Lillian Bilsky Freiman (1885-1940) National Historic Person

 

Lillian Bilsky Freiman was designated as a national historic person in 2008.

Historical importance: a gifted organizer and philanthropist who worked to improve the health and welfare of her fellow citizens.

Commemorative plaque: 149 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario^{Footnote 1}

Lillian Bilsky Freiman (1885–1940)

Benefactor and activist Lillian Freiman worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Canadians. Born to Moses and Pauline Bilsky in Mattawa, Ontario, she married Ottawa businessman A. J. Freiman in 1903. While living here, she forged intercultural ties through community service. Her numerous charitable efforts included fundraising for First World War veterans by selling the first Canadian poppies, made in her living room. A gifted organizer, she led the expansion of Hadassah-WIZO as president (1919–1940) and helped rescue Polish orphans. Freiman was the first Jewish Canadian to receive the Order of the British Empire.

Lillian Bilsky Freiman (1885–1940)

Lillian Bilsky Freiman was a Jewish Canadian organizer, activist, and benefactor who dedicated her life to community service. She worked tirelessly to improve the health and welfare of Canadians through her charitable efforts. As president of Hadassah-WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization) from 1919 to 1940, Freiman turned this group into a truly national organization.

Born to Moses and Pauline Bilsky in Mattawa, Ontario, Freiman grew up in a large religious and community-oriented family. In 1903, she married Ottawa businessman A.J. Freiman. As a long-serving president of Hadassah-WIZO during the first half of the 20th century, Freiman was a central figure of the Canadian Zionist movement. She transformed this group into one of the largest and most influential women’s organizations in Canada. Under her leadership, the organization was effective on many national and international fronts in the areas of health, education, and culture. In addition to her work with Hadassah-WIZO, Freiman undertook numerous charitable efforts. In 1920, she organized and became president of the Jewish War Orphans’ Committee of Canada. This group sent money, clothes, and medical supplies to some 137,000 Jewish children orphaned by pogroms, and helped around 150 orphans immigrate to Canada. Much of this work with orphans took place in Rovno, which is now part of the Ukraine, but at the time was part of Poland. Freiman herself travelled overseas to help with the Committee’s work and bring children to Canada. In 1934, Freiman became an advocate for Youth Aliyah, a movement formed to help Jewish children escape persecution in Nazi Germany by sending them to Israel.

Freiman devoted attention to many other national and civic initiatives. Volunteering to help raise funds for Canadian veterans after the First World War, in 1921, she made the first Canadian poppies in her living room, earning her the moniker “Poppy Lady.” Freiman also helped establish the Perley Home for Incurables, which provided care to people with seemingly incurable diseases. She readily assisted the Canadian Red Cross, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Girl Guides, the Roman Catholic Institut Jeanne d'Arc, and the City of Ottawa. In 1934, she was the first Jewish Canadian to be inducted into the Order of the British Empire. While always reasserting her Jewish identity, Lillian Bilsky Freiman was a gifted organizer who forged intercultural ties between her community and all Canadians through her community service.

Backgrounder last update: 2018-09-25

Related links

• National historic designations
• National historic persons
• National historic sites designations
• National historic events
• Submit a nomination
• This Week in History