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New Dispensary on Cooper Street

Intended for the Especial Benefit of Hebrews of The North and West Ends

April 2, 1900, Boston Globe*

A long-felt want has been supplied by the opening of the Boston Jewish Dispensary for Women and Children at 17 Cooper Street.

Owing to the large influx of Hebrew residents in the North and West Ends all of whom are members of the orthodox class, an institution of this nature was found necessary. The laws of the orthodox Hebrews regarding their food and the manner of its cooking and service prohibit them from remaining at any hospital for any length of time.

A number of years ago some well-known Hebrew physicians started an organization whose chief object was to open and support a hospital so that any orthodox Jew who required care might secure it without interference with his religious belief.

There was no fault found with the care given patients at the free hospitals, but in many cases it was impossible to secure permission to send the patients to the free institutions owing to the religious belief of the family or friends of the sick persons.

The new organization received a fair amount of support, but the leaders of the movement were afraid that time for such an enterprise in this city had not arrived and so the organization disbanded.

The new dispensary is thought by the people of the district to be a movement in the right direction and that in a short time Boston will follow New York and other large cities and open a hospital where Hebrews can be treated without objection.

Not only is the dispensary the first institution of its kind in this city, but is in charge of the only woman doctor among the 50,000 Jewish residents in this city. Dr. Cecilia Shereshefsky, who is in charge, is a graduate of Tufts College, Class 97. After her graduation she took charge of a dispensary which was a branch of the Federation of Jewish Charities with headquarters in the Sheltering Home, Cooper Street, where 5000 patients, mostly women, were treated each year and double that number were rejected owing to the small force available.

Owing to sickness, Dr. Shereshefsky was some time away from her charges and after a shot time the dispensary was closed. But the demand was so great the present dispensary was opened by the doctor herself without the assistance of any organization or institution.

Already the daily average of patients is 20, most of them women, who are treated by the doctor, assisted by a nurse. The dispensary is open Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday forenoons from 10 until 12.



ProQuest Historical Newspapers Boston Globe (1872-1923) - April 2, 1900, page 6.


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Source: *ProQuest Historical Newspapers Boston Globe (1872-1923), April 2, 1900 page 6