This item is a group photograph of members of the Rishon Chapter. The members are seated and standing in a board room of a hotel or synagogue. Pictured are:
Back row, left to right: Rose Green, Mae Spencer, [unidentified], Florence Rother, Sylvia Roth, [unidentified], [unidentified], Mollie Alexandroff, [unidentified], [unidentified], Beulah Eckler, Gladys Sagman, [unidentified], Evelyn Florence, Sybil Gordon, Lil Feldman (m. Rotstein), Helen Glazer, Sylvia Cummings.
Front row, left to right: Leah Bassett, Debby Alter, Shirley Taylor, Tamara Rosen, Helen Tator, Clara Stein, Dene Eckler, Hilda Young, Bernice Singer, Mimi Wise, Sadie Wise, Bess Yolleck, Lil Topp, [unidentified], [unidentified], Alice Samuels, [unidentified], Elinor Moses.
Notes
Photographer unknown.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Mimi Wise helped found the chapter in 1948, following Israeli independence. The meeting took place at the home of Dr. Sydney and Mimi Wise, located at 19 Forest Ridge Drive in Toronto.
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of the Rishon Chapter of Hadassah Wizo meeting. Pictured are:
Back row, left to right: Evelyn Florence, Florence Rother, Clara Stein, Dene Eckler, Malka Kagan, Sybil Gordon, Alice Samuels, [unidentified], [Sylvia Miller], Lil Rotstein, [?] Shusterman, Bess Yolleck, [unidentified], Elinor Moses, Doris Nefsky, Mimi Wise.
Second row, left to right: [Eva Woolf], Beulah Eckler, Leah Bassett, Roslyn Eisen, [unidentified], Zelda Kaplan, Myra Schwartz, Molly Alexandroff, Helen Glazer, Bernice Singer, Hilda Young.
Third row, left to right: Gladys Sagman, Lil Morrison, Marilyn Willer, [unidentified], Helen Tator, Lil Topp, Rose Green, Sadie Wise, Frances Basen, Sylvia Roth.
Front row, left to right: Florence Donnenfield, Sylvia Cummings, May Spencer, Debby Slter, Jewel Schwartz.
Sylvia Miller and Eva Woolf were twin sisters and could be misidentified in this photograph.
Notes
Photographer unknown.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Accession consists of various issues of the Naomi Chapter cook book. The 1928 and 1934 issues contain handwritten notes, newsclippings, and marginalia.
Custodial History
The 1928 cookbook (and possibly the others) belonged to Helen Merker Stanway (her last name was previously Steinberg before it was changed to Stanway). The donor saw the book for sale at her friend's garage sale and took it for the OJA. Her friend was the daughter of Helen.
The file consists of correspondence, lists of Toronto Hadassah executive (1964-1965), flyers for the Toronto Hadassah Choir, a copy of the programme for the 21st national biennial convention, and a copy of the programme for the Tribute Dinnner for Betty Zweig.
Accession consists of a scanned photograph of the Queen Esther chapter of Hadassah executive in 1964.
Identified, back row: Bessie Brown, Etta Zacks, Miriam Kumer, Bessie Roseman, Esther Goldstein, Lena Highman, Raizel Rosen, Elsie Orzy, Dora Siderson. Front Row: Nellie Norris, Pearl Atkins, Bertha Brown, Rebeccah Taraday, Jennie Ballos, Bella Sklar.
Administrative History
The Queen Esther Hadassah chapter in Kitchener was formed in 1926 by Mrs. Levine, wife of the rabbi. Most of the women in the community joined the new group, and many of them were still members fifty years later. The chapter had monthly meetings where the women met for discussion and planning of activities to raise money for Palestine. After the Second World War, the focus turned to support of Israel's orphanages, hospitals, hostels, and training centres for women. The first Hadassah Bazaar was held in 1962 and quickly became a successful and popular community event. As the years passed, the chapter collaborated more and more with the synagogue sisterhood. At one time Kitchener had three Hadassah chapters and a central Council, but since the 1980s these have dwindled. Today there is a single chapter in the city.
The file consists of resolutions presented by Hadassah-Wizo and ZOC. It also contains correspondence between Hadassah-Wizo representatives and members of ZOC.
