Hadassah

The first organization of a Hadassah group in Peterborough took place in 1924 at a meeting attended by 21 women. The founder and first president was Mrs. Rae Green. The Vice President was Mrs. H. Zacks, Sr., Treasurer, Mrs. M. Fine, and Secretary Mrs. M. Botnick. In 1927, the group became officially affiliated with Canadian Hadassah.

For the women involved, Hadassah membership meant many things: serving refreshments at community gatherings, listening to speakers, organizing skits, musicals, fashion shows, teas and other fundraising events like the famous annual bazaar. There was also the opportunity to develop leadership skills by taking on executive responsibilities. During the first forty years of Peterborough Hadassah’s existence, twenty-two different women served as president.

Peterborough’s women accomplished a lot through their Hadassah chapter. In line with the founding mission of the organization, they raised money to support medical and health services for women and children in Palestine and then in Israel. During the war years, they contributed enthusiastically to the war effort through their local Red Cross, knitting, sewing, quilting and also giving blood. In addition, they helped the Peterborough Army Camp with its social activities. Once the war was over, in 1945, they organized a successful Peterborough-wide fundraising campaign to send children from Europe to Israel as part of the Youth Aliyah program.

Being part of Hadassah involved a lot of hard work, but it was also fun. All Jewish women were welcomed and automatically included in the group referred to as “the girls.” As Belle Black recalled, women of all ages belonged to Hadassah, but no matter what age you were, you were one of “the girls.”