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Liza and Sam Schein [graphic material (electronic)] – 1948-2010.

Accession Number: 2019-12-8

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2019-12-8

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 10 photographs : b&w & col. (jpeg)

Date: 1948-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs of the Schein family. Included are Liza and Sam's wedding celebration in Salzburg, Austria (1948), Liza on board the RMS Samaria (1948), family portraits and snapshots of Liza, Sam and their daughter Gilda (1953-1954), their businesses Apex Uniforms (1960) and Apex Textiles (1980), and the front and back of Sam Schein's grave stone.

Administrative History: (Szymon (Sam) Schein (1923-2010) was born in Krakow, Poland, and was the eldest of three sons of Yitzchak and Leia Schein. Szymon's younger brothers were Alek, and Gershon. As a child, Szymon attended yeshiva and enjoyed singing. The Scheins were shopkeepers, and lived a modest lifestyle. Sam's immediate family were all murdered in the Holocaust. Szymon was the only member of his immediate family to survive. At the outset of the war he was sixteen years old. Sam survived four concentration camps – Plaszow, Mauthausen, Melk, and Ebensee. While living in a Displaced Persons camp in Bad Gastein, Austria, he met his wife, Liza Esanu. They were engaged in July 1948, and married a month later. Liza Esanu (1928-2017) was born in Romania in 1928, in the small town Tirgu Neamts, the third of four surviving children of Leib and Chaia Sura Esanu. Liza's father Leib died when Liza was only four years old, from a gall bladder attack. Chaia raised her four children on her own. In 1939, the family was forced to leave their home in the countryside, and over the next few years, were in hiding within Romania. Liza was eleven years old when the Second World War began in 1939. She was given a Singer sewing machine and learned how to sew. Her education as a seamstress progressed in the old European apprentice system, and before long, as a very young teenager, she was supporting her family with the money that she made with her sewing. After the war, she and her sister left Romania and ended up in a DP camp in Austria - Bad Gastein - where she met and married Szymon Schein. Liza and Sam sailed to Canada in September 1948 on the SS Samaria, and settled in Toronto. Although, Sam was accepted as a participant in the Tailor Project, it was Liza who was the sewer in the family. Eventually, they owned several businesses, including "Honest Sam's Cleaners" and a children's wear store. Their final two businesses were strongly related to the sewing –Apex Uniforms, where they manufactured and sold uniforms for gas station attendants and Apex Textiles, where they sold fabrics for clothing and drapery. Liza's sewing expertise was crucial to the success of those two businesses, while Sam handled the finances. Sam and Liza had one child, Gilda, born in Toronto in 1952. Their marriage broke up in 1986, and they each spent the rest of their lives separately. Sam died on New Year's Day, 2010, and Liza on October 15, 2017.

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.

Source: Archival Accessions

Evan Pilz [graphic material (electronic)] – Jun. 2019.

Accession Number: 2021-3-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-3-4

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 3 folders of graphics material (electronic)

Date: Jun. 2019

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting three Pride events held in 2019: a CIJA LGBTQ+ Advisory Council event celebrating the start of Pride Month in Toronto, an event hosted by the Israeli consulate in Toronto to celebrate Pride, and the Pride parade. The donor provided brief descriptions of each of the events, which can be found below.; CIJA Pride event: "These pictures are from an event held on June 1, 2009 that was hosted by the CIJA LGBTQ+ Advisory Council to celebrate the start of Pride month in Toronto. It was held at the Lodge at O-Grady's on Church Street in the Gay Village. It featured a community Havdalah and drag performance/contest."; Israel consulate event: "The following pictures are from an event hosted by the Israeli Consulate in Toronto to celebrate Pride on June 27, 2019. It featured a panel of members of the LGBTQ community sharing their experiences of visiting Israel."; Pride parade: "The following pictures are from the Pride parade in Toronto on June 23, 2019 from the Jewish community contingent that included participants from CIJA, JFCS, and several other organizations and synagogues."

Subjects: Gay pride celebrations

Name Access: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs; Pride Toronto

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Temple Anshe Sholom [textual record, graphic material] – [195-]-2020.

Accession Number: 2021-4-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-4-2

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 3.6 m of textual records and graphic material

Date: [195-]-2020

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting Temple Anshe Sholom of Hamilton, Ontario.

Administrative History: In the early 1850s, a small group of German Jewish families settled in the city of Hamilton. In 1853, they banded together to form the Hebrew Benevolent Society Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton. Religious services began in 1856 and in the next year, a half-acre plot was purchased as a cemetery site. On May 5, 1863, a “Body Corporate and Politic under the name of the Jewish Congregation Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton” was formed listing 19 founding members. Early meetings were held in members’ homes, with religious services, at first, largely restricted to the High Holy days. In 1866, a room was rented above a leather goods shop in downtown Hamilton; this was the first formal synagogue location for Temple Anshe Sholom.; Less than 20 years later, a site was chosen and the necessary funds were raised to construct a synagogue. Often referred to as the Hughson Street Temple, this building was dedicated in 1882. It served as the congregation’s home for almost 70 years. Edmund Scheuer, who arrived in Hamilton in 1871, served as president of Anshe Sholom for thirteen years from 1873 to 1886. Scheuer was the founder and first teacher of the religious school. He was an early proponent of interfaith understanding, a value and tradition that Anshe Sholom carries forward to the present day. The congregation pioneered in introducing English into the service, both in prayer and in the sermons, which had previously been given in German. Women no longer sat in a separate gallery; families sat together in pews. Music was introduced, both instrumental and vocal.; In 1870, the Deborah Ladies’ Aid Society (later Deborah Sisterhood) was founded, being the first group of Jewish women organized for charitable purposes in all of Canada. Sisterhood has always been a vital part of Temple Anshe Sholom, involved in numerous humanitarian, educational, charitable and social projects.; The great wave of immigration that swept into Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many families, mainly Orthodox, to the community. During this period, men and women from Anshe Sholom were instrumental in founding such vital Jewish organizations as the B’nai Brith, Council of Jewish Organizations, Jewish Social Services and the Council of Jewish Women.; After the Second World War, Temple Anshe Sholom became the first synagogue in Hamilton to make the post-war move westward. On April 15, 1951, the sod was turned for the new building and in June of 1952, a dedication weekend saw the scrolls ceremoniously installed in the Ark. Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath was on hand to preach the Dedication Sermon. Thirteen years later, the addition that houses the present Reiss-Frank Auditorium, Religious School classrooms, library, youth lounge and offices was erected, more than doubling the size of the building on its present site.; Throughout the years, the following served as spiritual leaders: Wolf Landau, Herman Birkenthal, Joseph Friedlander, Jacob Minkin, Julius Berger, Iser Freund, Arthur A. Feldman, Arthur Lebowitz, Emil Fackenheim, Luitpold Wallach, Bernard Baskin, Irwin Zeplowitz, Phil Cohen and our current rabbi, Jordan D. Cohen (Anshe Sholom’s first Canadian born Rabbi), who began his service to this congregation on January 1, 2007.; At this time, Temple Anshe Sholom is traditional yet innovative in its worship and ritual observance. The congregation is inclusive and embraces diversity. Its core values include education, social justice, egalitarianism, creative expression, congregational participation in prayer and leadership, strong identification with Israel and dynamic, relevant spirituality. The Temple building also serves as home to the Temple Playhouse Multicultural Enrichment School and the Kehila Jewish Community Day School and Les Petites Pommes French School, and hosts many community organizations such as a Storytellers Group, The Shalom Community Teaching Garden, The Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, The Mahjong Club, The Hamilton & Area Jewish Genealogical Society, various community meetings and gatherings and several youth arts and activities programs and summer camps.; Temple Anshe Sholom celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2020 as Canada’s first Reform Jewish congregation.; (text taken from https://anshesholom.ca/about-us/our-history, 2023-02-24)

