1
Cast of a Ladies Minstrel Show, 1930s1930
Saint John, New Brunswick
2
Leisure and social activity for adult women within the Jewish community, apart from the service organizations, was not that different from what they experienced as girls. In the "Golden Age" of the 1920s to 1950s, Jewish women were still primarily friends with other Jewish women (and men), owing to the social divisions of Saint John society and to the cohesiveness of the Jewish community itself. This was not to say that Jewish women were not friends with and did not take part in clubs and organizations in the city, but the primary social focus was on the Jewish community. The social life of the Jewish community was centred on the Synagogue, events such as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, community dinners, theatre, house parties, and the summer life of Pamdenec and Fairvale. The social life of the Jewish community lost some of its variety when people began to move away in the 1950s, but did not lose its focus, especially for those raised in the years between the wars. Events became smaller and less frequent, the cottages at Pamdenec were sold, but the social function of the Synagogue as the focal point of the community continues today.3
Cast members of Saint John Dramatic Club, June 1908June, 1908
Saint John, New Brunswick
4
There has been a long tradition of amateur theatrical activity in the Jewish community of Saint John, dating back to the Daughters of Israel. There were Jewish members in the Saint John Dramatic Club in the early 1900s and numerous plays of various sorts were put on within the Jewish community over the years.5
Cast and crew of A Woman's Privilege including director, Dr. M.I. Polowin1952
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
6
Following the success of the Sisterhood's plays in 1950s, the Jewish Community Players were formed in December 1952. Directed by Dr. Moses Polowin and assited by Rebecca Epstein Jacobson, the group were a "sudden flowering of dramatic activity that really lasted for only a few short years."7
Copy of ticket and review of 'A Woman's Prvilege'1952
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
8
The Jewish Community Players put on short plays involving many members of the community from 1953 to 1956.9
Marcia Koven, Rose Freedman, Rebecca Jacobson and Doris Carpenter at Shomer Club meeting, 19841984
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
10
The Shomer Club, a Jewish senior's club was founded in 1974 by Rose Freedman who served as the first president and Rebecca Jacobson, who also served as president.11
Charlotte Koven leading Israeli singing and dancing at Shomer Club meeting1975
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
12
The group held various events, including brunches and dinners and bringing in guest speakers. The Shomer Club belonged to the New Brunswick Senior Citizen's Federation and the National Pensioners and Senior Citizen's Federation.13
Audience at Shomer Club meeting1975
Carleton Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
14
The Shomer Club ceased functioning in 1995 as the number and energy level of the community's seniors declined. |
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