- Name
- Brenda and Colin Baskind
- Material Format
- moving images
- Interview Date
- 16 Jul. 2015
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Brenda and Colin Baskind
- Number
- OH 423
- Subject
- Canada--Emigration and immigration
- Jews--South Africa
- South Africa--Emigration and immigration
- Interview Date
- 16 Jul. 2015
- Interviewer
- Lisa Newman
- Total Running Time
- 1 hr. 52 min.
- Biography
- Brenda met Colin on a blind date while attending teacher’s college in Johannesburg. The two dated for one year before getting married at the Pine Street Shul in 1967. Together, they raised three children—Stacey, Alana, and Cliff—and helped bring up the nephew of their maid, whom they regarded as family.
- Around 1976, Colin and Brenda began thinking about emigrating as a result of the country’s worsening political situation. At first, their daughter was unwilling to move, but after a riot broke out at her university, she declared she had had enough. Initially, the family considered moving to Australia, but soon settled upon Canada, immigrating in 1987. Although they found the prospect of starting over intimidating, they received a warm welcome from both the South African Jewish community and the larger community.
- Brenda and Colin purchased a khaloupe (a fixer-upper) that they transformed into a beautiful home, planting trees in its large garden. Brenda found employment with Holy Blossom Synagogue while Colin became president of the Southern African Jewish Association of Canada. In their free time, they took up running, a hobby that introduced them to many friends. By 2015, they had participated in eleven marathons.
- Material Format
- moving images
- Language
- English
- Yiddish
- Name Access
- Baskind, Brenda, 1944-
- Baskind, Colin, 1941-
- Geographic Access
- Johannesburg (South Africa)
- Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Digital file
- Transcript
- 00:13 Brenda (née Bebrow?) was born 29 October 1944 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Brenda discusses her parents’ divorce and the death of her brother from polio in 1956.
- 01:25 Brenda explains the reasons her mother sent her to boarding school in Grahamstown.
- 02:12 Brenda’s father drowned in the ocean in Port Elizabeth at age eleven.
- 03:41 Brenda’s mother worked as a bookkeeper in Johannesburg.
- 03:50 Brenda discusses her limited Jewish education and practice while living in Grahamstown.
- 05:40 Brenda reminisces about her experience at boarding school.
- 06:43 Brenda discusses how she was able to cope while dealing with her parents’ divorce, followed by the deaths of her brother, father, and grandmother.
- 07:36 Brenda’s maternal grandparents and great-grandmother were from Russia. They were observant Jews.
- 09:12 Brenda moved to Johannesburg at age eighteen to attend teacher’s college. She describes living with her great-aunt, great-uncle, and cousin.
- 10:21 Brenda describes how she met her husband, Colin.
- 11:37 Colin was born on 20 April 1941 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He lived with his parents and younger sister.
- 12:03 Colin reminisces about his early years. He discusses his friends and interest in sports.
- 13:50 Colin’s father was a butcher. His mother assisted his father.
- 14:18 Colin discusses the high quality of his education.
- 15:32 Colin’s father practiced Orthodox Judaism.
- 16:26 Colin discusses his Jewish education. He reminisces about his bar mitzvah.
- 18:43 Colin describes how he helped with his father’s business.
- 20:21 Colin’s father was born in Lithuania at age 11. His mother was born in Latvia. Both came to South Africa in the 1920s.
- 21:39 Colin attended university in Johannesburg.
- 23:21 Colin discusses work experience.
- 25:12 Colin and Brenda reminisce about their initial meeting, courtship, and marriage.
- 29:30 Colin and Brenda’s eldest daughter Alana was born.
- 29:36 Colin and Brenda discuss their close relationship with their nanny and her family. They describe the living conditions for nannies in general.
- 33:23 Colin and Brenda recount how they helped raise the baby of their nanny’s sister.
- 36:50 Brenda’s mother remarried a third time.
- 39:18 Brenda discusses her work as a nursery school teacher in Johannesburg and Toronto.
- 41:06 Colin and Brenda explain the reasons that triggered their decision to emigrate. They describe the Soweto riots in 1976.