Subjects: Synagogues

Name Access: Temple Anshe Sholom (Hamilton, Ont.)

Places: Hamilton (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Cyrel Troster [textual record, graphic material, sound recording] – [1960?]-2021.

Accession Number: 2021-7-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-7-1

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; sound recording

Physical Description: ca. 8 cm textual records; 6 posters : col. ; 66 x 51 cm or smaller; 2 photographs : b&w and col. ; 12 x 17 cm and 10 x 15 cm; 3 audio discs : vinyl

Date: [1960?]-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records created and collected by Cyrel Troster, which document Cyrel and her parents Jack Troster and Lillian Troster's involvement in the Jewish community. Records include three vinyl records documenting the music of William Lion Mackenzie High School orchestra and Camp Manitou-Wabing (1961-1965); six oversized posters (1960-2008); programmes, flyers, brochures, cards, and other small, printed items relating to Jewish cultural events that Cyrel attended ([197-]-2019); booklets and magazines (1977-2016); newspaper clippings documenting cultural events and activities of the Ontario Jewish community (1973-2021); and two photographs depicting a B’nai B’rith event and the 2nd women’s conference panel in Toronto. Also included are other assorted documents such as Cyrel Troster’s essay on the Workmen’s Circle (1974); certificates; listing of Board of Jewish Education (BJE) members (2000-2001 and 2004); a proposal for Yiddish Education and Cultural Centre [1998?]; an application for a film grant (1992); correspondence (1978 and 2012); and documents pertaining to Jewish Arts Directory (1992-1994), Second Encounter (bibliography for annual programs, registration cards, meeting minutes; 1977-1979), Cultural Services Planning and Allocations Committee (CSPAC) (member list, proposal, meeting minutes, strategic plan; 1994-2004), and Tzedakah Box Project (2005). Topics and events documented other than those mentioned above are Bathurst Manor, downtown synagogues, Kensington Market, the Sense of Spadina tour, Holy Blossom Synagogue, the Journey into Our Heritage exhibit, and the first Toronto Jewish Film Festival.

Administrative History: Cyrel Troster was an active member on the Cultural Services Planning and Allocation Committee and the Archives Committee and a former board member of the Ontario Jewish Archives Foundation. She is a recently retired schoolteacher and an active member of the Jewish community.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for some documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.

Name Access: Troster, Cyrel

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Jewish National Fund of Toronto [textual record, graphic material, moving images] – 1975-2020, predominantly 2000s.

Accession Number: 2021-7-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-7-4

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; moving images

Physical Description: 2.1 m of textual records, graphic material, and moving images

Date: 1975-2020, predominantly 2000s

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs and audiovisual materials documenting the Jewish National Fund of Toronto's Negev dinners and other programming, as well as annual general meeting booklets.; Box 4: Audio Visual recordings on VHS, DVD, Beta (2000-2006, 2011); Box 4: Negev Dinner photographs honouring Alex Grossman (2001); Box 5: Negev Dinner photographs, honouring Toby & Saul Feldberg (2002), Elie & Renee Rubenstein (2003), Ron Appleby (2004), Joe & Wolf Lebovic (2005).; Box 6: Roots Magazine, incomplete run, issues from 2001-2019; Box 6: JNF Annual Meeting booklets, incomplete run, issues from 1975-1997.; Box 7: JNF Annual Meeting booklets, incomplete run, issues from 1998-2020.

Name Access: Jewish National Fund of Toronto

Source: Archival Accessions

Kiever Synagogue [textual record, graphic material, object] – 1913-2013.

Accession Number: 2021-10-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-1

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; object

Physical Description: 30 cm of textual records; 5 photographs : b&w & col. ; 30 x 20 cm or smaller; 2 metal award certificates : 28 x 21 cm; 1 key : framed in a wooden box

Date: 1913-2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to the Kiever Synagogue or had been stored at the synagogue. Included are certificates (1930-[1961?]); a print of the 1913 Officers and Members of the Grand Order of Israel of Canada; a poster of Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (president of Israel) presented by National Committee for Labour Israel for Israel Histadrut campaign; National Synagogue Directory issued by Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee (2011-2012); The Jewish Magazine (2006); Baycrest Men's Service Group Honour Roll books (1993-1997, 1999); shabbat, wedding, and bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah benchers (1965-2013); newspaper clippings; blessing guides; and administrative material such as receipt books (1933-1934), Synagogue Laws and Customs (1976), and a memorandum of agreement (1920). Also included are photographs featuring David Pinkus, Nate Leipciger, students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936), and the top view of bimah and chuppah of the Kiever Synagogue, which was taken at Samara Kaplan’s wedding (2004); and miscellaneous material such as raffle tickets (1928), invitation tickets from Chevra Kadisha (1928), and record books of Toronto Free Loan Association. This accession also includes the following artifacts: two metal certificates of Recognition of Service Award granted by State of Israel Bond and Canada-Israel Securities Limited (1964 and 1965) and a skeleton key framed in a wooden shadow box, which is possibly the original key to the building. People identified in the photograph of students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936) are: Solly Speisman (second row, fourth from left), Myer Orzench (second row, far right), Hymie Reingewietz (second row, sixth from left), Mr. Hoffman (teacher, left-hand side), and Mr. Nobleman (teacher, right-hand side). Myer Orzench was the second vice-president of the Kiever Synagogue; Mr. Nobleman was father of Ben Nobleman, the municipal politician of York Region.

