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Nachman Sokol
- Accession Number
- 2012-6-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2012-6-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 24 photographs : b&w and col ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Date
- [ca. 1915]-1986
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs related to Nachman Sokol's involvement with the Mizrachi movement. The photographs feature Sokol at meetings and events in Israel with individuals such as president Chaim Herzog, former president Zalman Shazar, chief Ashkenazi rabbi Goren, and the mayor of Jerusalem, Shlomo Zalman Shragai. Photos related to the Mizrachi movement include a group photo featuring Sokol with Shmuel Aaron Abella, Mr. Posner and Max and Joseph Zeifman along with a snapshot taken at Camp Moshava (or Camp Hashomer Hadati / Mizrachi Agricultural School and Camp) in Bronte (this camp likely opened in 1945 on the Osler Estate in Bronte). Personal photographs include Sokol disembarking from a plane in Israel, Sokol with his wife Bertha, as well as his brother-in-law, Hyman Bessin and Sokol as a young child with his parents and siblings..The textual records include a 100th anniversary book for the Canadian Friends of Yeshiva University, a 70th anniversary book for Sokol, some correspondence including a letter to Hy Bessin from Paul Martin Sr. and a reception invitation to Sokol from the president of Israel.
- Custodial History
- The records were in the possession of Reuben Sokol, the step-son of Nachman Sokol.
- Administrative History
- Nachman (Nathan) Sokol (ca. 1910-1992) was born around 1910 in Brisk, Russia. He was ordained at the Brisk Yeshiva, following in the footsteps of his father, Rabbi Yakov Menachem Sokol. His mother's name was Gittel. He had five siblings: Shmuel, Mindel (died in the Holocaust), Harry, Chana and Adele. In 1947, he attended the World Zionist Conference in Basle and met Rachel Bessin Hochman (the first President of the Women's Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi of Canada). He later met Rachel's daughter Bertha Bessin (b. Ottawa 1920-d. Toronto 2011). In 1958 Nachman and Bertha married; the second marriage for both. Nachman's first wife was Dina and they had one daughter, Gloria (Halberstadt). Bertha had three children with her first husband Joseph Lang (who died at age 37): Merna (Davidowtiz), Marvin, and Reuben. Bertha's children were legally adopted by Nachman.
- Nachman never practiced as a Rabbi, although he was trained as a ritual slaughterer. He would work in property management for most of his life. He was very involved in the religious zionist movement in Toronto, particularly as a member of the Mizrachi movement. He was a volunteer on the Va'ad Hakashruth, on the board of CHAT, President of the Torah HaVodah Congregation, co-founder of the Bnei Akiva high schools in Toronto, a counselor and Rosh Mosh of Camp Moshava in Bronte, and founder and President of Camp Moshava in Ennismore, Ontario. Sokol died in 1992.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Descriptive Notes
- Associated material note: the Ottawa Jewish Archives holds material related to Camp Moshova in Bronte in the Mizrachi Organization of Canada; Ottawa Branch fonds.
- Source
- Archival Accessions