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| History
of NCJW Utah Section
The NCJW Utah Section was established in 1940 by Corinne Sweet,
a descendent of the Sweet Candy Company family. Esther Landa, national
NCJW president from 1975-1979, was among the first to join and says,
“Whatever Corinne did, we followed. We affectionately called
her the Madam.” During World War II, the local Jewish community
cooked and served Sabbath and holiday meals for Jewish soldiers
stationed at Hill Air Force Base. In the late 1940s, the Utah Section
was interested in legislative action and helped settle wartime refugees
in Salt Lake City. For many years, the NCJW had a domestic agenda,
concerned with issues still relevant today- women and children’s
health, women’s rights and education. The local section was
known as the Council. |
 After
the 1967 War in Israel, the NCJW Board sent a mission to Israel.
Esther Landa, then a board member, was among those to go. A subsequent
visit by the Israeli Minister of Education to the U.S. led to
the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters);
program; Hillary Clinton later adapted it for Arkansas. Esther
introduced the Head Start program to Utah. The NCJW worked unsuccessfully
to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
NCJW programs now include social events such as a ski day at Alta,
the Jewish Film Festival, and service activities such as the Chanukah
luncheon and Passover Seder for seniors and Tikkun Olam Project
for the homeless, elderly and refugees. NCJW has fielded teams
for the Race for the Cure and participates in legislative advocacy
before both the Utah legislature and Congress. NCJW Utah Section
is always looking for ways to expand our mission to promote Jewish
values, service, and culture.
Esther
Landa is pictured second from left with a sign to pass the ERA
(Equal Rights Amendment).
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Men
In Drag: NCJW/Sisterhood celebrates Esther Landa's 90th birthday
Watch the video here.
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