- 45:08 Colin explains how they chose and were accepted to immigrate to Canada. Colin and Brenda discuss the distinct advantages of living in Canada relative to South Africa and Australia.
- 52:33 Colin only considered leaving South Africa after his parents passed away.
- 53:10 Colin and Brenda discuss their children’s points of view about leaving South Africa.
- 55:23 Colin and Brenda describe how they got ready for the move to Canada. They discuss what they were and were not allowed to bring out of South Africa.
- 57:27 Colin explains how some South Africans left the country without going through the steps of formal immigration.
- 57:26 Brenda describes her fears concerning the move and explains the reasons some of her friends have remained in South Africa.
- 1:00:04 Brenda shares early memories of moving to Toronto: buying a house and a car.
- 1:03:09 Colin and Brenda contrast the quality of living between Johannesburg and Toronto.
- 1:05:04 Colin and Brenda discuss how they formed their early social connections.
- 1:07:46 Colin discusses how he maintained interest in sport, both as a participant and as a spectator. Sport was another means of making friends.
- 1:10:0 Colin volunteered with the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) for five years and became involved with the Southern African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC).
- 1:10:40 Colin discusses his involvement with SAJAC.
- 1:12:44 Brenda and Colin discuss some of the language and cultural challenges they encountered when they arrived in Canada.
- 1:16:17 Colin and Brenda discuss the achievements of their children.
- 1:20:42 Colin and Brenda discuss their daughter Stacy’s decision to be a single mother. Brenda discusses their involvement with baby Lily’s care and their decision to buy a house with private quarters to share with Stacy and Lily.
- 1:28:18 Brenda discusses two trips back to South Africa to care for her mother in 1998.
- 1:32:28 Brenda discusses the changes she noted in South Africa during her visit.
- 1:34:43 Colin discusses his volunteer work with JIAS, SAJAC, Jewish Family & Child (JF&CS) and JVC. He explains his desire to enable others to prepare themselves for and find work.
- 1:43:33 Colin discusses some of the challenges faced by his sister.
- 1:46:50 Colin and Brenda share their views on the current and future situation in South Africa.
- Source
- Oral Histories
The Way Things Were
A khaloupe!
A Scholarship Based on Need
- Part Of
- Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 8
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [190-?]-1961
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of textual records
- 5 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- The Toronto Cloakmakers Union was established in 1909 as an organized effort to assist and protect workers in the women's garment industry. Two years later they became affiliated with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) in Toronto and became Local 14. Today they are the oldest local still in existence and are now called Unite Here Canada.
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of textual and graphic material documenting the activities and membership of the Toronto Cloakmakers Union and International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Included are ILGWU membership dues and strike cards issued to Sara Clodman; letters and cards announcing ILGWU meetings, celebrations, and other matters; an invitation to a dinner honouring A. Magerman's 25 years in the Cloakmaker's Union; copies of the Golden Jubilee Souvenir Journal and the 40th Jubilee Celebration book; a photocopy of the Constitution of the ILGWU; Toronto Cloakmakers Union Local 14 Minute Book in Yiddish; and five black and white photographs of union members, events, and committees.
- Name Access
- International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
- Toronto Cloakmakers Union
- Subjects
- Labor unions
- Creator
- Toronto Cloakmakers Union, 1909-
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1987-12-6
- 1979-10-1
- 1998-3-18
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- David Pinkus fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 138
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- graphic material (electronic)
- architectural drawing
- philatelic record
- sound recording
- cartographic material
- object
- Date
- 1854-2021
- Physical Description
- ca. 2.4 m of textual records
- ca. 600 photographs : b&w and col. (ca. 90 negatives); 30 x 35 cm or smaller
- other material
- Admin History/Bio
- David Pinkus (1924-2021) was born on May 11, 1924, at the Toronto General Hospital to Isadore Pinkus (1887-1947) and Molly (Mollie) Pinkus (née Parelstein) (1892-1990). Isadore was born in Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire; Molly was born in Podolia Gubernia of the Russian Empire and later moved to Ukraine with her family. Isadore and Molly met and married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1910 and moved to Toronto in 1911. The Pinkus family settled in Kensington Market in around 1914 and was one of the first Jewish settlers to the Kensington neighbourhood. David spent his entire life living in the Kensington Market area. He lived on 83 Huron Street until 1927 when the Pinkus family moved to 34 Nassau Street, which has been the house of the Pinkus family ever since. David had two siblings: brother Max and sister Goldie.
