Remembering Canada’s Hidden Heroines: the Jewish women who served in the Second World War

Journalist and author Ellin Bessner visits the CFUW Leaside-East York chapter and brings the unknown story of the Canadian women of Jewish faith who helped defeat Hitler in the Second World War.

While most accounts of the war talk about the six million Jewish victims who were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust, not much attention has been paid, until now, to the liberators: the Jewish military personnel who fought in a Canadian uniform, stopped the war, and rescued the survivors.

Among the 17,000 Canadian Jews who did, were a handpicked few female volunteers, including Ellin’s aunt, Cpl. Daisy Friedberg. She was a tough-as-nails military police officer who guarded vital transport sites and kept unruly personnel in line.

Her story — and the story of Canada’s female Jewish contribution to military history — is told as part of Ellin’s book “Double Threat: Canadian Jews, the Military, and the WWll” published by the University of Toronto Press.

Just ahead of Remembrance Day 2022, join Ellin for a lively interactive presentation about the CWACS, WRENS and RCAFWD women who served, plus how the civilian women on the home front did their bit.

Books will be available for sale at the event or order them in advance, here: