Women's association
Judiska Fruntimmers Välgörenhetsförening ry — Fruntta
Judiska Fruntimmers Välgörenhetsförening ry, known within the Jewish Community of Helsinki simply as Fruntta, is one of the oldest associations of the Jewish Community of Helsinki. It has operated without interruption since 1898 with the task of helping the more vulnerable members of the community, families with children, and the elderly. The association's Hebrew name, Chevrat lechem evyonim, refers to its original task – bread for the less fortunate.
Historical roots
The idea of founding the association arose in the late 1890s, when the kind-hearted and energetic ladies of the community gave their first assistance to the poorest by providing ingredients for preparing food for Shabbat. The idea of establishing an organisation that could organise assistance for those who needed it emerged from this practical help. Fruntta was founded in 1898.
Development over the decades
The development of financial aid
Over the years, the distribution of financial assistance became more common. Fruntta granted regular, monthly financial aid for the first time by a decision of its board in 1956. The association was not officially registered until 2020, even though it had operated without interruption for over 120 years.
The tradition of donations
Fruntta's operations have always been built on donations. One of the earliest major donations came from Moses Skurnik, who on his 50th birthday, on 19 December 1930, donated a total of 50,000 marks to be used for the benefit of the sick. Many have continued this tradition, and in the 2020s, too, the association has received substantial donations, especially to help families with children.
Fundraising traditions
Throughout its existence, Fruntta has organised events in the community for fundraising. The food bazaars were, for a long time, an essential part of its operations and an important source of income. The ingredients were received as donations, and Fruntta's board and the friends of Fruntta prepared traditional Jewish dishes for lunch and to be bought and taken home, sparing no effort and never counting their working hours. The work was done mostly on a voluntary basis, but it was rewarding: funds were raised and members of the community enjoyed the traditional Jewish dishes family by family.
The selling of raffle tickets has always been one of Fruntta's hallmarks. In the past, every member of Fruntta carried a book of raffle tickets in their pocket, so that no opportunity to raise funds would be missed. Raffle tickets are still sold at all the association's celebrations, and the prizes are always received as donations.
In recent years, the Purim and Hanukkah celebrations, with their traditional delicacies, have become central sources of income. On Hanukkah, Fruntta fries thousands of savoury and sweet latke pancakes, and on Purim, Fruntta bakes pastries known as Hamentaschen, Haman's ears. These celebrations have become important events across the whole community.
Nowadays Fruntta also takes care of the bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah kiddush receptions as well as various coffee gatherings. All the work is still done on a voluntary basis. In addition, the association raises funds by selling congratulatory and condolence telegrams and by organising Latet Chag fundraisers before holidays, namely Rosh Hashana, Purim and Pesach.
The present day
Today, Fruntta also provides emotional and social support in addition to financial help. The association organises Fruntta's senior coffee gatherings and various outings for seniors. Monthly games evenings for all ages in the community's premises are also being planned.
Sensitivity is Fruntta's cornerstone. Asking for help is often felt to be a delicate matter, and therefore straightforwardness and fairness are the watchwords of its work. The association avoids complicated bureaucracy.
Fruntta's current chair is Pia Siitonen. The other board members are Mirjam Orvomaa, Caroline Aspelin, Chaya Votkin, Eva Rubinstein, Raili Mattsoff, Anna Montonen Swanström, Yvonne Westerlund and Boel Dondysh.
An unbroken tradition of helping
Since 1898, Fruntta has operated on the same principle: to help the more vulnerable members of the community with sensitivity and without complication. For more than 125 years, the provision of help has passed from one generation to the next, while the ways of helping have changed from the ingredients for the Shabbat meal to financial assistance and emotional support. The number of those in need of help has not decreased but increased. Fruntta's work is still needed.