History
IN THE BEGINNING
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), the oldest major Jewish women’s organization in the United States, was founded at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 by Hannah G. Solomon. An ardent advocate of women’s suffrage, she saw first-hand the multitude of problems facing a country beset by failed banks, millions of unemployed, factories shut down and women at the mercy of man-made laws. Solomon’s vision was to unite women to address and solve the problems facing them and their families.
When, at the first NCJW BCS meeting I attended, I heard that our founder was Hannah G. Solomon of Chicago, I almost fell out of my chair. My maternal great-grandmother who also lived in Chicago in the late 1800s was Hannah Salomon.
For our full history, watch our Movie and read Our Chronicle. To order your free copy of Our Chronicle, please email office@ncjwbcs.org and donate $10 to help offset the costs for delivery. Donations over this amount are welcome!
BERGEN COUNTY SECTION
In 1923, fourteen women met in Hackensack, NJ to bring Solomon’s vision to Bergen County and they formed the Bergen County Section of NCJW. The Section expanded to include an Evening Branch in 1948 and has evolved through various mergers and name changes to reflect its increasing geographic diversity. In 2003 we returned to our original name of Bergen County Section. In 2023 we marked our Centennial with a luncheon attended by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, featuring NCJW National CEO Sheila Katz as our Guest Speaker, and recognizing six Women of the Century to celebrate our many achievements over this time.
Bergen County Section is Unique
One of the distinctive aspects of National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section is the way our advocacy, education and community services work side by side to enhance their combined impact. One informs the other, lending experience and credence to each.
Community Service and Volunteers
Volunteers are the heartbeat of NCJW BCS. From modest beginnings we have innovated and created community service programs to meet the needs of the children and families in our community. At first, we provided assistance to needy local families and went on to create projects such as the first day care center in Bergen County for infants through preschool and a family literacy program. Our volunteers have always provided hands-on involvement while our fundraising has supported the financial requirements of our diverse array of programs.
Concerned with the health and well-being of individuals and families in our community, we pitched in to help and volunteer at local hospitals, worked with the American Cancer Society to help research if there was a connection between smoking and lung cancer, and established a psychiatric rehabilitation center for people with mental illness. We partnered with a local hospital to form the only adult medical day care center in Bergen County and worked with partners to alleviate hunger and help families deal with illnesses. The Post Mastectomy Program was a special water therapy program for those with breast cancer, and we founded and currently administer and fund Swim-In, a water therapy program for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
During World War II we relocated refugees from ports in New York and Boston. In the decades following, our work with immigrants, women and children has grown in a myriad of ways. The Section partnered with Youth Consultation Services to found Holley Child Care and Development Center (a Hackensack treatment facility for emotionally and/or physically abused children) where our services include providing birthday cakes for children who have never had a birthday cake before. In the Bergen County Courthouse, we created the Waiting Room, a safe, welcoming haven for domestic violence litigants awaiting court appearances, and the Children’s Court Care Center, a supervised play area for children of litigants.
Click here for a full list of our current Community Services and to learn how YOU can volunteer.
Our 100th anniversary celebration coincided with a push to return to the volunteer community services we had been unable to engage with during the COVID-19 years. Our members worked tirelessly to reconnect to those programs that have made NCJW BCS recognized throughout the County for 100 years. Making a difference every day has kept us connected to our community. We know that the most precious thing we can give is our time.
Advocacy
NCJW has championed the rights of women, children, minorities and immigrants since its inception. The methods used to advocate have evolved over the years with the advent of new technologies, but the thrust of our messages has been consistent. We have spearheaded and participated in marches and demonstrations. Our members have contacted local, state and federal legislators and officials by mail, writing postcards and letters, organizing and signing petitions, and visiting their offices to lobby in person for issues on which we take a position. As new methods of communication became available, we became adept at faxing, emailing, tweeting, texting and using social media to get our message out.
Gun safety and gun violence have been on our radar for years as we have sought to educate our communities and lawmakers to the tools and methods available and advocate for laws to reduce violence and increase safety. We are a major voice for reproductive choice, especially leading the Jewish response in this area, and make our voices heard in the areas of human trafficking, voter rights and a hate- and violence-free society.
