Youth Groups
During the early years, St. Catharines had a number of different youth groups. The Hebrew Athletic Club (AZA) was established in 1925, led by M. Morris as President. This group formed intermediate and junior basketball teams that took part in inter-church leagues. One year this team won the championships. There was also a Hebrew Club in town which emerged in 1921. The role of this organization was primarily cultural. They brought in speakers, such as Rabbi Solomon Friburg from Niagara Falls, New York in 1922, as well as entertainers. They also held dances which attracted Jewish youth from many different towns. In fact, one dance held during that period drew 200 participants.
The Young Judaea organization began in the community in 1931. It was founded by Dr. Emmanuel Hoffman. When he left the city, his brother, Sydney Hoffman, continued his work as supervisor. Rabbi Pappenheim later replaced him during the early 1950s. During that time, they had two groups – a junior and arts and crafts group – led by Judy Myers and Naomi Sharpe who were in charge of the former, and Norine Revzen Fenig, who oversaw the latter. Norine recalls attending meetings with members from Niagara Falls and Hamilton. They organized parties as well as other functions. She states that many of the teens met their spouses this way and “that’s how most of the marriages took place.”
During the 1950s, St. Catharines boasted Jewish Girl Guide, Brownie, Cub and Boy Scout troops. In 1957, Reg Myers and Gordon Pomerantz formed the first cub pack, serving as Cubmaster and Assistant, respectively. The 20th Scout Troop began in March 1959, led by Reube Cherry and later Art Dempsey and Gordon Pomerantz. They were assisted by Jack Alderman, the caretaker of the synagogue. The cub and scout groups participated in a variety of programs, which were held in the auditorium of the community centre. Jack Feldman recalls taking part in this organization during his youth and earning several badges, each of which made him very proud. The highlight each year was their annual camping trips. The Girl Guide and Brownie groups emerged in the fall of 1958. They were known as the 20th Company and Pack. The Guides had 15 members initially who were led by Elsie Stein and Pearl Katzman. The Brownies, in turn, had 18 members and were led by Bea Magder as the Brown Owl and Stella Myers as Tawnie Owl.
These troops had close ties with the scouts in Buffalo. While the group catered specifically to Jewish residents of St. Catharines, non-Jews were also welcome. By the 1970s, the number of Jewish youth in St. Catharines plummeted. Consequently, this movement disappeared and merged with the non-Jewish groups.
