RWG Passover sermon

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concerning woman, the Mosiac Law adopts neither unbounded liberty nor seclusion. It doesn not bestow upon her the solemn functions of priesthood which exclusively belong to men; but on the other hand it does not permit her to live a life of asceticism, into live apart from the world in a grave, though in the midst of society, with the object of meditating upon heavenly things while she is upon Earth & subject to Earthly wants & feelings. Judaism does not violate laws of nature. Thus woman has no public religious office & she will have none as long as Judaism is not undermined by rash & unreasonable changes. But a lovely graceful office is reserved for her. She is the priestess of her home It depends upon her whether or not the house, the home become a house of refinement prayer, sacred, inviolable, a house in which our religious observances are sincerely adhered to, a house in which spiritual Judaism, morality & virtue is practised. It is to you, mothers of Israel that I ap direct my remarks on this sacred day, that the obnoxious leaven return not into your houses when once it has been banished. The leaven which I refer to is not the material, but that which symbolises the moral imperfections which often deface our families, those imperfections which are one of the causes of their misery, just as physical

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disease destroys the health of a body, or as revolutions under-mine the safety of the Empires. These moral imperfections must therefore disappear; that leaven ought no longer to seen; but neither ought it to remain hidden, for even if it is not seen, it works destruction You have the power of performing such a task, however, difficult it maybe. You are not weak. Your weakness is only apparent. You are the "faint" to whom God gives power, & those who have no might to whom God gives strength. Your husbands' authority may be exerted over you, but government of the house lies in your hands, & upon you its responsibility rests. Pharoah is making Joseph ruler over all the land of Eg. gave him the royal ring say with the words "Thou shalt be over my house" And so it has been with you since the day on which you received the ring of matrimony. You can & you do exercise great infuence. Be anxious then that this influence be virtuous & beneficial. Excercise it first over your husbands themselves; Be good wives, true Jewish wives.| Constantly struggling against the foaming stream of society, unsuccessful in their transactions deceived in their expectations, defrauded by so-called friends, stung by calumny, they bring home the leaven of irritation, [ ] & dejection.

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It is your duty to soften what is hard, to make smooth what is rough, it is your duty to send a ray of light, of hope through the darkness of the clouds. Like the illustrious Beruriah of the Talmud who, though inexpressibly grieved for at the sudden loss of her 2 beautiful children, yet had the courage to console the partner of her life, & to utter such words of wisdom as impressed upon him the duty of resignation; be always unto your husbands the advocates of kindness, indulgence, forgiveness & patience. When the winter of your fortune sets in Remind your husbands of resignation, of courage of bravery, but do not forget religion. A gay or agitated youth has perhaps taught them to believe little & to practice less. Banish that leaven, banish it for the sake of your God. for the sake of your children & by your smile which is a reflection of the smile of heaven itself, by your gentle manners which can be made the secret of your power, bring back to religion & worship, that spirit which only needs a soft & graceful guide. Then will you prove yourself to be a type of the noble-minded woman of whom King Solomon speaks "The heart of her husband will safely trust in her. She will do good & not evil all the days of her life. Be good wives for this is the first way of destroying all leaven. The second means

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centres itself in the wisdom displayed by women as mothers. And this name of Mother recalls to the mind of everyone, ideas of sweetness, of piety of unbounded love. Providence is always symbolized by a mother. It seems in fact as if God had made woman a reflection of his attribute of kindness, when He placed into her graceful hands the key to the human heart. Remember, that the love you bear your children, the love of Jewish mothers, that ardent & unconquerable love, will be inefficient, unless you prove it by educating their hearts as you educate their minds. The neglect of this duty is such leaven as would produce the most bitterest fruits. My son, says Solomon forsake not the law of thy mother." This law means religious instruction. But a mother must give it, if it is to be effectively listened to. She alone can give it, because it consists of truths that speak to the heart; & who better than a mother can touch the children's heart? If you begin to speak to your children of God, the very day on which they can but lisp the his name, if while you given them religious knowledge, you accustom them to religious acts, if you labour every day for this sacred end, your exertions will not be in vain, you will reap a harvest of rich blessings.

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Your sons will be such Jews as our Religion needs, refined, enlightened strong in their faith, unshaken in the creed unshaken in their observances; they will be at the same time such members of society as modern progress demands. They start out in life with a solid religious & moral foundation the basis of every loving & lovely character. They will love, honor & venerate you & their affection will be a most precious, but also a most glorious crown upon your brow. But if you neglect your sacred duty, you will be punished by the indifference & perhaps the disrespect of your offspring. "It is our mother's fault; she taught us nothing;" these words will be reproach that will torment & follow you to your grave. The Passover has& gone come, the leaven of irreligion shall have departed from your own & your children's heart.| The Talmud says that women are merciful & it adds that "woman remains at home to give bread to the poor." And by these expressions it indicates the leaven of unkindness that exists in a house where no charitable action is done. You are women of Israel are again called upon to banish that leaven; you must be the angels of charity; you