The friendships made in Sisterhood far surpass any social club. The work we do for her goes on forever and we, also, become “roots.” All of you here this evening are the fibers of that root system. Be very proud and work hard for Sisterhood because she needs you desperately and will always give you more than a full measure of respect and love in return.
To all of our past presidents, officers, board members, and lay members, thank you for being our guidepost through the years. To our new officers—strive for Sisterhood. Do it willingly and lovingly and keep the root system healthy.
Respectfully and with love,
Ruth Marowitz
For the past few years, a renaissance for discovering family roots has become so popular that young and old alike have traveled great distances and spoken to many family members and strangers to obtain some tiny shred of information about their beginnings. They have spent thousands of hours of their time and great sums of money to fit the family puzzle together. The tiniest bit of information garnered is a tremendous conquest.
While every one of us here tonight has personal family roots that sometimes would be most difficult to trace: if you will permit me, I will try to trace the roots of our Sisterhood.
Something wonderful happened to me when I spoke to many of our oldest members and to relatives of member who are no longer with us. It’s remarkable how many offspring of our Sisterhood members remember the devotion of their mothers to Sisterhood - and their activities. I’m very fortunate to have pieced together many of the Sisterhood pieces. Let me share my discoveries with you. Just as there are many names that are not familiar to us in our own families, so it is with our Sisterhood. All of our members were very important to our growth. Their names and deeds are important to us. Through the years, each member has left her personal imprint on Sisterhood.
Our Sisterhood had its birth over half a century ago, in the year 1911. As you can see, we have very deep roots. Throughout the coming year, I’m sure that you will hear about all the things that Sisterhood “does” and they are all wonderful deeds and very informative to the “new” members. My part in Sisterhood is sheer love, plain and unadulterated. I love Sisterhood because it is comprised of caring women who work very hard without glory and very little thanks. When I was a young woman, every Sisterhood installation ceremony made me proud. Much later, I became a part of the ceremonies and eventually served as president.
This presentation was made on November 15, 1965 honoring past presidents of Congregation Ohav Sholom during the golden presidents golden anniversary year 1915-1965.
This is my story of the Sisterhood—based on fact, the information picked from the memories of older members, and what few notes and minutes could be found. I’ve taken every care to make this history as authoritative as possible.
Sisterhood had its birth over a half century ago in the year 1911. It was organized, indirectly, because of discontent and restlessness. The women grew tired of worshipping in each others’ homes every week and wanted a permanent temple desperately. Their impetus came from an incident that occurred the day of Yom Kippur when they were worshipping in Cameron Hall. The owner interrupted their service to tell them that they had to vacate the premises by 3:00 that afternoon. The women were completely outraged, and that very evening, a sincere and dedicated group of them went to the home of Lena Steinberg to form a “group” so that they could band together to start to raise funds to buy a formal temple.
After much discussion, they agreed to call their group “Bas Ruchel,” Daughters of Ruth - which was adopted from the biblical “Book of Ruth” by Lena Steinberg and Bessie Kohn. The women held teas in each others’ homes - sold sandwiches, cakes, salads, and one bought from the other. Besides the money that was raised that afternoon, invariably, a small glass saucer found its way to the table and the women placed donations in it to defray the expense of the hostess of that afternoon. The hostesses, in turn, made the money from the saucer her donation to Bas Ruchel.
After a great many of these teas were held, and they discovered that they had collected $200.00 in dribs and drabs, Fannie Miller and Sarah Segal were appointed to make a deposit in the bank. This was a beginning and they could smile - and they did smile. They were happy but very far from being content.
Finally, after several years, Sprague Chapel, a building located on Washington Avenue as a club for under-privileged children, was put up for sale and negotiations were made by our founders of the synagogue, in the year 1914, for it to become our first formal house of worship. Now we also had a formal congregation. It was a building badly in need of repair. An altar had to be built, the wooden chairs had to be repaired and painted. The women of Bas Ruchel were always ready and willing to raise money for the needs of the congregation and they felt that if they worked side by side with their men, they also wanted sit by their side in worship. Although Congregation Ohav Sholom was originally of the Orthodox faith, the men relented and permitted mixed seating.
On October 17, 1915 at the home of Lena Steinberg, the Daughters of Ruth was formally organized and the charter members were listed as: Mrs. Bessie Kohn, Mrs. Fannie Miller, Mrs. Sarah Segal, Mrs. Jennie Kahn, Mrs. Leah LaCholter, Mrs. Lena Steinberg, Mrs. Fannie Brody, Mrs. Fannie Cohen, Mrs. Anna Abrams and Mrs. Anna Burrick.
