Fanny Solway (née Schwartz) was the daughter of Joseph Schwartz and Gertrude Schwartz and the sister of Sylvia Schwartz. She was married to Alex Solway (d. 1 July 1988) and had two children, Carol and Herbert. She had three grandchildren, Gary, Diane, and Michael. She died on 22 April 1971.
The Fanny Solway Award is a University of Toronto Faculty of Law bursary set up by Fanny's family after her death to be given to a first-year student that has obtained standing in pre-law studies satisfactory to the council and who satisfies the council of capacity to be an outstanding law student and demonstrates financial need.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of Fanny Solway.
Notes
This item has no proofs
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Related Material
See Fonds 80 Series 5-2 for photographs of the Fanny Solway at the family cottage.
2 photographs: b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 18 cm and 11 x 9 cm
Admin History/Bio
Fanny Solway (née Schwartz) was the daughter of Joseph Schwartz and Gertrude Schwartz and the sister of Sylvia Schwartz. She was married to Alex Solway (d. 1 July 1988) and had two children, Carol and Herbert. She had three grandchildren, Gary, Diane, and Michael. She died on 22 April 1971.
The Fanny Solway Award is a University of Toronto Faculty of Law bursary set up by Fanny's family after her death to be given to a first-year student that has obtained standing in pre-law studies satisfactory to the council and who satisfies the council of capacity to be an outstanding law student and demonstrates financial need.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of Fanny Solway.
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Related Material
See Fonds 80 Series 5-2 for photographs of the Fanny Solway at the family cottage.
Accession consists of material documenting Fanny Gertzbein (née Goldhar). Included are a family portrait of Meyer and Cyril Goldhar and eight children, a portrait of Fanny Gertzbein, and Gella Rothstein's comments on the OJA's oral history interview with Fanny Gertzbein.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: The two photographs have been scanned and are available as TIF and JPG files. Gella Rothstein's comments are available as a PDF file.
Related group of records external to the unit being described: The OJA has an oral history with Fanny Gertzbein: AC 033.
Item is a photograph of Martha Levine, eldest child of Michael Levine and Anne Woods Levine, taken at a studio in Toronto. She is standing, leaning against the back of a large chair.
Notes
Mounted in cardboard frame.
Photographer: Gledhill, 294 Queen St. West, Toronto.
Name Access
Levine, Martha
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Item is a portrait of Emma Levine taken in Toronto. Emma is facing away from the camera and has her head turned to one side. She is wearing a pearl necklace and has a flower in her hair.
Notes
See also photo #127.
Name Access
Levine, Emma
Subjects
Portraits
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Item is a photograph of Emma Levine wearing a white dress and pearl necklace. She is standing in front of a curtained backdrop and appears to be pregnant.
Notes
Inscribed in bottom right-hand corner: "Love, Emma".
Name Access
Levine, Emma
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Accession consists of textual records that document Sam's involvement in the Russian army and his immigration to Canada. Included is a copy of his naturalization certificate (1919), a JIAS shipping receipt for a package sent to Russia (1939), Russian army documents, and a temporary Russian passport (1914).
Administrative History
Sam Levine was born in Postov, Vilna, Russia on April 10th, 1885 to Mr. and Mrs. Eliahu Levine. Prior to immigrating to Canada, he received training as a blacksmith in the Russian army and had two daughters with his wife Sarah (d. 1968): Bessie (b. 1909) and Betty (b. 1913). His wife and daughters joined him in Canada around 1921; a year after he became a naturalized Canadian. After their arrival, Sam and his wife had two more daughters: Ethel (b. 1922) and Sylvia (b. 1924).
The Levine family resided at 11 Euclid and owned a stable at 22 Euclid, which Sam used as a place to shoe horses for profit. Throughout his career, Sam took on various metal work jobs, including building gates for residences and cemeteries, such as Roselawn Lambton. He often did the metal work at home and soldered the completed pieces together on site. During the Second World War, Sam had a contract with Lincoln Electric to build casings for motors.
