile Court
Aid Society; vice-president Ladies' Auxiliary, Gusky Orphanage;
member of board, Columbian Council School Settlement; board of
visitation for institutions in state of Pennsylvania; visiting
board of the Pittsburgh and Allegheny Free Kindergarten
Association; Civic Club of Allegheny County and of Permanent
Civic Committee of Pittsburgh. Member Juvenile Court Committee
of the Juvenile Court Association of Allegheny County. Chairman
finance committee and member advisory board, Soho public bath.
Was member of board of Humane Society of Pittsburgh and
Allegheny, and of ladies' auxiliary of the Allegheny General
Hospital. Organizer and leader of reading circle, in existence
nine years, for study of literature. Articles: "The
Advantages of the Higher Education"; "A Trip up the
Allegheny Valley"; "Benefits of the Sunday Concerts";
"A Tribute to Christopher Lyman Magee"; "Justice to
the Jew"; ''Reform in Confirmation"; "Woman's
Place on Judaism," in local papers. Her address is 5857
Bartlett Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grace P. Mendes
~ 1930
Was born at St Croix, Danish West Indies. Her father was Jacob
Osino De. Castro and an active Confederate. When New Orleans
fell he fled to Mobile, Alabama. Her mother was Hannah De Sola.
Miss De Castro was educated in the public schools of New
Orleans, Louisiana. Married Reverend Isaac P. Mendes, an
Englishman. She labored shoulder to shoulder with her husband
for twenty-seven years, working in the interest of the Jewish
people in Savannah and gave them a standing second to none in
the South. She has been president of the Savannah Section of the
Council of Jewish Women since its organization in 1895, and is
affiliated and does active work in the following organizations:
First vice-president of the Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society;
honorary president of the Savannah Branch of the Needle Work
Guild; second vice-president of the Association for the
Education of Georgia Mountaineers; treasurer of the committee on
Health and Sanitation; a member of a committee of the Associated
Charities; one of the Georgia Joint Committee of the Department
of School Patrons of the National Educational Association and
honorary president of the Temple Guild of "Mickve Israel"
Congregation.
Bertha Kahn Elkers
1863 ~
Mrs. Elkers was born in New York City in 1863. Parents were
Israel and Sarah Kahn, both natives of Germany, and of the
Hebrew race. They with their family moved to California in 1877.
Mrs. Elkers was married in Oakland to Albert Elkers of
Sacramento in 1882. They have two sons, both graduates of the
University of California. At the beginning of the Spanish War,
in April, 1898, Mrs. Elkers founded the Sacramento Red Cross
branch. Was its president from 1898 to 1908. Sacramento raised
about $12,000 in money, food and supplies for the Red Cross work
during the few months of the war. The Galveston disaster also
received the attention of this branch and it did much to help
the refugees from the earthquake and fire of 1906, which visited
San Francisco. Mrs. Elkers was on the California State Red Cross
Board from 1898 to 1904, and she is a charter member of the
Saturday Club, 1893, one of the largest musical clubs in the
United States, having a membership of fourteen hundred. She has
done active musical work (piano), and has served on its board
since 1894, and was president of the same from 1901 to 1905;
honorary president since 1907. Assisted in starting four other
musical clubs Pacific Musical Society of San Francisco, Fresno
Musical Club, Auburn and Berkeley, and is honorary member of the
two first named. She has been treasurer of the Hebrew Women's
Benevolent Society for twenty-three years; secretary for the
women's auxiliary of Congregation B'nai Israel for past five
years; is one the board of the Sacramento City Mission; member
of Home of the Merciful Saviour; Young Woman's Christian
Association; Society for Homeless Children; San Francisco
Auxiliary to Hebrew Orphan Asylum; Tuesday Club; Museum
Association; Golf Club and has been on the board of the
University of California Extension work. Her husband, Albert
Elkers, is a native of Sacramento, where they have continued to
reside.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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