- In his childhood, David attended the Brunswick Talmud Torah daily and learned Hebrew. He had his bar mitzvah at the Kiever Shul. David attended William Houston School until 1930 and Ryerson Public School until grade eight. Later, he attended Harbord School for high school and was also involved with sports at Harbord Collegiate and YMHA. In 1947, David obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. After graduation, he worked at Goodyear for one year and returned to the University of Toronto as an instructor of engineering drawing and machine design. Later, he worked at various places such as Canadian Industries Limited in Maitland, Toronto Iron Works, and Avro Aircraft Limited.
- David’s father, Isadore, was one of the founders of the Kiever Synagogue. David’s involvement with the Kiever Synagogue started in 1947, following Isadore’s death. David served as president and held positions on the executive of the Kiever Shul and played a principal role in the restoration of the shul. He also served on Toronto’s Board of Health as well as the boards of the Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, and St. Christopher House. In addition, David was an active community leader and local historian. He did genealogical research for many Toronto Jewish families. David had been recognized by the National Jewish Federation of North America as a Jewish community hero in 2011. He passed away on May 6, 2021.
- Custodial History
- Records received after the death of David Pinkus through Joseph Solomon, the executor of David Pinkus’ estate. Records have been selected by archivists following a site visit at David’s home at 34 Nassau Street, Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of textual records, graphic material, sound recordings, architectural drawings, artifacts, and a small number of philatelic records, most of which document David Pinkus’ career and personal life, the Pinkus family, the Kiever Shul, the Kiever Cemetery, as well as Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Mount Sinai Memorial Park) and the Dawes Road Cemeteries (Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees), of which the Kiever Congregation is a member organization. Also included are documents and photographs of other individuals and families, which David collected for his genealogical research, and those that are pertaining to Kensington Market and other congregations and cemeteries.
- Textual records include correspondence; scrapbooks; education records; identification documents; research notes and clippings relating to David’s genealogical research; documents pertaining to his Kensington Market activism and community work; files on David’s engineering career and his role as president of the Kiever Shul; and files documenting the Pinkus family members, such as funeral documents, notebooks, family correspondence, voters’ lists, and records relating to Pinkus Fruit Co. and 34 Nassau Street. Also included are records documenting the Kiever Shul, which include meeting minutes, ledger books, financial documents, legal documents, membership lists and application forms, address books, high holiday service cards, and historic papers dating from the 1920s and 1930s. Textual records documenting the Kiever Cemetery, Mount Sinai Memorial Park, and the Dawes Road Cemeteries are mainly comprised of cemetery maps, burial plot cards, burial record books, by-laws and regulations, and meeting minutes. Also present are records pertaining to other congregations and cemeteries, such as constitution books, brochures, booklets, and copies of legal documents.
- Photographs mainly feature David Pinkus and the Kiever Cemetery, with a small number featuring the Pinkus family members, the Junction Synagogue (Congregation Knesseth Israel), the Great Choral Synagogue of Kyiv, and those that David collected for his genealogical research.
- Architectural drawings of this fonds include the restoration and renovation plan for the Kiever Shul and the alteration plan for Mount Sinai Cemetery Administration Building.
- Also present are sound recordings, including cassettes and microcassettes of David Pinkus; and artifacts, including felt patches, pin back buttons, medals, Toronto foot-pedlar registration badges, and a wooden gavel of the Kiever Shul.
- Fonds has been arranged into the following series: David Pinkus’ personal records; Kensington Market; David Pinkus’ genealogical research; the Pinkus family; the Kiever Shul; the Kiever Cemetery; Mount Sinai Memorial Park; the Dawes Road Cemeteries; and other associations, congregations, and cemeteries.