Custodial History: Records deposited by David Moyal of the Kiever Synagogue.

Administrative History: The Kiever synagogue, also known as the Kiever Shul, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Toronto. It was founded in 1912 by a small congregation of Jewish immigrants from the Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) and formally incorporated in 1914 by the granting of the Letters Patent by the Provincial Secretary. The congregation’s formal name is "The First Russian Congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev." According to the earliest congregational records, Max Bossin was president in 1912. At first, services were held in members’ homes and later in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward. Not being able to afford a rabbi, services were led by members, including Cantor Herschel Litvak. In 1917, sufficient funds were raised to mortgage a house at 25 Bellevue Avenue on the outskirts of Kensington Market. The congregation relocated there and the facilities were enlarged in 1921 with the acquisition of a second house. In 1927, a new synagogue, which was built on the site of the two houses and designed by a Jewish architect named Benjamin Swartz in the Byzantine Revival style, was completed to accommodate increasing number of congregants. During the construction from 1924 to 1927, religious services were conducted at the home of Mr. Silverman at 29 Wales Avenue. Equipped with a rabbi and a proper synagogue, the Kiever was able to play a larger role in the Toronto Jewish community. The shul offered Yiddish and bar-mitzvah lessons, a youth minyan led by Fischel Cooper, a credit society, as well as a women’s auxiliary. Several decades later, the Kiever’s membership declined in the 1950s and 1960s due to demographic changes—Jews began leaving the downtown core for the north end of town. The synagogue building deteriorated. In 1973, the Archives Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region decided to help preserve it, and by 1982, sufficient funds had been raised to restore the building. In 1979, the Kiever Synagogue became the first building of Jewish significance to be designated a historical site by the province of Ontario and has been protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since then. Some of the founders included: B. B. Smith, Yehudah Leib "Louis" Bossin, Isaac Mosten, Jake Dubin, Harry Cohen, and Wolf Ganz. The congregation's first and longest-tenured rabbi was Solomon Langner, who served from around 1929 until his death in 1973. Sheldon Steinberg served as rabbi from the time of Langner's death until the mid-1990s. David Pinkus served as president of the Kiever Shul from the late 1970s to 2011. His parents, Molly and Isadore Pinkus, were co-founders of the shul. As of 2022, the synagogue president is Adam S. Cohen.

Descriptive Notes: LANGUAGE NOTE: material is in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English.; Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for some documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.

Subjects: Synagogues

Name Access: Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Eker family [textual record (electronic)] – 1977-2021.

Accession Number: 2021-10-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-2

Material Format: textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 12 textual records (pdf)

Date: 1977-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material (chiefly genealogical research) documenting Glen Eker's family, particularly the Bishinskh line. Also included are two theses by Glen Eker—Leisure and Lifestyle in Selected Writings of Karl Marx: A Social and Theoretical History and The Early Writings of Karl Marx on the Position of Women and the Family in Bourgeois Society—and articles written by Debby Eker for the Excalibur and the Enterprise. Finally, there is an article by Paul M. Eker titled "Biblical Genealogy of Eker," which appeared in the March 1999 issue of Shem Tov.

Subjects: Families

Name Access: Eker (family); Eker, Glen; Marx, Karl, 1818-1883

Places: Ontario

Source: Archival Accessions

Jewish National Fund of Canada [moving images, graphic material] – [198-]-[202-].

Accession Number: 2021-10-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-5

Material Format: moving images; graphic material

Physical Description: 1.2 m of graphic material and moving images

Date: [198-]-[202-]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the Jewish National Fund of Canada. Much of the material is photographic and audiovisual.

Name Access: Jewish National Fund of Canada

Source: Archival Accessions

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto [textual record (electronic)] – 2015-2021.

Accession Number: 2021-11-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-3

Material Format: textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records (electronic)

Date: 2015-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. Included are meeting minutes and other records for the UJA Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee (2015–2019) and the Kultura Collective (2018–2021).

Custodial History: At the time of the donation, Sam's job title was director, arts, culture & heritage. Her department was Community Capacity Building.

Administrative History: The Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee of UJA Federation oversaw a strategy to fund and support Jewish cultural institutions, programs and initiatives that offered meaningful connections to Jewish identity and engagement. The committee considered programs that included (but were not limited to) the realms of visual arts, music, literature, dance, film, and theatre.; The following seven agencies fell within the scope of the committee: Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre (UJA); the Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre (UJA); the Toronto Jewish Film Festival; the Ashkenaz Festival; the Committee for Yiddish; the Koffler Centre of the Arts; and the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Committee.; The committee reported to UJA's Community Capacity Building Committee (CCBC), which oversees UJA's investments in the Greater Toronto Area. The CCBC is accountable to UJA's board of directors.; The Kultura Collective is a network of modern Jewish arts, culture, and heritage organizations that coalesced to create the collective. The name is inspired by the Kultur-Lige, an interwar collective that promoted Jewish culture and community across eastern Europe and that was destroyed at the height of its reach and impact. Members of the collective include Ashkenaz; the Canadian-Israel Cultural Foundation; the Committee for Yiddish; the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto; Fentster; the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company; Jewish Music Week; the Koffler Centre of the Arts; the Miles Nadal JCC; the Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre; the Prosserman JCC; the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre; the Schwartz/Reisman Centre; and the Toronto Jewish Film Foundation.

