Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/679

638 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 invidual 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