Helen Hosid was born December 21, 1919 in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital. She was the first daughter of 2 born to Abe and Mary Jabitsky, who had emigrated from Poland. The birth was not recorded in the December 1919 book, but the January 1920 book. This caused Helen quite some difficulty when she needed a copy of her birth certificate.
Helen was raised in the Bronx and attended PS 75, PS 60 and James Monroe High School. A requirement of graduation was the ability to swim, so the school had an indoor swimming pool. Helen's first job required her to work 6 days a week for $5.00. She wanted to be a podiatrist so she attended Long Island University at night. Her mother, who believed in the power of learning, insisted that Helen go full time during the day. When LIU students has to sit alphabetically in a biology class lecture, whose name came before Helen Jabitsky, but Jack Hosid.
Helen and Jack were married on March 22, 1942 in Temple Tifref. Then Jack went into the Army and Helen joined him whenever possible. Jack was mainly stationed in the Southern United States. It was here that Helen met many people who had never met a Jewish person. She found herself being asked questions about her faith. This started her on a learning journey about Judaism. Her parents had belonged to a temple, but women were only taught about celebrating the Jewish holidays and Sabbath in the home.
After World War II Helen settled in with her husband and daughter, Irene, on the 3rd floor of her in-laws home in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Two more daughters followed, Lila and Naomi. Jack went back to college at Columbia to get a Master's degree in Chemistry.
A job opportunity in Orlando, Florida brought the family down in 1951. Things were not always easy, but Helen kept her positive attitude and took care of her home in College Park and family, when Jack was out on the road all week. Helen used to joke that since Jack was only home on the weekend, rather that being married x numbers of years, it was 2/7x. So on their 28th anniversary, they were really celebrating 8 years of marriage.
From 1951 to 1955 the Hosid family were members of Congregation Ohev Shalom where Helen was a Sunday school teach, youth leader and on the Sisterhood Board. She helped cater luncheons, bar mitzvahs, Purim parties, breakfasts and was on the transportation squad.
Through the years Helen held many positions in Jewish organizations. In 1956 while vice president of B'nai B'rith Women, Helen attended the 13th annual post Yom Kippur dance held at Pine Hills Country Club and met Senator Estes Kefauver, candidate for Vice President on the National Democratic ticket. While president of B'nai B'rith Women she traveled to Tallahassee to get school tests not to be given on Jewish holidays and to recognize Jewish observances in public schools. Then in 1958 she helped distribute thousands of school calendar books with Jewish holidays to be given to local schools so principals and teachers would be aware of the dates these holidays were celebrated. Helen attended the National and Branch State Conference of combined B'nai B'rith Women & Men working and striving for better relations with Civil Laws and Anti-segregation.
Helen was the second group president of Hadassah's Chaverot group. Then she was urged to become the first Orlando Chapter President over five groups when National Hadassah wanted Florida to be sectioned into areas geographically.
Since 1956 has been an active member of Temple Israel were "House" chair which arranged the use of the social hall, youth activities, holidays, purchase kitchen supplies, catering bar mitzvahs and worked with the parents usage of the facilities; "flower" chair which acted as liaison with congregates who were helped by the rabbi. Helen belonged to the Bekkur Cholim committee and visited the sick in the hospital. In Sisterhood Helen served in many, many capacities, but would never accept the presidency because she considered the position too personally absorbing and emotional. Instead she held every chair and vice president position possible.
For all here works Helen received many awards including: The Hadassah 1979 Myrtle Wreath Award "for devoted services to the Jewish people in Israel and the United States; Temple Israel Sisterhood 1992-93 Woman of the year which was presented to Helen by her daughter, Irene Herman; The Israel Freedom Award along with her husband Jack for their many years of dedication to Israel and the Jewish Community.
The Seventeenth Annual National Leadership Award in 2003 because Helen was chosen by her peers for "outstanding commitment to further the development of present and future leadership of Hadassah"; The Florida Region Torah Fund in 2007 "for her tireless work in preserving, promoting and perpetuating Conversative/Masorti Judaism." Helen built Temple Israel's Torah Fund into what it is today.
In 2015 Helen was pleased to be one of the 8 over 80 honorees by Kinneret. She kidded that it was high time, since she was about to turn 95, Helen was present at the ground breaking ceremonies of Kinneret and she spent many years visiting her mother, Mary Jabitsky.
Helen is survived by her loving and devoted daughters; Irene (Chester) Herman of Longwood, Florida, Lila Pittman of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and Naomi Williams of Gainesville, Florida; devoted grandchildren; David (Shannon) Herman, Adam (Tracy) Kosofsky, Jarett (Jared) Forkner, Catherine (John) Nilon and Elizabeth Herman; beloved great-grandchildren; Rosie, Opal, Alexa, Owen, Jack, Jane, Amelia and Daniel.
Graveside Services for Helen will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM at Temple Israel Cemetery (9302 Morton Jones Road, Gotha, FL) with Rabbi Joshua Neely of Temple Israel officiating. May she rest in peace and may her memory always be a blessing.
Service entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida 407-599-1180.
