Hadassah-WIZO is committed to youth

Letters

Editor: I read with great interest Simon Griver's Youth Aliyah article in the May 2 issue of the Jewish Western Bulletin ("Helping the next generation," page 1). Although the article was well written and informative, there were some serious omissions regarding Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and its longtime commitment to Youth Aliyah.

In 1934, the founder of Youth Aliyah, Recha Freier, sent an emissary to Canada to meet with Lillian Freiman, then president of Hadassah-WIZO, and we became the official sole representative of Youth Aliyah Canada. Since that auspicious and historic meeting, Canadian Hadassah-WIZO has participated in Youth Aliyah's humanitarian activities throughout these many years – from the rescue of children from eastern Europe to integration of children from Middle Eastern countries, the Naaleh program from former Soviet Union to the absorption of Ethiopian children in the Holfim Youth Village.

Since 1996, Canadian Hadassah-WIZO has been a proud sponsor of Ben Yakir Youth Village when the Hofim Youth Village was closed by the Jewish Agency. Our members have warmly embraced this facility and its youngsters. Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and many major donors have contributed to the many facets towards the enhancement of Ben Yakir, such as the building of a corral for horses, restocking the animal farm, the purchases of new furnishings in the dining room and purchasing gifts for the bar mitzvah boys, as well as scholarships for students.

Rochelle Levinson
National president of Hadassah-WIZO

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