Accession Number

1997-11-3

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

1 folder of textual records

Date

[ca. 1925]-1986

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one black-and-white photograph taken of a group of campers at Camp Kindervelt in Rouge Hill. Identified in the photograph is Rae Watson (standing at the far left).

Also included were several newspaper clippings from 1976–1986, which have been integrated into the clipping files.

Administrative History

Camp Kindervelt was a Labour Zionist League camp in Rough Hill, in the east end of Toronto in the Rouge Valley.

Subjects

Camps

Labor Zionism

Name Access

Camp Kindervelt

Shiner, Sol

Places

Toronto, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1997-4-2

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

50 photographs : b&w and col. (24 negatives)

Date

1916-1988

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs and newspaper clippings documenting the life of the Levine Family. Photographs include class pictures from Port Whitby's Brock School, Purim celebrations at Oshawa's Beth Zion Synagogue, Camp Ogama staff and camper photos, Camp Winnibagoe cabin photos and Royal Winter Fair prize winning photos.

Use Conditions

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Subjects

Camp counselors

Camps

Farms

Farm tractors

Purim

Name Access

Camp Winnebagoe

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Whitby (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

1975-007

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 74 cm

Date

1919-1980

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a panoramic photograph of the opening game of the Jewish Fraternal Softball League. Pictured are the Judean Benevolent and B'nai Brith teams. In addition, accession includes a Sons of Jacob Benevolent Society Directory, and material pertaining to the Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society including several versions of its Constitution and By-Laws, an anniversary banquet programme, and two copies of the Golden Jubilee Book.

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MG2B1E

Subjects

Sports

Societies

Name Access

Sons of Jacob Benevolent Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Fraternal Softball League (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1979-9-22

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1973-1983

Scope and Content

Accession consists of Toronto Secular Jewish Association newsletters from 1980 to 1983 and a photocopy of the SJA constitution and by-laws (1973).

Administrative History

Toronto's Secular Jewish Association (SJA) was founded in the late 1960s by 15 families who felt a strong identification with the humanistic, ethical and cultural roots of Judaism rather than with theistic or political affiliations.

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MG2 B1Y

Subjects

Religion

Societies

Name Access

Toronto Secular Jewish Association

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1980-1-5

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975–1980

Scope and Content

Accession consists consists of material documenting the Canadian Jewish Historical Society. Included are papers and a letter from Professor Sydney Eisen to Professor Michael Sefton.

MG_RG

MG2 H

Subjects

Societies

Name Access

Canadian Jewish Historical Society

Places

Canada

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2007-12-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

90 cm of textual records

1000 photographs [approx.]

Date

1919-2007

Scope and Content

This accession consists of textual and graphic records documenting the programs and activities of Canadian Young Judaea. The records include newsletters and publications, photographs, anniversary books, and program books. There are also two compact discs containing scanned copies of the photographs from this accession.

Custodial History

These records were gathered together for an anniversary celebration held in November 2007. Most of the records were found in the basement of the office building on Marlee Avenue, before being donated to the archives.

Administrative History

Canadian Young Judaea was founded in 1909 as a Zionist movement for Canadian youth by members of the Herzl Zion Club. As a Zionist organization, Young Judaea continues to be committed to fostering a sense of Jewish identity and values in today's Jewish youth and to encouraging a lifelong commitment to Israel.

In order to foster a closer connection to Israel, Canadian Young Judaea employs educational Shlichim from Israel who are posted at various Jewish communities throughout Canada and offices at the national level. In Toronto, Young Judaea also operates several Zionist summer camps located in each region of Canada, and a summer leadership institute called Camp Biluim in Quebec. In addition to the social programme of the organization, Young Judaea also offers educational seminars and conferences.

Young Judaea's national structure includes a National Executive Board and an Administrative Council. Conventions are held regularly, as are regional conferences. In the past, Young Judaea operated as an associated, but distinct, organization from the Zionist Organization of Canada. However, Young Judaea operations were overseen by the ZOC executive, and Young Judaea received their budget from the ZOC Treasury. In addition, ZOC and Young Judaea worked in conjunction with one another on many projects and programmes, such as with the operation of the Zionist camps. They were therefore dependent on ZOC.

Subjects

Camps

Youth

Zionism

Name Access

Canadian Young Judaea

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2009-11-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm and 9 X7 cm

1 matchbook

Date

1928-2009

Scope and Content

Accession consists of mementos, family documents and clippings from Nancy Draper (née Frankel). The records include a birth announcement card for Nancy in 1928 and a matchbook party favour from her wedding to Darrell Draper in 1949. There is also a scholarship application letter from the donor's granddaughter, Haley Draper, to UJA. Other records include a staff list from Camp Wabi-Kon in 1946; a Globe and Mail obituary of Dr. Martin Wolfish, a past volunteer of OJA; a photograph of David Steinhauer; a clipping about an Inuit sculpture inspired by the experience of Holocaust survivor Leon Kahn; and three eulogies for Patricia Drevnig Goldstein (1940-2005) (née Jacobs). Patricia was the granddaughter of Rabbi Solomon Jacobs of Holy Blossom, and her mother, Edna, was a Frankel. Finally, the accession includes a photocopy of a photograph of members of the Siglen family of Meaford with Maurice Frankel, the great-uncle of the donor, and Irwin Rosen, ca. 1928.

Administrative History

Nancy Frankel (b. 1928) is the daughter of Carl and Dorothy Jacobs Frankel, past prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community and members of Holy Blossom Temple. Nancy attended Camp Wabi-Kon, a Jewish camp in northern Ontario near Temagami, and then worked there as a teenager. She married Darrell Draper on December 10th, 1949. Nancy is a longtime volunteer at the OJA.

Subjects

Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

Camps

Families

Letters

Obituaries

Name Access

Draper, Nancy

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-1-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

7 photographs

Date

1931-[ca. 1997]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs and textual records documenting the Lagover Mutual Benefit Society. The bulk of the photographs are photocopies of composite and group images of members; however, there is one original composite photograph of members (1931) and a copy photograph of the Lagov market. Also included is a constitution for the society (1938), copies of articles written by members which outline their memories of Lagov, and a brief meeting report (1997). Records are in English and Yiddish.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Sid' Orfus's brother-in-law. They came into Sid's possession after his brother-in-law passed away.

Subjects

Societies

Name Access

Lagover Mutual Benefit Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-9-1

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

textual record

Physical Description

3 photographs (tiffs) : col.

1 folder of textual records

Date

2005-2012

Scope and Content

Accession consists of graphic material and a textual record documenting the Transnistria Survivor Association. Included are three photos: 1) Member Arnold Buxbaum standing in front of Memorial for Transnistria at Earl Bales Park; 2) Arnold Buxbaum and Joe Leinburd at UJA Foundation Event, 2011-12; 3) Hazkarah, 2005 at Sharei Shomayim Synagogue. There is also a speech by Arnold Buxbaum presented in 2011 at Sharei Shomayim Synagogue.

Custodial History

Originals were loaned for reproducing.

Administrative History

Founded in 1994, the Transnistria Survivors’ Association works to provide a voice for and raise awareness of a lesser known group of Holocaust survivors. Transnistria was the Romanian authorities’ name for the former Ukrainian region located between the Rivers Dniester and Bug. It was placed under Romanian administration following the German and Romanian conquest of Ukraine in the summer of 1941. Prior to the Second World War, Romania was home to the third largest Jewish population in Europe; but beginning with the Citizenship Revision Laws of 1938, the Jews of Romania were deprived their citizenship rights and became the targets of repressive antisemitic policies and laws. Neighbours turned on neighbours. Thousands of Jews were murdered in pogroms, either by Romanian or German troops, Nazi Einsatzgruppen, or the local population. In 1941, the Jews who remained alive in the Provinces of Bucovina and Bessarabia were deported to camps and ghettos in Transnistria. Thousands were jammed into freight trains while others were marched by foot. Many died along the way. Between 1941 and 1944, it is estimated that German and Romanian authorities, along with Ukrainian collaborators, murdered or caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Romanian and Ukrainian Jews in Transnistria. Some of those who survived these tragic circumstances, especially from Bucovina and Bessarabia, and made a new home in Toronto gathered together to lend each other support and to tell their largely unknown story of oppression and survival. The Transnistria Survivor’s Association organized yearly Hazkarah (memorial) services and its dedicated members continue to share their extraordinary stories of survival through speaking engagements at schools, colleges and synagogues. Past presidents include:

1. Felicia (Steigman) Carmelly

2.Osias Nadel

3.Etti Ziegler

4.Lou (Leizer) Hoffer

As of 2017, the current President is Joe Leinburd.

Subjects

Societies

Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)

Name Access

Transnistria Survivors Association

Buxbaum, Arnold

Leinburd, Joe

Hoffer, Lou

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

2013-9-2

Material Format

moving images

Physical Description

1 film reel (ca. 5 min.) : col., si. ; super 8 mm

Date

1983

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one film reel documenting the Slavens family at Camp Wahanowin and at a family farm owned by Eric's parents in Dundalk, Ontario.

Use Conditions

None

Subjects

Amateur films

Camps

Farms

Name Access

Camp Wahanowin

Slavens (family)

Places

Dundalk (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-11-6

Material Format

textual record

object

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records and other material

Date

[ca. 1950]-2005

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records and objects documenting the Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society. Included are anniversary books and ritual books, a voting box and livery collars that were worn by the executive and general membership. Collars with the gavel symbols were worn by Masters, collars with keys were worn by Guards, and collars with quills (not included in this accession) were worn by treasurers. The plain blue collars were worn by the general membership.

Custodial History

Records were donated by Darryn Mandel, the son of Master Sam Mandel.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes 5 livery collars, 1 voting box, and 1 pin.

Subjects

Societies

Name Access

Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-3-4

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

Date

[ca. 1970]-[ca. 1999]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of various meeting minutes of the Masada Chapter, Farband of Lithuanian Jews. The minutes are written in Yiddish and document different meetings, such as, Chanukah meetings, closing meetings, luncheons, and teas. Also included is one Borochov School Nurseries brochure. Jennie Kernkraut is the teacher in the classroom pictured on the cover of the brochure.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Jennie Kernkraut's daughter, Judy Kasman, unitl their donation to the OJA.

Administrative History

Jennie Kernkraut (nee Golomb) was born in 1916 in Vilno. She came to Canada in 1948 and worked as a nursery school and Yiddish teacher at the Borochov school in Toronto. She was an active member of the Masada Chapter, Farband of Lithuanian Jews and served on its executive for many years as Secretary.

Subjects

Societies

Education

Name Access

Kernkraut, Jennie

Farband of Lithuanian Jews (Toronto, Ont.)

Borochov School (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-2-1

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

ca. 200 photographs : b&w and col. , 79 x 56 cm and smaller

Date

[191-]-[198-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs of the officers and events of the Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society. Included are composite portraits of officers (1938, 1939, 1953, 1963); a group photograph of members at a picnic (1927); photos of sixtieth and sixty-first jubilee banquets (1973, 1974); and anniversary banquet snapshots from the 1970s and 1980s.

Identified individuals include: Bill Sachs, Joe Macks, E. Bagelman, P. Moscoe, Bill Gryfe, P. Pancer, H. Nissenbaum, H. Mendelson, J. Shapiro, S. Mintz, S. Rubinstein, H. Moscoe, J. Miller, J. Poster, M. Goldblat, S. Rubinoff, C. Brodie, A. Martin, H. Weinrib, A. Steinberg, J. Moscoe, I. Haber, A. Frank; H. Goodman; J. Feldman, M. Tishman, H. Goldberg, H. Guzick, D. Kasman, B. Turkle, M. Rother, A. Title, H. Silverberg, E. Burman, S. Zidenberg, I. Yollack, F. Goodman, B. Goodman, I. Klein, D. Karp, C. Abrams, S. Shaffman, D. Weinraub, L. Garfinkel, H. Salem, H. Bloomfeld, D. Denberg, S. Snider, A. Goldberg, M. Solomon, L. Futterman, H. Futterman, A. Futterman, L. Bloorm, Hye Bochnek, S. Bochnek, N. Tanner, I. Field, H. Field, M. Greenberg, E. Rossman, S. Waxman, H. Dvoretsky, F. Silver, J. Cohen, M. Seiger, B. Weisberg, N. Adel, S. Rossman, A. Levy, H. Hunter, N. Levy, F. Shankman, S. Segal, S. Klein, M. Lockwood, A. Poster, H. Sone, S. Sniderman, M. Schwartz, H. Wine, M. Rotin, S. Marks, H. Marks, A. Faith, Dr. C. B. Solursh, L. Waintrob, S. King, S. Shapero, E. Shapero, M. Duke, M. Rose, A. Goodman, B. Logan, Dr. D. Shukyn, W. Freedman, I. Rodderman, L. Cohon, A. M. P. Goldberg, J. Rosenberg, J. Lipchitz, A. Lister, D. Goodman, M. Magner, M. Jacobs, L. Rotenberg, H. Bochnek, D. Kochberg, J. Schein, M. Mendelson, M. Genesove, N. Cohen, S. Kochberg, I. Bochnek, N. Gollom, J. Shapiro, Michael Goldberg, J. Mylner, M. Donn, B. Rubinoff, C. Shumer, P. Haberman, M. Freedman, W. Sacks, H. Cohen, M. Fuller, L. Salem, M. Scheinert, J. K. Wahl, C. M. Herlick, M. Spiegal, H. Landis, G. Dickson, A. Sone, S. Sone, A. Wolstat, S. Schacht, S. Powell, H. Heller, Dr. S. Brown, M. Caplan, H. Bain, M. Browne, N. Cash, W. Collins, I. Denov, L. Dryall, Z. Enchin, Feldbloom, I. Geller, H. Goldfarb, M. Guziker, G. Jacobson, S. Katz, Frankfort, W. Grober, A. Donn, A. Bennett, H. Cooper, N. Gilburd, P. Green, W. Jacobs, J. Gang, Dr. I. Esser, J. Eisler, M. Dalkin, P. Gotleib, A. Gold, G. Frank, L. Cohen, and H. Brooks.

Subjects

Societies

Name Access

Canadian Hebrew Benevolent Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-5-4

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

4 photograph albums

ca. 450 photographs : b&w and col. (ca. 260 negatives) ; 36 x 30 cm and smaller

3 cm of textual records

Date

[ca. 1963]-[ca. 1995]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of graphic material and textual records documenting Canadian Young Judaea. Included are photographic albums, loose photographs, clippings, photographic contact sheets and negatives, and textual records, including meeting minutes, correspondences, etc. All of the items relate to Ontario-based Jewish summer camps such as Camp Solelim and Camp Biluim, as well as to Canadian Young Judaea.

Custodial History

Records came via Josefa Michaelson, c/o Canadian Young Judaea

Subjects

Nonprofit organizations

Children

Camps

Name Access

Canadian Young Judaea

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-6-1

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1970-2008

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records documenting the activities of the Masada Chapter of Lithuanian Jews. Included are invitations, newspaper clippings, program books, membership lists, certificates and song lyrics.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Anna Kremer, Masada Chapter president. Brought to the archives by Mara Finkelstein, her granddaughter.

Subjects

Societies

Women

Name Access

Masada Chapter of Lithuanian Jews (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-5-9

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

moving images

Physical Description

90 cm of textual records and graphic material

3 film ; 16 mm

7 VHS

Date

[194-]-1989

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the Labour Zionist Alliance and its precurssor organizations including the Borochov Branches and the Independent Friendly Worker's Circle.Records include photographs of past members, governance documents, correspondence, publicity materials and anniversary and program books for the Cloakmakers Branch of the Independent Worker's Circle, the Zerubavel Branch and the B. Borochov Branch 124 of the Farband. Also included are meeting minutes and membership ledgers for the Independent Worker's Circle (1944-1950; 1962-1971) and the Farband Labour Zionist Order (1959-1961). The films document the intiatives in Israel supported by the Labour Zionist Order.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of the Labour Zionist Order until they ceased functioning in May 2014.

Subjects

Labor Zionism

Societies

Name Access

Labour Zionist Order (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-8-15

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

ca. 20 cm textual records

3 photographs

Date

1948-2007

Scope and Content

Accession consists of documents and photographs related to Young Judaea programs. Photographs are group pictures from Camp Shalom and Camp Biluim. Among the documents are meeting minutes, newsletters, correspondence, songbooks, scripts, flyers, and guides for counsellors and group leaders. Also included are issues of Hebrew newsletters Daf Hat'Nua and Bat'Nua.

Subjects

Camps

Youth

Zionism

Name Access

Canadian Young Judaea

Camp Shalom

Camp Biluim

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2014-10-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

40 cm textual records

ca. 50 photographs

Date

1940-2012

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records of Canadian Young Judaea. Records include correspondence, camp committee meeting minutes, camp committee and staff lists, the CYJ constitution, organizational newsletters, donation lists, flyers and camp reunion ephemera. Records also include clippings and reproductions from the Zionist Archives, and Camp Solelim photographs, as well as publications from other Jewish organizations.

Administrative History

Canadian Young Judaea was founded in 1909 as a Zionist movement for Canadian youth by members of the Herzl Zion Club. As a Zionist organization, Young Judaea continues to be committed to fostering a sense of Jewish identity and values in today's Jewish youth and to encouraging a lifelong commitment to Israel. In order to foster a closer connection to Israel, Canadian Young Judaea employs educational Shlichim from Israel who are posted to various Jewish communities throughout Canada and to offices at the national level in Toronto Young Judaea also operates several Zionist summer camps located in each region of Canada, and a summer leadership institute called Camp Biluim in Quebec. In addition to the social programme of the organization, Young Judaea also offers educational seminars and conferences.

Use Conditions

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

Access restriction note: Files contain personal information of donors, campers, committee members and applicants for subsidies.

Subjects

Camps

Youth

Zionism

Name Access

Canadian Young Judaea

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2015-8-7

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

ca. 70 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1928-2013

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the activities of Ben Zion Shapiro and his family. The bulk of the records document the Shapiro family's involvement in Young Judaea. The Young Judaea material includes: yearbooks, photographs, correspondence, meeting minutes, event programmes, song books, newsletters, and two Camp Biluim flags made by Bunny Shapiro. One flag contains Camp Biluim's crest (1951) and the other one was created for Camp Biluim's colour war and contains the text "We will try and we will succeed Camp Biluim" (1954?). Also included is a VHS tape containing a copy of the Toronto Zionist Council's video about Camp Shalom (1991?). Of note are minute books maintained by Roy Shapiro for the Toronto Young Judaea Administrative Board (1928-1934) and for the Leadership Club (1940-1948).

