1
Life as a Jewish girl in Saint John during the "Golden Years" of the Jewish community, from the 1920s through the 1950s, was remarkably full of activity. The variety of activities that Jewish girls engaged in were every bit as diverse as those of their non-Jewish neighbours. Though there were doubtless friendships between Jewish and non-Jewish girls as a result of school interaction, many of the organized activities for girls (and boys) before the Second World War tended to be religiously divided. This division of Saint John society, which separated Protestants from Roman Catholics as much as Jews from Christians, also extended to the summer areas - Jewish families summered mainly at Pamdenec on the St. John River and Fairvale on the Kennebecasis. Hence most social activities for Jewish girls (and boys) came from within the Jewish community. The most important of activities was Young Judaea, followed by Girl Guides and Brownies and sports though the Young Men's (and Women's) Hebrew Association (YMHA/YWHA). With the lowering of religious and ethnic barriers in the 1950s and 1960s, the need for specifically Jewish activities diminished as Jewish children could now more freely take part in all city activities.2
Girls of the Jewish community were organized into the Girl Guide troop seen here in the late 1920s.1930
Saint John, New Brunswick
3
The first Girl Guide troop in the Jewish community began in the early 1920s. Known as the 13th Saint John Company of Girl Guides, it was headed by Mrs. Jennie Brownberg. Aside from regular troop meetings, Mrs. Brownberg took the girls to summer camp, which as her daughter Sylvia remembers "was primitive in the extreme".4
This group of Girl Guides pose with their leader Mrs. Jennie Brownberg.1930
Saint John, New Brunswick
5
The Guides were known as the 10th company in the 1930 and occasionally held meetings with the Anglican girls at the adjacent Stone Church. Stella Komiensky was a leader and Lillian Meltzer was a lieutenant in the Guides in this period.6
This group of girl guides is shown on an outing.1935
Saint John, New Brunswick
7
This was one of the last groups of Brownies in the Saint John Jewish community.1959
Saint John, New Brunswick
8
There was a Brownie pack in the 1950s known as the 14th Brownie Pack which was headed by Ida Fransblow. A notable event for this group was a trip to Fredericton in 1959 to see Queen Elizabeth II who was then on a Canadian tour. The end of religiously-based groupings spelled the end of the Jewish groups.9
Rose Budovitch1920
Saint John, New Brunswick
10
Young Judaea was started in Saint John in 1918 by Percy Goldman, son of Minnie Goldman. Saint John had the second Young Judaea chapter in Canada after Montreal. Young Judaea grew rapidly, spawning a number of boys and girls clubs in the 1920s. Early female leaders included Lillian Meltzer, Rose Budovitch, Julia Smith, Ruth Isaacs and Yetta Tanzman.11
Young Judaea Executive in the 1930s including the city's Rabbi, A. Babb.1930
Saint John, New Brunswick
12
After a period of neglect, the clubs were reborn in 1929-1930 under Rabbi Abraham Babb, as educational director. He also served as the community's spiritual leader for many years.13
Young Judaea Executive meeting 19421942
Saint John, New Brunswick
14
Anne Meltzer, Leah Goldman, Sarah Jacobson and Esther Newfield became officers in the early 1930s. Later female leaders included Freda Swetsky, Dorothy Goldman, Ida Guss, Ruth Taxar, Ella Lesser and Diana Meltzer. |
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