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This exhibit illustrates the role and impact of Jewish women within the Saint John Jewish community, and their involvement with Saint John society from 1858 to the present day.
The first Jewish women’s group in Saint John was the Daughters of Israel, organized in 1899 to “help the needy and nourish the sick” in their own community. This group joined the local Council of Women in 1908, and the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary in 1932.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Talmud Torah was formed in 1922 to look after the Hebrew and Sunday schools, community activities and city-wide charity work. It was a charter affiliate of the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary in 1919. The Ladies Auxiliary changed its name to the Sisterhood Shaarei Zedek in 1939, and later merged with the Daughters of Israel in 1948.
Saint John women joined the Zionist movement when a chapter of Hadassah was formed in 1919. A junior Hadassah chapter existed from 1928 to 1942. Many young women were also active with Young Judaea, serving as leaders and officers from the 1930s to the 1970s. Hadassah continues today to be very active in raising funds for the work of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO in Israel, for Youth Aliyah, and for increasing awareness of the Zionist cause.
Women were always involved in running family businesses in Saint John, but with the opening of new avenues for women beyond traditional female careers-nursing, teaching, and the home-women began to run their own businesses, attend university, and enter the professions. The relaxing of social barriers has meant that Jewish women have become involved as workers and leaders in all areas of life in the city.
The women of the Saint John Jewish community have always been involved as volunteers and as workers in all facets of life, in both the Jewish and the greater community. Through words and images, this exhibit celebrates, documents and illustrates their involvement.