Accession also contains material relating to Roy and Ben Zion's involvement with the following organizations: the Coordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (Circle of Care), B'nai Israel Beth David Congregation, Beth Tzedec's Mispacha Program, Beth Tzedec's Israel Action Program, Congregation Beth Haminyan, and Holy Blossom Temple's Department for Jewish Living. These records include, minutes, correspondence, newsletters and publications, evaluation reports and other reports. Also included is a demographic report entitied "Rapid Growth and Transformation: Demographic Challenges Facing the Jewish Community of Greater Toronto" (1995), material from a conference at the University of Toronto on the university's partnership with Israel, CHAT alumni directories, and a CHAT book entitled, "Voices: Jewish Teens of the 90's". Of note are buttons, photographs, reports and correspondence documenting Bunny and Ben Zion's trip to the Soviet Union on behalf of the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry.

Finally accession includes material documenting family activities of the Shapiro and Sherman family. Included is a transcript of Bessie Sherman telling her life story (1978), haggadot, PowerPoint presentations created by Ben Zion for his grandchildren and for a family reunion outlining the family history of his family and Bunny's family. There is also a video of Ben Zion presenting his PowerPoint at the Michalski / Cohen family reunion. Also included are family films and videos containing footage of Bunny and Ben Zion's wedding and honeymoon, Camp Biluim, Young Judaea events, Bunny on Machon, family wedding anniversaries and birthday parties, trips to Israel, the United States, and Europe as well as footage of the Cousin's Club. Also included is a VHS tape containing a recorded segment from CityPulse News featuring the family's Pesach festivities in 1995.

Photo identification: Back row, left to right: Ray Markus, Michelle Landsberg, Menachem ?, Frank Narrol. Front row, left to right: Gilda Mitchell, Bunny Shapiro, BenZion Shapiro, Malka Rabinowitz.

Administrative History

Ben Zion Shapiro was born in Toronto in 1931 to Roy Shapiro and Beck Shapiro (née Cohen). He has a younger brother, Morden "Mort" Shapiro (b. 1940). His father worked as an office manager at Rotstein Furniture and Maple Leaf Cleaners, and his mother worked as a legal secretary until marriage. Roy was active in a number of organizations including: Young Judaea, Sons of Jacob Society, Toronto Camera Club, a founding member of Beth David Synagogue, Coordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (Circle of Care) and president of the Association of Jewish Seniors. Beck was active in Young Judaea and Pioneer Women (president of the Golda Meir Club).

Ben Zion received a master of social work degree from the University of Toronto and attended the Jewish Agency Institute for Youth Leaders from Abroad in Jerusalem (1951-1952). He has worked for a number of organizations throughout his career, including: Young Judaea (he was director of both Camp Shalom [1962-1969] and Camp Biluim [1954-1956]), B'nai Brith Youth Organization, University Settlement, St. Christopher's House and director of the Novomeysky Centre in Jerusalem (1957-1961). He was also professor and associate dean of social work at the University of Toronto and three times visiting professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Ben married Bunny "Bernice" Shaprio in 1955. Bunny was born in 1934 in Noranda, Quebec to Irving Sherman and Bessie (née Consky). Bunny attended public school in Noranda, Noranda High School and Forest Hill Collegiate in Toronto, University of Toronto (BA), the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (M.Ed. in special education), and the Jewish Agency Institute for Jewish Leaders from Abroad (1952-1953).

Bunny graduated from the first Camp Biluim Institute for leadership training in 1951 and worked with Ben Zion at Camp Shalom as Camp Mother in 1962 and from 1964-1969. She also worked at Camp Biluim from 1955-1956. In 1983, Bunny and Ben Zion went to the Soviet Union to visit refuseniks on behalf of the Soviet Jewry Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region.

Bunny and Ben have two children: Ayala and Ilan. Since Ben Zion's retirement in 1996, he and Bunny have been living in Jerusalem for half of each year. In 2015, they moved full-time to Jerusalem.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes ca. 300 photographs (256 tiff), 2 PowerPoint presentations, 1 textual record (doc), 4 buttons, 2 flags, 5 VHS tapes, and 18 film reels (8 mm).

Subjects

Camps

Youth

Zionism

Name Access

Shapiro, Ben Zion, 1931-

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

2015-9-2

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

ca. 8 cm of textual records and other material

Date

[ca. 1938]-[ca. 2009]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Silberg family's immigration to Ontario, family life in South Africa and Ontario, education, communal involvement in Hamilton, and pharmacy businesses. Included are photographs, correspondence, ephemera from the pharmacy businesses (such as bags and a name tag), newspaper clippings, certificates, invitations, flyers, school transcripts, architectural drawings for Night-Day Pharmacy on Ryman Road East, cookbooks, and photo albums. Also included is a JNF book for a Negev dinner honouring Hilton and Shirley Silberg as well a copy of Beth Jacob Synagogue's 125th anniversary book (the Beth Jacob Family Album).

Administrative History

Hilton Silberg was born in Durban, South Africa in 1951 to Sam and Brina Silberg. Sam worked in the retail furniture business and Hilton has three siblings: Sheryl, Lynn and Brett. Hilton was very active in sports and played soccer, cricket and swimming. At age 11, he started competing in ballroom dancing with his sister Lynn. At age 16, he and Lynn were the South African Juvenile Ballroom Champions and runners up in the Latin American Championship. In highschool, Hilton started his own DJ business which he continued through his first years of pharmacy school.

Shirley (nee Gitlin) Silberg was born in Durban in 1951 to Max and Isabel Gitlin. Max was a physical medicine specialist and Isabel ran his practice. Shirley has two siblings: Brian and Barbara. Shirley was very active in her school's netball, field hockey and swimming teams.

Hilton and Shirley met at the Natal Pharmacy School in Durban and married in 1974. After marriage, Hilton completed his one-year mandatory service in the South African army as an officer. After his service, he and Shirley went on a ten month long backpacking trip which ended at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. This trip was an eye-opener for them and they realized that they no longer wanted to live in a country with apartaid politics. They didn't want to raise children in South Africa. They chose Canada as their destination and applied three times for entry. Thier application was rejected all three times, but Hilton staged a "sit-in" at the Canadian embassy in Pretoria and an immigration officer eventually met with him and overturned thier rejection. They arrived in Canada in August 1977.