These are our roots - deep, firm and healthy. Our founders took us through many hard times - but good years!
The first officers were:
Mrs. Samuel (Lena) Steinberg—President
Mrs. Jacob (Leah) LaCholter—Vice President
Mrs. Bernard (Fannie) Brody—Secretary
Mrs. Jacob (Fannie) Miller—Treasurer
and they were officially installed in November 1915.
Once the “Daughters of Ruth” was firmly established, many more women joined with them. The first dues were 10 cents every other week, then 10 cents a month.
They still met at each others’ homes because the kitchen at the synagogue was not yet equipped and hospitality could not be extended. This became another goal for the Daughters of Ruth. They raised funds and made donations to buy tablecloths, silverware, dishes, samovars and utensils. After the upstairs kitchen on Washington Avenue was somewhat equipped, the women started “fundraising” as we know it today. The gallant struggles and accomplishments of our past presidents are many. They had extremely great physical and spiritual courage.
We honor our first founder: Lena Steinberg (candle #1)
Let’s roll back the years to 1919-1927 when Fannie Brody was our president (candle #2). Meetings were held in the upstairs social hall on Washington Avenue. Fundraising continued and a concert swelled the fund by $240.00. The proceeds from all fundraising affairs were presented to the synagogue to help reduce the mortgage payments on the “new” building. The small membership had many coffee-klatch good times but never forgot the needy or unfortunate. A Sunshine Group was formed to visit the sick and bring food and good cheer to those in need.
Minnie Feinberg faithfully served as president from 1927-1928 (candle #3).
Etta Ungerman gave able and conscientious service as president from 1928-1931 (candle #4).
Tilda Osher served as president from 1931 to 1935 (candle #5).
Clara Ropeick 1935-1937 (candle #6).
Large sums of money were turned over to the synagogue due to fundraising. There were businessmen’s luncheons that raised a lot of money. The women prepared, cooked, and served the food. The charge was 75 cents for a six course lunch and the food was so delicious that many men ate 2 and 3 lunches in one day. All the food was donated. The Social Hall in the synagogue saw activity from morning till night. There were card parties, dances, masquerades, and bazaars. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brown were tremendous workers and supporters.
During these years, there was a “schnorring” committee and Idabell Honigsbaum, Lee Rosen and Clara Ropeick worked very diligently at this.
Monthly dues were raised to 25 cents.
It was during this period of time that the synagogue changed from orthodox to conservative teaching.
The first group of girls was bas mitzvah in 1936 and a Holy Bible was presented to each of them by the Daughters of Ruth. No matter how hard the women worked at scrubbing the kitchen stove to make it look well, it wouldn’t perform well, and Daughters of Ruth finally replaced it with a new one. A great deal of fundraising revolved around the stove!
Ann Shorr served as president from 1937 to 1939. (candle #7)
Mary Weiss served as president from 1941 to 1945. (candle # 8)
The years 1940-41, we heard the earth tremble. War was practically upon us. The Atlantic Charter was signed by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. On Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attacked the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor as the first act of war. Our members were knitting for the Red Cross. They worked on sweaters, socks, mittens, afghans and squares and worked daily at the Red Cross and ran many dinners for the U.S.O. They worked on clothing drives and made surgical dressings.
They were deep in fundraising and had luncheons, dinners, dances, and bazaars. All food was donated.
Rose Gould was the next president and she helped organize card parties, food sales and raffles to help raise more funds. Daughters of Ruth was still fulfilling its heavy obligations to the synagogue. As always, they sponsored the Oneg Shabbats and provided refreshments. They also provided the Sabbath altar flowers. During this time, Sisterhood sponsored Hillel services. Young men and women who were students in the area and away from home were invited to various homes for the Sabbath and on festivals. The boys were encouraged to “daven” and later, boys and girls ate a breakfast of hard boiled eggs, lox, bagels, coffee and milk.
Funds were raised to pay the interest on what was owed on the mortgage. The members worked diligently but also found time for fun and sociability. They worked in the kitchen before meetings making sandwiches, baking cookies, noodle puddings and other delicacies. Those were their happy times, and through all their hard times—they were able to come up with a bright outlook for the Daughters of Ruth.
Rose Gould served as president from 1945 to 1947. Betty Stock served as Sisterhood president from 1947 to 1948. Fundraising was still uppermost. Card parties, raffles, Bingo, dinners and dances all helped to swell the fund. Again, everybody looked forward to attending the annual Mother-Daughter Dinner. That night, hearts were gayer than usual because in May 1948, the free State of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv.
