Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford records

The Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford is the offspring of the New Bedford Jewish Community Center’s “Golden Agers” group. Its first meeting was April 26, 1972 and the organization was officially chartered on December 11, 1973. The organization was formed with the aim to improve the livelihood of the elderly by decreasing loneliness. The way this was accomplished was through events, including general meetings, fundraisers, trips, classes, shows, lectures, luncheons and dinners. Outside of planned events they offered drop-in times at the Jewish Community Center, where one could play cards, knit, paint, and participate in other activities. There was also a great focus on the welfare of the elderly. Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford organized letter writing campaigns to politicians, lectures on health, blood pressure checks at meetings, and information on where to find discounts. Membership was not limited to those of the Jewish faith, but required the applicant to be of the age 59 (later 60) and be of good moral character. The organization was run by a board and the first president was Sally Cohen. The Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford met twice a month, once as a board and once as a general meeting. The organization disbanded around 1994.

The Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford worked closely with other organizations in the area. The Jewish Community Center and Tifereth Israel Synagogue operated as places for their meetings and activities. The Helping Hand Society, the Council of Jewish Women, and the Jewish Federation of New Bedford assisted with the formation of the Jewish Senior Citizens as an organization and generously donated money and goods to events.

Variant, but not official names recorded for Jewish Senior Citizens of New Bedford are: Jewish Senior Citizens of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, Inc. and Jewish Senior Citizens.