Click here to find out more about our Advocacy programs and learn how to make YOUR voice heard.
As a representative of Bergen County Section on THRIVE NJ, a reproductive justice advocacy coalition of over 80 organizations, I have been inspired by committed, passionate advocates throughout the state and the country. I have experienced that collaboration and persistence results in stronger policies and comprehensive services for those most in need.
Education
Education starts with informed members. To that end, Bergen County Section hosts General Meetings that feature speakers and panels, Community Forums, small-group “Timely Topics” speakers and Book Groups. Our leaders participate in regional and national conventions and Washington Institute - exciting gatherings that expand our horizons and put us in touch with other Sections and our National organization.
Click here to learn more about our Events.
Our education programs have focused on issues of interest to our members and the community and reflect the mission and values of NCJW. A variety of topics and activities keeps our members involved; a menu of events encourages participation and recruits new members, and our events get rave reviews.
Council Resale Shop
The Council Resale Shop, formerly the Council Thrift Shop, has served the Bergenfield community and beyond for over 50 years, offering for sale gently-used apparel, jewelry, china, furs, accessories, brick-a-brac, posters, paintings and now linens. Proceeds go directly to serve those in need in our community and advance our advocacy issues.
Click here to learn how YOU can volunteer in the Council Resale Shop.
Fifty-plus years old, Council Resale Shop remains an important arm of Section. Our expanding customer base relies on us to help them secure the items they need and want at prices they can afford. COME SEE, COME SAVE!
Israel Affairs
For more than 70 years, we have supported women, children, and families throughout Israeli society regardless of ethnicity, religion, or economic status. We have been a leader of Israeli women's and gender rights and our Section has participated for many years in the NCJW Israel Granting program. Each year Bergen County Section provides an inspirational advocacy and educational program through our Israel Affairs initiative.
Since the tragic Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, through our Israel Granting Program (IGP) Emergency Appeal, NCJW is building resources to address the most urgent, acute needs, while planning for the long crisis ahead. Viewing the crisis through a gender lens, this fund is focused on strengthening efforts and approaches which place women, children, and families front and center at all levels.
Click here to learn more about how YOU can contribute to our work in Israel.
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Thanks to our fundraising efforts, NCJW BCS gives financial support to our community service agencies to uplift the lives of women, children and families. In addition to the Council Resale Shop, our significant fundraising efforts have included the Stay-At-Home personal giving campaign, tribute cards, Game Day, raffles and auctions. We introduced the virtual "At Home" series, which continues today, and has included informative and entertaining workshops on subjects such as interactive cooking classes and “Train Your Brain” by a professional memory coach.
Our Annual Spring Luncheon is our event of the year, where we honor a Woman of the Section and present the Hannah G. Solomon Award to a community leader such as former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in 2019. The 2020 event was held online with a beautiful new virtual Journal. Our Centennial Celebration in 2023 was attended by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NCJW National CEO Sheila Katz, and we honored six “Women of the Century” who made significant impact in our community.
Click here to learn more about how YOU can contribute to our work.
Communications
Our website, www.ncjwbcs.org, has been a valuable resource for Bergen County Section's news and information since 2007. In 2021 a beautifully redesigned site was launched. We have expanded our online presence to include a virtual newsletter, Council Connections, and eblasts and social media announce our events and activities. Numerous press releases have resulted in feature articles and statements in the local press. In 2022, to celebrate our 100th Anniversary, we engaged a Public Relations consultant which greatly helped increase awareness of our wonderful organization.
Click here to sign up for Council Connections, our monthly newsletter.
Our Sisterhood
We are a representative group of women (and a few men) who are, or were, wives, mothers, daughters, grandmothers and great grandmothers, Democrats, Republicans and Independents from all walks of life – undaunted, passionate activists engaged in fulfilling the mission of NCJW. We demonstrate how a group of women can change the complacency of society when they demand to be listened to, and how humanitarian volunteerism can impact the most vulnerable in our community.
Click here to become a member of NCJW Bergen County Section.