Accession Number
1990-12-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-12-9
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
14 photographs
Date
1908-1990
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records created and collected by the Danson family. The records include a family history written by Bertram Danson, newspaper clippings, family portraits, a marriage certificate, an obiturary, correspondence and a brochure for Camp Winnebagoe, which was run by the Danson family.
The photographs are housed in scrapbook sheets with some notations. They depict members of the Danson family
Administrative History
Barnett Danson emigrated to Canada from Russia in 1874. He returned to Russia in 1878 or 1879, divorced his wife and remarried to a Bertha Brase. Together they returned to Canada and had their first child, Rose, in 1885. The Dansons also had two sons, Joseph and Leo, who helped with their clothing and men's wear store in the west end of Toronto. There was another daughter named Flo.
The Danson family belonged to the Toronto Hebrew Congregation--later to be know as Holy Blosson Synagogue. Barnett Danson was a charter member of the Bond Street Congregation.
Bertha Danson died in 1914 and Barnett Danson died in 1919.
Joseph B. Danson, along with his wife Sadie, was the founding director of Camp Winnebagoe in Muskoska, Ontario. The camp catered to the Jewish community and provided a variety of different athletic and social programmes.
Joseph and Sadie had a son named Bertram Wolfe Danson in 1916 and two younger children named Marilyn and Barney.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-12-11
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-12-11
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
24 photographs : b&w ; 5 x 7 cm
Date
[ca. 1892]-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of twenty-four black-and-white photographs with negatives. The photographs are of three generations of the Danson family. Some of the photographs depict family members at home, on holiday, and in group shots with friends.
Included in the accession are photocopies of the original prints with notes indicating the names of the people, location and dates
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-11-11
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-11-11
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
4 photographs : b&w (2 negatives)
Date
[ca. 1903]-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two black-and-white photographs depicting Joseph Danson. One photograph depicts a group of young men with Joseph Danson in the front row. It was taken in approximately 1903 at Red Feather Camp in Munro Park, Scarborough. The second photograph is of Joseph Danson canoeing at Camp Winnebagoe and is dated 1946.
Included are negatives for both photographs
Administrative History
Barnett Danson emigrated to Canada from Russia in 1874. He returned to Russia in 1878 or 1879, divorced his wife and remarried to a Bertha Brase. Together they returned to Canada and had their first child, Rose, in 1885. The Dansons also had two sons, Joseph and Leo, who helped with their clothing and men's wear store in the west end of Toronto. There was another daughter named Flo.
The Danson family belonged to the Toronto Hebrew Congregation--later to be know as Holy Blosson Synagogue. Barnett Danson was a charter member of the Bond Street Congregation.
Bertha Danson died in 1914 and Barnett Danson died in 1919.
Joseph B. Danson, along with his wife Sadie, was the founding director of Camp Winnebagoe in Muskoska, Ontario. The camp catered to the Jewish community and provided a variety of different athletic and social programmes.
Joseph and Sadie had a son named Bertram Wolfe Danson in 1916 and two younger children named Marilyn and Barney
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1992-2-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1992-2-1
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
38 cm of textual records
15 photographs: b&w
Date
1887-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the following records: photographs, newspaper clippings, greeting cards, invitations, postcards, marriage records, immigration documents, receipts, correspondence and a 1841 edition of The Jewish Chronicle.
The photographs depict members of the Fine family, and in particular Albert Fine's dry goods store; Alpha Sigma - Phi Delta Epsilon fraternity, University of Toronto in 1934; members of the Gardstein family, including a class picture with Pearl and David Gardstein, and several photographs taken at the Gardstein farm.
Also here are several Jewish New Year greeting cards that are three dimensional pop-up cards and some birthday cards. This style of three dimensional card was painted by the Hebrew Publishing Company of New York between 1903 and 1912 and then sent to Germany to be printed.
Accession also Includes marriage certificates for Albert Fine and Jennie Brinn and for Rosie Black and Max Gardstein. There are naturalization papers, death records and early correspondence dating from 1887
Administrative History
The Gardsteins and Fines were related with the marriage of Pearl Gardstein and Irving Fine.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-12-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-12-3
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
12 cm of textual records
ca. 100 photographs
Date
[ca. 1898]-1965
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records that document the Greisman, Brenzel and Mehr families. As well, the photographs record significant members and associations within the Toronto Jewish community. The following types of records are included: photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, a Bishop Strachan exercise book, and a Holy Blossom certificate of confirmation for Ethel H. Mehr in 1916.
Custodial History
Sally Greisman Brenzel collected and stored these records until the time of donation to the Ontario Jewish Archives in 1988
Administrative History
Sally Greisman married Larry Brenzel on June 25, 1950 at Goel Tzedec Synagogue. She and her husband are active members of the Jewish and arts communities in Toronto.
