Jewish Women's Council Dinner
March is Women’s History Month. NY1920s always centers women’s history; this month we’ll do so a bit more emphatically.
The Standard Union, 6 March 1921, p.20. Library of Congress
One hundred years ago today … The Jewish Women's Council of Brooklyn, whose headquarters were at 148 Clinton Street in downtown Brooklyn, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Over 800 people attended. For the occasion, the dinner was held in Manhattan, at the Hotel Pennsylvania.
Speakers included past officers of the group, who recounted the history of the Brooklyn branch of The National Council of Jewish Women–as the philanthropic organization is officially called.
Sarah Kempner recounted the organization's recent work in support of orphans and immigrant children. So did Rose Brenner, former president of the Brooklyn chapter, who had become national president of the organization in 1920.
Brenner, whom we mentioned in our Hanukkah post for December 8, 1920, a Brooklyn native, would serve six years as president of the NCJW and nearly double its membership. Brenner "focused on inclusion of people who were often marginalized—the deaf, the blind, and those isolated in rural areas." (Pearlstein)
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 4 December 1920,, p. 4. Library of Congress.
Brenner's lifelong companion was Fannie Cohen; historian Faith Rogow speculates that it was a lesbian relationship (55).
The first speaker, Carrie Taubahus recalled the Brooklyn group’s initial 1896 meetings in State Street, Keap Street, and at Temple Israel at the intersection of Bedford and Lafayette Avenues (a building that eventually was converted to Brooklyn Traffic Court–the function it served in 1940 when the photo below was taken).
Sperr, P.E. "Brooklyn: Bedford Avenue - Lafayette Avenue." Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1940.
The National Council of Jewish Women no longer seems to have a chapter specific to Brooklyn. (Correct us if we are wrong!) The NYC branch, founded in 1903, describes itself as: "a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. . . . Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW NY strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms."
References/ Further Reading
Pearlstein, Peggy. "Rose Brenner." Jewish Women's Association.
Rogow, Faith. Gone to another meeting: the National Council of Jewish Women, 1893-1993. United States, University of Alabama Press, 1993.
– Jonathan Goldman, March 5, 2021
TAGS: women, activism, lgbtq, philanthropy, Jewish, Judaism