Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

12 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm

Scope and Content

The following caption appears on verso: "23rd Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet-Jewish Poets, Novelists and Artists. Tuesday, August 12, 1975. Youth Chapel, Beth Tzedec Synagogue, Toronto. Sam N. Filer, Chairman, Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry addressing the gathering." According to a Toronto Star article that appeared shortly after Filer's death, Filer was a judge and "legal icon" who had "helped persecuted Jewish citizens of the former Soviet Union."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a TIFF file and a JPEG file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Subjects

Judges

Speeches, addresses, etc

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.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

2

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Photograph by Gadi Hoz

Date

12 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm

Scope and Content

The following caption appears on verso: "23rd Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet-Jewish Intellectuals, August 12, 1975 8:00pm, Beth Tzedec Synagogue Toronto, Ontario. Peretz Miransky addressing the gathering." Miransky was a Yiddish poet and writer of fables.

Notes

Physical description: Photographer's stamp on verso.

Availability of other formats: Also available as a TIFF file and a JPEG file.

Name Access

Miransky, Peretz

Subjects

Poets

Speeches, addresses, etc

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.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

3

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Photograph by Gadi Hoz

Date

12 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm

Scope and Content

The following caption appears on verso: "23rd Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet Jewish Intellectuals, August 12, 1975 8:00pm, Beth Tzedec Synagogue Toronto, Ontario. Prof. Lewis Feuer addressing the gathering." Feuer was an American sociologist. According to an obituary that appeared in the New York Times, his "career and prolific writings reflected his intellectual journey from Marxist orthodoxy to neoconservatism."

Notes

Physical description: Photographer's stamp on verso.

Availability of other formats: Also available as a TIFF file and a JPEG file.

Name Access

Feuer, Lewis S. (Lewis Samuel), 1912-2002

Subjects

Ex-communists

Sociologists

Speeches, addresses, etc

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.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

4

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Photograph by Gadi Hoz

Date

12 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm

Scope and Content

The following caption appears on verso: "23rd Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet-Jewish Intellectuals, August 12, 1975 8:00pm, Beth Tzedec Synagogue Toronto, Ontario. Israel Emiot, Yiddish Poet and Writer from Rochester, New York, addressing the gathering."

Notes

Physical description: Photographer's stamp on verso.

Availability of other formats: Also available as a TIFF file and a JPEG file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Subjects

Poets, Yiddish

Speeches, addresses, etc

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.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Photograph by T. Gordon Massecar

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a black-and-white photograph of Yiddish poet Israel Emiot at his desk. Emiot is surrounded by stacks of books, papers, and boxes.

Notes

Physical description: Photographer's stamp on verso.

Availability of other formats: Also available as a TIFF file and a JPEG file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Subjects

Poets, Yiddish

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

18 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 memo

Scope and Content

Item is a memo sent to Sam N. Filer from Samuel Resnick regarding the commemoration set to take place on 12 August 1975. In the memo, Resnick informs Filer, "We have obtained as our main speaker Mr. Israel Emiot who presently resides in Rochester, New York."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Resnick, Samuel

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

24 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a form letter from Sam Filer, chairman of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry. In the letter, which is intended for one or more rabbis, Filer informs the recipient that "the Toronto Jewish Community is planning to commemorate the 23rd Anniversary of the Execution of Soviet-Jewish Writers in 1952." Written near the top of the letter is a note: "Sent to Toronto Rabbis + Presidents of Synagogues."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Subjects

Rabbis

Synagogue officers

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

8

Material Format

textual record

Date

24 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a form letter from Sam Filer, chairman of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry. In the letter, which is intended for one or more rabbis, Filer informs the recipient that "the Toronto Jewish Community is planning to commemorate the 23rd Anniversary of the Execution of Soviet-Jewish Writers in 1952."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Subjects

Rabbis

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 document

Scope and Content

Item is an introduction to an unknown work that is either about or written by Yiddish poet Israel Emiot. The item, which is six pages in length, provides a biography of the poet. On the first page, someone has written (in all capital letters), "You are free to condense this for a biography."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Subjects

Poets, Yiddish

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

24 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 memo

Scope and Content

Item isa memo to Sam N. Filer from Sanuel Resnick regarding the commemoration to take place on 12 August 1975. In the memo, Resnick informs Filer that, "We have been fortunate (through the efforts of Joseph B. Salsberg) to obtain Dr. Lewis S. Feuer of the University of Toronto for our Commemoration evening."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Resnick, Samuel

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

24 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 news release

Scope and Content

Item is a news release put out by Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region, dated 24 July 1975. In the news release, Sam Filer "announces the annual commemoration of the Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet-Jewish Writers and Poets in Moscow in 1952." The commemoration was to be held on 12 August 1975 at Beth Tzedec Synagogue (1700 Bathurst Street).