The file consists of correspondence between Canadian Hadassah-Wizo members asking why they must become members of the Federated Zionist Organization of Canada, correspondence between the national executive of the Zionist Organization of Canada and Hadassah executive, correspondence concerning the Hadassah choir, a list of executive members, minutes of meetings, copies of the bulletin "Beema", and an invitation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the independence of The State of Israel.
Accession consists of records from Peterborough's Hadassah chapter, including minute books 1951-1995; donation books 1960-1989; records from the 10th Annual Antique Sale, 1979; a notebook and scrapbook from the 1963 Bazaar; a clippings and photos file, 1915-1983; one poster on Hadassah-WIZO; and the guestbook from the 1974 Golden Anniversary dinner. There is also a copy of the 50th Anniversary commemorative book, Golden Jubilee: Canadian Hadassah-WIZO 1917-1967.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
The first Canadian chapter of Hadassah was established in Toronto in 1916. Subsequent chapters emerged in other large Canadian cities thereafter. In 1919 several chapters organized to form the Hadassah Organization of Canada. And in 1921, Hadassah Canada joined the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO), and subsequently changed its name to Hadassah-WIZO. The original goal of Hadassah was to raise funds for refugees in Eastern Europe. Later on, their mandate shifted to that of providing money and support for the Jews in Israel. Although it spent a great deal of time and resources raising funds for this cause, Hadassah-WIZO was a philanthropic organization that encouraged productivity rather than charity.
Today, Hadassah-WIZO is the largest organization of Jewish women in Canada. In addition to providing Jewish women with an opportunity to liaise with other women from the community and volunteer for a worthy cause, this organization also promotes some important national and international goals. These goals include: encouraging Jewish and Hebrew culture in Canada; extending the material and moral support of Jewish women in Canada to the people of Israel who require assistance; and cooperating with other organizations in the promotion of Canadian ideals of democracy.
The records in this fonds were created by the Toronto chapter of Hadassah-WIZO. The Toronto chapter is not only the oldest, but also one of the largest and most active affiliates of the 304 Hadassah-WIZO chapters in Canada. Some of the activities that it sponsors include the famous annual bazaar, which was started in 1924 and is one of the largest in North America. They also contribute to the support of a host of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO initiatives in Israel which include: the Nahalal School, the Netanya Technological High School, the Hadassim Children and Youth Village, several day care centres, women’s and youth clubs, the Hadassah-WIZO Canada Research Institute, and two medical centers. The Toronto chapter in particular sponsors youth aliyah, and raises funds and honours important volunteers through the organization of tribute dinners, golf tournaments, and other events. Finally, this chapter is also responsible for producing the Hadassah Reporter, which is the newsletter that documents the activities of the Toronto chapter.
Custodial History
The records were acquired from the main Hadassah office on Sheppard Ave.
Scope and Content
The records in this fonds document the activities of Toronto Hadassah-WIZO. They include the Hadassah magazine the Reporter as well as the national publication Orah. The fonds also consists of photographs, minutes of meetings, certificates, press clippings, correspondence, audio-visual material, posters and scrapbooks.
Notes
Associated material note: The Library and Archives of Canada also possesses material created by members of Toronto Hadassah.
Item is a large red and white button with the CHW logo, a happy face and the words "Happiness is Helping!" in white lettering. A sticker on the back of the button says "Convention '82."
File consists of one certificate proclaiming the month of September 1976 as the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO month. The certificate is signed by the Mayor of Brantford, Charles R. Bowen.
This item is a photograph of the two winners of the Hadassah Wizo Esther Awards in 1966, holding their trophies, along with two of the presenters. Pictured from left to right are Mary Berer of the Negev chapter (winner), Mrs. Mimi Wise of the Rishon chapter (presenter), [unidentified] of the Adena chapter (winner), and Mrs. M. Kert (presenter).
Notes
Photographer unknown.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Accession consists of material documenting the London Hadassah-WIZO Council, predominantly under the direction of Patricia Alpert. Included are minutes of council meetings, London Jewish city directories, and a small number of negatives and CD-ROMs. In addition to London activity, the collection also includes communication and direction received from the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO headquarters.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Canada’s third chapter of Hadassah was organized in Brantford on January 2, 1918 by Mrs. Anna Selig (m. Raginsky) and sponsored by Mrs. Leah Lazarus primarily to assist with Canada’s war effort. In 1919, it joined with other Canadian chapters to form the Hadassah Organization of Canada. By 1921, Hadassah Canada had merged with the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and changed its name to Hadassah-WIZO. In 1929, the Brantford chapter adopted the name Rose of Sharon, but abbreviated it to the Sharon Chapter of Hadassah.