Sally Brenzel was appointed to the Ontario Arts Council in 1998. She is an active volunteer and fundraiser for a variety of arts organizations including the Royal Ontario Museum, where she has held several senior volunteer positions and where she is an Honorary Trustee. Ms. Brenzel’s volunteer service also includes working on fund raising campaigns of the Canadian Cancer Society, United Jewish Appeal, and the Ontario Heart Fund
Descriptive Notes
Related material note: Ethel Mehr fonds 68.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1999-10-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1999-10-6
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
5 photographs : b&w ; 11 x 15 cm on matte 21 x 25 cm or smaller
8 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 15 cm or smaller
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs and records relating to the Fox, Goldberg, and Dennis families, with the bulk of the materials relating to Joseph H. Fox, a storekeeper in Orillia and Toronto. Accession includes a photograph of the Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society picnic at Port Dalhousie Park on July 23, 1939. Documents include translations in English of birth registrations for Chaim Fuchs and Rose Bleich, an affadavit by a police magistrate in Orillia, Ontario for Joseph Fox, deed of sale for a seat in the University Avenue Synagogue (Goel Tzedec) by Z. Shore to Joseph Fox, and a biography of Joseph Fox by his grandson Melville Goldberg. In addition there is a military passport in German for Chaim Frichs.
Name Access
Fox, Joseph H.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-3-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-3-2
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
6 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
1 folder of textual records
Date
1900-1967
Scope and Content
This accession consists of 6 photographs that document the Bossin Family. They include photographs of Hye Bossin, Sally, Bessie, Zossman and a friend, Mike Morrison. Other documents in this accession include publications such as: "If You Will It, It is No Fairy Tale: Theodore Herzl Fifty Years after his death," "A Saint in Street Clothes: Willie Frankel his Life and Loyalties," written by Hye Bossin, as well as three newsletters published by United Jewish People's Order (UJPO), Canadian Film Weekly and The Barker, and two editions of The Jewish Standard. There is also a Judean Glee Club programme for their third annual Kibitz under the direction of Hye Bossin. Finally, there is a copy of a certificate from the Jewish Colonial Trust made out to Sussi Bossin in 1900, and a Jewish Community Senior Softball League, Toronto programme and scorecard from 1932.
Administrative History
The Bossin family lived in Toronto. Hye Bossin (1906-1964) was editor, publisher, and columnist with the Canadian Film Weekly. He received many commendations and awards for his contribution to the motion picture industry and the promotion of the Canadian Film Archive.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1978-7-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1978-7-1
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 box of textual records
16 photographs
Date
[ca. 1906-1960]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of photographs, Beth Israel Congregation annual almanacs, an account book, scrapbooks, and other material relating to the Florence and Collis families and the history of the Oshawa and Peterborough Jewish communities
Administrative History
Beatrice Collis (nee Florence) was married to Allan B. Collis, who owned a department store in Peterborough, Ontario called Allan B. Collis Limited. It was located on the west side of George Street, just north of Simcoe Street, and sold ladies' wear, mens' wear, and children's wear. Beatrice was active in the Peterborough Chapter of Hadassah. They had three children and later moved to Toronto.
MG_RG
MG 3 B 9
Places
Peterborough (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-10-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-10-7
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records and graphic material
Date
1907-[ca. 1957]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of a wedding invitation for Esther Litmanovitch to Joseph Becker, Toronto, 1907 and copies of photographs of Joseph and Esther Becker's wedding portrait; Samuel Weber and family; Nathan Phillips and Joseph Becker; and The Toronto Section, National Council of Jewish Women.
Name Access
Becker, Larry, 1939-1998
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-9-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-9-2
Material Format
object
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records
7 photographs
artifacts
Date
1908-1970
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records, graphic materials, and artifacts documenting the Shaarey Shomayim Synagogue in Fort William (Thunder Bay) and the Jewish community of Thunder Bay. The records include a brass menorah and shivisi from the Synagogue, along with a wooden tablet of the ten commandments (1920s); a marriage register (1908-1951); a minute book of the chevra kadisha (1913-1986); B'nai Brith Lodge membership registration books, minute books, a dues book, and a framed citation (1911-1970); and several photographs including the Jewish community's float for the coronation of King George VI, the turning of the sod for the new synagogue, the B'nai Brith Lodge annual picnic in Port Arthur and a meeting honouring Jewish servicemen of the Second World War, and three portraits of the Synagogue's honourary presidents.
MG_RG
MG 2 B 1ii
MG 3 B 23
Subjects
Communities
Synagogues
Name Access
Shaarey Shomayim Congregation (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
Places
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1974-001
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1974-001
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
6 photographs : b&w
Date
1907-1971
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the activities of the Ostrovtzer Congregation and Society. Records include a 40th Anniversary Jubilee Book produced for its fortieth anniversary event held at the Beth Haknesseth Hagodol (Anshei Ostrovtze) on 19 February 1950. In addtion, there is a booklet for a testimonial dinner held in honour of Joshua J. Barsht (arranged by the Ostrowcer Synagogue and Society), notes from the meetings of the subcommittee on 58 Cecil Street to discuss the future of the building, and a ticket for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
Also included are documents for the Leranbaum-Nisker family including a marriage certificate (1907), correspondence regarding verification of ages of the bride and groom for old age security (1953), a Canadian certificate of naturalization, a death certificate, and several obituaries.
This accession also includes phtographs of Mr. and Mrs. Zelig Nisker, Yukel Nesker, Isidore and Sylvia Rayman, and the Ostrovtzer Mutual Benefit Society Ladies Auxiliary.
MG_RG
MG3A22
MG6K
Subjects
Families
Name Access
Nisker (family)
Places
Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1979-11-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1979-11-1
Material Format
text
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 book
8 microfiche sheets
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Date
1889-1917
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records created by Goel Tzedec Congregation. Included are microfiche of minutes and ledgers, a copy of a Seder T'filas Yisroel donated to Goel Tzedec by Chaim Smith in 1917, and a class photograph for the Farband Shule taken in the late 1930s.
