Search Results

Name

Sarah (Patlik) Green

Number

AC 004

Interview Date

7 January 1975

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Sophie Milgram

AccessionNumber

AC 004

Total Running Time

38 minutes 44 seconds

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography

Sarah (Patlik) Green grew up living in Toronto's "Junction" neighbourhood. The family home and scrap yard business were both located on Maria St. which served as the centre for Jewish life in the Junction during the early 1900s. Sarah Patlik was involved with numerous charitable organizations including the Ontario Hospital School of Orilla and the Rubinoff and Naftolin Mishpocha.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Green, Sarah

Geographic Access

West Toronto Junction

Kingston, Ont.

Toronto, Ont.

Orillia, Ont.

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

Side A:

0.21: Family arrived from Russia in 1908-1909. Grandfather arrived first. Saved his money and brought family to Canada, one by one. Anshel Wise agency used to help families immigrate to Canada.

3.44: Move to Toronto 1909. Family moved for better employment opportunities. Family lived in rented house on Portland Avenue. Father was a laborer in a junkyard. The junkyard was located around the King area, close to home. Family then moved to Stanley Ave. off Niagara St. Stanley Ave. was a Jewish neighborhood.

6.57: Move to The Junction 1915/1916. (Junction called “Muddy York” but was part of Toronto). Grandfather saved money and opened a junkyard of his own on Maria St. Family lived in 3 different homes on Maria St., one at 225, at 283 and the last house was right in the front of the junkyard, at 202 Maria St.

8.14: Standard of living in the Junction 1915/16. The rents were $20 a month. Mother made her own bread, preserves, and pickles to put away for the winter. She shared whatever we had with some of the poorer Jewish families on Maria St.

8.56: Maria Street Shopkeepers and Services. Two butchers, Mr. Zaitzove? and Mr. Weiner? Mr. Mandel had a Jewish bakery. Mr. Bexter? was the Schochet (ritual slaughterer). A cheder and a Peretz school. Teachers: Mr McKankil, Mr. Brick and Mr. Rigelhof?

11.28: No antisemitism in the Junction recalled by Sara Patlick.

11.34: Transportation in the Junction. No streetcars. There used to be a “jitney” and for 5 cents it took you right to your home. The streets were not paved and the mud came up to our “ears”. Entertainment in the Junction. We had no cars, radios nor televisions but we did have a gramophone, it was our entertainment. Mother bought a piano and paid a quarter a week for it. We all took piano lessons. Attended organized free concerts and dances at the Peretz Shul on Beverley St (first on Crawford St.). Picture shows were 5 cents.

17.27: Sarah Patlik and Charity Work. Secretary for Jewish Ladies Auxillary from the Junction. Raised money for the Weston Sanitorium. Secretary for the Old Folks Home on Cecil St. Secretary for the Antidiluvian Order of Buffalos, Lord Reading Lodge. Lodge did work for War Veterans. Hadassah. Secretary for Pride of Israel. In 1973 was made Woman of the year by the Ontario Hospital School of Orilla.

20.23: Agudath Mishpocha/Rubinoff and Naftolin Families. Families formed organization so that they would all be together and not forget who they were. Formed in 1928. Charity work and donations to: The Bloorview Hospital, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, The Heart Fund, Princess Margaret, Sick Children’s Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Baycrest, Jewish Blind, Syrian Jews, State of Israel emergency fund and bonds.

30.12: Affiliation with Pride of Israel. Joined with husband in 1933. Was Synagogue secretary for many years.

34.05: Junction Shul on Maria St. Founded in 1918/1919 by Hyman Naftolin. Shul began in a little house at 84 or 86 Maria St. Shul became too small. Abraham Tenenbaum investor of present day Junction Shul.

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Ismé Bennie

Number

AC 429

Subject

Canada--Emigration and immigration

Jews--South Africa

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Interview Date

26 Apr. 2016

Interviewer

Naomi Raichyk

Total Running Time

AC 429 part 1: 21 min.

AC 429 part 2: 21 min.

AC 429 part 3: 21 min.

AC 429 part 4: 9 min.

Biography

For someone who went on to become an influential figure in Canadian broadcasting, it is perhaps surprising to learn that Ismé Bennie grew up without television. Born in Vereeniging, South Africa in 1940, Ismé knew from a young age that she wanted to travel. After graduating from Wits University in 1960, she moved to London, England, which is where she saw television for the first time.

