Ethel Finkelstein z'l

Ethel Leedman was born in Menzies, in the Goldfields of Western Australia in November 1898. Ethel taught in primary schools in Perth and in the country until her marriage to Samuel Finkelstein in 1924.

They lived in the town of Kununoppin in the eastern wheatbelt, where Sam was a pioneer doctor. There were no Jewish people in the area and Ethel became active in the local Country Women’s Association.

When the family moved to Perth at the end of 1938, she became involved in working for Jewish charities. She joined the fledging WIZO and when the inaugural President, Hannah Breckler z’l moved to Melbourne during the Second World War, Ethel took over the Presidency. She remained in office, as President and then Vice President, over a period of forty years.

Ethel’s qualities of leadership and her ability to speak with ease and interest in public were of value. The WIZO ladies were all good cooks and before kosher catering evolved in Perth they raised considerable funds by catering for simchot in the Jewish community.

In 1954 Ethel visited Israel. She took the opportunity at that time to visit the WIZO projects which were specifically supported by WIZO Australia. She went to Haifa and laid a trowel of cement on the cornerstone of a new building at Ahuzat Yeladim, proudly representing Western Australia. She also went to the WIZO Baby Home and the Vocational School for Girls in Tel Aviv. Ethel found these visits both inspiring and of great interest and when she returned to Perth was able in turn to enthuse her fellow WIZO volunteers.

Another way in which Ethel raised funds for WIZO lay in her painting. She was gifted in portraiture and over the years people came to her with photographs of children or departed loved ones and she copied them. She donated her art and the materials and the recipients normally gave a donation to WIZO.

Ethel’s name is on the WIZO Honour Board and she was made a Life Member of WIZO.