Social Activities
In 1974, Hillel sold its house on Barrie Street to the Kingston General Hospital. The organization then found a new home in an historic building offered to it by Beth Israel, right beside the synagogue. Located on the corner of Centre and Union streets and built in 1840, Otterburn House was beautifully restored with the help of Heritage Canada.
Queen’s Hillel has continued through the decades to be the hub of student activity on campus, a welcoming centre offering Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations and cultural activities. The different activities offered through the years have reflected changing times and concerns. For example, the "Dining Club", "Cultural Club" and "Debating Club" of earlier years have given way today to an "Israel Action Committee" and "Holocaust Education Week Committee" in an attempt, as the current Constitution states, "to combat anti-Semitism (ie. Jew-hatred) in all its forms."
Over the years, the Jewish women of Kingston have had ever-increasing access to and engagement with the general Kingston community. Their commitments are now multiple. As a result, Hadassah does not play the same central role in their lives as it did in the early years. However, Hadassah-WIZO is still going strong today, and is busy throughout the year with fundraising activities that benefit Israel, Canada and Kingston, including Medical Services, the Hadassah-Auxiliary Bazaar, and Youth Services.
In 1998, under the auspices of the Jewish Community Council, Irving Rosen created “Trees for Kingston.” Through this project, the Jewish community raised over $100,000 to replenish trees devastated by the ice storm within a number of parks throughout the city including: Breakwater, City and Macdonald. The Kingston Jewish Community Council is active today under the new name of the Kingston Jewish Council. Its board includes members of the Beth Israel and Iyr Ha-Melech congregations, Hadassah-WIZO, B’nai Brith and Hillel.