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

12

Material Format

textual record

Date

31 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a form letter from Sam Filer, chairman of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry. In the letter, which is dated 31 July 1975, Filer invites the recipient "to participate in the annual commemoration" of what he calls "a most important date in the history of Soviet Jews [12 August 1952]."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

12 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 programme

Scope and Content

Item is a programme for a community assembly titled the 23rd Anniversary of the Execution of the Soviet Jewish Poets, Novelists and Artists. The community assembly took place at the youth chapel at Beth Tzedec Synagogue (1700 Bathurst Street). The programme lists the following speakers: Sam Filer, chairman, Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry; Joseph B. Salsberg, chairman, Committee for Yiddish; Milton E. Harris, chairman, Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region; Peretz Miransky, Yiddish poet; Lewis Feuer, professor of sociology and philosophy, University of Toronto; Israel Emiot, poet and essayist; and David I. Satok, chairman, Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Feuer, Lewis S. (Lewis Samuel), 1912-2002

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Harris, Milton, 1927-2005

Miransky, Peretz

Salsberg, J. B.,1902-1998

Satok, David

Subjects

Anniversaries

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

Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

14

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

15

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

16

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 speech

Scope and Content

Item appears to be a speech written for David Satok for the occasion of the twenty-third anniversary of "the execution of the Soviet Jewish poets, novelists and artists." The speech deals principally with the situation of Jews in the Soviet Union.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Satok, David

Subjects

Anniversaries

Authors

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

17

Material Format

textual record

Date

5 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter to Sam Filer, chairman of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, from Ann Steindel, executive assistant at the Canadian Jewish Congress. In the letter, which is dated 5 August 1975, Steindel informs Filer that "we [Canadian Jewish Congress?] have been unable to arrange any activity with regard to commemoration of noted Jewish writers and intellectuals in Moscow in 1952."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Steindel, Ann, 1910-1991

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

18

Material Format

textual record

Date

5 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter to Sam Filer, chairman of the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, from William Stern, executive director of the Canadian Zionist Federation. In the letter, which is dated 5 August 1975, Stern informs Filer, "I will be unable to attend your meeting as I will be in Israel."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Filer, Sam, 1935-2007

Stern, William, 1921-2007

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

19

Material Format

textual record

Date

28 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter to Samuel Resnick, assistant director of the Canadian Jewish Congress, from Israel Emiot, author-in-residence at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester. In the letter, which is dated 28 July 1975, Emiot informs Resnick of his plans as they relate to "my coming event dedicated to the executed Jewish writers in Russia."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Resnick, Samuel

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

20

Material Format

textual record

Date

22 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter to Peretz Miransky from Samuel Resnick, assistant executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress. In the letter, which is dated 22 July 1975, Resnick informs Miransky of the time and place of "our annual commemoration on August 12."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Miransky, Peretz

Resnick, Samuel

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

21

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 document

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

22

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 document

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

23

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 document

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

24

Material Format

textual record

Date

[1975?]

Physical Description

1 biography

Scope and Content

Item is a three-page biography of Russian-Jewish poet Peretz Markish (1895–1952). Markish wrote predominantly in Yiddish. Markish was shot and killed alongside other Jewish writers during the Night of the Murdered Poets in August 1952.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Markish, Peretz, 1895-1952

Subjects

Poets, Yiddish

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

25

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 press release

Scope and Content

Item is a press release from the Canadian Jewish Congress regarding the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the death of twenty-four Jewish writers. The press release notes, "Coupled with the commemoration of this tragic historic date is the demand by Canadian Jewry that Soviet Jewry be permitted the right to emigrate, an elementary principle of human rights as guaranteed by the United Nations Charter on Human Rights."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Canadian Jewish Congress

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

26

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 press release

Scope and Content

Item is a press release from the World Jewish Congress registering "its anxiety over the increasing intimidating of Soviet Jews" and calling "for a world-wide commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the massacre of Jewish intellectuals which . . . marked the beginning of the liquidation of Jewish culture in the U.S.S.R."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