Although happy in London, Ismé decided to return to South Africa after two years, mostly as a result of her parents’ urging. While participating in the production of an American documentary about South Africa, she met a Canadian man who lived in the United States. In 1964, she moved to Los Angeles to be with him and eventually the two moved to New York, where they lived for five years.

Ismé’s partner eventually grew unhappy in New York and decided to return to Canada. At the time, many young men were making their way to Canada in order to dodge the draft. Ismé followed their guide about entering Canada. Upon arrival, she completed the questionnaire with flying colours and was allowed to stay.

Once in Canada, Ismé quickly put together an impressive resume, holding senior positions at CHUM and CTV. She has been honoured by the Canadian Film and Television Production Association with a Personal Achievement Award in 1990 and a Jack Chisholm Award in 1995. In 2003, Women in Film and Television – Toronto recognized her with an Outstanding Achievement Award.

In 2010, Ismé left CTV in order to focus on freelance writing. In 2015, she published a memoir of her childhood entitled White Schooldays: Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.

Material Format

moving images

Language

English

Name Access

Bennie, Ismé, 1940-

Geographic Access

London (England)

Los Angeles (Calif.)

New York (N.Y.)

South Africa

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Digital file

Copy Format

Digital file

Transcript

Part 1:

00:24 Ismé was born in South Africa in 1940.

00:36 Ismé immigrated to Enland in 1962. She shares some of her memories from her stay in London. She explains how her views of apartheid changed.

02:40 Ismé discusses her personal and political reaction when she returned to South Africa in 1964.

05:09 Ismé discusses her job with a news magazine in South Africa.

06:48 Ismé discusses her involvement with the production of a film.

08:15 Ismé explains how she met and followed a man to the United States in 1965. She discusses his influence on her intellectually and politically.

10:43 Ismé outlines her first years in North America, initially in Los Angeles, then in New York, and finally in Toronto.

12:32 Ismé explains how she prepared for her move to Canada and discusses her initial arrival in Canada in December 1969.

15:56 Ismé shares her first impressions of Toronto.

18:02 Ismé discusses the friends she made in Toronto.

19:42 Ismé discusses her involvement with her local residential association.

Part 2:

00:00 Ismé discusses her impressions of Canadians' views of South Africa.

01:11 Ismé discusses her process of integration into and adjustment to Toronto.

03:10 Ismé explains that she had minimal contact with other South Africans when she arrived in Toronto. She suggests that her circumstances differed from other South African immigrants.

06:42 Ismé discusses her Jewish life growing up in South Africa.

09:45 Ismé discusses her involvement with the Jewish Genealogical Society in Toronto due to her personal interest in genealogy.

10:57 Ismé discusses her pursuit of her family history.

14:24 Ismé graduated from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. She discusses the efforts of an alumni group in Toronto.

16:11 Ismé discusses her successful career in broadcasting.

Part 3:

00:00 Ismé continues to discuss her career in broadcasting.

01:46 Ismé discusses her current work involvement as a consultant and writer.

03:16 Ismé discusses challenges she has faced as a woman and as a Jew.

06:50 Ismé discusses people who have influenced her in her professional life.

08:31 Ismé discusses some of her most rewarding professional achievements.

10:28 Ismé discusses her avid, longstanding interest in reading.

12:07 Ismé discusses her family and friends in South Africa and how she has maintained connection with them.

16:10 Ismé discusses her impressions of recent visits to South Africa.

19:23 Ismé discusses the challenges her sister would face if she considered immigration to Canada.

Ismé considers the notion of moving back to South Africa.

Part 4:

00:00 Ismé continues to discuss the notion of living in South Africa.

01:30 Ismé recalls some of her memories of South Africa.

05:40 Ismé discusses the process of pursuing her Canadian citizenship.

Source

Oral Histories

Toronto Fashion

A Very Loose Jewish Background

Welcome to Canada

Two South Africas

Address

216 Beverley Street

Time Period

1918-unknown

Scope Note

The Apter Synagogue was formed by a group of people who came to Toronto from the area of Opatow (Apt) in Poland around the turn of the century. They first established a small synagogue on Centre Avenue near Dundas Street in the Ward. In 1918, in anticipation of more Apter immigrants coming to Toronto after the First World War, the synagogue was sold and a larger one purchased on Beverley Street. Both the synagogue members and the Apter Friendly Society met there.

History

In later years, a bitter controversy between the synagogue and society erupted and the building was sold.

Category

Political

Religious

Private Clubs

Source

Landmarks