Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood (Tucson, Arizona) records

The Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood began in Tucson in 1884 by Minna Czerwinsky and was initially called the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society. The group was an example of a non-partisan, mutual aid benefit society whose function was to aid the needy in times of distress, regardless of religious affiliation. This was done through fundraising events attended by the Tucson community. The Society was dormant during the 1890s, but was started up again in 1904 as the Hebrew Ladies Aid Society. During this period, under the leadership of Miss Clara Ferrin (who later became Mrs. David W. Bloom), one of their main goals was raising funds to build a synagogue in Tucson.

The Temple Emanu-El was built in 1910 on S. Stone Ave., the same year the group would unofficially start calling themselves the Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood. In 1917 they would officially change their name to the Women's Auxiliary of the International Order of B'nai B'rith, but would continue to refer to themselves as the Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood. From 1910 to 1941 the group would continue fundraising for the Temple to pay for a Rabbi, furniture, a piano, a choir and other costs. Other activities include raising money for sick people in the community, volunteering for the local Red Cross and performing sewing and mending duties for local orphans as well as for WWI soldiers from France and Belgium. Another function of the Sisterhood was organizing social events for the group and members of the interfaith community. These include costume balls, golfing matches, luncheons, movie nights, rummage sales, card games and picnics to entertain locals and visiting lecturers.

The last part of the collection is the minutes of the Hebrew Benevolent Society who were also known as the Board of Trustees for the Temple Emanu-El. This was the male counterpart of the Sisterhood and many members were married to members of the Sisterhood. These minutes cover meetings from January 1910-April 1935. Much like the Sisterhood, the focus of these meetings is Temple business. Collection of fees and dues is most prominent theme, as is the spending of said fees on furniture, building maintenance, and an ongoing search for a permanent Rabbi for the congregation. Also noteworthy is their fundraising for Jewish cemetery plots and their outreach to the Orthodox Jewish community in Tucson in an effort to unite the two groups into one congregation. Unlike the minutes of the Sisterhood, social activities are not discussed.