World Jewish Congress

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

27

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 program event

Scope and Content

Item is a program event for a commemorative evening in honour of "24 leading Jewish poets, writers, and intellectual public figures [who] were executed in the basement of Moscow's Lubianka [Lubyanka] Prison" on 12 August 1959. The evening was to take place on 12 August 1973 at 8:30 p.m. in the Samuel Bronfman house, which was located at 1590 McGregor Street. The second page of the document is in Yiddish.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

28

Material Format

textual record

Date

18 Jul. 1975

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter to Yiddish poet Israel Emiot from Samuel Resnick, the assistant executive director. In the letter, which is dated 18 July 1975, Resnick confirms "the invitation extended to you [i.e., Emiot] by the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry and the Committee for Yiddish of Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region who are this year sponsoring jointly a memorial meeting to commemorate the death of the Soviet-Jewish writers in Russia in 1951."

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

Name Access

Emiot, Israel

Resnick, Samuel

Subjects

Poets, Yiddish

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

29

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 clipping

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals file

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

49

Item

30

Material Format

textual record

Date

22 Aug. 1975

Physical Description

1 article

Notes

Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF/A file.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Level

Series

Fonds

80

Series

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1936-[ca.1960]

Physical Description

107 photographs : b&w and col. (88 negatives) ; 18 x 12 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Sylvia Schwartz's parents were Joseph and Gertrude Schwartz. She had three sisters; Fanny, Helen and Ruth. Fanny married Alex Solway and had two children, Carol and Herbert. Helen married Dr. Isaac Shleser, a doctor of internal medicine, and had two daughters, Jill and Jan. Sylvia was a part of a large extended family that remained close throughout her life as they shared many similar interests and a family cottage in Bobcaygeon.

Many members of her family were and are prominent individuals of the Jewish community in Toronto. Faye Halbert was Sylvia's cousin on her mother's side whose children, Ralph and Gerald, went on to become prominent doctors and members of the Jewish community. Jack Schwartz, Sylvia's uncle, was also in the fur business and was married to Minnie Schwartz. Their daughter was Jewell, who owned an art gallery in Yorkville for many years.

Other related families include the Haussers and the Wintrobs.

Scope and Content

This series consists of negatives and proofs created by Sylvia Schwartz of members of her family. Images are primarily of the Schwartz, Solway, Shlesser and Halbert families. Types of photographs include formal portraits in the studio and home and informal and candid portraits of the family at leisure and at events.

This series has been divided into three sub-series. Sub-series 1 contains formal portraits, Sub-series 2 contains images of the family at recreation and Sub-series 3 contains images of the family at events.

Sub-series 1 consists of negatives and proofs of formal portraits done by Sylvia of her immediate family. They were taken both in her studio and in her family home. Those done in the home date from an earlier time. Generally, they are images of the head and upper body of the sitter. Some images feature full body shots of the sitter and some interior views of the Schwartz family home. Those photographed include Gerald, Ralph and Rhoda Halbert, Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack and Jewell Schwartz, Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser, and Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Carol and Gary Solway. There are multiple portraits of Ruth Schwartz, the majority of them showcasing Sylvia's early experimentation with portraiture. There are also six self-portraits of Sylvia.

Sub-series 2 consists of thirty-nine negatives and five prints taken by Sylvia Schwartz of the family at recreation. The majority of the images are of the family relaxing at their cottage in Bobcaygeon. There is one print of Herbert Solway reading the newspaper with his son Gary that may or may not have been taken at the cottage. Images consist of photographs of the family on the lawn, in the cottage and at the lake. There are both candid and staged photographs. Family members featured include Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack and Jewell Schwartz, Helen, Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser, Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Carol and Gary Solway. Also pictured are members of the Hausser, Halbert and Wintrob families. Friends of the family also appear in these images, such as, Judith Wolfson, Frances and David Gruber and David Rotenberg and his brothers. Sylvia Schwartz is in some images. There is one print that is a view of the cottage from the lake.

Sub-series 3 consists of thirty-one negatives taken by Sylvia Schwartz of family related events that she attended. These include a Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony for Gary Solway, the first born son of Herbert, Sylvia's nephew and an opening at the Park Plaza Hotel. Images of the Pidyon Ha'Ben include Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack, Minnie and Jewell Schwartz, Helen, Jill and Jan Shleser, and Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Elaine and Carol Solway. Also included is David Rotenberg who acted as the Kohen at the ceremony. Images from the Park Plaza Hotel include views of the ballroom, the entertainers and family members. The Wintrob, Halbert and Yolles families are also present. Sylvia Schwartz is in two images.