Sam was part of the Grand Order of Israel and Sarah was a member of Folks Farein. Sam taught himself how to read English, and regularly frequented horse races. Sam passed away in 1976.
Descriptive Notes
Language note: some documents are in Russian and Yiddish
Related material note: see also accession #1988-11-12.
Accssion consists of photographs documenting the Levine family's immigration to Canada and activities in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Included are images of Mark and Bev during their first few years in Melford, Saskatchewan; family holiday celebrations (Hanukkah and Passover dinners); Shabbat dinners; the Edenbridge synagogue; trips to Niagara Falls; and images taken during trips Elfreda and Alec made to Canada from South Africa to visit Mark. Of note are images taken of Mark and Bev with other South African immigrants at a ski hill in Saskatchewan and at Shabbat dinners in Melford. Also included is a Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa in the early 1900s.
Photo Captions:
001: Romi’s birthday party at Green Lane school, [1993?].
002: Isaac (Mark’s father-in-law), Mark and Romi in Toronto, [1991?]
003: Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa, [between 1914 and 1916?]. Back row (left to right) Dora, Israel. Front row (left to right): Fanny, Becky, and Harry.
004: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. At a Shabbat dinner with six other South African doctors who were in Melford.
005: Pesach dinner in Toronto at the Levine’s, [1993?]. Man on right is Robert Kahn (pharmacist), woman is Ruth Falkstein. Man on left is Sydney Flax (optometrist). Romi is seated at table.
006: First Friday after the birth of Jade, McKee Ave., Toronto, 1998.
007: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford.
008: Mark at a local ski hill, [1986 or 1987]. Inscription on back of photo reads “Mark in his ski-ing regalia proving he does know how to ski”
009: Mark and Bev standing on the middle of a frozen lake in Melford, Saskatchewan, [1986 or 1987]
010-011: Seder at the Silberbergs
012: Mark and Bev’s flat in Melford (bottom-right apartment), [1987?]
013-014: Group of South African doctors and their wives at a South African party at the local ski hill in Melford, [between 1986-1988].
015: Mark in Niagara Falls, [ca. 1987].
016: Mark and Bev at Saskatchewan hospital with newborn daughter Romi, 1987.
017: Mark, Bev, Romi, 1987.
018-023: Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987.
024: Jewish cemetery in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987.
025-026: Interior of Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987.
027:First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford.
Administrative History
Leible and Esther Sweiden moved from Lithuania to Capetown in 1890. Leible's brother, Jacob followed him to Capetown around 1902. In 1906, Jacob and his wife Fanny (nee Vickers) immigrated with a small group of other Jewish South Africans to Edenbridge, Saskatchewan. Leible remained in South Africa. Leible's son Israel married Edith (Eadie) in 1934. Israel and Edith's daughter Elfreda (b. 1936) married Alec Levine in 1958. Elfreda was a bookkeeper for various companies and Alec worked for his family's plumbing business. They had three children together: Mark (b. 1959), Carol (b. 1962), and Adrian ( b. 1966).
Mark Levine married Beverley in 1983. They immigrated to Melford, Saskatchewan in 1986. Mark did not know at the time that his great grandfather's brother had immigrated to a nearby area decades earlier and only learned of his story and the Edenbridge Jewish community soon after arriving there. Mark worked as a physician at a local hospital. Beverley had been a pharmacist in South Africa, however, her qualifications were not recognized in Canada and she focused on raising her family. Mark and Bev's daughter, Romi, was born in August 1987. After 18 months in Melford, they moved to Toronto after Mark found work as a pediatric anesiologist at Sick Kids Hospital. In 1998, thier second daughter, Jade, was born. Mark's parents, Elfreda and Alec, immigrated to Toronto in 1999. Mark and other relatives encouraged them to immigrate due to the increasingly dangerous political situation in South Africa. Mark is also an assoicate professor at the University of Toronto. Alec and Elfreda's daughter Carol lives in England and their son Adrian remains in South Africa.