As a member of Hadassah-WIZO, the Sharon Chapter shared its mandate of financially and socially supporting the peoples of Israel and promoting Jewish culture and ideals in Canada. Following the national organization’s mandate, its administration consisted of two levels: a general membership and an executive committee. The general membership voted on all issues and activities, while the executive committee ensured all tasks were completed. Although the chapter initially only elected one president, it began electing three presidents in 1943.
Mrs. Sam Fox served as the chapter’s first president over the charter membership of 30 women. Membership initially remained fairly constant, but grew to 92 members by 1962. All members paid annual dues, of which a small portion was used to pay the chapter’s expenses with the remainder being forwarded to the regional Hadassah council to pay administrative costs and donations.
Some of the fundraising activities Sharon Chapter organized include an annual birthday party (started in 1925), an annual bazaar (started in 1952), sewing circles, pot lucks, tea and garden parties, rummage and auction sales, and showers. The funds and other goods accumulated from these events were forwarded to the regional Hadassah council to support various Hadassah-WIZO projects, such as Youth Aliyah and the Acco Baby Creche. The Sharon Chapter also supported local projects, such as, assisting new immigrants, and entertaining servicemen at the local canteen during the Second World War.
The population of Brantford’s Jewish community began declining after the 1960s as younger generations moved to larger cities and were followed by their parents after retirement. By 1999, the Sharon Chapter’s membership had fallen to 24 women and meetings were being held only once a year. The Sharon Chapter likely closed around 2001; the same year that dwindling resources and membership forced the closure of Brantford’s synagogue, Congregation Beth David.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records documenting the activities, finances, special programs and fundraising events of Brantford’s Sharon Chapter of Hadassah-WIZO. Included are meeting minutes, correspondence, photographs, ledgers, annual budgets, remittance forms, financial bulletins, financial statements, certificates, invitations, lists, notebooks, programmes, reports, recipes, speeches, news clippings, an auditorium lease, a contract, a theatrical script, and pledge cards.
Fonds has been arranged into five series: 1. Meetings; 2. Special projects and events; 3. Annual Bazaar; 4. Finance and accounting; and, 5. Administration. One item and one file are attached to the fonds-level.
Notes
Physical extent note: fonds was reduced from ca. 50 cm to 22 cm. See accession 2001-10-3 for further information about the culled material.
Name Access
Sharon Chapter
Hadassah-Wizo
Brantford
Subjects
Charities
Children
Related Material
For additional OJA records documenting the Sharon Chapter, see Sadie Stren fonds 78 and the Congregation Beth David fonds 88.
For additional OJA Hadassah-WIZO records, see Toronto Hadassah fonds 71, accessions 1996-11-1, 2008-3-3, and 2009-8-6.
For additional OJA records related to Brantford families and other Jewish organizations, such as the B'nai Brith lodge, please see accession #2001-10-3; #2009-7-1, 1978-11-4, 1977-8-16, 1992-8-3, 1980-1-14, 1978-1-2, 2008-7-1, photo# 109, photo# 755, and photo #758.
See also the Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada fonds at Library and Archives Canada, reference #R3454-0-7-E.
Accession consists of one photograph of members of the Leah Chapter of Haddassah at a social gathering (likely unrelated to Hadassah business). Identified is:
Standing (left to right): Kati Lichtman, Oli Mittelman, Edo Werner, Irene Ehrenfeld, Kato Juretsky, Magda Fleischmann, Feri Fleischmann, Vica Barton, Miriam Rosenthal, Georgina Rigor, Agi Berk.
Seated (left to right): Rozi Ehrenfeld, Clara Reitman, and Eva Halas.
Custodial History
The photograph was in the possession of Lilian Rosenthal, the niece of Ella Fleishmann. She donated the photograph c/o her cousin Esther Halevi (the daughter of Lilian).
Administrative History
The Leah Chapter of Hadassah was founded by Ella Fleischmann in honour of her mother Leah Schwarcz who perished in the Holocaust.
File consists of general correspondence between the Sharon Chapter and Canada's Hadassah-WIZO. The bulk of the correspondence is regarding Hadassah projects and events and the Sharon Chapter's finances.