Subjects

Families

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Portraits sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

80

Series

5-1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1936-1958

Physical Description

43 photographs : b&w (28 negatives) ; 18 x 12 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of negatives and proofs of portraits taken by Sylvia Schwartz. Portraits were taken both in her studio and in her family home. Images taken in earlier years show the full body of the sitter in the interior of the family home. Later images are studio portraits, showing just the head and upper body of the subject.

The earliest portraits taken are of Ruth Schwartz, Sylvia's sister. They are interesting in their use of props and lighting. Other early portraits are of Gertrude and Joseph Schwartz and Fanny Solway (née Schwartz).

Other portraits include images of Gerald, Ralph and Rhoda Halbert (the children of Sylvia's cousin Faye Halbert), Jack and Jewell Schwartz (her uncle and cousin), Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser (her brother-in-law and nieces) and Alex, Carol and Herbert Solway (her brother-in-law, niece and nephew).

Also included in the sub-series are three self-portraits of Sylvia each taken in a different session.

Subjects

Portraits

Arrangement

Every negative does not have a corresponding print.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1941-[ca.1960]

Physical Description

40 photographs : b&w and col. (36 negatives) ; 18 x 12 cm and smaller

Scope and Content

This sub-series consists of thirty-six negatives and four prints taken by Sylvia Schwartz of the family at leisure. It is made up of seven files. The majority of the images are of the family relaxing at their cottage in Bobcaygeon. Images consist of photographs of the family on the lawn, in the cottage and on the lake. There are both candid and staged photographs.

Images from the cottage consist of staged family photographs on the lawn from 1941, candid and staged photographs from ca. 1955 and images of little girls (Jan Shleser and Judith Wolfson) playing outside from ca. 1955.

Family members featured include Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack and Jewell Schwartz, Helen, Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser and Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Carol and Gary Solway. As well as, the Hausser, Halbert and Wintrob families. Family friends are also in the images. Individuals include Judith Wolfson, Frances and David Gruber and David Rotenberg and his brothers. Sylvia Schwartz is in some images.

There is one print that is a view of the cottage from the lake and one print of Herbert Solway reading the newspaper in bed with his son Gary that may or may not have been taken at the cottage. Sub-series is arranged at the file level. Files are organized chronologically by date.

Subjects

Recreation

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Events sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

80

Series

5-3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946-1957

Physical Description

24 photographs : b&w (24 negatives) ; 12.5 x 10 cm and smaller

Scope and Content

This sub-series consists of two files. The two events are an opening at the Park Plaza Hotel and a Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony for Herbert Solway's son Gary.

Images from the Park Plaza Hotel consist of views of the ballroom, the entertainers, and friends and family enjoying the party. Family members identified are from the Schwartz, Halbert and Wintrob families. Non-family members identified are from the Yolles and Rotenberg families. There are 12 negatives in this file.

Images from file 2 consist of partygoers for the Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony in Alex Solway's apartment. Those in attendance were from the Schwartz, Shleser, Solway and Rotenberg families. There are 12 negatives in this file.

Name Access

Schwartz, Sylvia, 1914-1998 (creator)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

July 1941

Physical Description

11 photographs : b&w (9 negatives) ; 18 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of 9 negatives and 2 proofs taken at the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon in July, 1941. Images are informal portraits of family and friends taken on the lawn of the cottage.

Those pictured include Helen Shleser (née Schwartz), Ruth Schwartz, Fanny Solway (née Schwartz), Joseph Schwartz, Gertrude Schwartz, Carol Solway, Sylvia Schwartz, Herbert Solway, David Rotenberg and his brothers, Isaac Shleser and Leonard Hausser

Notes

David Rotenberg pictured in Image 3 went on to become a Member of Parliament for the Conservative party.

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1945]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content

File consists of one print that features the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon. It is a view from the lake of the cottage and surrounding land.

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1955]

Physical Description

11 photographs : b&w (11 negatives) ; 13 x 7 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

File consists of 11 negatives taken at the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon, circa 1955. Images feature young girls dressed up in costume and relaxing in and around the cottage.

Images include Jan Shleser, Judith Wolfson and an unknown girl.

Notes

General: Judith Wolfson went on to become the vice-president of university relations at the University of Toronto. She is the daughter of Harry Wolfson, a prominent economist. They often stayed at the Gelber’s cottage across the lake.

