Accession consists of photographs, certificates, newspaper clippings, military routine orders and ephemera that document Harold Kates's service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War.
Administrative History
Harold Kates was born in Toronto on August 4, 1921 to Rose and Sholom Katz. The family lived on Roberts Street and Harold went to Lansdown school. He enlisted in the army in September 1939, but left in 1940 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force as an airplane mechanic after realizing his regiment would not be going overseas. While serving overseas, Harold was stationed in England, Africa and Greece. After the war, Harold returned to Toronto and received his auto mechanic license. He soon became interested in electricity and opened his own business, Kates Elect, which he operated for sixteen years. In addition, Harold was a member of Toronto's Auxillary Police Force. On October 20, 1954 he married Terry Rafalove.
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.
Accession consists of a photo and material relating to the life of Kate Devor and her family. Included are press clippings, certificates, donation cards, correspondence and publications documenting her association with Jewish organizations in Toronto such as Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi, State of Israel Bonds, Shaarei Tefillah Synagogue, and Hadassah in St. Catharines, Ontario. There are also letters from her son David who served with the Irish Regiment of Canada during the Second World War and lost his life in December 1944, as well as the telegram to his mother from the Minister of National Defence announcing his passing.
Accession consists of a number of items in Yiddish including a notebook, a newspaper clipping from New York, and several programs, small brochures, and a scrapbook of clippings. Among these are an issue of the periodical "Der Poiker" (March 1937) and an event program for the yahrzeit of renowned Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem.
There is material pertaining to Sholem Katz consisting of his Canadian Naturalization Certificate, correspondence, and share certificates from organizations including the Toronto Labour Lyceum, Poale Zion, and the Jewish National Workers Alliance Home in Montreal.
As well there are documents for Rubin Rocklin (Rochlin, Rachlin, Roklin) and his wife Rebecca Binsky and family including a marriage certificate, naturalization certificate and immigration papers and photos of Rochlin family members.
Accession consists of personal documents of Kate Risidore Devor including registration of her birth in 1895 in London, England; immigration inspection card issued at the Port of Quebec (1912); New York State marriage certificate for Harry Devor and Kate Risidore of St. Catharines, Ontario, married in 1914 in Niagara Falls, and their ketubah (Hebrew marriage certificate). As well, there is a newspaper clipping from the St. Catherines Standard of a speech by her son John, correspondence from two of her sons, Sydney and John serving in the military, and clippings and messages of condolence on the death of her son David while fighting in Italy (1944). These include cards and letters from King George of England, George Drew of Ontario, the Toronto War Memorial Committee, and Sam Bronfman, president of Canadian Jewish Congress. Finally there is Jewish National Fund correspondence documenting the planting of a tree by St. Catherines Hadassah in honour of Kate (1933), and a number of trees by Kate in memory of her brother and son (1966).
Administrative History
Four sons of Kate and William Harry Devor served in the Canadian forces during the Second World War - David, Berko, John, and Sydney.
This file consists of one photograph of Alan Tytel, president of the Hy-Teen Council and one of a group of Hy-Teen members, lighting the Hanukkah candle. There are also some photographs of council meetings.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
The Hy-Teen Council was a division within the YM-YWHA that was responsible for programming and activities geared towards the teenaged members. They organized cultural and social events through a number of their affiliated clubs, all of which were made up of "Y" members. They also contributed to the United Jewish Appeal's Combined Youth Appeal campaign.
Scope and Content
This file contains meeting minutes and agendas for the Hy-Teen Council, along with a program registration sheet and club lists.
Herald was born in Toronto in 1921. He served as a test flight mechanic with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1939 to 1945. Herald was stationed in North Africa, Scotland, Ireland, and England and was involved in various bombing campaigns throughout Europe, including the bombing of Berlin. In 1948, Herald volunteered and fought in Israel’s War of Independence with the 101 Fighter Squadron assembling aircraft in Herzlia. Today, he goes by the name Harold Kates.
