Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood
The Community Cookbook
Dublin Core
Title
Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood
The Community Cookbook
The Community Cookbook
Subject
Historical Recipes
Description
RIJHA Fall Meeting-October, 2023
Creator
Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
Source
Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood
The Community Cookbook
The Community Cookbook
Publisher
Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
Date
1937
Contributor
Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood History
In the fall of 1901 twenty ladies gathered to discuss a Jewish aid society to help the people of Woonsocket. They named the organization the Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies Aid Society and Mrs. Solomon Treitel was the first president. By September 2, 1923 the society was reorganized as an auxiliary of the Woonsocket congregation, B’nai Israel. It met once a month and officers were elected annually. The first major fund-raising event was a rummage sale in 1910 that raised $150. A Hebrew Fund was started and by 1913 the first Hebrew School was established on lower Main Street.
During World War I, the ladies were very busy. They volunteered for the Red Cross and sold Liberty Bonds. They never forgot their commitment to the Jews who immigrated from Europe and Palestine or the local Jews who were in need.
In 1920 the 84-member group became the Hebrew Ladies Aid and Sisterhood. The group bought prayer books and completely financed the Hebrew School. The ladies also contributed to the Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, Jewish Home for the Aged, The Miriam Hospital, B’Nai Jacob Synagogue in Woonsocket, and many other Jewish organizations.
In 1937 the idea was conceived to compile a cookbook. The money from the sale of the cookbooks would be used for a new community center. The first year was devoted to collecting recipes and confirming the exact ingredients and measurements. Some recipes were translated from Yiddish. A total of $2,000 was needed for printing costs. The depression made it impossible to raise the money needed, and the project was postponed. Ten years later, in 1947, the cookbook was printed. A second printing was in 1950, and a third in 1952. In 1956 the cookbook sold for $2.25 a copy. About 5,000 copies were sold for a profit of $10,000. The money was divided, and a portion of the profits went to the purchase of stainless steel items for the synagogue’s kitchen and the remainder to the community center.
In May of 1956, the name was changed to Sisterhood, Congregation B’Nai Israel, and in 1962 it was shortened to Sisterhood. A new synagogue and Community Center on Prospect Street was dedicated on September 16, 1962. The sisterhood continued to fund many expenses of the synagogue.
Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood History
In the fall of 1901 twenty ladies gathered to discuss a Jewish aid society to help the people of Woonsocket. They named the organization the Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies Aid Society and Mrs. Solomon Treitel was the first president. By September 2, 1923 the society was reorganized as an auxiliary of the Woonsocket congregation, B’nai Israel. It met once a month and officers were elected annually. The first major fund-raising event was a rummage sale in 1910 that raised $150. A Hebrew Fund was started and by 1913 the first Hebrew School was established on lower Main Street.
During World War I, the ladies were very busy. They volunteered for the Red Cross and sold Liberty Bonds. They never forgot their commitment to the Jews who immigrated from Europe and Palestine or the local Jews who were in need.
In 1920 the 84-member group became the Hebrew Ladies Aid and Sisterhood. The group bought prayer books and completely financed the Hebrew School. The ladies also contributed to the Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, Jewish Home for the Aged, The Miriam Hospital, B’Nai Jacob Synagogue in Woonsocket, and many other Jewish organizations.
In 1937 the idea was conceived to compile a cookbook. The money from the sale of the cookbooks would be used for a new community center. The first year was devoted to collecting recipes and confirming the exact ingredients and measurements. Some recipes were translated from Yiddish. A total of $2,000 was needed for printing costs. The depression made it impossible to raise the money needed, and the project was postponed. Ten years later, in 1947, the cookbook was printed. A second printing was in 1950, and a third in 1952. In 1956 the cookbook sold for $2.25 a copy. About 5,000 copies were sold for a profit of $10,000. The money was divided, and a portion of the profits went to the purchase of stainless steel items for the synagogue’s kitchen and the remainder to the community center.
In May of 1956, the name was changed to Sisterhood, Congregation B’Nai Israel, and in 1962 it was shortened to Sisterhood. A new synagogue and Community Center on Prospect Street was dedicated on September 16, 1962. The sisterhood continued to fund many expenses of the synagogue.
Language
English
Files
Collection
Citation
Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, “Woonsocket Hebrew Ladies and Sisterhood
The Community Cookbook,” Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, accessed May 20, 2026, https://rijha.omeka.net/items/show/24.
The Community Cookbook,” Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, accessed May 20, 2026, https://rijha.omeka.net/items/show/24.