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

1955 Family Gathering at the Cottage in Bobcaygeon file

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1955]

Physical Description

8 photographs : b&w (8 negatives) ; 11.5 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of 8 negatives taken at the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon, circa 1955. They consist of informal portraits taken on the lawn and in the cottage of family and friends.

Those pictured include Jan Shleser, Joseph Schwartz, Gertrude Schwartz, Ruth Schwartz, Alex Solway, Helen Shleser, Fanny Solway, Carol Solway, Sylvia Schwartz, Ida Schwartz, Minnie Schwartz, Jewell Schwartz, Isaac Shleser, Bev Ragal, Herbert Solway and Jack Schwartz

Notes

Frances Gruber was Sylvia Schwartz’s closest friend

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1955]

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w (4 negatives) ; 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of 4 negatives taken at the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon, circa 1955. They consist of candid images of family and friends relaxing at the cottage.

Individuals pictured include Joseph and Gertrude Schwartz and Herbert and Carol Solway.

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1958

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 17 cm

Admin History/Bio

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 a Chariman 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, as well as a Director of John Labatt Ltd.

Gary Solway was born in 1957 and is the eldest son of Herbert Solway and Elaine Solway (née Basin) and the great-nephew of Sylvia Schwartz. He began his Bachelor of Commerce at Queen's University in 1976, completeing three years there and then finishing the degree in 1981, after doing his first year of a Bachelor of Laws at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 1979-1980. He completed his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Toronto in 1983.

Gary was a Partner with Torys LLP firm from 1983 to 2006 until becoming the Co-Head of the Bennett Jones LLP firm's Private Equity Group and Managing Partner of the Technology, Media and Entertainment Group.

Gary speaks frequently at conferences on topics related to financing of technology businesses. A regular writer, he contributed a number of chapters to Directors' Duties in Canada, 5th Edition, published in Canada by CCH Canadian Limited in 2012, and the Ontario Corporations Law Guide, published in Canada by CCH Canadian Limited. Gary is also the secretary of the CVCA, Canada's venture capital and private equity association.

Scope and Content

This item is a portrait of Herbert and Gary Solway.

Notes

This item has no negative.

Subjects

Fathers and sons

Repro Restriction

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

Related Material

See Fonds 80, series 5 for more information and photographs on the Solway family.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Recreation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-2

File

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca.1960]

Physical Description

5 photographs : col. (5 negatives) ; 6 x 6 cm

Admin History/Bio

Harry L. Wolfson, economist and community leader, was born in Toronto, the son of Hyman and Rebecca (Tranbetsky) Wolfson. He received his education at the University of Toronto and King's College, Cambridge University 1932-1934 where he studied under John M. Keynes.

He was the director and officer of various organizations including the general manager of the Palestine Jewish Colonization Association (1934-1950); executive secretary of the Economic Stabilization Commission in Palestine (1942-1948); economic co-coordinator of the State of Israel (1948-1950); financial councilor for the Canadian Embassy in Washington (1951-1952); and alternate director of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank (1951-1952). He was affiliated with the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital and the Y-Arts Council of the YM-YWHA.

Harry L. Wolfson was married to Rose Chrom and had four children: Sheila, Alan, Judith and Laurence.

Scope and Content

File consists of 5 colour negatives of the Wolfson Family at the Schwartz family cottage at Bobcaygeon, circa 1960. They feature informal portraits of the family on the lawn and one image of a dam near Bobcaygeon. Also pictured is Ruthie Solway, Fanny Solway’s niece by marriage who had been adopted by Alex Solway’s brother.

Individuals pictured include Ruthie Solway, Sheila Wolfson, Harry L. Wolfson, Rose Wolfson, Laurence Wolfson, Alan Wolfson and David Gruber.

Also pictured is the bridge in Bobcaygeon.

Subjects

Cottages

Places

Bobcaygeon (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Events sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-3

File

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

March 1957

Physical Description

12 photographs : b&w (12 negatives) ; 6 x 6 cm

Admin History/Bio

Pidyon Ha'Ben in Hebrew means redemption of the first born son. In this ceremony it refers to the first born son. The Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony allows the father of his first born son to buy back his child from service to the priesthood. On the 31st day following the birth, the father brings the firstborn male to the Kohen (someone of priestly descent) and informs the Kohen that the child is the firstborn of the mother. The Kohen then asks if the father is giving the son to him, or does he wish to redeem him. The father then indicates that he wishes to redeem him. The father then gives the Kohen five silver coins (or its equivalent value) and recites a short prayer acknowledging the commandment of redemption of the firstborn male. The Kohen then passes the money over the child’s head, releasing the child from his service to the priesthood, and says the priestly benediction.

