Women's Groups
The Thunder Bay Council of Jewish Women was established to care for the poor and needy in the community. The chapter was a charitable organization that supported the entire community and often worked in collaboration with other local charitable church groups, hosting an annual bazaar, rummage sales, and bi-annual fashion shows. The local Hadassah tended to have more of a focus on fundraising for international Jewish causes.
Forty-one paid up members were listed in Fort William for Hadassah in 1949. In 1950 there were 57 members in Fort William, and 24 more in Port Arthur according to the numbers reported for the 14th National Convention. As these are just paid-up membership totals, and the figures are missing for Port Arthur in 1949, it is unlikely that these numbers represent the entire membership. Nor should the increase be interpreted as a sudden boom, but is rather indicative of general numbers.
The groups would occasionally bring in guest speakers from the National Committee, usually in conjunction with fundraising drives. The local chapters of Hadassah and the Council for Jewish Women merged in the 1960s. The National Council for Jewish Women in Canada also became autonomous of the United States group in the 1960s. These women’s groups offered scholarships to high school graduates and participated in the organization of the Israel Day celebrations on the 4th of June. Members such as Claire Hurtig were also involved in non-denominational charities like St. Joseph’s Heritage, which incorporated in 1976 to support a senior apartment complex and nursing home. The closing meeting for Hadassah was held at Adele Laskin’s home in 1981 as a luncheon meeting. Over the previous year, the group had raised $1711 by organizing a tea, a rummage sale, bazaars and a two night fashion show.
