Matilda “Tillie” Brandwine
Interviewed by Cheryl Guyer
November 12, 2003
Max M. Fisher Federation Building, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Matilda “Tillie” Brandwine
Video 01:03:00
Matilda “Tillie” Brandwine
Audio 01:03:00
Abstract
In this interview, Matilda “Tillie” Brandwine mentions her family’s immigration to Detroit after hearing that Henry Ford was paying $5 a day. When speaking about her childhood and the neighborhood she grew up in, she says that the neighborhood was not predominantly Jewish. As more Jewish families moved in, her parents and others in the community began organizing and fundraising for a shul.
Brandwine speaks of her experiences working for Judge Butzel, and her beginnings soliciting funds for the Federation. She also briefly mentions her involvement with the Jewish Family and Children Service, Fresh Air Society, Jewish Community Center board, and Jewish Apartments and Services.
When asked about Israel, Mrs. Brandwine speaks of her first trips there in the 1960s and her experiences working with the Jewish National Fund. From here, she discusses her work with the Women’s Division of Federation, heading the education and fundraising committees.
One of the things Mrs. Brandwine mentions as being particularly proud of is helping relatives emigrate from Romania in the 1950s. Another proud project she talks about at length is her involvement with the Cemetery Index.
Lastly, Mrs. Brandwine speaks of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and challenges she believes the Jewish community faces.
History of Narrator
Matilda “Tillie” Brandwine, a former president and campaign chairman of the women’s division, chaired the Federation culture and education division and served on the Jewish Welfare Federation’s executive committee.
She was vice president of both the Jewish Federation Apartments and Jewish Family Service, whose nursing home visiting program she helped organize. She was also active with the Jewish Community Center and Fresh Air Society. Brandwine spearheaded the effort to create a cemetery index of Jews buried in Jewish and non-Jewish cemeteries in Metro Detroit.
The recipient of the Jewish National Fund Woman of the Year award and the Israel Bonds Woman of Valor medal, Brandwine served on the national boards of the Joint Distribution Committee and the United Jewish Appeal women’s division. She was an officer of Hadassah, B’nai David Sisterhood and active in United Community Services, which once named her its volunteer of the month.
In 1981, she co-chaired the Council of Jewish Federations general assembly in Detroit. She was founding president of Friends of Hillel Day School. In 1989, she was the recipient of the prestigious Butzel Award for distinguished community service.
Brandwine died on August 18, 2005 at the age of 90.
Transcript
Important Subjects
Important Names
Credit as: Leonard M. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Matilda Brandwine Oral History Interview, November 12, 2003.