- Notes
- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Also included are 22 architectural drawings, 7 maps, 4 audio cassettes, 2 microcassettes, 1 optical disc, 8 drawings, 2 prints, 1 photo collage, 34 pinback buttons, 15 Toronto padler-on-foot registration badges, 8 felt patches, 3 medals, 3 brooches, 1 wooden gavel, 2 tax tokens, 2 postage stamps, 1 sales tax stamp, and 9 revenue stamps.
- SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Books that were initially included in this fonds have been removed and incorporated into the OJA’s library collection. These books are: Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan with an introduction by Rick Salutin, Toronto No Mean City by Eric Arthur revised by Stephen A. Otto, Canadian Jewish Directory edited by Edmond Y. Lipsitz, The Toronto Jewish Directory, and The Canada Year Book 1905 (second series).
- HISTORY/BIO NOTE: Information is sourced from OH 413 and the content of the fonds.
- Name Access
- Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
- Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Toronto, Ont.)
- Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto, Ont.)
- Dawes Road Cemetery (Toronto, Ont.)
- Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Families
- Synagogues
- Genealogy
- Cemeteries
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Related Material
- See accessions 2004-1-5, 2004-1-6, 2004-2-1, 2008-11-9, 2016-3-48, and 2021-10-1 for additional information on the Kiever Shul; and OH 413 for more information on David Pinkus and the Pinkus family.
- Arrangement
- Records came into the OJA with no discernible order. Arrangement has been imposed by the archivist.
- Creator
- Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2021-7-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 2476
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2476
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1916
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Admin History/Bio
- Yahrtzeit card refers to Peretz’s communal work during WWI: "At the outbreak of World War I, Peretz threw himself into relief work. He helped establish a Jewish orphanage and wrote poems for children, one of which lay unfinished when he died of a heart attack on ol ha-mo‘ed (intermediate days of) Passover (3 April).” Source: https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Peretz_Yitskhok_Leybush
- Scope and Content
- English translation of Yiddish languae Yahrtzeit card issued by Toronto Confrence of War victims announcing Orphans day is as follows: ORPHANS DAY, Toronto Conference for War Victims, photo of Y.L. Peretz,To honour the first yortsayt of the great poet, Y.L. PERETZ, Who fell in the service of Jewish war orphans, Compliments of the Dworkin Brothers.
- Notes
- From the Seymour and Abi Shatz Collection.
- Name Access
- Peretz, I. L.
- Subjects
- Charities
- Orphans
- War victims
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1980-12-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4669
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4669
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 30 Nov. 1941
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Notes
- Physical description: Yiddish note on back translates as: "To David, Simply because of jealousy - maybe".
- Name Access
- Hart House
- Mandel, Jack
- University of Toronto
- Subjects
- Married people
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1981-11-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 4041
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4041
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1949
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Subjects
- Concerts
- Posters
- Purim
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-3-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 64; Series 5; File 80
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 64
- Series
- 5
- File
- 80
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1979?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains a one-page historical sketch of the congregation.
- Name Access
- First Narayever Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Synagogues
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 64; Series 5; File 79
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 64
- Series
- 5
- File
- 79
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1978]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains several newsletters and flyers.
- Name Access
- Magen David Sephardic Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Synagogues
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Dorothy Dworkin fonds
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 10
- Item
- 14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1915]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Identified is: second row (left to right): -- , -- , -- , -- , ? Rigelhaupt, Joseph? Daniluk, -- , --.
- Bottom row (left to right) : -- , -- , Boris Litman, Morris Langbord, -- , Paul Frumartz, -- , ? Riba.
- Rigelhaupt (or Rigelhoff), was the choirmaster.
- Notes
- Inscription of title in Yiddish, recto, bottom.
- Inscription, recto, lower left: BY SIMON.