Scope and Content

File consists of images taken of the Schwartz family at the Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony for Gary Solway Images consist of photographs of family members taking part in this ceremony or mingling at the home of Alex Solway and of the ceremony itself with David Rotenberg acting as the Kohen.

Subjects

Redemption of the first-born

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Events sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

80

Series

5-3

File

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

12 photographs : b&w (12 negatives) ; 13 x 10 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Park Plaza Hotel, originally called the Queen's Park Plaza, began construction in 1928. However, because of financial problems in the Depression it was not completed until 1936. Prior to its completion it was bought by the Park Plaza Company, a group of investors including Harry Rotenberg of Yolles and Rotenberg and Joseph Schwartz, Sylvia Schwartz's father. It was originally used as a hotel, residences and office space. Through the 1940s and 1950s it was a popular hot spot, acting as a venue for entertainers such as Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. In the 1960s it became a popular location with the literary crowd, including Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler.

It was eventually bought by the Hyatt chain and re-named the Park Hyatt Toronto.

Scope and Content

File consists of images of a party in the ballroom at the Park Plaza Hotel. Those pictured include members of the Schwartz, Yolles, Halbert and Wintrob families. Also included are images of Sylvia Schwartz, the singer Phyllis Marshall and musicians.

It is unknown what the party was for, but the original envelope indicated that it was an opening of some kind.

Subjects

Parties

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Portraits sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

5-1

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

5 Apr. 1945

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 10 cm and 11 x 9 cm

Admin History/Bio

Gerald Halbert was born in 1935 to Hyman and Faye Halbert in Toronto. He is the brother of Dr. Ralph Halbert and Mrs. Rhoda Brown (née Halbert). Gerald's mother Faye was Sylvia Schwartz's cousin on her mother's side.

Gerald Halbert received his medical degree in 1960 from the University of Toronto. Around that time he became very involved in the Jewish community, first volunteering for the UJA in 1960 and then traveling to Israel on a UJA Young Leadership Mission in 1962. Inspired and awed by the country, his lifelong commitment to the community was solidified. Since that time he has held many volunteer leadership roles within the Toronto community, including: chair and/or co-chair for three UJA Federation Campaigns and president of United Israel Appeal of Canada and of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has also been active in the development of the Wolfond Centre for Jewish Campus Life at the University of Toronto.

Outside of the Jewish community, he has helped to raise funds for and establish several research chairs at the University of Toronto and University Health Network and is a member of the Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Governors. He is a member of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, where he has volunteered significant time to a number of fundraising initiatives including the Spark of Life and Neurosurgery Chair Campaigns. He is also Board Champion for the Krembil Neuroscience Centre’s Krembil Discovery Tower and Krembil Neuro Program.

In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his lifelong commitment and contributions to his community.

He was married in 1960 to Sandra ("Tootsie") (née Sukerman) and they have two daughters: Wendy and Michelle.

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of Gerald Halbert as a 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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Family series

Portraits sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

5-1

Item

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Apr. 1943

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 10 cm and 11 x 8 cm

Admin History/Bio

Ralph Halbert was born in 1930 to Hyman and Faye Halbert. He is eldest brother to Dr. Gerald Halbert and Mrs. Rhoda Brown (née Halbert). His mother, Faye, was Sylvia Schwartz's cousin on her mother's side.

Ralph Halbert graduated from North Toronto Collegiate in 1948 and went on to attain his medical degree from the University of Toronto.

Since the early 1960s, he has been actively involved and supportive of the UJA and the Jewish community both in Toronto and Israel. In 1977, as the president of the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, Ralph and his wife Rosyln established the Programme of Canadian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1995 it was renamed the Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies. The centre fosters research and promotes the understanding and knowledge of Canadian civilization in all its aspects among Israeli academics and the public at large. The Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies' activities focus on research, publications, public lectures, visiting professors program, courses in Canadian studies, library resources, and conferences.

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of Ralph Halbert.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1967-1992

Physical Description

4.5 m of textual records

1822 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The earliest impetus for the creation of a Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) committee to focus on the issue of Soviet Jews was in response to the infamous “Leningrad trials” of thirty-one dissident Soviet Jews in the winter of 1970. Concurrently, the Soviet government began to systematically persecute almost all Jews who applied for permission to emigrate. The issuing of exit visas was refused (the genesis of the term “refusenik”), usually on exaggerated claims of national security, after which the applicants were often dismissed from their jobs, recalled to military service, or similarly persecuted by state authorities. Those who publicly protested such treatment were subsequently arrested, detained for long periods, or tried as examples to others and sent to Siberian labour camps.