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

Subjects: Arts

Name Access: UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Lorie Shekter-Wolfson [textual record, graphic material] – 1917-1977, 1992, 2013.

Accession Number: 2021-11-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-5

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 19 photographs : b&w and col. ; 44 cm x 32 cm or smaller

Date: 1917-1977, 1992, 2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting members of the Shekter and Taylor families of Hamilton, Ontario. Included are three Negev Dinner books honouring Jack Taylor, Samuel Taylor, and Franklin Shapiro; news clippings documenting the viewing of the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre featuring Ben Shekter as well as Ben Shekter's obituary; and photographs depicting Ben Shekter, Harry Taylor, Dorothy (Taylor) Shekter, Jeanette Miller, Rebecca Taylor, Sam Taylor, James L. Shekter, and members of the Temple Players at Anshe Sholom Temple in Hamilton. Other locales featured in the photographs are Palm Springs, Hollywood Beach, and Hamilton. Also included are two oversized childhood portraits of Dorothy Taylor (aged approx. 6 years) and Ben Shekter (aged approx. 1 year).

Administrative History: Dorothy Shekter (née Taylor) (1915-2010) was born in 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario, to Max and Rebecca Taylor. Max and Rebecca moved from Russia to Canada in around 1906 and established a grocery business in Hamilton. Rebecca was a community worker; Max served as president of the Hess Street Shule for many years and was president and also one of the founders of the Ohav Zedek Congregation. Dorothy had four brothers: Jack, Lloyd, Harry and Sam, and a cousin Jeanette Miller, who has raised as a sister after being orphaned at age two. Dorothy married her husband Ben Shekter on 30 Aug. 1942. Dorothy was a social worker, having graduated from McMaster University in 1939 and then with her MSW from the University of Toronto in 1941. Dorothy passed away on 9 Feb. 2010.; Ben Shekter (1915-2013) was born on 6 Aug. 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario, to James and Lillian Shekter. He was an activist, a lawyer, a musician, and an advocate. His father owned the Shekter hotel on James St. North in Hamilton. As president of Hamilton Jewish Federation, Ben was committed to the Hamilton Jewish community and contributed to building and developing the Jewish Community Centre in Hamilton. Ben was one of the founding members of the Beverly Golf and Country Club (est. 1957) and was president of the club several times. Later, Ben initiated the plan for establishing Shalom Village, a Jewish seniors' residence and nursing home in Hamilton, and was its first president. In addition, Ben was also a board member of Hamilton Place, chairman of the Council of Jewish Organizations, and was active in the downtown Businessmen's Association. Ben passed away on 4 July 2013.; Jack Taylor, Dorothy's brother, was born on 5 Sept. 1905 in Russia and immigrated to Canada at the age of six months with his parents. He attended Hamilton public schools and Central Collegiate in his early years. From 1926 to 1928, he moved to New York and attended Columbia University studying playwriting and dramatics. Jack married Florence Cohan in 1929 and had a daughter, Shirley. Jack joined the Grand Order of Israel in 1934 and became the Grand Noble Master of the Grand Lodge in 1949 and 1961. He also served as chairman of the Territorial Division of the United Jewish Appeal, Men's Division in the 1950s. In 1956 and 1957, Jack served as president of the Council of Jewish Organizations. In 1963, Jack was president of Viceroy Reading Lodge of B'nai B'rith and also president of the United Hebrew Memorial Chapel. In the same year, after working at Hamilton Auto Parts for nineteen years, Jack established his own business, Taylor Automotive Supplies. In the 1970s, Jack served as vice-president of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) of Hamilton and was the honouree of the 1971 Hamilton Negev Dinner.; Samuel Taylor, Dorothy's brother, was born in 1916. He became a professional musician at age fifteen and continued in music from age eighteen to twenty-six. During the Second World War, Sam served in the Air Force Central Band and began his studies in the accounting field at the same time. In 1948, he graduated as a chartered accountant and opened the firm of Taylor, Leibow Chartered Accountants in 1950. In the same year, Sam married Anne Klein and had two children, Michael and Robin. From 1974 to 1976, Sam served as president of Hamilton JNF. In 1974 and 1975, he served as president of United Jewish Welfare Fund. Besides, Sam was a member of the Board of the Ontario Association of Licensed Trustees in Bankruptcy and a member of Executive Board of United Israel Appeal of Canada. In 1977 he became president of Hamilton Jewish Federation and was the honouree of the 1977 Hamilton Negev Dinner.

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

Places: Hamilton (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Beverley Schaeffer [textual record] – 1922-2015.

Accession Number: 2021-11-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-7

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 7 cm of textual records; 1 poster

Date: 1922-2015

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material collected by Beverley Schaeffer. The bulk of the material consists of newspaper clippings documenting Jewish communities in northern Ontario, primarily Kirkland Lake. In addition to the clippings, there are several other items: the first draft of Eddie Duke's "The History of the Jewish Community of Kirkland Lake," a copy of a typed article titled "The Way We Were" by Bettyann Elliott (née Archer), two issues of Beth Tikvah Sisterhood Magazine (spring 1988 and spring 1990), and a typed document titled "Judaica - Canadian" that was prepared by Fred Schaeffer. Of note is an article written by Shelley Duke entitled "Somebody's Somebody: Jews from Small Communities" dated 16 December 1985.

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

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Textual records available as PDF files.

Subjects: Communities

Name Access: Duke, Eddie; Elliott, Bettyann, 1928-2015

Places: Kirkland Lake (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

J. Academy and J. Wave [textual record, textual record (electronic)] – 2011-2021.

Accession Number: 2021-11-9

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-9

Material Format: textual record; textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 1 textual record (pdf)

Date: 2011-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a J. Academy Camp brochure, two Arts Camp passports (2011 and 2014), and a camp registration and FAQ sheet describing the history and objectives of the camp. In addition, there are two issues of J. Wave. These include a Hanukkah edition (vol. 3) and a spring edition (vol.7).