- Name Access
- Arbeiter Ring
- Camp Yungvelt
- Daniluk, Joseph
- Frumartz, Paul
- Langbord, Morris
- Litman, Boris
- Riba
- Rigelhaupt
- Rigelhoff
- Subjects
- Camps
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2005-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Dorothy Dworkin fonds
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 10
- Item
- 16
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1925]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 12 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Alomis, together with her husband Aleksander Azro, was a founding member of the Vilner Trupe (Vilna Troupe, named for the city where it began), the critically acclaimed Polish Yiddish theatre company created during the First World War. The creation of the Vilner Trupe was a direct response to the call from Europe’s great Jewish intellectuals for an artistic, literary, modern Yiddish theatre that would not simply entertain (that was the job of the popular Yiddish theatre), but would elevate the form to a national art addressing the highest cultural aspirations of the Jewish people. Azro and Alomis performed and toured throughout the 1920s, gracing Yiddish stages all over Eastern and Western Europe and across America. When in Toronto, Asro and Alomis stayed with Dorothy and Henry Dworkin, who ran Dworkin Travel and helped bring hundreds of Jewish immigrants to Toronto. Dorothy was a healthcare professional who in 1922 founded Mount Sinai Hospital; her husband Henry founded the Labor Lyceum in 1913.
- Notes
- Photograph has Yiddish writing on the recto.
- Name Access
- Alumus
- Asro
- Vilner Troupe
- Subjects
- Married people
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2005-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Bella Diamant fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 117
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material (electronic)
- Date
- 1926-1947
- Physical Description
- 3 cm of textual records
- 11 photographs : b&w and sepia (tiff)
- Admin History/Bio
- Bella Diamant (m. Hershenhorn) was the daughter of Moishe and Sarah Diamant. She was born in Ostrowiec (Ostrovietz), Poland and had five siblings: Esther, Chaim Myer, David, Baruch, and Ruth. Bella met her future husband, Samuel Hershenhorn, in Poland. He was the son of Mendel and Miriam Hershenhorn from Drildz. The family arrived in Toronto sometime during the early 1920s; Mendel arriving first followed by Miriam and Samuel. The marriage between Bella and Samuel was arranged by their families and so Bella was sent to Toronto to be with him in 1927. They married on 13 Nov. 1927. Together they had three children: Ruth (Rishie), Esti and Lee. Samuel worked for a slipper and spat manufacturer and then started his own company: The Canadian Spat and Slipper Company. He was a member of the Drildzer Sick Benefit Society. Bella was a housewife. Many of Bella's relatives perished during the Holocaust, including both her parents, her brother David who died with his wife and daughter on a forced march, and her sister Ruth who was murdered by the Nazis alongside her young daughter. Chaim Myer was sent to live with Bella and Samuel in Toronto prior to the onset of the war and therefore survived. Baruch and Esther both survived the Holocaust and eventually moved to New York City.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of letters written to Bella Diamant Hershenhorn from relatives in Poland and Frankfurt. The pre-war letters are from Bella's father Moishe in Poland as well as Bella's siblings and cousins, usually added as additional notes and postscripts onto Moishe's letters. The post-war letters are from Bella's sister Esther and brother Baruch in Frankfurt, who both survived the Holocaust. The letters are written in Yiddish and Polish and have accompanying English translations. Also included are several scanned copies of photographs depicting Bella on the SS Estonia, en route to Canada (ca. 1927), and with various relatives in Poland prior to immigration.
- Notes
- REPRODUCTION RESTRICTION NOTE: Donor must be notified prior to publication of letters.
- Name Access
- Hershenhorn, Bella, ca. 1906-1999
- Subjects
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
- Letters
- Arrangement
- The letters have been arranged chronologically.
- Places
- Ostrowiec (Sokolów Podlaski, Poland)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
- Accession Number
- 2016-12-44
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
Henry Rosenbaum fonds
[graphic material, graphic material (electronic), textual record]
– 1928-2015.
- Part Of
- Henry Rosenbaum fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 121
- Material Format
- graphic material
- graphic material (electronic)
- textual record
- Date
- 1928-2015
- Physical Description
- 247 photographs : b&w and col. (1 negative); 20 x 25 or smaller
- 13 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- Henry "Hanoch" Rosenbaum (1925-2015) was born in Radom, Poland. He was the second youngest of eight children born to Rachel Rosenbaum (née Katz) and Moshe Rosenbaum.