Material Format
moving images
Name Access
Jewish Defense League
Geographic Access
Africa, North
England
Ireland
Scotland
Original Format
DVD
Transcript
00:00: Herald was born in Toronto. His parents emigrated in 1904 from Poland. He grew up in the Spadina/College area.
1:32: Herald was not affiliated with a synagogue.
1:50: Herald explains that he initially enlisted with the Queen’s Rangers in 1939 but that he learned they were not going overseas, so he enlisted with the RCAF, because he had taken a course in aeronautics at technical school.
3:30: Herald reports that there were few Jews in his regiment. There was no observance of kashrut and minimal opportunity to observe kashrut.
4:49: Herald discusses chaplains. He recalls that Rabbi Monson was active in the army but not in the air force.
6:15: Herald did not receive assistance, packages, etc. from any Jewish organizations.
7:03: Herald explains that he went overseas in 1942, landing in Liverpool, but that he was stationed in Hastings. He shares an anecdote about the hotel where he lodged.
8:53: Herald describes his role as a test flight mechanic. He lists the aircrafts that he flew in and checked out.
10:43: Herald explains that his squadron, sent to North Africa in 1943, was involved in the bombing of Italy before the invasion of Italy.
11:18: Herald contracted malaria while in North Africa. He recalls that the doctor he saw also had malaria and did not record the illness.
12:28: Herald shares an anecdote about meeting a Jewish girl while on leave in a small town in North Africa.
14:16: Herald’s squadron returned to England in 1944, where he remained until the war ended.
14:48: Herald recalls the disbelief at his station at the end of the war.
15:57: Herald returned to Canada on the Samaria steamship.
16:10: Herald recalls the danger from U-boats while crossing the English Channel en route to England.
17:37: Herald shares memories from his time serving in North Africa.
19:43: Following the war, Herald studied and was licensed in auto-mechanics.
21:04: Herald joined the Jewish Legion after the war to stay in touch with other Jews.
21:23: Herald reports that he did not encounter any antisemitism during his service.
21:55: Herald explains that he was proud to be Jewish. He discusses that he volunteered in 1948 to fight in Israel’s War of Independence. Initially, he volunteered with the army, but he was shifted to 101 Fighter Squadron assembling aircraft in Herzlia.
23:30: Herald discusses his post-war affiliation with Jewish War Veterans, the Jewish Legion, and the Jewish Defense League.
Dr. Max Kates was a Jewish dentist in Toronto. He was married to Lillian Kates, who was the founder of Camp Arowhon, a popular Jewish summer camp in Algonquin Park.
Address
Dundas and Elizabeth Streets
Time Period
ca. 1921-present
Scope Note
Dr. Max Kates was a Jewish dentist in Toronto. He was married to Lillian Kates, who was the founder of Camp Arowhon, a popular Jewish summer camp in Algonquin Park.
History
This building was designed by Benjamin Brown and was commissioned by Dr. Kates to house several stores and offices. It still stands today at the corner of Dundas and Elizabeth Streets in the heart of Toronto’s former St. John’s Ward; the area that first received the thousands of Jewish immigrants fleeing the pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe.
44 architectural drawings : 4 blueprints, 40 pencil on tracing paper ; 81 cm length or smaller and 7 cm diam.
Admin History/Bio
Dr. Max Kates was a Jewish dentist, his office was located at 218 1/2 Queen Street West. He was married to Lillian Kates, who was the founder of Camp Arowhon. They had two children, Eugene and Shyrle.
Scope and Content
File consists of architectural drawings of a two storey building containing stores for Dr. Max Kates at Dundas and Elizabeth Streets. Sections, elevations, detailing, floor plans, a block plan and a roof plan are included. An early perspective drawing shows the building designed as three-storeys instead of the built two-storey structure.
Notes
Due to the fragility of these drawings, the description is partially based on the item level descriptions created by Steve Speisman.
Access Restriction
Closed. Records are closed for conservation reasons.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.