Administrative History: Founded in 2009, J. Academy Camp is a unique twelve-day overnight camp for children aged eight to sixteen from Russian-speaking Jewish families in the GTA. J. Academy Camp runs its summer camp program from the Camp Northland site in Halibruton, Ontario. The aim of the camp is to connect teens from Russian-speaking families, introduce them to Jewish community and culture, and help them discover their Jewish roots through engagement in various creative arts, activities, and sports. J. Academy Camp is supported by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and Genesis Philanthropy Group.; J. Wave began as an optional activity at J. Academy Camp and developed into a year-round project. The publication shares personal stories, adventures, and experiences written by teens. The program is hosted at the Schwartz/Reisman Centre.

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

Source: Archival Accessions

Bill Gladstone [graphic material, textual record] – 1910-2020.

Accession Number: 2021-10-12

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-12

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: ca. 10 cm of textual records; 12 photographs : b&w and col, 25 x 20 cm or smaller; 1 painting : oil on board

Date: 1910-2020

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material from the Agudas Hamishpocha (AH) Rubinoff/Naftolin cousins club, books and an oil painting. Included are photos of the Rubinoff/Naftolin family taken in Russia; copies of postcards from family in Russia written in Yiddish and Russian; notes compiled by Bill Gladstone translating cards sent by Dan & Rose Newman; copies of email correspondence with Dan Newman; copies of photos of Rubinoff/Naftolin family taken in Russia and Toronto; two souvenir booklets marking the 80th and 85th anniversary of AH; Shana Tova postcard from AH; newspaper clippings of obituaries of family members; AH membership fee statements, a copy of the speech written by Bill Gladstone for a book launch, copy of an invitation to 85th anniversary of AH; a copy of AH family tree; AH meeting minutes; lists of AH Philanthropic Fund donations; AH schedule of breakfasts and AH membership lists. Also included is a book commemorating the 75th anniversary of Congregation B'nai Israel in London, ON; a signed copy of "From Rags to Riches" by Dr. Max M Glassman; a signed copy of "My Ninety Years: Confessions of a 14-Year-Old High School Dropout" a biography by Max Beder; a copy of "Borrowed Time : The Life of Russell Norman Gladstone 1918-1988" by Bill Gladstone; a photo of the Gladstone family; an original oil painting of the Kiever synagogue by an unknown artist.

Descriptive Notes: 2 books have been moved to the OJA library: "From Rags to Riches", the autobiography of Dr. Max M. Glassman and "Borrowed Time" by Gill Gladstone.; Related Material Note: See also 1988-2-9; 2011-6-3; 2016-2-1; 2016-2-15; 2018-7-3; 2019-4-5; 2020-1-6; 2020-2-5.

Source: Archival Accessions

Eker family [graphic material (electronic)] – 2016.

Accession Number: 2021-11-24

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-24

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 221 photographs (jpg); 1 audiovisual recording (mp4)

Date: 2016

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the Eker family. Included are photographs taken in Hamilton and Toronto. Locations include the Eker home, Limeridge Mall in Hamilton, Bayfront in Hamilton, First Canada Place, the Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue. Pictured in the photographs are Debbie and Glen Eker and Glen's father.

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: Families

Name Access: Eker (family); Eker, Glen

Places: Hamilton (Ont.); Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Charles and Anne Dubin [textual record, graphic material, moving images (electronic)] – 1973-2013.

Accession Number: 2021-11-25

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-25

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; moving images (electronic)

Physical Description: 2 folders of textual records; 3 photographs; 1 CD

Date: 1973-2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the personal and professional lives of Charles and Anne Dubin. Included are: a copy of the eulogy for Charles presented by Justice Robert P. Armstrong October 20, 2008; a newspaper clipping from the "Globe and Mail" of an obituary for Charles Dubin written by Sandra Martin; obituary for Anne Ruth Dubin August 2007; a DVD of the Dubin Lecture presented by Sheila Block on April 21, 2010; a copy of the book "The Dubin Lectures on Advocacy 1998-2002" by Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C., Sir Sydney Kentridge, Q.C. and Justice W. Ian Binnie; a programme from "An Evening in Appreciation of The Honourable Charles L. Dubin Q.C." April 1996; 3 photos; 2 programmes for the administering of the oaths of office and allegiance to The Honourable Charles L. Dubin as the Associate Chief Justice for Ontario in September 1987 and as the Chief Justice of Ontario in April 1990; a newspaper clipping from the Canadian Jewish news March 1990 featuring Charles Dubin; a copy of a speech presented by Charles Dubin on being the recipient of the honourary Degree of Doctor of Laws from University of Toronto; a programme from a dinner marking the appointment of Charles Leonard Dubin as a Justice of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Ontario February 1973; a programme from the Annual Book of Life Celebration sponsored by the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto on October 2013 recognizing Charles and Anne Dubin as honourees; a copy of "Nexus". the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Alumni magazine, from 2009 noting the creation of The Honourable Charles L. Dubin Memorial Scholarship; a copy of "The Advocates' Journal" from 2009 featuring a eulogy written by the Honourable Robert P. Armstrong in memory of the Honourable Charles Leonard Dubin, Q.C.; a newspaper article written by Peter Worthington in memory of Charles; a newspaper clipping from the "New York Times" October 30, 2008 noting the death of Charles Dubin; a copy of an obituary in memory of Charles Dubin written by Tracey Tyler in the the "Toronto Star" October 28, 2008; a newsclipping published by Canwest News Service in memory of Charles Dubin published October 28, 2008; a newspaper clipping remembering Charles Dubin in the "Toronto Star" written by Peter Small; a copy of the eulogy for Charles written by Francie Klein, Charles's niece; a copy of an article concerning the creation of The Honourable Charles L. Dubin Memorial Scholarship; copies of press releases following the death of Charles Dubin; copies of an article highlighting Dubin's legal achievements; a letter of condolence sent to Francie and Stuart Klein from Mayo Moran, Dean of Law from the University of Toronto; a letter of thanks to Francie Klein, niece, from Hinda Silber, Chair of the the Book of Life, from the Jewish Foundation; a certificate marking 2013 UC Alumni of Influence Award presented to the estate of Charles Leonard Dubin on behalf of the Government of Canada accompanied by a letter of congratulations to Francie Klein and Stuart Klein from Hart Hanson.

Administrative History: Charles Leonard Dubin was born in Hamilton to parents Harry and Ethel Dubin. He attended Hamilton Central Collegiate Institute and University of Toronto where he graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School as Gold Medalist in 1944. Charles began a practice in law with a classmate to form the firm of Kimber and Dubin. He was distinguished as an Officer of the Order of Canada, invested an Officer of the Order of Ontario and appointed to Queen's Counsel in 1950. In 1972 Kimber and Dubin merged with another firm, Torys. Charles was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1973. In 1987 he became Associate Chief Justice of Ontario and served as Chief Justice from 1990-1996. In 1988, Charles headed an inquiry, known as the Dubin Inquiry, that delved into drug use in Canadian amateur sports. In 1988, the U of T Faculty of Law presented Charles with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and in 1993 was awarded an honourary doctorate laws. He retired in 1996. Charles died October 27, 2008. Anne Dubin (nee Levine) and Charles were classmates in Law School. They were married in 1950. Anne practiced in corporate law. She was a director of Petro-Canada, and a member of the Ontario Law Reform Commission Advisory Board. She served as a director of Telemedia Communications Inc., Morgan Trust Co. of Canada and as a former Public Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. She was vice-chair, Area Committee of the York County Legal Aid Plan, a former member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on the Juvenile & Family Court of Metropolitan Toronto, and a former member of the Joint Committee on Penal Reform for Women. Anne's community service included : vice-chair of York University; a trustee of the Toronto Hospital Foundation; a director of the Canadian Club; an Honorary Counsel of the Canadian Red Cross Society; an Honorary Counsel for the Museum Children's Theatre; a director of the Elizabeth Fry Society; a director of the Toronto Mental Health Clinic for Children and Adolescents and its successor, the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre; a director of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry; and a trustee of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation. Anne died on August 2, 2007.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Speech has been digitized.

Source: Archival Accessions

Jack Geller [graphic material, textual record] – [ca. 1934]-2015.

Accession Number: 2021-11-26

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-11-26

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 36 photographs : col. and b&w ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller

Date: [ca. 1934]-2015

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to John Arthur (Jack) Geller's life and career. Of note are 36 colour and b&w photographs dated from ca. 1934 to 1984 documenting Geller's life and career; Spring Issue 1955 of Obiter Dicta magazine; a small poster with photos of the 1955 graduating class of Osgoode Hall Law School, when Geller was awarded the Gold Key Award; a Certificate of Honor awarded to Geller by the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation for the year of 1949-1950; the May 1999 issue of Fasken Link containing an interview with Geller; a draft of a speech delivered by Geller during a debate at Hart House with the presence of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent as well as an invitation to and newspaper clippings about the debate; newspaper clippings about Geller's participation in several debates; correspondence relating to Geller's licensing examination and call to the Bar; the March 2015 issue of Holy Blossom Temple Bulletin containing a tribute to Geller; the section of the 18 May 1963 issue of Maclean's dealing with the Hal Banks case and the Norris commission, of which Geller was part representing Upper Lakes Shipping; awards given to Geller; and correspondence addressed to him.

Custodial History: Records were donated by Jack's daughter, Dana.

Administrative History: John Arthur Geller was born in 1930 in Toronto, Ontario, to Polish immigrants Kalman and Katy Geller (née Ladowsky). He attended Forest Hill Collegiate and University College at the University of Toronto, where he graduated with a BA degree in 1951. He met his wife, Sybil Gangbar (daughter of Phil and Sarah Gangbar), in 1948, during his second week at U of T, where she was also studying, and they were married two weeks after graduating. They had four children: Lawrence (b. 1955), Dana (b. 1957), Jan (b. 1960), and Harold (b. 1964). After enrolling at Osgoode Hall Law School later that year, and articling at the firm Campbell, Godfrey & Lewtas, he was called to the Bar in 1955. Geller began his legal practice with Campbell, Godfrey & Lewtas, where he remained for the entirety of his career. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1966. In 1993, Geller retired from legal practice and was appointed Vice-Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission. He served in different capacities with the Commission until his 2001 retirement. In addition to his work as a lawyer and for the Ontario Securities Commission, Geller served as a director on the board of Leitch Transport Limited and Ford Glass Limited. He was also a member of the Canadian Jewish Congress, served as president of B'nai Brith, Central Region, and was the National President of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada (JIAS), and a member and Honorary President for Life of Holy Blossom Temple. After suffering a stroke in 2002, Geller developed aphasia and spent five years working tirelessly to regain his reading abilities. He passed away on 7 January 2015. His funeral was held at Holy Blossom Temple, which he never stopped attending.

Subjects: Lawyers

Name Access: Geller, John Arthur (Jack), 1930-2015

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Bill Gladstone [textual record, graphic material] – 1832-2017.

Accession Number: 2021-12-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-12-1

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: ca. 25 cm of textual records; 15 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20 x 26 cm and smaller

Date: 1832-2017

Scope and Content: Accession consists of the research files of Bill Gladstone. The materials document Bill’s research on various aspects of the Jewish history of Toronto and Canada and are sourced from a variety of newspapers, books, and archival repositories. Most of the newspaper clippings and copies of clippings are from the Canadian Jewish News, Toronto Star, the National Post, and the Globe and Mail; and the copies of archival documents are mainly from the Archives of Ontario, the City of Toronto Archives, and the Ontario Jewish Archives.; Included are Bill’s newspaper articles; documents relating to Bill’s books and a publishing house that Bill established in 2008 named Now and Then Books; genealogy research materials and notes; copies of early Toronto maps; copies of articles written by Ben Kayfetz; research materials documenting Toronto local synagogues such as the Holy Blossom Temple, Goel Tzedec Synagogue, First Narayever Congregation, and McCaul St. Synagogue (Beth Hamidrash Hagadol); copies of Canadian Moving Picture Digest and Canadian Film Weekly that document the accomplishments of Jews in the Canadian film industry; and research materials pertaining to Russian Jews, Yiddish theatres and opera houses, religious education in public schools, and the history of the Jews in Toronto and Canada in general. Also included are research documents relating to Toronto Jewish neighbourhoods such as Kensington Market, The Junction, The Ward, and Bathurst Manor; and materials documenting Toronto local Jewish businesses, organizations, families, and individuals.; Accession also contains a small number of photographs that Bill took or collected during his research, most of which feature the Holy Blossom Temple, Temple Beth Israel (Macon, Georgia), and Congregation Mickve Israel (Savannah, Georgia).

Administrative History: Bill Gladstone is a researcher, journalist, author, publisher, and genealogist living in Toronto. He has written and edited numerous books on Canadian Jewish history and is a frequent contributor to the Canadian Jewish News, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and other publications. He is often asked to give community presentations on a variety of topics related to the history of Jewish Toronto. In 2008, Bill established a publishing company named Now and Then Books. Bill is the former president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto and book review editor for Avotaynu, the international journal of Jewish genealogy.

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.

Descriptive Notes: Titles of files were transcribed from their original formal titles; for files that do not bear formal titles, supplied titles were given based on file contents.

Subjects: Genealogists; Authors; Journalists

Name Access: Gladstone, Bill

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Ron Chapman film, Shelter collection [moving images (electronic), textual record (electronic), graphic material (electronic)] – 2017-2020.

Accession Number: 2021-10-10

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-10

Material Format: moving images (electronic); textual record (electronic); graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 22 videos : mp4 ; 1113 GB; Textual records (electronic) ; ca. 4.3 MB; ca. 670 photographs and pdfs (electronic)

Date: 2017-2020

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records created during the production of Ron Chapman's film, Shelter. Included are video interviews and written transcripts, and family photographs and documents collected and copied from the interviewees. Signed release forms accompany the interviews. Also included is the finished film and trailer as mp4 files.

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: Buildings; Holocaust survivors

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Daniel Zultek [textual record] – [1939?]-2020, predominant 1939-1946.

Accession Number: 2022-2-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-2-3

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 3 cm of textual records

Date: [1939?]-2020, predominant 1939-1946

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the immigration of Daniel Zultek from Poland to Canada under a Sugihara Visa in 1941 and documents pertaining to Sugihara visas and Chiune Sugihara (also known as Sempo Sugihara), a Japanese diplomat who served as vice-consul for the Japanese Empire in Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania. Included are Daniel’s travelling documents dating from 1939 to 1941—an identification document, an immigration identification card, a quarantine/medical examination card issued by Nippon Yusen (also known as NYK Line), and a ship manifest; correspondence between Daniel and Polish consulates in Toronto and Montreal (1941-1943)—one of the letters (28 May 1942) was obtained by Daniel for the purpose of bringing his brother, who was still in Warsaw at that time, over to Canada; a memorandum from the Jewish Community of Kobe to Daniel (1941); records documenting Daniel's experience in serving in the Polish Armed Units in Canada (1941); work documents pertaining to Daniel’s career at Canada Motor Products (1941-1942); and a brief memoir written by Daniel with notations by his daughter Irene. Also included are newspaper clippings and book chapters documenting Daniel’s immigration to Canada via Japan under a Sugihara visa (1993-2020), a programme book of the Sempo Sugihara Tribute Dinner (1993), and a pamphlet of the Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall in Japan.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Daniel’s daughter, Irene Henry, before being gifted to the Ontario Jewish Archives on Feb. 9, 2022.

Administrative History: Daniel Zultek (1910-1995) was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 1 September 1910, to Leon and Helena Zultek. Leon owned a large freight shipping company on the Vistula River, between Danzig and Gdynia harbours. Leon was a successful businessman, a community leader, a philanthropist, and a life member of the Jewish Kehilla Congress in Warsaw, which was allegedly the largest Jewish institution in Europe voted by the Jewish public. Daniel had been running the family business since 1932 until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. He was nominated to the board of directors of the company in 1938. In January 1939, Leon died of a heart attack. Daniel's mother Helena, sister Natalia, and most family members were murdered by Nazi Germany in concentration camps. The only survivors were Daniel, his elder brother Rafael, Irene (Rafael's first wife, who lived in Argentina), and four cousins name Daniel (surname unspecified), Rita (surname unspecified), Adam Zultek, and Dorka Zultek. On 6 September 1939, Daniel fled Warsaw, where was heavily bombarded by German troops, and headed for Pinsk, a city near the Soviet border. Half a month later, because Soviet troops invaded Pinsk, Daniel escaped to Vilnius in the neighbouring country Lithuania. In June 1940, the Soviet Union entered Lithuania. During that time, Daniel heard that the Japanese consulate in Kaunas was issuing transit visas. Fortunately, on 1 August 1940, Daniel received his visa from Vice-consul Chiune Sugihara. In the same month, he managed to escape Kaunas and headed for Moscow. With a Russian transit visa, he took the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok; from there, he took a ship for Tsuruga Port, Japan. During his stay in Japan, he learned that the British Embassy in Tokyo was recruiting volunteers to join the Polish Armed Forces in Australia, the United States, and Canada. Daniel volunteered and chose Canada as his destination. On 5 June 1941, he embarked on the ship, Hikawa Maru, in Yokohama and arrived in Vancouver on the 17th of the same month. From there, he headed for the Polish military base in Owen Sound, Ontario. Daniel received eight months of military training in Owen Sound but was honourably discharged owing to a cataract in his right eye. Fortunately, he was allowed to remain in Canada. After being discharged, Daniel worked various jobs to make a living. In 1941, he had jobs with Canada Motor Products and Frankel Engineering; from 1942 to 1945, he served de Havilland Aircraft as an inspector; from 1945 to 1948, he worked as a sales representative of an American milkshake and ice cream company named Mr. Gordon. While working at Frankel Engineering in 1941, Daniel met Mr. Epstein who introduced him to farming. In 1948, Daniel bought a one-hundred-acre farm in Brampton, Ontario. In the same year, he attended an agriculture college in Guelph, Ontario. While running the farm, he also opened Caledon Sand and Gravel, a company located in Caledon, Ontario, supplying sand and gravel for construction. His career also involved business in real estate. Daniel married Molly Mandel in 1943 and had three daughters Helen, Leona, and Irene. Molly (nee Mandel) Zultek (1915-1989) was a Torontonian of Russian descent. Her father, Albert Mandel, was one of the founders of the Congregation Knesseth Israel (also known as the Junction Shul) located on Maria Street in the Junction. Molly grew up in the Junction neighbourhood. In 1957, Daniel sold the farm and moved to Forest Hill Village a neighbourhood and former village in Midtown Toronto with his family. Daniel retired in 1988. In addition to business, Daniel also devoted his time to charity and social work. Daniel was an ardent Zionist and visited Israel twenty-seven times. He was director and a member of the board of governors of the Jewish National Fund. He was also a generous contributor to Jewish organizations and sponsored the Hebrew University and its students.

