The women of IHC Sisterhood were leaders in organizing the Indiana Federation of Temple Sisterhoods in 1919, bringing women together to strengthen their voices, which was especially important before the passage of the 19th Amendment. In fact, when women from sisterhoods across the state gathered at the Claypool Hotel for the first federation meeting, they were at the epicenter of the local women’s suffrage movement where leading organizations, including the Women’s Franchise League, hosted their conventions, rallies, and eventually, their 1920 celebration upon achieving the vote. This was not coincidence for the Indiana Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.

While the National Federation never officially endorsed women’s suffrage, as to not prevent more conservative Jewish women from joining, the Indiana branch’s leaders included suffrage activists. At the first meeting at the Claypool, the representatives of Indiana sisterhoods elected Bertha Born as president of the Federation.

Born, also an IHC Sisterhood President, was “an early organizer of the League of Women Voters, a former president of the Suffrage Club, and a member of the Legislative Council of Indiana,” which lobbied the Indiana General Assembly for women’s voting rights (Jewish Post). Born saw the connection between rights for women and Jewish values. And so did the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, which evolved into the Women of Reform Judaism (renamed 1993), which continues to work to advance women’s rights today.

Image Courtesy Indiana Jewish Historical Society

Sources‍

“Teachers of Jewish Schools in Session: Temple Sisterhood Organized at Claypool,” Indianapolis News, December 29, 1919, 17, Hoosier State Chronicles‍

“City and State Mourn Death of Mrs. Isaac Born,” (Indianapolis) Jewish Post, March 20, 1942, 3,
Hoosier State Chronicles

Pamela S. Nadell, “National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods,” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Jewish Women’s Archive