Peterborough Chapter of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO
The commitment of the women in the Peterborough community to the synagogue, Israel, and their neighbours has often carried us through some challenging times. Hadassah activities have collected women together and begun the building of connections that would strengthen the community as a whole.
Meetings are held on a monthly basis in members' homes. Usually a speaker or a program is features. PHOTOS :
Recent meetings included the screening of a recent Israeli film and another, a discussion of spousal abuse in Jewish families. Contact ??? for more information. National conventions are open to all members and are extremely exciting and educational.
An excerpt from the Commemorative Book for Hadassah-Wizo's http://www.canadian-hadassah-wizo.org/ 75 th Anniversary presents a history of the organization in the community.
(New link??)
In January, 1924, 20 women met under the leadership of Rae Green to form the Peterborough Chapter. Meetings were held in members' homes and while a spirit of conviviality prevailed, they addressed each other formally, e.g. "Mrs. Swartz", "Mrs. Rogow". Dues were 10 cents a meeting. Latke parties, rummage and bake sales, concerts, teas and picnics raised the funds sent to Keren Hayesod and the United Palestine Appeal.
In the 1930's, monumental fundraising events were mounted to sponsor a child for a year in Palestine through Youth Aliyah. By 1945, the chapter appealed to the public for Youth Aliyah funds, receiving editorial support from the renowned author Robertson Davies, then editor of the Peterborough Examiner.
The energy and commitment of the chapter was evident over the next thirty years. They initiated the annual Sherry Party, thrift sale, ad book and the first edition of the cookbook. Life membership pins were presented by National President Nina Cohen to 25 women who had saved five dollars a month for 20 months to reach the financial requirement. Bazaars, Israeli Fashion and Antique Shows are regular events anticipated by the Peterborough community. The Mitzvah Mobile, a van driven by Carole Pulver to transport members to conferences in other centres was inaugurated.
The quality of programming was high in the 1980's – most noteworthy were three Public Affairs Seminars. The Peterborough Chapter has now entered the era of "Chocolate Sunday" and their Aviv members who are extremely active in this venture are continually injecting a much appreciated spirit of enthusiasm into the chapter.
The chapter has been represented nationally by Members-at-Large, Vice-Regional and Regional Chairmen and at present, A General Secretary – no mean achievement for a dwindling membership in one of the many small town chapters who nevertheless manages to keep alive the flame of devotion to Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and to its institutions in Israel.