When information about the plight of Soviet Jews reached Canada, Toronto’s Jews responded immediately and decisively. Synagogue congregations, student groups, women’s organizations, professional organizations and community groups all established independent committees to aid Soviet Jews directly and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. Very quickly these committees began organizing mass rallies, letter writing campaigns, petitions, targeted protests and direct aid involving large numbers of people and considerable fundraising efforts. From 1971 to the late 1980s the cause of Soviet Jewry remained, along with support for The State of Israel, the most significant issue to the Jewish community.

The Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC in early 1971 in order to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, the various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Toronto and the rest of Ontario. Organizations coordinated by the Action Committee included university student groups, the Group of 35, Women for Soviet Jewry (WSJ), B’nai B’rith, and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the Steering Committee reporting to the Action Committee. By 1977, the Action Committee and the Steering Committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee).

The first Chairman of the SCSJ was the prominent Toronto politician and activist Joseph B. Salsberg. Later chairs, including Sam Filer, Phyllis Sugar, Reg Adelman, author Jeanette Goldman, Joyce Eklove, and Judge Ted Matlow were also involved with affiliated local groups whose activities were coordinated by the SCSJ. Sam Filer, its first permanent Secretary, became in 1976 its second Chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Toronto Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and was an original co-founder of Lawyers and Jurists for Soviet Jewry. Similarly, Phyllis Sugar was a Co-chair of the ACSJ with Reg Adelman in the early to mid-1970s, while simultaneously serving as the Chair of WSJ. Genya Intrator, the first Chair of WSJ in the early 1970s, later served as first Chair of the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry. Despite having its first meeting in Winnipeg, the Canadian Committee had most of its leadership and activities in Toronto. Toronto residents Sydney Harris (later Judge Harris), David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski all chaired this committee as it developed a national agenda through contacts with affiliated organizations across the country, while coordinating internationally with groups such as the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews based in New York.

Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the restrictions regarding exit visas for refusniks were removed and increasingly Russian Jews began to immigrate to Israel, the United States and Canada. A large percentage of the latter settled in Toronto. By 1991, in response to the changes in Russia and the former Soviet republics, the CJC’s local and national Soviet Jewry Committees were wound up and their leadership began to focus on new issues, such as the integration of Soviet Jewish immigrants into Canada and the continuing struggle to fight antisemitism in the successor states of the former Soviet Union. To this end, the CJC formed a Political Liaison Committee in the early 1990s. Internationally, however, many Russian Jewish advocacy groups continued to operate on the foundation of activism and community organization established during the decades of solidarity built around the Soviet Jewry cause.

Custodial History

The records in this series were accumulated and maintained in the offices of the CJC under the jurisdiction of Samuel Resnick, in his role as the Director of the Community Action for Israel Committee, and as the main CJC staff employee for overseeing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, which eventually coalesced as simply the Committee for Soviet Jewry circa 1977. By 1980, Resnick’s title was Director of the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Central Region, making him the primary full-time staffer of the CJC involved in the Soviet Jewry cause.

Scope and Content

Series consists of extensive planning, administrative and operational records including meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets and membership lists. Records pertaining to activities include numerous event and protest photographs, articles, petitions, posters and other press materials. Records related to the gathering of information regarding Soviet Jewry include transcripts of telegrams and telephone conversations, background fact sheets and many individual case files.

This series has been arranged into six sub-series. Sub-series 1 consists of Ontario Region committee meeting agendas and minutes. Sub-series 2 consists of the correspondence files documenting various activities of that committee. Sub-series 3 consists of the agendas, minutes and general correspondence of the National Committee for Soviet Jewry. Sub-series 4 consists of records documenting affiliated Jewish organizations that collaborated with the CJC in protesting the persecution of Soviet Jews. Sub-series 5 consists of records documenting the various protest activities such as lobbying, letter writing, public rallies, marches and demonstrations. Sub-series 6 , Rufusnik Cases, consists of 3 sub-sub-series, containing individual case files, large published lists, and reference publications about Soviet Jews who were refused permission to emigrate (refusniks).

