Our Mission

NCJWSTL is inspired by Jewish values to advance social and economic justice for all women, children, and families.

Our History

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has a long and rich history, dating back to 1893 when it was founded by Hannah G. Solomon. Two years later, NCJWSTL was established. NCJWSTL is a volunteer-driven organization at the forefront of social change who pioneered programs such as the Free Milk Program in 1919 in the St. Louis public schools.

NCJWSTL also founded the St. Louis Scholarship Committee in 1920 to provide interest-free loans for post high school education that in 1960 became known as The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.

Numerous other programs and projects have been established by NCJW; Council Shop in 1940, a resale store, now called The Resale Shop, that provides funding for NCJW’s programs and projects and Delcrest Apartments, a 144-unit housing facility and activities program for low-income elders, now referred to as the Gladys and Henry Crown Center for Senior Living. This in addition to the many advocacy and leadership roles NCJWSTL has taken on behalf of the community.

Check Out NCJWSTL’s 125+ Year Journey

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Check Out NCJWSTL’s 125+ Year Journey

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NCJWSTL is committed to creating meaningful action at the local and state levels to help those who are in most need, or provide “tikkun olam” (repairing the world) and justice for all.

NJCWSTL Past Presidents

1917-1920
Pauline Lowenstein*

1920-1924
Corrine Bauman*

1924-1926
Gussie Barth*

1926-1928
Blanche Marx*

1928-1930
Blanche Forcheimer*

1930-1932
Babette Jacobs*

1932-1934
Ione Sandperl*

1934-1936
Freda Cronheim*

1936-1938
Frances Bry*

1938-1941
Frances Schwab*

1941-1943
Alice Greensfelder*

1943-1945
Dorothy Schweich*

1945-1947
Julia Einstein*

947-1949
Jeanne Fineberg*

1949-1951
Frances Kopp*

1951-1953
Zelda Epstein*

1953-1955
Barbara Hirsch York*

1955-1957
Florence Gram*

1957-1959
Marie Chused*

1959-1961
Ann Koenigsberg*

1961-1963
Anna Lee Brown*

1963-1965
Wilma Messing*

1965-1967
Edith Lipsitz*

1967-1969
Jane Scheff*

1969 -1971
Jean Laventhal*

1971-1973
Carol S. Jacobson*

1973-1975
Geraldine Schiller

1975-1977
Lynn Lyss

1977-1979
Marjorie Susman

1979-1981
Betty Baron*

1981-1983
Judy Milton

1983-1985
Judy Putzel

1985-1987
Barbara Newmark

1987-1989
Evelyn Cohen

1989-1991
Ilene Ordower

1991-1993
Nanci Bobrow, Ph.D

1993-1995
Terri Shores

1995-1997
Lucy Shelden Levy

1997-1999
Suzanne E. Breslauer

1999-2001
Joyce Margulis

2001-2003
Lise Bernstein

2003-2004
Renée Michelson

2004-2006
Nancy Siteman

2006-2008
Nancy Berg

2008-2010
Sally Katzif

2010-2012
Farilyn Hale

2012-2014
Marlene Hammerman

2014-2016
Darien Arnstein

2016-2018
Susan Witte

2018-2020
Susan Katzman

2020-2022
Gail Eisenkramer

*In Loving Memory