“You must banish
reserve now, My dear Maria for we are Sisters, and with
that loved title you have a claim to my warmest affection—
and in that title too I look for such love as has been the
most fertile source of comfort and happiness to me thro' my
life. (Henceforth, we will not remember that there is a
difference of opinion on any subject between us).”
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After the deaths of their mother in 1808 and father
in 1811, the unmarried Gratz siblings, Hyman, Joseph, Jacob,
Sarah, and Rebecca remained in the family home. Rebecca
was not eager to marry, for she thought
“there appears no condition in human life more
afflictive and destructive to happiness & morals than...
an ill-advised marriage.” Nevertheless,
she “upbraid[ed her] bachelor
brothers for continuing in their single state. A bad
example in the eldest seems to afflict them, and I fear we
shall all grow old together in the family mansion.”
Although Sarah died in 1817, Rebecca and her three
brothers continued to live together for the rest of their
long lives. In addition to performing household and
family duties, they participated in both Jewish and
non-sectarian communal activities. The Gratz siblings
were involved in a variety of organizations including
Mikveh Israel's board of directors, Philadelphia's
Anthenaeum, the Deaf and Dumb Home, the Chestnut Street
Theater, the Academy of Fine Arts, and various libraries.
Of the other five Gratz siblings to survive to adulthood,
only the women, Frances, Richea, and Rachel, married Jews.
Gratz, like other Jews in her predominantly Christian
society, was very tolerant of others' beliefs and welcomed
Simon's and Benjamin's non-Jewish brides. In fact, she
became particularly close with Benjamin's wife, Maria Gist.
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source | full image
source | full image
source | full image
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