“The Hero of Dear Old Halifax”: The Massachusetts Relief Effort Following the Halifax Explosion of 1917

December 6, 2017 Boston Free
(Courtesy photo)
(Courtesy photo)

On Dec. 6, 1917, a collision in Halifax Harbor caused the largest man-made explosion to date. Nearly 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 injured. One-hundred years later, many Bostonians are aware of the city’s role in the relief efforts following the blast—the reason why Halifax gifts Boston with its official Christmas tree each year.

Yet very few know about the Massachusetts men and women who were instrumental to those endeavors. One of those individuals was Abraham C. Ratshesky, the son of Jewish immigrants and commissioner-in-charge of the Halifax Relief Expedition, who, within two weeks, became a hero to the citizens of Halifax and Boston. Learn about Ratshesky’s leadership in the relief efforts and his philanthropic legacy that continues to this day. Items from the Abraham C. Ratshesky papers will be on display following the lecture.

About the speaker: Stephanie Call has been with the Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society since 2007 (when it was the New England Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society). She is responsible for managing and overseeing the JHC’s core activities of archival preservation, family history, and educational outreach.

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Fact Sheet
When
Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where
New England Historic Genealogical Society
99-101 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116
Price
Free

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