Notes

Physical extent note: although over 28 m of Soviet Jewry records were originally transferred to the OJA, more than 23 m of those records have been culled due to their origin (non-Canadian sources), format (outside periodicals and publications), because they were merely externally-created reference materials, or because they were part of the very large volumes of duplicates that made up the majority of the box contents. Records documenting the activities of other CJC Committees have also been removed for future processing within more appropriately-titled series within Fonds 17.

Subjects

Committees

Jews--Soviet Union

Arrangement

Because the Soviet Jewry records donated by the Canadian Jewish Congress had not been maintained in a discernable original order, they had to be reorganized into their current arrangement by the processing archivist.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Committee meeting agendas and minutes sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

17

Series

3-1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1970-1988

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of agendas and minutes of meetings of 1), the Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry (its best-known name) and its predecessors 2), The Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, 3), the Committee for Soviet Jewry and 4), the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry. Each file title reflects the name of the creator committee at that time. With the exception of 1984, there are agendas and minutes for each year of committee activity until 1988, after which time the activities of the committee were considerably reduced. 1989 and 1990 committee meeting minutes were either not created or never transferred.

Related Material

Committee correspondence may be found at Fonds 17, Series 3, Sub-series 3-2

Arrangement

Files have been arranged in chronological order and by committee name.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Affiliated organizations sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

17

Series

3-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1970-1987

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

91 photographs : b&w; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Among the major organizations that cooperated with the Committee for Soviet Jewry, the women's organizations and student groups frequently acted as co-organizers and co-sponsors of protest activities and collaborated in the preparation of documents for awareness campaigns. Many of these activities originated from the efforts of such groups as the Toronto Student Councils, the Women for Soviet Jewry and the Group of 35.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of records documenting the activities of various Jewish organizations which worked in cooperation with the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Ontario Region. These records include some photographs, but consist primarily of correspondence, notices and press materials.

Arrangement

Records in this series have been organized alphabetically according to the name of the organization, and then chronologically within the records of each file.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1967-1988

Physical Description

70 cm of textual records

1238 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Activities undertaken by the Committee for Soviet Jewry in Ontario and its affiliated partner organizations included political lobbying, telephone and letter-writing campaigns, product boycotting, symposiums, public rallies, petitions, marches and demonstrations. Among the highest profile activities were the annual Simcha Torah rallies in October and the annual commemorations of the execution of twenty-four Soviet Jewish writers and intellectuals, which had occurred on August 12, 1952 at Moscow's Liubianka prison. As well as organizing public protest activities, the Committee for Soviet Jewry established, in the 1980s, the Ida Nudel Humanitarian Award which emphasized the humanitarian work of a number of prominent Canadian women. Other non-protest activities included bar/ bat mitzvah twinning, family and prisoner sponsorships, and holiday greetings, all programmes that tied the daily lives of Soviet Jews to their Canadian counterparts.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of records documenting the wide range of above-listed protest activities in which the CJC and various affiliated organizations participated. The files include numerous photographs of mass rallies and group demonstrations, planning notes, correspondence, event notices and other promotional materials.

Subjects

Demonstrations

Arrangement

Records of protest activities in this sub-series have been organized chronologically and by event. Indicated date ranges at the file level are of the documents themselves and are not necessarily indicative of the dates of specific events, such as rallies or marches, though such dates are noted in the file description where known.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

17

Series

3-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1972-1991

Physical Description

28 cm of textual records

37 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

In order to facilitate the cooperation between regional committees, a National Committee for Soviet Jewry was created in December 1972 at a meeting of regional CJC directors in Winnipeg. Its names "National Committee" and "Canadian Committee" were used interchangeably within its records. While meetings of this committee were fewer in number than those of the regional committees, there was a certain amount of overlapping jurisdiction between the Central Region, based in Toronto, and the Canadian Committee, given that most of the executive members for both were based in Ontario. Further, executive members serving on the national committee also frequently served concurrently on the local committee. The first Chair of the Canadian Committee, elected to the position in Dec. 1972, was Toronto resident (later Judge) Sydney Harris. David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski, all from Toronto, also served as Chairs for this committee. Unsurprisingly, a majority of activities were thus coordinated in the Central Region office in Toronto. The various regional committees, however, remained largely autonomous, with Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg being the most active outside of Toronto.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, news releases and reports of the Canadian (National) Committee for Soviet Jewry. Also included are numerous examples of the bulletins, notices and newsletters issued by the committee.

Subjects

Antisemitism

Arrangement

Aside from the culling of duplicate documents, files have here been maintained with their original contents and internal order. As some files have date ranges spanning several years, they have been arranged in chronological order by their start dates.

Source

Archival Descriptions