[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     HONORING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN NEW YORK SECTION

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the 100th anniversary of National Council of Jewish Women 
New York Section.
  In May 1894, a group of 120 women organized NCJW New York Section, 
determined to reach out to address the needs of their community. In its 
early years, New York Section pioneered efforts to help newly arriving 
immigrants adjust to living in the United States. They opened 
settlement houses, offered English classes and religious instruction, 
and provided job training.
  The trip to the United States was particularly perilous for young 
women and girls who were lured by unscrupulous employers. These 
employers would promise them jobs and housing in America. When the 
young immigrants arrived in the United States, the employers would 
often meet them at the docks and take them off to a dreary life in a 
brothel or a sweatshop. Responding to a plea from President Cleveland, 
volunteers from New York Section began going to Ellis Island to meet 
the ships. The young immigrants were provided with assistance in 
finding a good job and a decent place to live. In addition, New York 
Section organized classes to help the women acclimate to living in 
America.
  From its inception 100 years ago, New York Section has always been 
active in providing food, clothing, and compassion to those who are in 
need. In its early years, New York Section ran a home for unmarried 
mothers and wayward girls. It opened programs to help patients at the 
hospitals on Blackwell's Island. Volunteers read to the blind and 
taught blind children self-sufficiency. Over the years, New York 
Section opened several community facilities in New York City to house 
its many programs. In addition, New York Section was a vocal advocate 
of meaningful child labor laws, minimum wage laws, women's suffrage, 
anti-discrimination laws and good public housing.
  In 1945, New York Section donated their Bronx facility to the 
community. At the ceremony, Eleanor Roosevelt spoke, and recognized the 
contributions of New York Section to the community at large. She said: 
``The example of responsibility displayed by council can well serve as 
a model to other sectarian agencies in changing neighborhoods and to 
the nations who are about to meet at San Francisco to lay the 
groundwork for a United Nations.''
  In recent years, New York Section has focused on three major problems 
affecting New York City: hunger, illiteracy, and AIDS. Recognizing 
the unfortunate fact that too many people in the city are hungry, New 
York Section maintains several programs that provide meals to the 
needy. Every Wednesday, they serve dinner to 105 people. People who are 
unable to be seated for the dinner are provided with sandwiches and 
fruit at the New York Section food pantry. In addition, every Sunday, 
volunteers serve brunch to families with children.

  New York Section's efforts to combat illiteracy date to its earliest 
years, when volunteers helped immigrants learn to read English. In the 
1960's, volunteers participated in the first Head Start programs. Today 
volunteers from New York Section's Children's Literacy Program help 
maintain small libraries in day care centers and public schools. By 
reading to children and helping them to improve their reading skills, 
volunteers work to foster a love of books.
  In 1982, New York Section founded the Jewish Women's Resource Center, 
which maintains an extensive research library at 9 East 69th Street in 
Manhattan, with the intent of establishing a repository of materials on 
Judaism, materials on the impact of the women's movement on the 
practice of Judaism, and unique documents that council has collected 
over the years. The center also plays an important role in the 
community, sponsoring workshops and readings on a regular basis.
  New York Section operates two programs to serve people with AIDS. In 
one program, volunteers work with AIDS afflicted babies living at the 
Incarnation Children's Center in Washington Heights. In the other 
program, volunteers visit AIDS patients at Goldwater Memorial Hospital, 
providing entertainment, companionship and support to the patients. 
Volunteers make a special point of celebrating birthdays. Although this 
may seem like a small thing to do, people with AIDS seem to feel a need 
to celebrate such milestones more strongly than other people.
  New York Section's latest major endeavor is its HIPPY--Home 
Instruction Program for Pre-School Youngsters--program, which teaches 
parents of 4- and 5-year-olds how to help their children learn. This 
program, which was initiated in Israel in the 1960's and brought to the 
United States in 1984, helps reach families that are at risk. 
Participants report that both parents and children appear to benefit 
from the program. Children reach school with better classroom skills 
than other children. Parents develop a stronger bond with their 
children and better sense of their own worth. Recognizing the 
achievements of the HIPPY program, Congress recently voted to provide 
new funds to begin similar programs across the country.
  Because of the tremendous contributions of National Council of Jewish 
Women New York Section in serving the Jewish community, assisting 
immigrants, guiding troubled children, helping the sick, providing 
educational programs and so much more, I would like my colleagues to 
join me in congratulating them on their 100th anniversary and wishing 
them another 100 years of good fortune and service to the community.

                          ____________________