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Lillian Bassen Webber1921
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Following the amalgamation which formed the Congregation Shaarei Zedek in 1919-1920, the former Ahavith Achim building became a Talmud Torah. The Ladies Auxuliary of the Talmud Torah was formed in 1921 to oversee the Hebrew and Sunday Schools. It was organized by Reverend Amdur, Dr. Weiner and Lillian Bassen Webber as its first president, Minnie Goldman as vice-president, Mrs. Israel Ellman as treasurer and Freda Garson, secretary. Other presidents included Mrs. Epstein, Esther Jacobson and Millie Isaacs.3
Minnie Goldman, president of the Daughters of Israel in 1920 and 1934 to 1939.1920
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Saint John Hebrew School, 1914 or 19171914
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
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The Ladies Auxiliary looked after the Hebrew and Sunday Schools, visiting the school on a regular basis. The Auxiliary held an annual summer picnic for the children in Fairvale or Pamedenac, as well as providing holiday treats for the school children.6
Millie Isaacs, recording secretary of the Daughters of Israel from 1904 to 1930.1930
Saint John, New Brunswick
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The Auxuliary was responsible for catering and staffing many of the events held in the Synagogue hall as well as maintaining the Kosher kitchen and caring for ceremonial objects like the communal wedding canopy (chuppah) and the silver crowns and breastplates which adorned the Torah scrolls. The Auxiliary was active in fundraising and community work, raising funds for the United Palestine Appeal (Keren Hayesoth) as well as being active in city-wide charity work. It was a charter affiliate of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary.To reflect its growing range of activities outside the Talmud Torah, the Ladies Auxuliary changed its name to the Sisterhood Shaarei Zedek in May 1939 on the suggestion of president Millie Isaacs. Sisterhood women were very active in war relief work, serving on the Wartime Price and Control Board. After merging with the Daughters of Israel in 1948, the Sisterhood assumed its membership in the Council of Women and Hospital Auxiliary and its work in visiting the sick.
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Congregation Dinner held in the Shaarei Zedek Synagogue in 1929.1929
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
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One of the most essential roles played by the Sisterhood in the Jewish community of Saint John is the operation and catering of community dinners, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and fundraisers. These community events would never have been possible without the efforts of the ladies of the Sisterhood who have given their time and effort to organize and cater them.The Sisterhood has always been responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Synagogue kitchen, which has done despite the inadequacy of the original kitchen. Without much assistance from the Synagogue Board, the Sisterhood managed to raise enough money to keep the original kitchen functioning, replacing the equipment when needed, but by the early 1950s it was apparent that an entirely new kitchen was needed. Splitting the cost with the Synagogue, the Sisterhood undertook in the fall of 1959 to construct a new kitchen across from the old one. It was dedicated in February 1960.
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Rose Selick Freedman1920
Saint John, New Brunswick
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Rose Freedman recalled working in this kitchen to prepare large meals for a men's dinner : The men would say they want a full course dinner so that had to be chopped liver, chicken soup - the most delicious chicken soup -, with mandle and noodles, chicken with tsimmes and something else, … probably potato kugel. How they ever managed in these two little stoves. They started preparing the chicken, roasting the chickens Saturday night as soon as it got dark. So if you have just two roasters and two stoves how were you going to have enough chicken for 150 …you would really have … to change them all night long because we would never have enough. But since I drove the car I was the one who was elected …":12
Young Judaean Mothers Banquet1950
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
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Cast of South Persia, an adaptation of South Pacific.23 March 1952
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
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The Sisterhood under president Celia Tanzman, continued the theatrical tradition of the Daughters of Israel in 1952 when it was decided to put on a play under the direction of Dr. Moses Polowin, with Ruth Zatzman and Lillian Goldstein as assistants. The short plays "Overlaid", a Robertson Davies play and "South Persia", an adaptation of "South Pacific" from the Conservative United Synagogues, were presented on March 23, 1952. This presentation and its success laid the foundation for the establishment of the Jewish Community Players in December 1952. |
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