Edna Bennett served as Sisterhood president from 1948 to 1951. Money was raised by running card parties, bazaars, and numerous other ways. Fundraising became even more important after the fire on Washington Avenue. Sisterhood was still working very hard for funds to refurbish the kitchen. The Sisterhood women were still cooking and serving the annual dinner for the Chevra Kedusha of the Temple.
Mary Lotwin was president of Sisterhood from 1951 to 1953. Fund raising was tremendously successful. The women worked very hard and there was always a feeling of friendliness amongst them. They genuinely enjoyed working hard - but, they all worked together! In 1952 the donor dinner netted $1,100.00 and spirits were so high that the ladies took time off to enjoy themselves at Shaker Ridge Country Club. They played cards and various games and enjoyed the entertainment. It was all for an evening of fun - no fundraising!
The Daughters of Ruth also sponsored Sunday morning family breakfasts for parents and children of the Sunday school. They served eggs, lox, bagels, coffee and milk. Everybody looked forward to this feature. It was very “homey.” The goal was still the same - to pay for a new kitchen.
Mary Zedek was Sisterhood president from 1953 to 1956. Fundraising was uppermost and the rummage sale became a tremendous source of income. Daughters of Ruth always took an active part in religious, social and civic activities in the Albany Jewish community and this was stepped up. Visitation committees were appointed to all the local hospitals to entertain patients with various games and refreshments. Visits were made to the Jewish Home for the Aged in Troy. A cancer project was started by making an annual $5.00 contribution to HUN Memorial to purchase a sweater for a patient in need.
Through the years, the Daughters of Ruth had always provided refreshments and parties for the children of the religious school. A committee was formed during this time and was called the P.T.A. Mary Ellenbogen, Joan Levine and Hilda Gordon made up the committee and recruited other members to work within the P.T.A. Daughters of Ruth and P.T.A. had annual joint meetings because Sisterhood still supplied the funds for children’s religious parties. The P.T. A. raised their funds by ordering and selling Passover candy.
The Daughters of Ruth Gift Shop was dedicated by Rabbi Harold Schechter, in memory of Esther Freedman and Celia Swyer, on April 10, 1956 in the Social Hall on Washington Avenue at the annual joint meeting of the Congregation and Sisterhood, and it was officially opened for business on Monday evening, November 21, 1956. The chairwoman of this project for many years was Hilda Gordon, always assisted by Mae Zarch and Fay Roth. There was a wonderful working group of women always anxious to raise funds for the shul. A highly successful bazaar was held in the social hall. The annual Donor and Mother-Daughter Dinners were enjoyed tremendously and one of the high spots of the social calendar was the Sisterhood Cabaret Night. All the committees worked very hard and long to make all the affairs successful. Daughters of Ruth also worked very hard during the summer months to make the anniversary affair at Totem Lodge a huge success. A card party chaired by Addie Myers was extremely successful. Addie was a brand new member at that time and the daughter-in-law of Frances Myers.
Frances Myers served as president in 1956 and 1957 and a tremendous effort was put forth to enlist new Sisterhood members. There was a very successful membership party and many new members were recruited. Selling Chanukah candles was still a Sisterhood project and was an extremely lucrative source of income for fundraising. For many years this project was under the chairmanship of Joan Levine. This later became major fundraising for the P.T.A. Rummage sales, card parties, bake sales and raffles were still fundraising events. Added to fundraising projects that year was a hand- painted “Tree of Life” which now hangs in the youth lounge, donated by Frances and Sam Myers in memory of their daughter Ruth. For many years, names were hand-lettered on each leaf by Michael Roth, son of our member, Fay Roth. When Michael started college, Fay Wechsler took over the lettering job.
The Mother-Daughter Dinner was always a gala affair, but the Donor Dinner was the largest social event of the year. Daughters of Ruth put the proceeds into the expansion program of the religious school. The members worked diligently but also found time for fun and sociability. The president, her officers, and the general membership all worked side-by-side.
Pauline Haas was president in 1958 and 1959. Fundraising projects were still capably performed and there was a very successful card party in the social hall. The bake sale was still a fundraising part of that evening and many good recipes were exchanged over the mah jong and card tables. Daughters of Ruth again proved their concern for humanitarian causes by providing a team of Sisterhood workers for the Jewish Welfare Fund. Donations were made to charities in financial need, community services were continued - but, as always, Daughters of Ruth was fully committed to raising money for the synagogue.
