Jewish Women’s Organization
In 1945, the Owen Sound Jewish Women’s Organization was given permission to hold monthly meetings on the premises of the Owen Sound Hebrew Men’s Social Club. Fees were charged. By the 1960s, it cost the women 50 cents a week to belong. This fee was collected in a lump sum of $26 annually.
The women were active in raising money for Jewish causes, including the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. In addition to their charity work, the Women’s Organization also raised money to support the synagogue. For example, they bought a silver crown for the Torah that was purchased in 1950 in honour of Isaac Cadesky. They also passed a motion that a picture of Cadesky be taken with the Torah and sent to the Sun Times. Like Jews everywhere, the women sought ways to support Israel once the State had been established. Among the initiatives they favoured was Youth Aliyah. Another popular cause was the planting of trees in Israel. In 1954, the group sponsored 100 trees in the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Forest.
Another function of the Women’s Organization was to help newly-married women integrate into the community. Ruth Gorbet remembers the baking and fundraising she got involved with when she arrived in Owen Sound together with her new husband Norman. The organization’s activities continued through the years, into the 1960s and 1970s. Goldie Ronald remembered being the youngest member of the group just after she was married. She was chosen as Treasurer as she stated, “because I was young and still had a memory.” In later decades patterns changed. Women became busy with their own professions and had less time to volunteer. Those who did charity work tended to be primarily involved with non-Jewish groups like the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs or the hospital auxiliary.
