CHW MEMORIES PROJECT
ROSA SINGER
In October 2013, CHW Ottawa launched the “Memories Project,” a historical look into the foundation that has made their Centre what it is today. The “Memories Project” has inspired this rubric in the CHW Insider, which kicks off the countdown to Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s centennial in 2017.
was President of the Montreal Hadassah Council from 19311934 and subsequently National Vice-President. It wasn’t until 1947 that Rosa was elected third National President of CHW, and she felt privileged to have been National President at the time Israel was proclaimed a State.
This issue focuses on Rosa Singer z’l, CHW’s third National President. Born in Montreal, Rosa became an active member of the Montreal Jewish community after graduating from high school. A close friend worked as a social worker for the Baron de Hirsch Institute, and from her Rosa learned of the poor and destitute in Montreal. From this, Rosa became interested in the problems of the local Jewish community. Soon after, Rosa began teaching Sunday school and participated in many aspects of Jewish life within the city. She often attended lectures by great leaders of the time, including Schmarya Levin, Mossessohn, Jacob de Haas, and many others who came to Montreal from time to time. Rosa was first exposed to CHW, then known as Canadian Hadassah, in the early 1900s, when her brother and sister had an open house at their home where many intellectuals of the time gathered for discussion. It was there that Rosa first met Rosa Harris, who was Canadian Hadassah’s first National Secretary, and was present at the first Zionist Congress, called by Theodor Herzl in Basel in 1897. At the same time, the Young Men’s Zionist Literary Society was already functioning and they called together a group of young girls, Rosa included, asking them to form a Young Ladies Zionist and Literary Society. This was organized in 1915, and members undertook the placement of Jewish National Fund Blue Boxes in homes, as well as raised large sums through organizing dances and other social functions. The Young Ladies Zionist and Literary Society included members, like Rosa, who subsequently became leaders in Canadian Hadassah in their respective communities. When Canadian Hadassah was organized nationally, the group became a Hadassah Chapter, functioning until the early 2000s, under the name “Young Ladies Zionist Chapter of Hadassah”. Two of CHW’s National Presidents, Lottie Riven and Rosa Singer, came from this group. Rosa gained prominence at the regional and National levels of CHW. In the 1920s, she became National Secretary. She
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z’l
CHW enjoyed relationships at a high level, which allowed Rosa to meet many prominent people. She recalled once travelling to Ottawa to meet Louis St. Laurent, then Prime Minister, with a group of Zionists, representing all parties and with Moshe Sharett of the Jewish Agency. On the same trip, the late Hon. Leon Crestohl, Q.C., M.P. introduced the group to the various Cabinet Ministers with whom they met. On May 14, 1948, when Israel was proclaimed a state by its first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, Rosa and the CHW Executive, along with a group of Zionists, were en route to Winnipeg to attend a National Executive Committee meeting of the Zionist Organization of Canada. David S. Tchertok, who at the time worked for the Jewish National Fund of Canada, had left the train at a sub-station and came back with a bulletin informing them that the State had been proclaimed. The jubilation and excitement were terrific! During Rosa’s administration, when the State of Israel was proclaimed, there were a number of ‘firsts’. Among other activities, CHW helped to finance and furnish the first Consulate of Israel in Canada, located on MacGregor Street in Montreal. As a matter of fact, the members were requested to gather some fine china and silverware. Once, when at the consulate, Rosa saw a silver tea service being used which her parents had contributed. It brought back fond memories. Avraham Harman came to Montreal as Israel’s first consul-general. Subsequently, CHW decided to triple its budget, commensurate with the greater needs of the new State. Within 18 months the objective was realized, and this pace has been maintained ever since. In 1950, Canadian Hadassah felt that it had achieved a state of maturity and decided to set up its own treasury; previous to that all its funds had been remitted through the Zionist Organization of Canada. The same year, Hadassah Samuel, Chair of the WIZO Executive, visited Montreal and brought to CHW’s attention WIZO’s urgent and immediate needs. The Executive came to the decision that Canadian Hadassah should obtain a loan from the Royal Bank of Canada, and after negotiating with the manager, they were given a loan of $250,000 without collateral. The Royal Bank showed its confidence in CHW’s potential and this loan was paid up within a very short time.