Included in the photograph are Hershel Fogle, Rivkah G, Fayge Weingarten, Sarah Gingold, Aaron Hermaub, Shangle Atkin, Lil Newman, Etle Brody, Rochel Blumenshtein, Chava Smith, Sora Zweig, Yaacov Drexler, Malka, Yaacov Rosenzweig, Aaron Shnipper, Klumann, Shore, Aaron Folk and the teachers Fogle, Leah Lander, Shopsai Rappaport, Moishe Rigelhaupt, and Dr. Isaiah Rabinowich
Custodial History
Records were kept by Goel Tzedec and later Beth Tzedec and were donated by the museum on behalf of Dr. Fred Weinberg
Administrative History
Goel Tzedec was established in 1883. It was originally an orthodox congregation founded by a group of recent immigrants from Lithuania. The first synagogue was situated in a room on Richmond and York Streets. Three years later they purchased and remodelled a building on University Avenue at Elm Street that was owned by the Methodist Church. Finally, in 1904 they hired an architect to construct a large building that was perfectly suited to their needs. In February of 1907, the building on University Avenue was dedicated and became the largest synagogue in Toronto, accommodating 1200 congregants.
During the early decades of the twentieth century, Goel Tzedec became more ethnically mixed and established a religious school and women's auxiliary to help raise money and run special events. In 1925, the Congregation joined the Conservative Synagogue Movement and introduced changes to its services.
After the Second World War, Goel Tzedec and its sister synagogue, Beth Hamidrash Hagadol amalgamated in September 1952 to form Beth Tzedec. The two congregations worked together to build a synagogue which was built in the North end of the city on Bathurst and was dedicated 9 December 1955. Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg served as Beth Tzedec's first Rabbi and J. Benjamin Friedberg as its Assistant Rabbi. The Chazzan at the time was Cantor Joseph Cooper. The synagogue adhered to the principles of the Conservative Movement and represents the largest synagogue in Toronto
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-5-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-5-6
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 badge
Date
1900-1950
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records created and collected by the Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society. Included are an immigrant's letter book in Yiddish and English and a member badge for the Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society
Administrative History
The Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society was a fraternal organization, founded in 1913, whose primary objective was the provision of aid to the Jewish community
MG_RG
MG 20 B 1N
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1997-4-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1997-4-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
27 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1900]-[ca. 1938]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of family photos including wedding and other formal portraits, and group photos. There is an immigration passport for Mindles Plecuto (born 1883) to Canada from Romania in 1928. There are 2 additional passports (probably Romanian) for other individuals who immigrated in 1910. Both are stamped on the back page with Canada Old Age Security numbers (one in 1957). In addition there are 4 immigration documents including an Inspection Card for Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival in Canada issued to Hodess Morkewicz on August 30, 1913.
Use Conditions
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records
Subjects
Families
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-24
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-24
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1902-1984
Scope and Content
Accession consists of personal documents and correspondence pertaining to the lives of Claire and Paul Wertheimer.The documents are in German, Latin and French as well as English. Included are Austrian birth and marriage certificates for both, Paul's school transcript (Wein, Austria 1920-23), letters confirming his attendance at the University of Wein (1931-33), as well as employment references (France 1938, 1945). In addition there are United States Naturalization certificates for Paul and Claire (1957) and correspondence from relatives concerning the Hebrew and English inscriptions on the Wertheimers' headstones in Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Maple, Ontario.
Administrative History
Claire was born in 1903 in Czernovicz, Austria. Paul was born in 1903 in Wein, Austria. They were married in 1926 in Wein. Documents indicate that they lived in France in the late 1930s and were in the United States by the early 1950s.They died within a day of each other in 1983 and are buried north of Toronto, Ontario.
Use Conditions
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
Name Access
Wertheimer, Claire, 1903-1983
Wertheimer, Paul, 1903-1983
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-33
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-33
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
6 photographs : b&w ; 14 x 9 cm or smaller
Date
1905-[ca.1940]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the ketuba for the marriage in Hungary in 1905 or 1906 of the great-aunt and great-uncle of Marta Lorincz. Their family name was Tevan. The photographs are of family members in Hungary taken before the Second World War.
Administrative History
One branch of Marta Lorincz's family survived imprisonment in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. They remained in Hungary after the war and gave these materials to Marta when she emigrated to Canada. She was entrusted to donate them to a Jewish community archive for safekeeping.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1981-1-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1981-1-9
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 button : metal ; 3 cm in diam.
Date
[19--]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a button featuring a religious scene. A bearded man is standing with his arms outstretched and an individual is kneeling before him. This is possibly a scene from the Book of Esther (Purim). Surrounding the image is either Hebrew or Yiddish text.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-6-2
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1891-1948
Scope and Content
Accession consists of documents concerning the application of Menachem Kernerman of Berdichev to live in Warsaw (1891-1892), and a 1912 London England birth certificate for Aaron Kernerman, son of Philip and Rebecca Kernerman. There are also immigration documents for the Kemerman family from Liverpool to Quebec City in 1914, a Certificate of Naturalization for Philip (1931) and a Certificate of Eligibility for Naturalization of Women of Foreign Birth for Rebecca (1934). Also included are University of Toronto Junior Matriculation reports for Morris Kernerman (1918-1920), a 1943 deed of land for cemetery plots for Philip and his wife in the McCaul Street Cemetery (Congregation Beth Medresh Hagodol Chevra Thilim), and two telegrams congratulating Philip and Rebecca on their 50th wedding anniversary in 1948.
