Women's History Month

The Hebrew Ladies Society

by Marilyn Weinberg

When we consider Women’s History Month, we often think of individuals who, through their acts of courage, really made a difference in our communities and our world.

And yet sometimes we overlook the acts of a group of women, who through their commitment and hard work, also made a difference.

In 1919 in Bath, according to a local newspaper, the Jewish men met and agreed to start the process of building a synagogue of their own after having used multiple venues throughout the city including a pool hall.

What was not published in the newspaper was that the women of the budding Jewish community decided they would form their organization to raise money for this huge project.

They called themselves the Hebrew Ladies’ Society and began a group that lasted for over 50 years. Women from Bath and Brunswick totaled over 30 members. Meetings initially were held weekly and soon moved to every other week. They paid 10¢ per meeting dues and raffled off homemade items at each meeting to make more money. Most of them had families and worked alongside their husbands in the family business. They were busy, but this was important for them. In 1920, after putting in hours of work, they were able to donate $500 to the building fund. They continued this work, organizing social events, rummage sales, and holiday events year after year. Without their efforts, the Beth Israel Congregation would not have survived.

Beth Israel has amassed minutes of the Hebrew Ladies Society from 1919 until 1962. The minutes give us a slice of Jewish life experienced in our small communities over time. Some are funny and some very serious. My favorite is the constant battle of the women trying to get the men to clean up the kitchen. These anecdotes tell us a story of the importance of women in our Jewish communities.

A sample from the minutes:

Bath, Maine - December 31, 1921

Mrs M.S. Povich - recording secretary.

The Hebrew Ladies’ Society held a social whist party…A large crowd attended...the whole Jewish population of Bath and Brunswick with only a few absent. Whist was enjoyed by all, and prizes were distributed including a necktie donated by Mrs. N. Povich and there was even a booby prize (a hairpin) donated by Mrs. M. Cohen. The food remaining was auctioned off. The party was a financial success having raised $21.60.

You can find the full minutes of the Hebrew Ladies Society as part of the Judaica Collection at the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine.

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Dorothy Suzi Osher Obituary Announcement

July 3, 2025

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (JCA) announced today that following the passing of Suzi Osher, a long-time Maine resident and philanthropist, on Saturday, June 28th, the organization will be receiving a transformative gift from an Alfred Osher trust. The gift, to be received in the newly-established Alfred and Dorothy Suzi Osher Charitable Fund, will be held in a new entity under the auspices of the JCA. The fund is to be used explicitly for Jewish education, Jewish social and welfare programs, and outreach programs to promote Jewish traditions and values. According to Leslie Kirby, the JCA’s Chief Executive Officer: “This gift, the largest donation in our organization’s history, will make possible incredible growth throughout our community and region. We are fortunate that Dr. and Mrs. Osher made their Estate intentions clear to the JCA in a way that allowed us to anticipate this transformational moment over the course of time. More information regarding the specifics of the bequest will be shared within the coming months.” This is not the first time the Oshers have extended their generosity to the JCA. Mrs. Osher was the lead benefactor of a 2015 capital campaign, which allowed the organization to build its state-of-the-art center on Congress Street in Portland. In gratitude, the facility, which opened in 2017, is known as the Alfred and Suzi Osher Campus of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine. This gift is in furtherance of the spirit of philanthropy both within and beyond the Jewish community that animated the Oshers’ lifetime of giving. The couple’s philanthropic endeavors have benefited numerous educational and healthcare institutions, including Maine Medical Center, the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, the YMCA, the Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music at the University of Southern Maine, and Tufts Dental School. Long-standing JCA Board of Directors member Rachael Alfond has been selected by the board to chair the committee overseeing the formation and management of the Fund. “An opportunity like this only presents itself once in a lifetime,” Alfond said. “I am honored to carry on the legacy of the Oshers and their mitzvot - good deeds - that will have a ripple effect for generations.” Dr. Osher, who passed away in 1999, was an oral surgeon and orthodontist who practiced in Biddeford, Maine. Supporting their community was always top of mind. In Suzi’s words: “When I make a gift, I always follow it.” Suzi established the Dr. Alfred Osher and D. Suzi Osher Scholarship at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine to honor her late husband, a long-term clinical faculty member. Suzi Osher was the daughter of French-Canadian immigrants, who faced substantial hardships weathering the Depression as a child in Biddeford, Maine. Mrs. Osher learned to value education and hard work. “My first job was playing the piano at a local music store when I was just 10,” she once recalled. “At 15, I was working for the government Census Bureau.” After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Alfred Osher, a local oral surgeon. Several years later, she completed a course in anesthesiology at Boston City Hospital and began assisting with procedures. In 1962, Dr. Osher completed the Tufts postgraduate program in orthodontics and became the first board-certified orthodontist in Maine. After the couple married, Suzi Osher pursued her interests in business and fashion, opening a specialty clothing store in Biddeford, a venture she called “my real career.” Even as she managed her own successful business, she stayed involved in her husband’s growing dental practice. “We were one of those rare couples who enjoyed working together,” she said. The JCA is honored to have been chosen and entrusted with this ultimate act of generosity from the Oshers, and we look forward to facilitating its continued impact over the coming years. For more information about Mrs. Osher’s life and philanthropy, please read her official obituary . Rooted in Jewish values, history, and our connection to Israel, the JCA cultivates and sustains a welcoming and thriving Jewish community in Maine, and strives to build a better world for all. Formed in 2000, the JCA is the result of a merger of three institutions: the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Southern Maine, and Jewish Family Services, which combined the programming and fundraising arms of the Jewish community.

Community Study: Connection to Israel & Antisemitism

June 30, 2025

What's New in Jewish News This Week

June 27, 2025

Washington, DC — Pentagon leaders pulled back the curtain on “Operation Midnight Hammer,” confirming that six B-2s dropped 30-ton bunker-busters on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz enrichment sites last weekend, while a seventh bomber struck backup targets. Officials hailed the raid as a “historic success,” yet acknowledged early intelligence shows Iran’s program may be set back only months, not years. Tehran answered with ballistic missiles aimed at a U.S. base in Qatar and fresh salvos on Israel, even as President Trump and Iranian diplomats traded signals about a phased cease-fire. Read more at The Washington Post . Buenos Aires, Argentina — Three decades after the AMIA Jewish-center bombing, an Argentine federal judge invoked a new “trial-in-absentia” law to prosecute seven Iranians and three Lebanese suspects linked to the Hezbollah-planned attack that killed 85 and wounded 300. Judge Daniel Rafecas said the unprecedented move seeks “truth and justice” despite the fugitives’ absence, and reflects backing from President Javier Milei, the United States and Israel. Families of the victims welcomed the step, while Tehran again denied involvement. Read more at The Times of Israel . Jerusalem, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing snap elections to capitalize on a post-Iran-offensive polling bump. Allies say a fall ballot could let him campaign on closer ties with Saudi Arabia and opposition to a Palestinian state, before coalition rifts over the budget and Haredi draft exemptions resurface. Polls last week showed Likud regaining the top spot with 27 seats after months of trailing rivals. Read more at The Times of Israel . Pittsburgh, PA — At the American Jewish Press Association’s annual conference, 70 Faces Media—parent of JTA, Kveller, My Jewish Learning and others—captured 18 Simon Rockower Awards , including 11 first-place honors for reporting and commentary published in 2024. Winning entries ranged from investigative coverage of antisemitism to a podcast on Iranian-Jewish music, underscoring the group’s breadth amid a turbulent news year. The accolades come as Jewish journalism faces both booming readership and financial headwinds. Read more at The Jewish Telegraphic Agency.