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 six electronic copies of photographs of Irving Levine and the Levine family and electronic copies of three invitations to Irving Levine's birthday party, and one newspaper clipping. Included is Irving and Ruth's wedding portrait and wedding photo with their parents (Sept. 6, 1952), two photographs of Irving with his mother Anne at Crystal Beach, a photograph of the Irving brothers in Grimsby, and a photo of Irving with business partner Lionel Robins (ca. 1978). Identified individuals in the photographs include: Irving Levine, Lionel Robins, Harry Levine, David Levine, Anne Levine, Ruth Levine, Sam Levine, Abraham Feldman, and Jennie Feldman.
Administrative History
Irving Levine was born in 1929 to Sam and Anne Levine. He was born in Grimsby, Ontario, where his father owned a junior department store. They were members of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Hamilton. Irving moved to Toronto in 1953, he married Ruth Fern in 1952 and they had three children: Alan, born in 1953, Suzy, born in 1956 and Michael, born in 1961. He has six grandchildren. He purchased Braemar clothing store in the early 1960s, with the first location in Cloverdale Mall. He became the top vice-president of Dylex, Ltd.,one of Canada's largest retail clothing companies, and general manager of Fairweather's division. Lionel Robins became his business partner in 1964.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Further identification can be found with the accession record.
Accession consists of records related to the activities of Alex Levin, a Jewish war veteran and Holocaust survivor. Records include letters written to Levin from school children following various speaking engagements; interviews with Crestwood School, CHAT, and Netivot Hatorah; a recording of the Saluting Our Italian Heroes commemorative event; recordings of Remembrance Day ceremonies hosted by the Canadian Jewish War Veterans (Toronto Post); and photographs documenting events attended by Levin including Holocaust remembrance events, Yom Hashoah, Remembrance Day ceremonies, March of the Living, Miracle Dinners and Proms, Azrieli Foundation events including the launch of Levin's book "Under the Yellow and Red Stars", school visits, JWV programs with Sunnybrook veterans, portraits of Levin through the years and various scanned images of Levin's family.
Administrative History
Alex Levin (1932-2016) was born in 1932 in Rokitno, Poland. In 1941, the Germans invaded Rokitno and established a ghetto and formed a Judenrat to carry out their orders. In 1942, the Ghetto was evacuated and the Jews were brought to the town's marketplace to be transported by train to be killed. Levin was ten years old when he escaped into the nearby forest with his brother Samuel where he lived for 18 months in a hole in the ground. He was twelve when he emerged from hiding to find that his parents and youngest brother Moishe had been murdered. In 1944, he joined the Soviet forces as a messenger boy. After the war, he was sent to the USSR and enrolled in cadet school, remaining in the Soviet army until forced out for being Jewish in the 1970s. An engineer by training, Alex came to Canada in 1975 via Austria and Italy, and now lives in Toronto where he regularly speaks about his experiences in the Holocaust.
Accession consists of thank you cards from schools where Alex was a speaker, sharing his story of Holocaust survival.
Administrative History
Alex Levin (1932-2016) was born Joshua Levin in 1932 in Rokitno, Poland. (He was also known as Yehoshua and Shike.) Rokitno was occupied in 1941 by Nazi Germany and Alex escaped the Rokitno ghetto with his brother in 1942, hiding in the woods for eighteen months. Soviet troops found him in January of 1944 and invited him to join the 13th Army as a field hospital unit helper. Because his Yiddish nickname was unfamiliar (Shike, from his Hebrew name, Yehoshua), they called him Shura or Shurik, diminutive forms of Alexander, which became his formal name. He became an officer in the USSR and an engineer. He immigrated to Canada in 1975 and brought his family to join him in 1980.
Accession consists of a four plaques awarded to Sarah Levine including a 94th birthday plaque from the Government of Ontario (1970); a 100th birthday plaque from the Government of Ontario (1976); a 90th birthday plaque from Baycrest (1966); a life membership plaque from Baycrest (1973); and 3 congratulatory telegrams honouring the occasion of her 94th birthday in 1970.
