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June 1, 2007
Women's roles change
JWI celebrates 80 years of community service.
SARA CIACCI
Jewish Women International-British Columbia (JWI-BC), which this
year celebrates 80 years of service and the perpetuation of Jewish
culture, testifies to a fascinating history and life of its own
in the community.
Established originally as an auxiliary to Samuel Lodge B'nai B'rith,
the American charter for the new Chapter #77, issued in 1927, listed
53 members, including six men.
The Louise Mahrer chapter, chartered in February 1947, flourished.
When Pacific chapter started in 1951, members created the first
BBW Council. Later, Pacific changed its name to Lion's Gate and
soon merged with Chapter 77 as BBW Lion's Gate #77. Centennial chapter
was chartered in 1958, followed in 1970 by Shari chapter.
During the Depression years, services included a Boy Scout kitchen,
a clothing depot, baby layettes, Passover delicacies for the needy,
funds for a cabin for Council of Jewish Women's Crescent Beach Camp
and a four-bed ward at Vancouver General Hospital.
Through the 1940s, we began our ongoing love affair with the Residential
Treatment Centre. We raised $6,000 for a Royal Canadian Air Force
training plane, $3,000 for an Armed Forces bus and funded Shaughnessy
Hospital wheelchairs.
In the 1950s, the Mr. & Mrs. Tea supported BBYO and Lion's Gate
chapter began JWI's Dolls for Democracy program to teach tolerance
for people of all races, religion and color at local schools.
The 1960s included work with deaf and blind children at Jericho
School and the adoption of wards 43 and 44 for children at Woodlands
School. In the following decade, the Shari chapter co-founded Richmond
Family Place and we held Vancouver's first Tay Sachs Clinic. The
1980s were even busier. The Vancouver BBW Council #57 was formed
and Vancouver BBW hosted Central Pacific Region's fourth annual
conference.
BBW and Jewish Family Services Association started the Jewish Food
Bank. BB Family Oakridge Bingo funded a bus for Pearson Hospital
and established a $250,000 Endowment Fund for BBYO and Hillel Youth.
We participated in the Washington, D.C., Refuseniks Rally and the
February 1987 Roll Call Rally.
In 1990, members voted to become B'nai B'rith Women-B.C. In 1995,
the national organization voted to become Jewish Women International
and, on December 2000, JWI-BC transferred from the United States
to Canada.
There were also major new service projects. In 1993, we became actively
involved with a public awareness campaign on domestic abuse in the
Jewish community. In July of 1994, other Jewish women's organizations
were invited to sponsor a forum in January 1995. The event led to
the formation of Jewish Women Against Domestic Abuse.
Today, JWI-BC funds ASTEH, the only kosher apartment for a Jewish
woman and her children; provides pamphlets, videos and information
cards for abused Jewish women; rabbis' manuals; and a new Strong
Teens Healthy Relationships program.
Our exciting Noah's Ark project that started with supplying used
infant car seats to needy families at St. Paul's Hospital now supplies
regulation car seats to St. Paul's, B.C. Children's, B.C. Women's,
Sunny Hill, Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey Memorial and Lion's Gate hospitals.
We've come a long way in 80 years. Yesterday's housewife is today's
lawyer, judge doctor, bank manager and politician.
On June 10, we will be celebrating our 80 years of service at our
annual Rainbow Luncheon at the Richmond Country Club. To celebrate
with us, call Freda Sher at 604-263-3352.
Sara Ciacci is domestic violence chair for JWI-BC.
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