- In the aftermath of the Second World War, Herny learned the fate of Radom's Jewish civilian population. Two thirds of Radom's Jewish population were victims of mass murder and perished in the extermination camp Treblinka, immediately following the first liquidation of Radom's large ghetto in August 1942. Henry's parents, two siblings, and their families were among the innocent victims murdered during the Holocaust.
- Henry Rosenbaum met his wife Bella Rotbard (1925–2012) while living in an Italian DP camp after the war. Although Bella was also from Radom, she did not know the Rosenbaum family. Bella's parents, her sixteen-year-old sister, and four-year-old brother, as well as most of her parents' extended families, were also victims of the Holocaust.
- While in Italy, the Joint Distribution Committee funded "mock kibbutzim," preparing Holocaust survivors for immigration to Palestine and kibbutz life. Bella, a one-time member of the secular Jewish youth movement Hashomer Hatzair, believed that she was destined to be a "kibbutznik," a member of a kibbutz.
- In 1946, Bella and Henry immigrated to Palestine as part of the Bricha. The Bricha supported the illegal immigration of Holocaust survivor refugees to Palestine. They spent their first few days in Atlit, a British Mandate detainee camp and soon settled on kibbutz. Bella married Henry in 1946 and moved to an apartment in Ramat Gan. During this time Henry served in the IDF’s motor pool.
- Henry, Bella, and their young daughter Brenda (b. 1949) immigrated to Toronto in 1952. With the assistance of a relative, Henry gained employment in a print shop sweeping floors. Henry soon advanced to machine operator and in 1961 opened his own print shop, Trio Press Limited.
- Bella worked in the garment industry, sewing collars onto shirts and earned her wages through piece work. She continued working in manufacturing up until the birth of her second child Murray (b. 1961).
- Henry Rosenbaum was an active life-long member of the Radom Society and served as editor for their quarterly Yiddish and English journal the Voice of Radom.
- Custodial History
- Material was in possession of Henry Rosenbaum's daughter Brenda Bornstein.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds illustrates the family history of Henry Rosenbaum and the life he and his wife Bella Rosenbaum rebuilt in Canada. Photographs document: early life in Poland, displaced persons camp in Italy, immigration to Palestine, military service in the Israel Defense Forces, family life in Israel, immigration and settlement in Canada and many milestone events and celebrations in Toronto, Ontario. Additional photographs of the Radom Society in Toronto. The majority of the photographs were assembled in a scrapbook created by their daughter Brenda Bornstein in celebration of her parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary (1976). In addition, there is a more comprehensive biography written by Henry and Bella's son-in-law Eric Bornstein.
- Fonds consists of records relating to Henry Rosenbaum and his affiliation with B’nai Radom. Included are programs and souvenir booklets from the 1962 unveiling of a monument in memory of the Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of Radom and Vicinity (Poland), annual Holocaust remembrance (Yizkor) events published in 1987 and 2010; and a 50th Anniversary of Liberation publication. Books include a Yiddish language bound copy of the Voice of Radom from 1963-1965, an English language bound copy of the Voice of Radom 1983–1989 and Henry Rosenbaum’s personal memoir published in 1995. In addition, there are eight photographs of Henry's great-grandchildren, and a photo of Henry with his daughter Brenda.In addition there is a collection of speeches written by Henry Rosenbaum primarily for family milestone events such as weddings, birthdays, bar mtizvahs, and bat mitzvahs. In addition there is a copy of a presentation made to the Radom Congregation on the occasion of Israel's twenty-fifth year of independence, a Hebrew-language letter of congratulations, and several personal letters written by Murray Rosenbaum (the latter are addressed to his parents while travelling to Israel and Europe). The personal speeches written and delivered by Henry were in honour of the following relatives: Rivi Anklewicz, Marshall Lofchick, Murray Rosenbaum, Elana Aizic, Regina Goldstein, Brenda Rosenbaum, Eric "Ricky" Bornstein, Murray Severin, Robin Severin-Weingort, Rachel Bornstein, Susan Szainwald, Daniel Bornstein, Sholom Rosenbaum, Bella Rosenbaum, Linda Goldstein, and Leon Aizic.