Photograph is an exterior view of Shopsowitz Delicatessen's 40th Anniversary. The photographs depicts a line-up of customers outside the entrance. Shopsy's is advertising 1920s prices.
Notes
Graphic Artists.
Name Access
Shopsowitz, Sam
Shopsy's Delicatessen
Subjects
Anniversaries
Food
Restaurants
Small business
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
File contains correspondence between Ben Dunkelman and Shirley Gold, who wrote on behalf of the Rose Dunkelman Chapter of Hadassah in Niagara Falls, Ontario, inviting Ben to be the chapter's guest speaker at its upcoming 35th anniversary.
Notes
For more information about Rose Dunkelman, please see the Rose Dunkelman Fonds.
Mimi Wise and Rose Bogoch were co-covenors of the convention.
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of a group of Hadassah Wizo executive members at the national biennial convention. Pictured are:
Back row, left to right: [unidentified]; Claire Balinsky, Montreal; Marjorie Groberman, Vancouver; [?] Sheps, Manitoba; Anita Sager, Montreal, [unidentified], Mimi Wise, Toronto; Rose Bogoch, Edmonton, [unidentified], Neri Bloomfield, Montreal; [unidentified].
Front row, left to right: Belle James, Toronto; Rosa Singer, Montreal; Lottie Riven, Montreal; Blanche Wisenthal, Montreal; Anne Eisenstat, Montreal; Anne Raginsky, Montreal; [unidentified], [unidentified].
Notes
Photographer unknown.
Subjects
Congresses and conventions
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
File consists of images taken at the Stashiver Young Men's Mutual Benefit Society's fortieth anniversary dinner. The images include a group photograph of the society's officers, an image of the cake, and photographs of members and invited guests seated at banquet tables.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
33 photographs : b&w and col. (17 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
2 artifacts
15 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Founded in the spring of 1949 by Mrs. Dolly Tarshis and Mrs. Elaine Culiner, the Ilana Chapter of the Hadassah – Wizo Organization of Canada was created under the organization’s national mandate dedicated to financially and socially supporting the peoples of Israel and promoting Jewish culture and ideals in Canada. Under the leadership of Elaine Culiner as it’s first President, membership in the Ilana Chapter began with 15 women in 1949 and grew to 26 women in it’s second year. By 1965 there were 50 members in total, residing in several different neighbourhoods across central and north Toronto. All chapter meetings were held in members’ homes, generally twice a month. Executive meetings were held once a month between September and June. Over the years many Ilana members were also active in the Toronto Hadassah Council Executive.
The Ilana Chapter was constructed according to the mandate of the Hadassah – Wizo Organization of Canada, and as such, was obligated to administer itself accordingly. It’s administration was comprised of 2 levels – an administrative council and a general membership. The executive consisted of a president, vice-president, treasurer, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, past president, 2 members-at-large, and various portfolio chairmen. The executive met at least once a month to discuss chapter issues, and the general membership met approximately twice a month. All other meetings were held on a rotating basis at members’ homes and the minutes were recorded by the secretary. All issues and activities would be voted on by the membership at large, although it was the executive’s responsibility to ensure that all activities were carried out. Members were required to pay annual dues, of which the chapter retained only a small portion for expenses, as the balance was relegated to the regional council to pay for administrative costs and donations.As well, all fundraising profits raised by the Chapter for support of the various Hadassah - Wizo programs was required to be forwarded to the regional council by the 10th of each month.
Membership in Ilana remained relatively constant until the chapter merged with the Deborah Chapter in 1990, primarily due to waning meeting attendance.
The Ilana Chapter participated in numerous organization-wide fundraising activities, contributing to such social programs as Youth Aliyah, the Children’s Village in Hadassim, the Jewish National Fund, and the Henrietta Szold Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Rose Dunkelman Day Care Center in Tel Aviv is one of 10 Israeli centers sponsored by the Hadassah-Wizo Organization of Canada and is directly affiliated with the Toronto branch and it’s constituent chapters.The Ilana Chapter contributed financially to this center through it’s child sponsorship program, in which a child at the center would be “adopted” for one year.
Fundraising campaigns unique to the Ilana Chapter included the Clothing Name Tape program benefiting the Children’s Village in Hadassim, and the innovative “House That Goodwill Built”, later adopted by the Toronto Hadassah Council, which featured it as the “Eilat Lighthouse” at the annual Toronto Hadassah Bazaar.