Hilda Gordon served as president from 1959 to 1961. The first candle lighting ceremony for installation of officers of Daughters of Ruth was held on May 18, 1959 at the annual Mother-Daughter Dinner. This affair, always held in the spring of the year, is for the purpose of installing new officers and presenting reports of the past year by outgoing officers and chairwomen. Presentation of Lena Steinberg Memorial Awards were presented to outstanding students of the religious school for their achievements.
Bazaars, rummage sales, bake sales and raffles were still an important part of fundraising with the Donor Dinner as major fundraising. An immensely successful card party was held in the newly decorated Social Hall on Washington Avenue. Merchants donated costly door prizes. In 1960, Mae Rosen opened her home for a very successful membership tea, very capably chaired by Ethel Berke. In June of that year, the first graduation and class day exercises of the junior high school of our Hebrew school took place.
All obligations to the community were fulfilled under the leadership of Hilda Gordon.
Selling Passover candy was another fundraising project of Sisterhood.
Cabaret Night, jointly sponsored by Sisterhood and Brotherhood, was a highlight and high point in 1961.
The end of Hilda Gordon’s service as president of Daughters of Ruth, in the year 1961, was also the last days of our synagogue on Washington Avenue. The synagogue temporarily relocated to a very inadequate loft on the top floor of 268 Central Avenue in Albany. The Daughters of Ruth held all events at the synagogue on Washington Avenue for 46 years and it was with mixed emotions that the women looked back on the past - and forward to the future. From the time we left Washington Avenue all bar and bas mitzvah were held at the Jewish Community Center on Whitehall Road in Albany. We were about to start our growing pains all over again. Rabbi Naphtali Rubinger blessed us and we were on our way! A procession taking the Torahs from one site to another did not include any of the members of the Daughters of Ruth.
Installation of officers took place at 268 Central Avenue, and the first regular meeting was held on Monday evening, November 6, 1961. As usual, coffee and cake was served after the meeting. The name of our assembly was formally changed from Daughters of Ruth to Sisterhood of Congregation Ohav Sholom on October 23, 1961. Community obligations were met and fundraising was stepped up. The Sisterhood membership worked zealously trying to realize additional funds. Their ambition was to add to the “New Building Fund” and for a new house of worship—a new temple. The kitchen was very inadequate and the size of the loft on Central Avenue was unbelievably tiny. After all, it was a flat where people lived before it became our house of worship!
Dinners were still prepared in the small kitchen and the members were falling over each other because of the tight space. The loft was packed to the rafters whenever a dinner was served. The waitresses from Sisterhood could not walk between tables and everything had to be passed down from the head of the table. Everybody was extremely careful, especially when hot tea had to be passed.
On January 27, 1962, Sisterhood sponsored a Jewish variety show and concert at School #24 and an immense effort was demonstrated by the members to sell tickets. Dr. Barney Wachs, husband of member Minnie Wachs, completely coordinated this production and the net profit was over $1,300.00.
The Donor Dinner that year was catered by member Frances Myers, under extremely difficult conditions. Her committee worked in shifts because all of the women could not fit into the space. The kitchen facilities were completely inadequate: the refrigerator and stove were apartment size and the stove performed badly. There was a single kitchen sink. The various members helping Frances were Ethel Tabachneck, Annette Kaslovsky, Gert Rasowsky, Mary Ellenbogen, Ruth Marowitz, Joan Levine and Sam Myers. Fran with her large heart and fighting determination prepared a wonderful dinner and Sisterhood raised $534.23 that night. It was clean-up time and most of the members cleared off tables and washed and wiped pots, pans, and dishes by hand.
Because of the tremendous effort put forth by the members to sell tickets to the variety show, Sisterhood was reluctant to sell tickets and raffles for their annual card party. As usual, generosity prevailed and hostesses opened their homes for private mah jong and card parties. They charged $1.00 per person and the proceeds went into the Sisterhood treasury. $252.00 was earned by having those private card parties. The Donor Dinner in 1963 was held at the Jewish Community Center and under the chairmanship of Roth Obodov was extremely successful. The Mother-Daughter Dessert Supper took place at Temple Beth-Emeth. The second annual show, “Shan Shan,” held at School #24 in Albany, was not successful for fundraising.
In February 1962, a scroll inscribed with the names of all past presidents of Sisterhood was prepared by Michael Roth. Each past president was presented with an inscribed gold pin as a remembrance of her dedicated service. The scroll has since been lost and no record remains but at each meeting all past presidents wore their gold pins proudly.