Accession consists of photographs and newspaper clippings documenting the life of the Levine Family. Photographs include class pictures from Port Whitby's Brock School, Purim celebrations at Oshawa's Beth Zion Synagogue, Camp Ogama staff and camper photos, Camp Winnibagoe cabin photos and Royal Winter Fair prize winning photos.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Bill Stern's parents were not supposed to take the train with him, but they insisted, and travelled as far as Newcastle, Ontario with their son.
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of Bill and his mother Fanny Stern. The photograph was taken at Exhibition grounds before Bill boarded the train to Halifax, where he would sail overseas to the fighting in Europe. Bill is standing in front of the train with his arm around his mother's shoulder.
Subjects
Mothers and sons
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Alec and Elfreda met when they were young teenagers. Elfreda was friends with Alec’s sister, and the two would play tennis together. Despite meeting at a young age, Alec and Elfreda did not begin dating until they were in their early twenties. They married in 1958 and subsequently had three children. It was largely on account of their two eldest children that they emigrated. Their eldest son had emigrated first, initially settling in Saskatchewan, while their daughter emigrated shortly thereafter, making a home in the United Kingdom. Their youngest son chose to remain in South Africa.
Following the birth of their granddaughter in Saskatoon, Alec and Elfreda began making regular trips to Canada. As time went on and crime continued to rise in South Africa, Alec and Elfreda’s children started to encourage their parents to move to Canada. This they did in 1999, arriving in Toronto in the cold month of October. While the ice and snow initially made for a new and exciting experience, they quickly got over it.
Arriving in their sixties, Alec and Elfreda initially struggled in their new country, but they soon found work and made friends. Making this process somewhat easier was the fact that the two enjoyed exploring the different areas of the city via subway, an activity they keep up to this day. Alec and Elfreda also continue to follow developments in South Africa—in part because one of their sons lives there—but now think of themselves as Canadians.
Material Format
moving images
Language
English
Name Access
Levine, Alec
Levine, Elfreda
Geographic Access
Cape Town (South Africa)
Johannesburg (South Africa)
Saskatchewan
Toronto (Ont.)
Original Format
Digital file
Copy Format
Digital file
Transcript
00:40 Elfreda discusses her family's immigration to South Africa. Her maternal grandparents came to Cape Town from Riga, Latvia via London. Her paternal grandfather came to South Africa in his teens and settled in ?Aliwal North.
02:14 Alec discusses his family's immigration to South Africa. His parents were married in Riga, Latvia. His maternal grandfather came to South Africa. During the period of 1930-1936, he brought his five daughters and their husbands to South Africa.
03:30 Elfreda describes Jewish life in Aliwal North. She explains why the Jewish population declined over time.
05:08 Elfreda recalls travelling by train to cities for holidays and how she and Alec met during holiday.
06:41 Alec describes his Jewish life growing up in Johannesburg.
07:48 Elfreda continues to discuss Jewish life while growing up in a small community.
09:13 Alec and Elfreda discuss Jewish youth groups and camps.
10:35 Elfreda discusses her academic path: two years of nursing in Cape Town and commercial bookkeeping in Johannesburg.
12:13 Alec discusses his career path: architecture for two years then joining the family plumbing business.
13:00 Alec and Elfreda married in 1958.
13:24 Alec describes his limited involvement in politics in South Africa. Their daughter became involved with the African National Congress (ANC) while she attended university.
14:55 Elfreda shares her memories from her childhood. She recalls the impact of apartheid following the rise of the nationalists in 1948.
16:13 Alec and Elfreda discuss having household staff in their homes while growing up and after they were married.
19:50 Elfreda describes a party she held for her family's maid when she retired.
21:17 Alec and Elfreda explain when and why their two older children emigrated from South Africa. Their youngest son remained in South Africa.