They went to the University of Toronto School of Pharmacy for two years to re-license in Canada. In the evenings they worked in a pharmacy owned by their Canadian sponsor. In 1981, Hilton and Shirley partnered with their Canadian sponsors and opened the Amhurst Pharmacy in Dundas. In 1982 the pharmacy's name was changed to Hilton's Pharmacy. In 1987 Shopper's Drug Mart purchased Hilton's Pharmacy. The Silberg's stayed on to operate two of the franchises in Dundas. In 1992, Hilton and Shirley left Shppers Drug Mart to open the DayNight Pharmacy on the east Hamilton Mountain. This was the first pharmacy in Hamilton to remain open until midnight. Their pharmacy eventually expanded to include five stores. In 2007, they sold their business to Rexall Pharma Plus.

Hilton and Shirley have three children: Mark, Maxine and Brad. Hilton and Shirley were very active in Hamilton's community. Hilton was involved in a variety of organizations including, Beth Jacob synagogue, Shalom Village, and Jewish National Fund Hamilton. Shirley has volunteered with various Hamilton JCC programs, the Hamilton North End Breakfast Program, the 'Out of the Cold' Program, Goldie's Place day program for adults at Shalom Village, and the Jewish National Fund Hamilton.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes ca. 80 photographs, 4 cookbooks, 1 architectural drawing, 3 bags, and 1 name tag.

Related material note: oral history #419.

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Families

Occupations

Societies

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access

Silberg, Hilton

Silberg, Shirley

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2015-12-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1.2 m of textual records

ca. 250 photographs : b&w and col.

Date

1776, [191-]-2012

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the records related to the life and career of Dr. Fred Wienberg. Included are textual and photographic records documenting his personal and family life, his medial career, scholarly activities, involvement with the Jewish community, his collecting of Judaica, medical antiques and art, and his synagogue involvement. Other items include the Ostrovtzer Mutual Benefit Society minute book and a 1776 letter from Jonas Phillips, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War and an American merchant in New York City and Philadelphia.

Administrative History

Fred Weinberg (1919-2003) was born in Ostrawiec, Poland on July 6, 1919 to Rose and Israel Weinberg. Israel immigrated to Canada in 1920 and his wife and children joined him several years later in March of 1924. The family settled in Toronto where Israel worked in the fur manufacturing business. Israel was a supporter and aficionado of cantorial music as well as a founder of the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto and the Ostrovtzer Synagogue on Cecil Street.

Fred completed his primary and secondary education at Clinton Street Public School and Harbord Collegiate. He also attended the Brunswick Talmud Torah, celebrating his bar mitzvah in 1932. Fred decided to pursue a medical career, graduating from the University of Toronto’s medical school in 1944. During his studies he enlisted in the army and completed officers’ training in April 1945, attaining the rank of Captain. During his military career he served in the RCAMC at Camp Borden, Christie St. Hospital and at the Stanley Barracks in Toronto. Towards the end of the war he served as Officer in charge of repatriation of the POWs.

After the war Fred pursued his post-graduate work at Seaview and Bellevue hospitals in New York City from 1946 to 1947 and then moved on to the Children’s and Washington University hospitals in St. Louis, Missouri the following year. He was subsequently accepted as a resident at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto and was ultimately appointed Chief Resident under the supervision of the internationally renowned paediatrician, Dr. Alan Brown. In 1950, Dr. Weinberg was hired as a physician in paediatrics at Sick Kids Hospital, making him the first Jewish doctor on staff. In addition to his staff responsibilities, he also lectured and was a faculty member at the University of Toronto’s Medical School for many years.

By the mid-point of his career, Dr. Weinberg went on to specialise in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), delivering lectures and publishing articles in medical journals. He also ran his own practice, which operated from 1950 to 1976, and later become Associate Medical Director of the Child Development Clinic, Neurology Division of Sick Kids until his retirement in 1984. He later continued his service at Sick Kids as a senior staff consultant and ran a specialized practice in Developmental Pediatrics for close to twenty years, which was later situated at 208 Bloor Street West.

Fred married Joy Cherry on December 16, 1952 at Goel Tzedec Synagogue. The couple had four children: Joel (b. 1953), Barry (b. 1955), Sari (b. 1956) and Deena (b. 1961). Throughout his life, Fred was actively engaged in Jewish communal work in a variety of capacities: assisting with the establishment of the United Synagogue Day School during the 1950s; as a fundraiser for the United Jewish Appeal (UJA); and as a participant in two of UJA’s early study missions to Israel in 1960 and 1961. He was also an influential figure within his synagogue, joining the Board of Directors of Beth Tzedec Synagogue during the late 1960s and serving as president from 1972 to 1975.

Fred and his wife Joy also collected Judaica, antiques and artwork. As a physician, Fred developed a passion and expertise in the area of medical antiques. He published articles in both the mainstream and Jewish press on subjects related to Jewish rituals, Judaica and art. He also had a regular column in the Canadian Journal of Diagnosis from 1998 to 2002 entitled “Antique instruments”. Over time, the Weinberg’s assembled a world-class collection of Judaica and became increasingly active in the museum world. Fred assisted in the establishment of Beth Tzedec’s Helene and Rubin Dennis Jewish Museum, contributing items from the couple’s Judaica collection and securing the acquisition of the renowned Cecil Roth collection for the Museum during the early to mid-1960s. As a result of his significant contributions, he was bestowed the title of honourary curator to the Museum. Dr. Weinberg later branched out and assisted with the Koffler Gallery’s Lifecycle exhibition in 1984 as guest curator. The following year, he served as a special presenter and instructor to the docents at the “Precious Legacy” Czech Judaica exhibition at the ROM. The Weinberg’s most significant contribution to the museum world, however, was marked in September of 2000, when they were honoured at the opening of the Dr. Fred and Joy Cherry Weinberg Gallery of Judaica at the ROM, featuring some of their most valuable and treasured pieces.

Dr. Fred Weinberg passed away on October 30, 2003 at 84 years of age. The Weinberg Endowment Fund was established by the family at the University of Toronto’s Jewish Studies Program to honour Fred’s passion for Jewish history, rituals and artefacts. That year the Weinberg family also set up a fund in Fred’s name in support of the Therapeutic Clown Program, a highly visible and successful program within Sick Kids’ Pediatric Division.

Use Conditions

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

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

Use Conditions Note: Records contain patient names and medical information.

Subjects

Families

Physicians

Societies

Name Access

Weinberg, Fred, 1919-2003

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2015-10-2

Material Format

moving images

Physical Description

4 DVD's (ca. 4 hours)

Date

2005-2010

Scope and Content

Accession consists of video recordings of Transnistria Survivors' Association's annual commemmoration ceremonies. Included are six DVD recordings of the annual Transnistria Survivors Association Shoa commemoration ceremonies from 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Administrative History

Founded in 1994, the Transnistria Survivors’ Association works to provide a voice for and raise awareness of a lesser known group of Holocaust survivors. Transnistria was the Romanian authorities’ name for the former Ukrainian region located between the Rivers Dniester and Bug. It was placed under Romanian administration following the German and Romanian conquest of Ukraine in the summer of 1941. Prior to the Second World War, Romania was home to the third largest Jewish population in Europe; but beginning with the Citizenship Revision Laws of 1938, the Jews of Romania were deprived their citizenship rights and became the targets of repressive antisemitic policies and laws. Neighbours turned on neighbours. Thousands of Jews were murdered in pogroms, either by Romanian or German troops, Nazi Einsatzgruppen, or the local population. In 1941, the Jews who remained alive in the Provinces of Bucovina and Bessarabia were deported to camps and ghettos in Transnistria. Thousands were jammed into freight trains while others were marched by foot. Many died along the way. Between 1941 and 1944, it is estimated that German and Romanian authorities, along with Ukrainian collaborators, murdered or caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Romanian and Ukrainian Jews in Transnistria. Some of those who survived these tragic circumstances, especially from Bucovina and Bessarabia, and made a new home in Toronto gathered together to lend each other support and to tell their largely unknown story of oppression and survival. The Transnistria Survivor’s Association organized yearly Hazkarah (memorial) services and its dedicated members continue to share their extraordinary stories of survival through speaking engagements at schools, colleges and synagogues. Past presidents include:

1. Felicia (Steigman) Carmelly

2.Osias Nadel

3.Etti Ziegler

4.Lou (Leizer) Hoffer

As of 2017, the current president is Joe Leinburd.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Societies

Name Access

Transnistria Survivors' Association (Toronto, Ont.)

Hoffer, Lou

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2015-12-5

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

4 folders of textual records

ca. 94 photographs : b&w and col. (44 tiff.) ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

1 plaque

Date

1936-1990, predominant 1951-1990

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the activities of Ronnie Roth. Included are textual and graphic materials relating to Ronnie's personal life and career such as, photographs of family milestones and events; Ronnie's youth and early adulthood in South Africa, his involvement with Betar; and time as a paratrooper with the Israeli Army; Ronnie and Sandra's wedding; travel; Ronnie's insurance broker license graduation; and condolence letters sent to the Roth family after his passing. Also included are records documenting Ronnie's communal involvement, particularly his involvement with B'nai Brith Raoul Wallenberg - Yorkdale Circle Lodge, Antibes-Torresdale Ratepayers Association, and Forest Hill Ratepayers Association . B'nai Brith material includes photographs of Ronnie's participation in B'nai Brith Canada's 1986 Mission to Israel; photographs of events honouring Ronnie and his work; and an issue of The Orbit that eulogizes Ronnie. Finally, the accession consists of a business card for Ronnie's film and video entertainment company in South Africa and a Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation from the Conservative Party of Canada.

Identified in the photographs are: Ronnie Roth, Sandra Roth, Chantal [Roth], Gavin Roth, Elana [Roth], Morris Flicht, Frank Dimant, Ralph Snow, Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir, Harry Bick, Sam Pacht, Merv Rosenstein, Ralph Cohen, [?] Steinmetz, Colin Baskind, Dr. Meister, Esther Shiner, Peter Roth, Paul Roth, and Annie Guttman.

Custodial History

Material was in possession of Sandra Roth, Ronnie's wife. Sandra donated it to the OJA.

Administrative History

Ronnie Roth was born on December 24, 1938 to Mr. Dezso (Desmond) and Mrs. Erzsi (Elizabeth) Abraham of Johannesburg, South Africa. Throughout his youth, Ronnie was active in a variety of Zionist groups including: the Zionist Youth Movement of South Africa, Betar, the Zionist Revisionist Organization and the South African Zionist Federation. In his late teens, Ronnie went on Na[c]hal Tzonei-ach and joined the Tzanchanim, the elite paratrooper corps of the Israeli Army. Ronnie served in the military for three years. His time in Israel also included work on a kibbutz.

By the age of 25, Ronnie had returned to South Africa and was a director of the Tollman Group of hotels and manager of the famous Johannesburg restaurant, The Colony. Ronnie married Sandra Benn from Port Elizabeth, SA, in August 1964. Sandra was a singer, dancer and entertainer. After their marriage, they settled in Johannesburg where Ronnie continued to work as an hotelier. Their first daughter, Chantal, was born in 1966 followed by Gavin in 1969 and Elana in 1973. During this period, Ronnie’s community involvement grew as he became Executive Director of Tel Hai in 1968 and served in this role until 1970. He then joined the Jewish United Communal Fund and ran their fundraising campaign.

The Roth’s were unhappy with South Africa’s apartheid politics and were eager to emigrate. Ronnie sought employment opportunity abroad and was offered employment as a fundraiser for UJA Federation in Toronto in 1975. Ronnie accepted the position and immigrated to Toronto in 1976. Sandra followed him with their children a few months later. When he completed his UJA assignment, he became an insurance broker. After a year, he founded KRG Insurance Brokers with two partners in 1980.

Upon arriving in Canada, Ronnie became interested in immigration issues and co-founded the South African Jewish Association in Canada (SAJAC) to help other South Africans with immigration and adjustment to Canadian life. He was the organization’s first president from 1976 to 1981 and again from 1986 to 1987. Ronnie’s involvement in assisting newcomers extended to his roles as Member of the Board of Directors and Member of the Integration Committee of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society as well as Chairman of the Sherut Shalom Employment & Integration Assistance to African Jews.

Ronnie was also active in B’nai Brith Canada. He joined the Yorkdale Lodge in 1983 and went on to serve as both vice-president and president. During his tenure as president, he played a critical role in the integration of the Yorkdale and Circle Lodges into the unified Raoul Wallenberg Lodge. He also served in various positions at the National level with B’nai Brith Canada, including as National Chairman of the Israel Cabinet, Co-Chairman of the Fundraising Committee and a member of the National Executive and Board of Governors. In 1986, the National Leadership awarded him with the B’nai Brith Canada Achievement Award. In the same year, he and his wife and fellow lodge member Sandra (the lodge’s first female full member) were honoured recipients of the Israel Bonds Negev Award.

Ronnie also held important roles in the community at-large as president of the Antibes-Torresdale Ratepayers Association and Forest Hill Ratepayers Association; president and founder of the Rockford Community Summer Day Camp; Member of the City of North York Condominium Committee; Member of the Board of Directors of Baycrest’s Men’s Service Group; and Member of the Board of Directors of Bank Leumi (Canada).

Ronnie passed away on October 14, 1989 at the age of 50 years.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Societies

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

2016-3-26

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

4 folders of textual records

ca. 10 photographs : col. ; 22 x 28 cm or smaller

Date

1980-2016, predominant 1982-1994

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Herman family's immigration to Ontario, family life in Thornhill, education, communal involvement in Hamilton, and their business endeavours with the Firwin Corporation and Simply Extraordinary. Included are photographs; a family history that was written in commemoration of Paul and Miriam's fiftieth wedding anniversary; a selection of annual family newsletters that detail their life in Canada; correspondence documenting Paul's involvement with Temple Anshe Sholom in Hamilton, Ontario; their childrens' school certificates, secondary school diplomas, and post-secondary convocation programs. Also included is business ephemera, such as, business cards and images documenting Simply Extraordinary corporate gift products.

Identified in the photographs are: Paul Herman, Miriam Herman, Brett Herman, and Adina Ward (nee Herman).

Administrative History

Paul Henry Herman was born on July 3, 1940 to Mr. Leslie Elkan and Mrs. Clare Herman (nee Emdon) of Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, South Africa. Paul is the eldest of five siblings. During his youth, Paul was involved in his synagogue and youth groups as well as the Boy Scouts. He attended Stellenbosch Afrikaans University where he earned a business degree and became fluent in Afrikaans. After university, he joined the family uniform business, H. J. Henochsberg, and was sent to England in 1962 for further clothing industry training.

Paul married Miriam Riva Herman from Wynberg, Cape Town, SA on February 6th, 1965. Miriam worked as a social worker at the Johannesburg General Hospital. Their first son, Stanley, was born in 1966 followed by Rael in 1968, Brett in 1970 and Adina in 1974.

The Herman’s were motivated to emigrate out of a desire to prevent their son from having to enlist in the South Africa army [and thereby become involved in military efforts that they did not support]. After the family business was sold, Paul worked as a quality manager at Edgars Stores while periodically travelling abroad with Miriam to seek out emigration opportunities.

The Herman family came to Canada in 1982 and settled in Thornhill, Ontario. Upon arriving in Ontario, Paul found work at a uniform manufacturer (Saint Hill Levine Uniforms) then at Lady Manhattan and Sunshine T-Shirts. In 1989, Paul and Miriam purchased Firwin Corporation, a high temperature insulation manufacturing company. During the family’s early years in Canada, Miriam started a corporate gift business called Simply Extraordinary.

Use Conditions

Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Families

Occupations

Societies

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-5-8

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : col. ; 20 x 25 cm

Date

1982-1990, 2015

Scope and Content

Accession consists of graphic and textual records documenting the Judelman family and Alan Judelman's involvement with the Men’s Service Group at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Documents include a family photograph (Jan. 2015); two issues of the Baycrest News (December 1982 and May 1990); and an invitation to the 1990 Men’s Service Group at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Annual Dinner and Installation of Officers.

Custodial History

Material was in possession of Alan and Lin Judelman. The Judelmans donated it to the OJA.

Administrative History

Alan (b. 1939) and Linda (b. 1945, nee Galland) Judelman were born in Johannesburg, South Africa. They were married on January 5th, 1965. Alan was trained as a chartered account and Lin completed a B.A. degree at Witwatersrand University and teacher training. The Judelmans have three children who were all born in SA: Andrew, Vanessa and Greg.

In 1978, political unrest in SA prompted the Judelmans to emigrate. Upon immigration to Canada, the family settled in North York. Alan graduated as a chartered accountant in Canada and eventually went on to start an environmental services company (Diproinduca Canada). Lin re-trained as a teacher and pursued a B.Ed. at York University. She specialized in ESL, history and guidance over the course of her 21 year career at the TDSB.

Alan was actively involved with the Men’s Service Group at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in his capacity as the organization’s president. He volunteered with HAIT (organization that promotes head injury awareness and knowledge) and served on the Bernard Betel Centre for Creative Living Board of Directors. The Judelmans are members of the Beth Tikvah synagogue and Alan has also volunteered with the congregation.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Societies

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Synagogues

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-8-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

ca. 15 cm of textual records

3 photographs : b&w ; 40 x 61 cm or smaller + identification key

1 bag

Date

1936, 1945-2013

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the Shedlover Young Men's Society. Included are photographs, jubilee books (10th, 15th, and 20th), minute books, newsletters, letters to membership, and financial statements. Also included is one bag with the Shedlover Society logo.

Subjects

Societies

Name Access

Shedlover Young Men's Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2017-2-23

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

5 photographs

Date

[ca. 2000]-2016

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting Lou Hoffer's involvement with the Transnistria Survivors' Association and the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. Included are photographs of Lou with student groups at OISE and Havergal college, an image of Lou lighting a candle with a bar mitzvah student as part of the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Project of Remembrance. Accession also includes a flyer, newspaperclippings and thank you cards.

Administrative History

Lou (Leizer) Hoffer is a Holocaust survivor who is a past president of the Transnistria Holocaust Survivors' Association and was a speaker with the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre in Toronto.

Lou was born in 1927 in Vijnitz, Northern Bucovina, Romania to David and Chaya Sure Drassinover Hoffer. During the Second World War, Lou and his family was deported (along with all the Jewish people in his town) to the death camps of Transnistria (a territory in Ukraine). He was liberated in 1944.

After the war, Lou, his parents and his younger brother, Joe, wandered through various displaced persons camps in Europe. They eventually immigrated to Canada in March 1948 on the ship Nea Helas. He married Madga (nee Pressburger) in 1959. Together they had three sons and one daughter.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Societies

Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)

Name Access

Hoffer, Lou

Transnistria Survivors' Association (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 

Accession Number

2017-6-5

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

ca. 30 cm of textual records

89 photographs : b&w and col. (7 negatives) ; 18 x 13 cm or smaller

1 CD-ROM (textual record)

19 videocassettes (ca. 22 hr.)

Date

[19--?]-2008

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Abe and Margot Zukerman, their family, and the Wierzbniker Friendly Mutual Benefit Society. Included are: awards, identity documents, legal documents, letters, photographs, publications, videocassettes, and vital records.

Photo Caption (015): Abe Zukerman's father, [19--?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2017-6-5.

Custodial History

Mel Perlmutter, stepson of Abe Zukerman and son of Margot Zukerman, donated the records to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Administrative History

Abe Zukerman (1914-2009) was born in Wierzbnik, Poland in 1914. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. In 1948, he came to Canada, where he became involved in the Wierzbniker Friendly Mutual Benefit Society and married. His first wife, Esther, predeceased him. In 1975, he married his second wife, Margot, who had two children from a previous marriage. In addition to serving as a senior executive member of the Wierzbniker Friendly Mutual Benefit Society for over 50 years, Abe volunteered with United Jewish Appeal and State of Israel Bonds. He passed away 8 Feb. 2009. Margot Zukerman (née Rubin) was born in Berlin, Germany on 31 December 1922. Still a child when the National Socialists came to power, she was denied schooling. She arrived in Toronto in 1939 never having received a formal education. Despite this, she was able to learn English and operate her father's small ladies' wear store in Hamilton for at least a dozen years. In 1944, she married her first husband Alexander Perlmutter, with whom she had two children: one in 1945 and another in 1948. In 1970, she moved to Toronto, where she acted as caregiver to her father. In 1974, she met Abe, whom she married on 14 February 1975. Like her husband, Margot was an active member of Toronto's Jewish community.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

ASSOCIATED MATERIALS: Other records relating to Abe Zukerman can be found in Accession 2017-9-1.

Subjects

Families

Societies

Name Access

Wierzbniker Friendly Mutual Benefit Society

Zukerman, Abe, 1914-2009

Zukerman, Esther, 1912-1972

Zukerman, Margot, 1922-

Zukerman family

Places

Canada

Israel

Poland

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2017-11-4

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

Date

1963-1980

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two items pertaining to the history of the Jewish community of Radom Poland including a book entitled The Book of Radom: The Story of a Jewish Community in Poland Destroyed by the Nazis, edited and complied by Alfred Lipson and published in 1963 by the United Radomer Relief of the United States and Canada Inc. In addition, there is a fifty-fifth anniversary booklet published in celebration of the establishment of the Radomer Mutual Benefit Society of Toronto.

Administrative History

Abraham Najahaus (1910-2007) was born in Radom Poland on 14 July 1910. He emigrated to Toronto in 1948 with his wife Genya Najahaus (née Goldstein, 1910-1987) and infant daughter Helen Najahaus. Genya Goldstein was born on 14 December 1916 in Otwok, Poland. She met and married Abraham in Russia during the Second World War and had their first child Helen in 1947 while living in a DP camp in Stuttgart, Germany. After emigrating to Toronto in 1948, they had a second child Morrey Najahaus. Abraham worked as a tailor and was employed by Wilson Garments at 119 Spadina Avenue.

Subjects

Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)

Societies

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-5-3

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

90 photographs : b&w and col. ; 18 x 13 cm or smaller

2121 slides : col. ; 35 mm

Date

[1972]-2002

Scope and Content

Accession consists of slides primarily from Camp Solelim. There are additional photos from Camp Biluim and Biluim Israel.

Custodial History

One photo album belonged to Biluim Israel staff member, Aubrey Zimmerman.

Administrative History

Canadian Young Judaea was founded in 1909 as a Zionist movement for Canadian youth by members of the Herzl Zion Club. As a Zionist organization, Young Judaea continues to be committed to fostering a sense of Jewish identity and values in today's Jewish youth and to encouraging a lifelong commitment to Israel. In order to foster a closer connection to Israel, Canadian Young Judaea employs educational Shlichim from Israel who are posted to various Jewish communities throughout Canada and to offices at the national level in Toronto Young Judaea also operates several Zionist summer camps located in each region of Canada, and a summer leadership institute called Camp Biluim in Quebec. In addition to the social programme of the organization, Young Judaea also offers educational seminars and conferences. Young Judaea's national structure includes a National Executive Board and an Administrative Council. Conventions are held regularly, as are regional conferences. In the past, Young Judaea operated as an associated, but distinct, organization from the Zionist Organization Canada. However, Young Judaea operations were overseen by the ZOC executive, and Young Judaea received their budget from the ZOC Treasury. In addition, ZOC and Young Judaea worked in conjunction with one another on many projects and programmes, such as with the operation of the Zionist camps.

Camp Solelim was founded in 1965. Its name comes from Kibbutz HaSolelim in Israel which recognizes the builders who were integral to the establishment of the State of Israel. The program is infused with informal social, Jewish and Zionist educational programs. Like many of the camps founded earlier, campers are encouraged to participate in the functioning of the camp and derive a strong sense of responsibility through daily camp operations and camp projects.

Camp Biluim was founded in 1961 under the auspices of the Zionist Organization of Canada as a national leadership training institute for Canadian youth. Originally located in Huntsville Ontario, the camp moved to Mont Tremblant, Quebec in 1976, where it remains today under the full operation of Canadian Young Judaea. The purpose of the camp was to provide practical and transferable leadership training to a slightly older group of Jewish Canadian youths, most of whom were members of Young Judaea. Many Camp Biluim graduates later returned to ZOC summer camps as counsellors or found senior administrative positions in Canadian Young Judaea. Camp Biluim was co-administered by the National Camps Association, and during its period in Ontario, the Ontario Camps Association. However, daily operation and staffing of the summer camp was provided by Canadian Young Judaea.

Subjects

Youth

Camps

Name Access

Canadian Young Judaea

Source

Archival Accessions

Level

Item

Item

1854

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content

Identified in this photograph in the centre is Isaac Goldfield, and to his left is Mrs. Goldfield.

Name Access

Rachover Friendly Help Society

Goldfield, Isaac

Goldfield, Mrs. Isaac

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Portraits, Group

Societies

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-11-9

Source

Archival Descriptions