Rita Joseph served as president from 1963-1965. Sisterhood continued to meet at 268 Central Avenue. Fundraising was stressed to enable Sisterhood to fulfill its pledge of $3,000.00 per year over a five year period and $15,000.00 towards furnishing the kitchens in the new synagogue. The first installment of $3,000.00 was paid on October 7, 1963. Besides these payments, Sisterhood continued to pay the temple its annual Yom Kippur pledge of $1000.00.
The annual Membership Tea was presented to welcome prospective members and to outline the aims and purposes of Sisterhood. It was most successful with Selma Goldberg, Marian Cohen, and Doris Martin making the presentation. President Rita Joseph was extremely aggressive with fundraising. The rummage sale, donor dinner and Mother-Daughter Banquet were all extremely successful. Rita had a way with chairwomen and they all worked, with their committees, to have all events bigger and better than usual. In the summer of 1963, the annual Sisterhood card party was presented as a lawn party held at the new home of Ethel Tabachneck and was very successful financially and socially.
In 1964 it was discovered that the original constitution and charter of Daughters of Ruth had been lost. Rita Joseph appointed a committee to formulate a new constitution to be presented to Sisterhood members for their approval. This was a most challenging and difficult project for the committee, consisting of Mary Ellenbogen, Nattie Paskin, Minnie Wachs, Fran Gordon, and Rita Joseph, but, they completed the task admirably. The constitution of Sisterhood of Congregation Ohav Sholom was approved in September 1964. On September 1, 1964 the annual Sisterhood dues were raised from $5.00 to $6.00.
The first social event to take place in our newly completed synagogue on Krumkill Road was a Sisterhood card and mah jong party held the evening of May 25, 1964. There was overwhelming response to this event. Approximately 750 women attended. It was chaired by Mary Lotwin and Hannah Levine and it was a great financial success. There were raffle winners galore because Rita Joseph had “schnorred” gifts from practically every businessman in the area. She was somebody who was not about to be turned down for a donation where it concerned her “wonderful Sisterhood.” The women were in awe of her ability and admired her for it!
The first Donor Dinner held in the social hall of the new synagogue was held on November 16, 1964 and was chaired by Hilda Gordon. It was a huge financial success, netting $1,050.83. The Mother-Daughter Banquet, chaired by Frances Gordon, was also a big success. A theatre party movie was held in the social hall and was chaired by Esther Kohn. It was a novel way for Sisterhood to raise money and was successful.
To apprise members of current events, a “current event” chairman was appointed. Mary Ellenbogen filled this post in 1964, followed by Selma Goldberg in 1965.
Members donated their trading stamps to Sisterhood and two silver candelabra were obtained in this way. The late Eva Novick chaired this project.
The honor roll plaque was inaugurated as a fundraising project. If a member paid $90.00 within a specified time, her name was inscribed on the plaque.
Banks were distributed to Sisterhood members for the purpose of saving their money toward furnishing the kitchen. Hilda Gordon took care of that project.
“In Memory Cards” was inaugurated as a new money-making project and was and still is performed by Pauline Haas.
The “Drapery Fund” became a Sisterhood project. Throughout the years, whenever furnishings were needed in our synagogue, it was always the women who raised large sums of money for the particular project.
Whether we were Bas Ruchel, Daughters of Ruth, or Sisterhood of Congregation Ohav Sholom, through sweat, determination and love, we raised money and were dearly loved and respected by all in the Congregation.
In 1965, Roberta Cohen and Hannah Levine chaired an extremely successful card and mah jong party.
The courage, vision and ability of Rita Joseph gave the Sisterhood members even more faith in what they could accomplish. Publicity was handled by Joan Levine and Sylvia Zussman through the years and there was constant publicity and pictures in the local newspapers - The Times Union and The Knickerbocker News.
The gift shop was manned by Marilyn Freedman, Selma Goldberg, Fay Roth, Marian Cohen, Mae Zarch, and Doris Martin. The gift shop was constantly expanding the merchandise available.
In June 1964 Rita Joseph designated as transitory honorary board members: The Mrs. Anna Abrams, Joseph Levine, Bessie Liben, Fannie Miller, and Jennie Kahn. All past presidents of Sisterhood are perpetually honorary board members.
Through the years, Doris Martin was visual aid and decoration chairperson.
Tonight, we dedicate our 50th year celebration to our greatest teachers---our past presidents!
With this announcement, there was a tremendous ring of “Happy Birthday to Our Past Presidents” and there was a beautiful outpouring of congratulations.Because the following narrative is the only historical report of Sisterhood dating back to its inception, I urge you not only to make it a permanent record, but to add to it all pertinent past and future information.