Descriptive Notes
Language note: Russian, Yiddish and English.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1994-12-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1994-12-5
Material Format
object
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
Artifacts
Photographs
1 folder of textual records
Date
1884-1986
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs, textual records, and artifacts documenting the Sadowski family from Massey, Ontario. Records include family photographs, family correspondence, geneological information, and business records. Of note are photographs of the Sadowski General Store in Massey, a meal token from the store, a notebook documenting animal fur transactions (1920-1922), and a land survey of the Sadowski family property (1893).
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-5-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-5-2
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1901-1931
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the marriage certificate of Philip Loeb (Taube) and Annie Dratha (December 2, 1901), a seat indenture document between Jacob Sherman and Congregation Shaarei Tzedek (1922), and two Hebrew engagement certificates for Dr. John Sherman and Etta Taube (1931).
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-11
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-3-11
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 16 x 11 cm and 12 x 8 cm
12 postcards : b&w ; 15 x 9 cm or smaller
Date
1909-1912
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two photographs and a collection of black-and-white postcards in with one tinted.The postcards were manufactured in Russia, Poland, and Germany and have inscriptions in Yiddish. Several feature likenesses of prominent individuals such as Sholem Asch, Sholem Aleichem, and Jacob Gordon.
Descriptive Notes
Language: Yiddish and Russian language
Places
Russia
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-1-11
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-1-11
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm
Date
1909
Scope and Content
This accession consists of one photograph of the Rosenthal family at their home located at 328 Shaw Street in Toronto. From left to right is Adolph Rosenthal (1864-1933) with his children Ben Rosenthal (1893-?), Harry Rosenthal (1889-1936), Fanny Rosenthal (1891-1959) and his wife Eva Rosenthal (1869-1948).
Administrative History
Adolph Rosenthal was Geri Clever's maternal grandfather. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on 29 July 1864 and died in Toronto on 26 September 1933. Adolph sold and traded in books, stamps, coins and manuscripts at his store at 179 York Street. The Rosenthal family lived above the store prior to their purchase of 328 Shaw Street in 1908. Adolph continued to conduct business at the store until his death in 1933.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-5-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-5-7
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
32 photographs : b&w (16 negatives) ; 25 x 20 cm and 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Date
[ca. 1903-ca. 1938]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of 16 copy photographs with negatives of the Haberman family, Toronto. Pictured are Nessie, Mina, Mordechai, Jack, Abraham (?), Molly, Anne, and Harold. Also included are two photocopies of a clipping advertising a "Haberman Kiddies" special attraction on March 28, 1923.
Administrative History
The Haberman children, Molly, Anne, and Jack, were dancers/musicians who performed together in Toronto. Harold Haberman was adopted by the Haberman family as a Russian war orphan when he was 11 years old in 1921 after their son Jack Haberman, a well known Toronto saxophone player, drowned in the lagoon at Centre Island in Toronto on July 15, 1920, at age 18.
Name Access
Haberman, Jack
Haberman, Harold
Haberman, Nessie
Haberman, Mina
Haberman, Mordechai
Haberman, Molly
Haberman, Anne
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1993-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1993-6-2
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
7 photographs : b&w
Date
[ca. 1900]-1969
Scope and Content
This accession consists of seven copy photographs of the Lerner and Rosenthal family in Woodstock; London, Ontario; and Detroit
Places
London (Ont.)
Woodstock (Ont.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1982-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1982-6-5
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
40 photographs : b&w (20 negatives) ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller
1 folder of textual records
Date
[ca. 1905]-[ca. 1945]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of copy photographs and negatives and a family history of the Farber family. Photographs include members of the extended Farber, Spencer, Harris, Gallander, Rosen, and Nisker families.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1991-6-5
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
3 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 14 cm and 10 x 12 cm and 18 x 13 cm
Date
[ca.1900]-[ca. 1918]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one original photograph, one copy photograph, and one negative of Louise Cornblum's grandfather Harry Fein in front of the West Toronto Decorating store at 3132 Dundas Street West in Toronto.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-5-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-5-1
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
48 photographs : b&w (24 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm and 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 13 cm
Date
[ca.1903]-1918
Scope and Content
Accession consists of 24 copy photographs and 24 negatives. There are group photos of the Danson family, extended family and friends in Toronto locations such as High Park, the Canadian National Exhibition, the Humber Valley near the Old Mill, Northview Terrace (Bay and Davenport), and the Red Feather Camp in Monroe Park, Scarborough.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-6-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-6-1
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
4 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm and 18 x 13 cm and 10 x 13 cm
Date
1908
Scope and Content
Accession consists of copy photographs of a portrait of Fanny Goldhar Gertzbein and a group photo of the Myer and Tzyrel Goldhar family with identifying information. Both photos were taken in Toronto.
Goldhar family studio portrait. Identified from left, Mary, Myer (holding Harry), Jack (seated on floor), Molly (m. Robins), Fanny (standing centre), Tzyrel (Cyrel) holding J. Barney, Eva (m. Applebaum), Tillie (m. Freeman).
Descriptive Notes
Related material note: OJA Accession 2019-7-2.
Name Access
Goldhar, Fanny
Goldhar, Myer
Goldhar, Tzyrel
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-8-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-8-3
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
12 photographs : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1900]-1979
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a number of items in Yiddish including a notebook, a newspaper clipping from New York, and several programs, small brochures, and a scrapbook of clippings. Among these are an issue of the periodical "Der Poiker" (March 1937) and an event program for the yahrzeit of renowned Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem.
There is material pertaining to Sholem Katz consisting of his Canadian Naturalization Certificate, correspondence, and share certificates from organizations including the Toronto Labour Lyceum, Poale Zion, and the Jewish National Workers Alliance Home in Montreal.
As well there are documents for Rubin Rocklin (Rochlin, Rachlin, Roklin) and his wife Rebecca Binsky and family including a marriage certificate, naturalization certificate and immigration papers and photos of Rochlin family members.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-11-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-11-10
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
84 photographs : b&w ; 19 x 25 cm or smaller
1 collage (9 photos)
Date
[ca.1890]-[ca.1935]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs which include portraits and group photos taken in Vilna, Poland, Montreal, Quebec, and New York. Many are photo postcards. Identified individuals include Miriam and Isadore Zelker, Benjamin and Dora Zelker and Dr. Serge Koussevitzky. In addition there is a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Isadore Zelker by the Supreme Court in Bronx, New York (1930), a Polish passport belonging to Mary Dreazen of Vilno (1921), and her United States States Certificate of Naturalization issued in New York in 1927. Lastly there is an undated Western Union Telegram congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Dreazen of New York on their marriage.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-4-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-4-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1908-[192-]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the Constitution of Chevre Kadisha Agudas Achim Congregation, Toronto (1925) and a Dues Book for the same synagogue. As well there are photocopied pages from a book printed in 1908 in Hebrew, Yiddish and Polish with the name Bernerd Weingerten stamped on one page.
Administrative History
Charles B. (Chone Ber) Weingarten served as president and secretary of the Chevre Kadisha Agudas Achim Congregation in the 1920s. The congregation was located on Markham Street, south of Ulster and was incorporated in April 1925.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-8-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-8-1
Material Format
object
Physical Description
Artifact
Date
1900
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a lodge pin from the Toronto Independent Benevolent Association dated September 20, 1900.
Name Access
Toronto Independent Benevolent Association
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1982-8-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1982-8-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 26 and 13 x 18 cm
Date
1908-1961
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a photograph of a group of people in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queens Park in the 1930s, a photograph of J. Irving Oelbaum, national vice president of Canadian Jewish Congress, presenting a Scroll of Honour to Mr. and Mrs. J. Donnenfeld (1961), and a United Zionists of Toronto certificate awarded to Paul Levi in 1908.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-7-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1985-7-2
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
3 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm and 13 x 10 cm
Date
[ca. 1900]-[ca.1925]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a photograph of five young men in front of Niagara Falls, and a photocopy of a large group of people including young children and adults. No identifying information is included.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-12-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1998-12-4
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
56 photographs : b&w and col. (27 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
1 postcard
Date
1909-[ca. 1980]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a collection of copy and original photographs documenting the life of the Dime family and their relatives in locations including Belleville, Oshawa, Toronto, the Muskoka Sanitorium, and Goose Bay, Labrador.
Photo Captions:
001: Sam and Dorothy Dime, Dime’s Drug Store, 568 Jarvis Street, Toronto, [1957?].
002: Street view of Dime’s Pharmacy, 568 Jarvis Street, Toronto, 1960.
003: Sgt. Sam Dime, Pharmacy, Goose Bay Labrador, 1944.
004: Ada Dime, with Ben [Safe] and Sam Dime, secondhand furniture, 56 King St. West, Oshawa, ON, 1921.
005: Sam Dime with dog [4F], Goose Bay, Labrador, 1944.
006: Sam Dime, 56 King St. W., Oshawa, ON, ca. 1920-21.
007: Rabbi Isaac Stein with grandchildren Izzie (left) and Donna, Toronto, 1930.
008: Portrait of Ada Dime (née Aronson) with her brother Sammy Aronson, 273 Yonge Street, Toronto, ca. 1915.
009: Portrait of David and Sammy Tobe, Belleville, ON, [1909]. Photograph by R. McCormick Belleville.
010: Morris Bernard of Belleville, Overseas, First World War, ca. 1918.
011: David Dime, (age 25), 1914. The Dutch Studio Vander Feen, 318 Yonge St. Toronto, ON, [192-?].
012: Unidentified group of children, [19--?].
013: Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Tobe with their children David and Sammy, Belleville, ON, [1920]. Photograph by R. McCormick Belleville.
014: Portrait of David and Ada Dime with daughter Anne, Belleville, ON, ca. 1915.
015: Mickey and Riva Marcus, Belleville, ON, ca. 1917-18.
016: Ada Dime, 30 Simcoe Street, Oshawa, ON, 1930.
017: Tobie Green (m. Dime), her brother Hershel Goldman and Goldie Fryman, St. Patrick Street Between Elm & Dundas, [Toronto], ON, 1924.
018: Cheder class, Oshawa Hebrew Congregation, Beth Zion,45 Albert Street in Oshawa, Ontario, 1922. Back row (L to R): Simma Engel, Rabbi Primack's son, Rabbi Primack's daughter, Annie Dime, Annie Hennick, Sara Rainish. Front row (L to R): Clara Engel (m. Rubin), Maxie Rainish, Irving Oilgissor, Becky Rainish, Sam Dime, [Primack child?], Rabbi Primack.
019: David Dime (back row, right), Muskoka Sands, July ca. 1922
020: Oshawa Belleville group, Belleville, Ontario, ca. 1930. Back row: Mr. Diamond, Goldie Engel, Abe Swartz, [unidentified], Faige Swartz, Sarah Golub, Sue [Sape], Hymie Golub. Front row: Mrs. Lepofsky, Mildred Golub.
021: National Council of Jewish Women, 44 St. George Street, ca. 1943. Also pictured is Betty Stone and Dora Stein (4th left).
022: Sam Dime, Dime’s Pharmacy, 568 Jarvis Street, Toronto, ca. 1951.
023: Dorothy Stein (m. Dime) at closing of canteen, 44 St. George Street, Toronto, 1945. Photographer Globe & Mail.
024: Ada and David Dime, Muskoka Sands, Gravenhurst, ca. 1922.
025: Canadian Jewish Congress Service Mens Club postcard, ca. 1940s.
026: Mrs. Ada Dime, Dime’s Dry Goods, 30 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa, ON, 1926.
027: David Dime (left), with orphans in Baron de Hirsch Farm in Saskatchewan, ca. 1906.
Administrative History
The donor Sam Dime served in the Second World War. In 1947 Sam and his wife Dorothy Dime (née Stein) opened Dime's Drug Store at 568 Jarvis Street in Toronto. The pair operated the Jarvis Street institution for thirty-nine years and officially closed their store in 1986.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945
Places
Oshawa (Ont.)
Belleville (Ont.)
Muskoka (Ont. : District municipality)
Saskatchewan
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1999-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1999-6-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
21 photographs : b&w ; 22 x 30 cm or smaller
Date
1895-1962
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs documenting the life, career and activities of Sam Factor and his family. Textual material include correspondence, press clippings, and Factor's education and law school records.
Administrative History
Sam Factor (1892 -1962) was a Liberal member of parliament for Spadina, served in the armed forces in the Second World War, and was appointed a judge in the County of York.
Descriptive Notes
Idenification is provided for the photographs.
Subjects
Politicians
Name Access
Factor, Sam
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1984-5-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1984-5-9
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1901
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a certificate for one share of the Jewish Colonial Trust (Juedische Colonialbank) registered to Leizer Davidovitch (Lazar Davis) in 1901.
Administrative History
Leizer Davidovitch (1867-1951) was born in Apt, Poland and arrived in Canada in 1910.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-11-8
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-11-8
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Date
[ca. 1909]
Scope and Content
Accesssion consists of a copy photograph of the Starkman family of Acton, Ontario with identification information.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-8-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-8-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 9 cm
1 photographic printing plate : b&w ; 8 x 5 cm
Date
1893-1962
Scope and Content
Accession includes a photostat of Sprachman's Polish birth certificate, a letter in Polish dating from 1893, Sprachman's public school diploma and school attendance certificate, a letter from Sprachman's public school principal attesting to his good character, membership certificates from architects' professional associations, a programme for a Beth Tzedec reception (3 Oct. 1961) honouring Sprachman and Abraham Ginsburg, a signed copy of the 1962 partnership agreement between Harold Kaplan and Abraham Sprachman, Kaplan & Sprachman business cards, and a photograph of Kaplan and Sprachman taken at their office at 46 Yorkville Ave. in Toronto. In addition there is a photographic printing plate of a portrait of Abraham Sprachman.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-3-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-3-2
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w; (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 11 x 13 cm
Date
[ca. 1905]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Cohen and their employees on the "Cohen Dock," Sault Ste. Marie, ca. 1905, in front of the office of Cohen's Clean Coal.
Subjects
Storefronts
Name Access
Traders Metal Company (Sault Ste. Marie).
Cohen's Clean Coal (Sault Ste. Marie).
Superior Iron and Metal Company (Sault Ste. Marie).
Places
Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-9-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-9-3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
66 photographs : b&w and col. ; 19 x 24 cm or smaller
Date
1908-1972
Scope and Content
Accession consists of group photos of organizatons including delegates to the 1910 Zionist convention in Toronto on the steps of the Goel Tzedec Synagogue, volunteer collectors for the War Relief Conference in Toronto during the First World War, founders of the Toronto Hebrew Students Association, the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine holders of "T" for athletics, the University of Toronto Medical Alumni Association, the University of Toronto Zionist Circle, the University of Toronto Menorah Society, the Nordau Zion Club picnic at Long Branch, and the Associated Hebrew Charities Childrens Home (orphanage). Many of the photos have identification of individuals including David Eisen, Henry Dworkin, Morris Goldstick, A.G. Volpe, Jacob Singer and Fred Catzman.
In addition there are a series of photographs of the University of Toronto St. George Campus, and buildings along Queen Street West, Nathan Phillips Square, New City Hall, Kensington Avenue and other downtown locations taken in 1965 and 1966. Some of the buildings have since been demolished.
Finally, a clipping from the Canadian Jewish Congress Supplement written by Stephen Speisman outlines the history of the Central Region Archives Committee, later the Ontario Jewish Archives. Photo Captions: 002 Associated Hebrew Charities Children's Home, Simcoe St., (Toronto, ON), 1916. Adults indtified in the back row (L to R): [Unknown], Sam Miller (Dr. Miller of Chicago), [unkown woman], [Unkown woman], [unknown man], Reuben Lieberman (Toronto Lawyer), A.G. Volpe. 003 "T" holders in the Faculty of Medicine, 1920. See reverse for identification of the members of the boxing and wrestling teams. 005 Founders of Toronto Hebrew Students Association, September 1918. Front Row (L to R): P. Phillips, Henry Lipsett, A. Glassberg-Volpe, and Harry Fine. Back Row (L to R): Sam Moss, Henry Papernick, A. Kaminsky, Reuben Lieberman. 006 Members of the Hebrew Club, 1921. Front Row: K.I. Freeman, Fred Catzman, and Goodman; Middle Row: Reuben Hurwich, Shirley Freeman (Kraicer), I. Wallerstein, Miss Madorsky, S.W. Leslie, Riva Bronstein and Sam Hurwich. Back Row: Himel, Unidentified, Miss Wallerstein, Unidentified, Miss Goodman, Tomashinsky (Tomson), Unidentified, Lachovsky, Yitzhak (Itche) Goldberg and Abe Katz. 007 Toronto Hebrew Student Association cast of actors in sketch presented at Orange Hall, (College at Euclid), Toronto, ON JAN 7, 1918.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-5-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-5-4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
11 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1900]-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material pertaining to the Rosen, Silver, and Winkler families. Photographs include views of Abraham Silver's two tobacco and grocery stores in Toronto ( one at Spadina and Adelaide), and pictures of family members in unidentified locations. Documents include a marriage registration certificate for the 1912 marriage of Alexander and Freda Rosen, a 1939 letter attesting to the Canadian naturalization of Elik Rosen in 1914, and a Certificate of Canadian Naturalization for Rachel Rosen (1946).
Name Access
Winkler Family
Rosen Family
Silver, Abraham
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-2-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1989-2-5
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1895-1966
Scope and Content
Accession consists of personal documents of Kate Risidore Devor including registration of her birth in 1895 in London, England; immigration inspection card issued at the Port of Quebec (1912); New York State marriage certificate for Harry Devor and Kate Risidore of St. Catharines, Ontario, married in 1914 in Niagara Falls, and their ketubah (Hebrew marriage certificate). As well, there is a newspaper clipping from the St. Catherines Standard of a speech by her son John, correspondence from two of her sons, Sydney and John serving in the military, and clippings and messages of condolence on the death of her son David while fighting in Italy (1944). These include cards and letters from King George of England, George Drew of Ontario, the Toronto War Memorial Committee, and Sam Bronfman, president of Canadian Jewish Congress. Finally there is Jewish National Fund correspondence documenting the planting of a tree by St. Catherines Hadassah in honour of Kate (1933), and a number of trees by Kate in memory of her brother and son (1966).
Administrative History
Four sons of Kate and William Harry Devor served in the Canadian forces during the Second World War - David, Berko, John, and Sydney.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: Digitzed material.
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
Devor, Kate
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1992-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1992-6-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
ca. 20 cm of textual and graphic material
1 notary stamp
1 plaque
Date
[189-?]-[1989?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of clippings, correspondence, invitatations and photographs reflecting the personal life and community contributions of H. Max Swartz. The records include honours, photocopied documents, newsletters, family snapshots and portraits, Swartz's notary public stamp and a small plaque from JIAS in appreciation of Swartz's contribution as president. There are also three scrapbooks containing letters, clippings and photographs.
Custodial History
The records were donated by H. Max Swartz's son Paul.
Administrative History
H. Max Swartz (1900-1989) was born and raised in Toronto, where he worked for decades as a lawyer and was a well-known leader in the community. Swartz studied law at Osgoode Hall and subsequently worked in the law firm of Nathan Phillips for six years and also helped plan Phillips's mayoral campaigns. Swartz was in his early twenties when both his parents died, and he supported his eight younger siblings, an aunt and his grandmother. Eventually he established his own law firm. He was also elected president of the Reading Law Club of the Upper Canada Law Societ (a Jewish law club). Swartz was made a member of the King's Counsel in 1948. He married Seraphine (Serry) Marshack in 1931 and together they had two sons, Paul and Myron.
Swartz's community work started early and never flagged. In 1919, he was one of the founders of the YM-YWHA and he served on its board of directors as president, chairman and then honourary vice president. He was a board member of the United Jewish Welfare Fund and Toronto Jewish Congress, a national executive member of Canadian Jewish Congress, and president of Toronto JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) in 1951-1952. In the 1980s, the Jewish Community Centre set up the H. Max Swartz Leadership Development Fund in his honour, and Swartz received a commendation from the mayor of Toronto for his dedication to the preservation of historic buildings, including the Gooderham flatiron building and others in the St. Lawrence Market area of the city. H. Max Swartz died at the age of 88 in 1989.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1976-9-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1976-9-5
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
2 photographs
Date
[nd], 1966
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two photographs of sketches detailing former Holy Blossom Temple locations. The first is a sketch by an unknown artist of Coombe's Drugstore and the second is a sketch by artist Aba Bayefsky of the Richmond St. building.
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.)
Bayefsky, Aba, 1923-2001
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-11-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1995-11-6
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1negative) ; 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 13 cm
1 folder of textual records
Date
1901-1949
Scope and Content
Accession consists of original share certificates (with a photograph and negative of one of them) for Palestine/Israel companies including the Jewish Colonial Trust, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Hassneh Eretz Israel Development Company, Worker's Bank Ltd., and Nakhshon Ltd, as well as the Toronto Labour Lyceum. Owners of the shares are Abraham Reinwein (Rhinewine) and Vivian Rhinewine.
Name Access
Rhinewine, Abraham
Rhinewine, Vivian
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2004-3-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2004-3-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
ca. 3 cm of textual records and other material
7 photographs b&w and col ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Date
1900-1979
Scope and Content
This accession consists of material documenting the donor's grandparents Dora and Bernard Coffler. It includes portraits of her grandparents and an exterior photograph of the Coffler Bedding Co., activities and fiftieth wedding celebration. This accession also includes: documents such as their passports, wedding certificate and identification cards; correspondence from David Croll; press clippings relating to their wedding and anniversary; an Ezras Noshem Society pin (1927); an Adath Israel Congregation Golden Jubilee Book and key chain (1952); and a Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary 25th Anniversary Year Book.
Administrative History
Bernard and Dora Coffler arrived in Canada from Roumania in 1900 and 1901 respectively. They met in 1902 and married on 21 May 1904 in Toronto. They reportedly were the first couple to be married on a Sunday in Toronto. They had three children: Myer (1905), Goldie (1910), and Sam (1914).
The Coffler's opened up a business called Coffler Bedding Co., which was located at 391 Parliament Street.
Dora Coffler was very active in two organizations, the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) as well as the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary called the Ezras Noshem Society.
Bernard and Dora Coffler passed away in 1960 and 1971 respectively.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 7 photographs, 1 key chain, 1 pin and 1 coin.
Subjects
Weddings
Storefronts
Name Access
Coffler Bedding Co.
Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, Ont.)
Croll, David, 1900-1991
Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1987-10-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1987-10-2
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
7 cm of textual records and graphic material (approximately 57 photographs : b&w)
Date
[ca. 1842-1946]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of correspondence, photographs, birth certificates, marriage certificates, a German passport, a medal, postcards, Jewish Immigrant Aid Society of Canada receipt vouchers, parchment prayer scrolls, City of Toronto bicycle licenses, and other material relating to Chaim and Hena Silbiger and family of 51 Baldwin Street, Toronto. There are also photographs of Toronto scenes such as Harbord Bakery, Dibble Oil Truck (Manny Rotman), Harbord Fish Market, and a Belle Ewart street scene.
Photo Captions (001 - 012): Toronto Street Scenes, [194-]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, Accession # 1987-10-2.
Photo Caption (002): Street view of Alter and Goldie Kosower's Harbord Bakery, (Toronto, ON), [194-]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, Accession 1987-10-2.
Custodial History
Material was donated by Suzanne Harning and was found in a house on Harbord St., west of Spadina Ave.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1977-12-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1977-12-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
ca. 120 cm of textual records
Date
1904–1969
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the First Narayever Congregation of Toronto. Included are membership books, minute books, insert cards used to record aliyah pledges, correspondence, ledger sheets, contracts, and other material.
Administrative History
In 1914, Jews from eastern Galicia (now in modern Ukraine) established the First Narayever Congregation in Toronto as a landsmanshaf, i.e. a society of Jewish immigrants from the same town or region. The synagogue takes its name from the small market town of Narayev, which is located in eastern Galicia. The synagogue's founders belonged to the working class and many worked in Toronto's garment industry.
Initially, congregation members met in different locations, but by 1923 their numbers and financial means had grown such that they were able to rent a small house at 70 Huron Street at the corner of Huron and Dundas. This house served as the congregation's home for twenty years.
The congregation's first president was Israel Chaim Katz and its first meeting was held at the Katz home at 156 William Street. The congregation's first rabbi was Solomon Langner, who was hired by the congregation in 1923. He retained this affiliation despite serving the Kiever Synagogue as a full-time rabbi from 1929 until he died in 1973.
In 1943, the congregation purchased property at 187-189 Brunswick Avenue from Bethel Church. This is where the the synagogue is located today.
In 1950, Henry Young became president of the congregation. He occupied that position until his death in 1976. Shalom Langner, the son of Rabbi Solomon Langner, succeeded Young as president.
As Toronto's Jewish population began to move north, the First Narayever continued to serve Orthodox Jews living downtown. In the 1980s, the congregation struggled to balance the needs of this older generation with the young generation's desire to make the synagogue more egalitarian with respect to gender. In 1983, the congregation's new leadership team successfully advanced a proposal to allow the full participation of women in traditional services. This innovation led to several long-standing members taking legal action, but their case was dismissed on the grounds that it was not a matter for civil law.
The First Narayever's identity continued to evolve. In 2009, its membership voted to allow its rabbi, Edward Elkin, who began serving the congregation in 2000, to officiate at same-sex marriages.
MG_RG
MG3 A55
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
First Narayever Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1975-004
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1975-004
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1883-1922
Scope and Content
Accession consists of ten deeds of sale for a parcel of land in Toronto at 909 Dundas Street West (119 Arthur Street) and Strachan Sreet (Bellwoods Avenue) from 1883 to 1922. The first transaction was between Joseph Phillips and his wife, Elizabeth Jane Phillips, and James Crocker. The last documents, both of which are dated June 5, 1922, record the sale of the land from W. T. O. Parry and Wexler Woolfe to Samuel Dvoretsky and Samuel Dvoretsky to W. T. O. Parry.
Places
Dundas Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions