Few Words to the Jews, A.
An Early Mandate Of Philanthropy For Jewish Women
[Judaica]. [Montefiore, Charlotte]. A Few Words to the Jews. By one of themselves. London: Published for the author, by John Chapman, 1853.
8vo.; 1854 inscription on front endpaper; green cloth, stamped in blind and gilt; spine and edges browned; extremities frayed; head and heel of spine nicked. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition of this rare tract by a Jewish woman: RLG locates just two copies. In addition to chapters focusing on individual holy days and aspects of the Jewish faith and life, Montefiore (1818-1954) devotes a chapter to “The Jewish Woman,” discussing her virtues as they are expounded in Proverbs, and exploring the role of philanthropy in her life. Montefiore opens by defending her faith against accusations that Judaism places woman in “a comparatively low scale.” She looks to the last chapter of the Book of Proverbs, and notes,
We regard that beautiful picture as a refutation of the assertion that the Jews made but small account of female excellence; and we think that the women of the present day could follow no better model than that which was offered to the women of Israel more than two thousand years ago. Time may have hallowed it, but the mist of ages through which it has descended to us has not impaired its beauty or its usefulness. (p. 162)
She then explores the various qualities that make up “that ideal standard of female character,” suggesting “[e]nergy, strength of purpose, and active zeal” as among the most essential.
According to Montefiore, a woman’s primary responsibilities are to her family and home. However, even when “[a]ll those dependent on her are cared and provided for, when her home is bright and peaceful, her children growing up in bodily and spiritual health under her vigilant eye, and her husband made happy by her care to satisfy his wishes and please his tastes,” her task is not yet complete. She must turn her attentions to the poor, by giving of her “time, and trouble, and affectionate sympathy”:
She must not flinch from scenes of misery, nor from the prosaic, and to her perhaps revolting, details of real want; she must remember that those beings so poorly clad, so wretchedly housed, uncouth perhaps in manner, scorned, and, it may be, even degraded by misfortune and neglect, are children of the one great Father, sojourners here like herself, and, like herself, heirs to immortality…. A sense of justice and duty bids her rise from her luxurious repose, and stretch forth a gentle woman’s hand, to heal their wounds, to raise them, if fallen, to console, refine, gladden them. (pp. 165-66)
Finally, Montefiore exhorts the ideal Jewish woman to “acquire strength of mind, power of application, and a pure and holy zeal, to urge her on to all that is good and great and noble. She must not only forbear and endure, but she must act, she must fulfill those manifold duties God has given her to perform….” (p. 168).
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