- Subjects
- Holocaust survivors
- Creator
- Rosenbaum, Henry, 1925-2015
- Places
- Poland
- Italy
- Palestine
- Israel
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2015-10-5
- 2017-2-13
- 2019-7-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- ID
- Fonds 133
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 133
- Material Format
- sound recording
- textual record
- Date
- 1972-1973
- Physical Description
- 15 cm of textual records
- 222 sound recordings
- Admin History/Bio
- Dov Noy (1920-2013), renowned folklorist and ethnologist, was born on October 20, 1920 in Kolomyja, Poland. He immigrated in 1938 to Palestine, where he began his academic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He obtained his doctorate in folklore from Indiana University in 1954 with a dissertation on the motif-index of Talmudic-Midrashic tales (under the name Dov Neuman).
- In 1955, he began his teaching career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he taught aggadah, folk literature, general folklore, and Yiddish. He became professor and holder of the Max Grunwald Chair of Folklore and Hebrew Literature. From this post, he had a profound influence on the development of folklore studies in Israel, mentoring many students and colleagues to engage with folklore and ethnology. He taught and lectured all over the world, particularly on folk narrative and Jewish folklore. He founded and directed the Haifa Ethnological Museum and Folklore Archives (1956–82) and edited the Israel Folktale Archives Publications series until 1981. He founded the Israel Folktale Archives in 1955, now named after him. He was director of the Hebrew University Folklore Research Center from 1968 and edited its journal. He served as the Encyclopaedia Judaica departmental editor for folklore. He started the folklore section at Haifa University within the department of Hebrew Literature. From 1985 to 1992, he served as professor of Yiddish folklore at Bar-Ilan University. In 1992–93 he served as professor of folk literature at Ben-Gurion University and in 1995–96, professor of folklore at Haifa University. In addition to teaching in Israeli universities, Noy devoted himself to spreading Jewish folk culture all over the world. He also wrote and edited about sixty books, including English Folktales of Israel, Jewish Folktales from Morocco, and Studies in Biblical and Jewish Folklore. In 2004, he was awarded the Israel Prize for literary research. Biographies of Dov Noy can be found in the Encyclopedia Judaica, Encyclopedia of Jewish Folklore and Traditions (ed. Haya Bar-Itzhak), Who's Who In Israel and Jewish Personalities from All Over the World, and in the Hebrew Wikipedia.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of audio reels, cassette tapes, and accompanying finding aids documenting Yiddish folk songs as recalled by Toronto residents. The recordings were made as part of a pilot project initiated by Professor Dov Noy while a visiting professor at University of Toronto. Participants were primarily residents at Baycrest's Jewish Home for the Aged. Participating organizations were the Canadian Centre for Folk Culture Studies at the National Museum of Man; the Eliakum Zunser Centre for the Study of East European Jewish Folklore at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region. Fonds also includes various textual records produced during Dov Noy's research.
- Notes
- Scope & Content: Audio reels are copies of the cassette tapes. Cassettes are numbered from 1 to 148, with a DN prefix, and reels are numbered from 1 to 74, comprising two cassettes per reel.
- Associated Material Note: The Canadian Museum of History also holds cassette tapes related to this project.
- Name Access
- Noy, Dov, 1920-2013
- Subjects
- Songs, Yiddish
- Folk singers
- Yiddish folklore
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1974-16
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 259
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 259
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1932]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of members of the Labour League.
- Notes
- Photograph has a signature and an inscription in Yiddish.
- Name Access
- Labor League (Toronto, Ont.)
- Winchevsky Centre (Toronto, Ont.)
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Item 260
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 260
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1931
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 11 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of a graduation diploma from the Jewish Folks' Shule.
- Name Access
- Jewish Folks Shulë (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Diplomas
- 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.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions