Dorothy Reitman
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Reitman served as first female president of the Canadian Jewish Congress
(CJC) from 1986 to 1989.
Reitman's parents emigrated from Odessa
in her infancy. She was educated at McGill University
and, in 1952, married Cyril Reitman of the Reitmans
retailing family.
She was a founding member of the Portage Program for Drug Dependency, the Council of Canadian Unity, and Auberge Shalom for Battered Women. She also helped establish Kosher Meals on Wheels in Montreal.
Among the chairmanships she has held are the honorary chair of the McGill University Centre for Research and Teaching for Women, co-chair of the Canadian Conference of Christians and Jews, chair of the Commonwealth Jewish Foundation of Canada, vice-president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, and trustee of the Commonwealth Jewish Trust. She also served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada from 1975–1977.
Reitman defeated Moshe Ronen
, who would later win the position, for the CJC presidency in 1986. In 1992, she was awarded the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case for having "advocated women's equality and opened roads to their empowerment."Five years later, she was awarded the Order of Canada
in recognition for her volunteer work assisting women and Jews.
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
(CJC) from 1986 to 1989.
Reitman's parents emigrated from Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
in her infancy. She was educated at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and, in 1952, married Cyril Reitman of the Reitmans
Reitmans
Reitmans Limited is a Canadian retailing company, specializing in women's apparel, that was founded in 1926 by Herman and Sarah Reitman, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
retailing family.
She was a founding member of the Portage Program for Drug Dependency, the Council of Canadian Unity, and Auberge Shalom for Battered Women. She also helped establish Kosher Meals on Wheels in Montreal.
Among the chairmanships she has held are the honorary chair of the McGill University Centre for Research and Teaching for Women, co-chair of the Canadian Conference of Christians and Jews, chair of the Commonwealth Jewish Foundation of Canada, vice-president of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, and trustee of the Commonwealth Jewish Trust. She also served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada from 1975–1977.
Reitman defeated Moshe Ronen
Moshe Ronen
Moshe Ronen is a Toronto lawyer, and a Jewish community leader.Ronen is vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, was the last national chair of the Canada-Israel Committee and was president of the Canadian Jewish Congress from 1998 to 2001....
, who would later win the position, for the CJC presidency in 1986. In 1992, she was awarded the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case for having "advocated women's equality and opened roads to their empowerment."Five years later, she was awarded the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for her volunteer work assisting women and Jews.