Cocktail parties, teas, luncheons, raffle draws, theatre outings, and dinner-dances were also popular fundraising activities for the Ilana Chapter, most taking place in members’ homes and relying heavily on membership donations.In 1964 the Chapter inaugurated a highly successful fundraising event, their annual Treasure Trove and Antique Auction, with proceeds benefiting Youth Aliyah.This project ran until the early 1980’s. Linens, silver, clothing, and other like goods were either donated for sale or offered on consignment by local businesses, proving to be a successful fundraising event for the Chapter. Originally organized in members’ homes, the Auction and Treasure Trove was held at the following venues during the 1960s and early 1970s:The North York Memorial Gardens, St. Lawrence Hall, Edwards Gardens, and finally the Holiday Inn Yorkdale, where it remained from 1973 until its final years.
Scope and Content
The series consists of records in the form of textual documents, photographs, press clippings, memorabilia, and scrapbooks that document the history of the Ilana Chapter from 1949 – 1990, and its successor the Deborah-Ilana Chapter from 1990-1996.
These include administrative documents such as executive council lists (1951-1983), membership lists (1949-1993), master lists of past presidents (1949-1983) and financial records (1952-1991).
Other documents include executive meeting minutes (1952-1972) and general meeting minutes (1951-1982), the opening prayer read before all meetings, a Chapter history compiled by a former President in 1966, and the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws (1964).
Documents of the chapter’s involvement in the Rose Dunkelman Day Care Center include letters, photos, certificates and case histories issued by Hadassim and Wizo Baby Services from 1997- 1988.
Among the membership memorabilia are photos, cards, invitations, press clippings, a sympathy card, and an obituary.
Finally this series includes the meeting gavel which was used by the president to chair the meetings.
The records are arranged in chronological order by subject, such as membership lists, executive council nominations, and executive meeting minutes. The contents of 3 scrapbooks have been placed in files and are arranged chronologically.
Series consists of two files documenting the Fraternity's history and alumni affairs. Included is an historical mauscript of the fraternity and an alumni newsletter.
The Eta Chapter was opened at the University of Toronto in 1930. Little is known about the early years of the chapter, except that its first pledge was Jerry Goulding. The year 1937 ushered in what members called a “golden age” for the chapter when its members began to take a more active role in university activities, such as athletic activities, drama productions and dinner-dances. This is also the period when Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster became members. They regularly wrote articles for the undergraduate newspaper, "The Varsity", and performed in campus dramas. In 1939 the fraternity began presenting an annual campus musical, the Fraternity Review, which was put on entirely by fraternity members.
During World War Two, the Eta Chapter pledged the Canadian government to care for a group of young Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria who were interned in England. At least one such refugee came to Toronto in the Eta Chapter’s care.
Eta’s fraternity house changed location multiple times. In the late 1940s it moved from 15 Admiral Rd. to 18 Willcocks St. After the University of Toronto purchased this property, the fraternity moved to a new house at 84 Lowther Ave., and then it was relocated again a few years later to 699 Spadina Ave.
Scope and Content
Series is arranged into six files: alumni records, social events, newsletters, conventions and conferences, recruiting material and scrapbooks.
Notes
Information for History/Bio taken from "An Introduction to Beta Sigma Rho Fraternity" found in this series and "A History of Beta Sigma Rho" found in series #1 of this fonds.
Accession consists of several bulletins (1975–1976), a letter from the Beth Zion Congregation in Oshawa, and material from the Piyah Chapter of Hadassah in Oshawa (1960–1970). Included are flyers of organizational news, events, and announcements of meetings.
File consists of one Hadassah recipes sheet which was likely distributed during a Sharon Chapter bazaar. Recipes include: potato pancakes, noodle pudding, cabbage rolls, and cheese blintzes.
Accession consists of an artwork of the Hadassah Bazaar that appears to be titled "The Big Day" and is dated 1975. The work is signed but the artist's signature cannot be made out.
Custodial History
Lauren Goodman mailed the artwork to one of the OJA's archivists as a donation from Syrelle Bernstein.
Use Conditions
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
The file consists of the presidential report, zionist Organization of Canada Inc. report, report on activities - April 1970- October 1972, and the draft of a speech.
The file consists of memoranda, session agendas, agenda of pre-convention activities (2nd, 3rd and 4th drafts), art exhibition, and the November 1, 1972 edition of the Jewish Standard.