22:49 Alec and Elfreda discuss the factors that contributed to their decision to immigrate to Canada.
25:13 Alec describes some incidents of violence he personally experienced in Johannesburg.
25:58 Alec and Elfreda describe their feeling about leaving South Africa and the challenges of immigrating at a later stage of life (e.g. upgrading their work skills, finding work, making new friends).
28:33 Alec and Elfreda share some of their earliest memories of moving to Canada.
30:35 Alec discusses his early efforts to find work in Canada.
33:52 Elfreda discusses her involvement with the Jewish community, notably the South African Jewish community since their arrival in Canada.
35:49 Elfreda discusses how their willingness to explore Toronto has helped with their integration.
Part 2:
00:34 Alec and Elfreda describe the response from family and friends in South Africa to their decision to leave.
02:25 Alec and Elfreda came to Canada in October 1999. Their son, Mark, came in 1986.
02:50 Alec and Elfreda discuss the easier experience of integration by their son's family compared to their own.
03:49 Elfreda relates a family story. Mark settled in a small town in Saskatchewan when he arrived in Canada. He discovered that relatives of Elfreda had settled in a small neighbouring community in 1906.
5:00 Elfreda discusses their identity as Canadians.
Elfreda discusses their ongoing connections with South Africa.
07:30 Elfreda notes that they did not experience culture shock as they settled in Canada.
2 photographs: b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 15 cm
Admin History/Bio
Fanny Solway (née Schwartz) was the daughter of Joseph Schwartz and Gertrude Schwartz and the sister of Sylvia Schwartz. She was married to Alex Solway (d. 1 July 1988) and had two children, Carol and Herbert. She had three grandchildren, Gary, Diane, and Michael. She died on 22 April 1971.
The Fanny Solway Award is a University of Toronto Faculty of Law bursary set up by Fanny's family after her death to be given to a first-year student that has obtained standing in pre-law studies satisfactory to the council and who satisfies the council of capacity to be an outstanding law student and demonstrates financial need.
Herbert Solway received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1953 and a bachelor of laws degree in 1955. He was called to the bar in 1957. Herbert was a founding member of Goodmans LLP, joining the firm in 1955. He has played a significant role in helping build the foundation of the firm, serving as its chair from 1980 to 1992. He served as chair until 1994 and partner until 1998. He continues to serve as counsel to Goodmans. He was appointed to the Queen's Counsel in 1968.
Herbert has also been a director of Gluskin Sheff and Associates Inc. since May 2006. He is a director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a founding director of the Tarragon Theatre Company. He was a founding director of Sun Media Corporation and a director of John Labatt Ltd.
Carol Solway is the daughter of Alex and Fanny Solway, brother of Herbert Solway, and the niece of Sylvia Schwartz.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of Fanny, Carol and Herbert Solway.
Subjects
Mothers and daughters
Mothers and sons
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Related Material
See Fonds 80 Series 5-2 for photographs of the Solways at the family cottage.
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Admin History/Bio
David and Fanny Robitaille (née Hoffman) came to Canada around 1890, using the passport of a deceased man named Rabinovitch. They first arrived in Lake Megantic, Quebec, and were named Robitaille by the French residents who couldn't pronounce Rabinovitch. They lived in Montreal, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Webbwood and Massey. Both David and Fanny died in 1951.
Scope and Content
Iitem is a copy print and corresponding negative of David and Fanny Robitaille (Rabinovitch) in Massey, Ontario.
Name Access
Rabinovitch
Robitaille, David
Robitaille, Fanny
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 10 x 7 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Admin History/Bio
Bill Stern's parents were not supposed to take the train with him, but they insisted, and travelled as far as Newcastle, Ontario with their son.
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of Bill Stern with his parents, Moishe and Fanny Stern. The photo was taken at Exhibition grounds, before Bill boarded the train for Halifax, where he would sail overseas to the fighting in Europe. Bill is dressed in his uniform and is standing in front of the train with his arms around his parents.
Subjects
Parent and child
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.