The papers of Judy R. Kantor offer an understanding of the workings of two interrelated entities within the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo: the Women’s Activities Group and the Education Committee. These groups organized several conferences geared towards Jewish women’s political and civic education over the course of 15 years from 1985-2000. The collection also includes a special joint program with the National Conference for Community and Justice in 2000.

Series I highlights the work of the Women’s Activities Group and two conferences: “Directions 86, Issues of Choice” and “Patterns 89: Designing a New Decade of Choices,” that featured keynote speaker Shoshana Cardin, of the National Council on Soviet Jewry, and who had previously served as the first woman appointed as President of the Council of Jewish Federations in 1984.

Series II includes two educational series: “Networking 92” which featured Patty Mason, then an adjunct lecturer at University at Buffalo and educational consultant for Hillel, Nadine Strossen, National President, American Civil Liberties Union and Professor Ellen Cannon, a political-analyst and professor of Political Science at Northeastern Illinois and Roosevelt Universities who also led the Scholar-in-Residence Program in 1992-1993. Series II also includes a major conference in 2000: Jewish Women on the Threshold of the 21st Century, that featured keynote speakers, Dr. Shulamit Rheinharz and Congresswomen Louise Slaughter.

Series III is composed of a special joint program with the National Conference for Community and Justice in 2000, with Gerda and Kurt Klein. In 1957, Gerda Klein published, All But My Life that retold her experiences of surviving the Holocaust. After ghetto, deportation, slave labor camps, and a death march, Gerda Klein was finally liberated by American soldiers, and one particular soldier, Kurt Klein of Buffalo, became her husband. In addition to educating about the Holocaust through numerous mediums, Gerda Klein with her husband, Kurt Klein (who died in 2002) have created organizations to promote inclusion, tolerance and citizenship, as well as to combat bigotry and violence. This program was a tribute to their many civic activities.

Series IV includes biographical materials relating to Judy Kantor.