Descriptive Notes: LANGUAGE NOTE: some of the material is in Japanese and has been translated into English. Translated documents are available at S:\Collections\2022-2-3.; Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for most documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.

Subjects: Immigrants; World War, 1939-1945

Places: Warsaw (Poland); Lithuania; Japan; Toronto (Ont.); Owen Sound (Ont.); Brampton (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Ashkenaz Foundation [textual record] – 1997-[ca. 2012].

Accession Number: 2022-3-12

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-3-12

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 13 cm of textual records

Date: 1997-[ca. 2012]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the Ashkenaz Foundation. Included are memorandums of understanding between UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and Ashkenaz Foundation (2004–2010), a copy of the original letters patent that was issued on 21 July 1997, brochures and flyers, and Ashkenaz records for the years 2004–2012.

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: Festivals; Nonprofit organizations

Name Access: Ashkenaz Festival; Ashkenaz Foundation

Places: Canada

Source: Archival Accessions

Abraham Feinstein [graphic material, textual record] – [1939?]-2021.

Accession Number: 2022-5-22

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-5-22

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 10 cm of textual records; 38 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20 x 30 cm or smaller

Date: [1939?]-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting Abraham Feinstein's law career and early life. Included are biographical documents such as Abe's CV, personal history, eulogy and obituary; letters of condolence; speech notes written by Abe while serving as Hillel Ottawa oresident; telegrams sent on the occasion of Abe's bar mitzvah; a copy of a speech presented by Abe honouring his parents' diamond anniversary; information concerning CCOC (Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation); correspondence pertaining to his appointment as Queen's Counsel; information concerning the official opening of the Ottawa Courthouse and Registry Offices; a copy of a speech presented by Abe to YMCA-YWCA; article in "Ontario Lawyer's Gazette" featuring Abe; an article in "National" journal featuring Abe; a candidate letter written by Abe in "Law Society of Upper Canada Guide for Voters"; newsclippings announcing Abe as president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada; a copy of a speech presented by Abe to LibraryCo; a copy of "Focus", the LibraryCo newsletter; a copy of "County of Carleton Law Association Bulletin" and a newsclipping from the "Ottawa Jewish Bulletin" honouring Abe as the recipient of the Carleton Medal; letters of nomination of Abe for County of Carleton Law Association's Legal Innovator Award; copies of three speeches presented to the County of Carleton Law Association by Abe as recipient of the Carleton Medal in 1999, recipient of The Solicitor Award in 2011 and recipient of The Legal Innovator Award in 2020; copy of a letter to the editor of "Law Times" written by Abe; two letters of congratulations on election as a Bencher of the Law Society; a copy of "Communiqu-ate"; copies of three speeches presented by Abe to the County and District Law President's Association in 1993, to Prescott and Russell Law Association in 1994 and to County and District Law Presidents Association in 1995; content pertaining to the receipt of the Order of Ottawa including a copy of the program, an invitation to the ceremonies, letters of congratulations, three nomination letters and an announcement by Soloway Wright; a certificate of recognition for distinguished achievements; a copy of a speech presented by Abe at the Shirley Berman Memorial Lecture Series, 2019 and a copy of the program; content pertaining to The Law Society Medal including a brochure , newsclipping announcing Abe as the recipient of the Law Society Medal in 2008, letters of congratulations, a hand-out describing the walk-through for the ceremony, a copy of Abe's speech, a copy of the program, letters of nomination, an announcement in the CJN and a mention in the "Law Society Gazette". Also included are photographs documenting early family life and honours.

Administrative History: Abraham "Abe" Feinstein was born 19 December 1936 in Ottawa, Ontario to Benjamin and Freda (née Dickstein) Feinstein. Benjamin (1898-2001) was born in Teplik, Russia. Following pogroms and a term of imprisonment, Benjamin fled to Romania for four years and then made his way to Canada in 1924. While living in Winkler, Manitoba he married Freda (1900?-1986), and they had two daughters Miriam (m. Levitin) and Ruth (m. Aaron). Around 1930, the family moved to Ottawa, Ontario where two more children were born, Pearl (m. Moskovic) and Abraham.; Abe attended Kent Street public school and graduated from Lisgar Collegiate. He attended and worked at Camp B'nai Brith and worked at Camp Wooden Acres and Camp White Pine. While completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at Carleton University, he was president of the Ottawa Hillel. Abe received his LLB from the University of Ottawa in 1963 and was called to the Bar in 1965 at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. Abe practiced law with Soloway Wright LLP in Ottawa for 55 years.; Abe married Beverley Kavanat on 23 August 1964 and had three daughters Susan, Harriet and Shawna.; Abe was recognized for his community and professional service to a number of organizations over his lifetime. He was a founding director of Centretown Citizens of Ottawa Corporation in 1975 and was named an honorary life member. In 1982, he was the founding director of the County and District Law Presidents Association of Ontario and the chair of the Committee of Adjustment of the City of Ottawa. Abe was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983. He served as chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee East Region. He served as president of the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA). The CCLA awarded Abe with the Carleton medal in 1998, the Solicitors' Award in 2011 and the Legal Innovator Award in 2020. Abe became a bencher at the Law Society of Upper Canada (now called the Law Society of Ontario) in 1991, and was awarded the Law Society Medal in 1998. He also served as director and president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He also acted as a consultant during the building of Ottawa's new courthouse, ensuring that the needs of attorneys were included in the design. Abe was a director on the board of the Ottawa Food Bank and was made honorary president of the Ottawa YMCA-YWCA. He served as chair of the Investment Committee of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation. From 2018-2020, Abe was the chair of the Governance Committee of Kehillat Beth Israel Congregation in Ottawa. The Order of Ottawa was bestowed upon Abe in 2016.

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

Descriptive Notes: Associated Material Note: Abraham Feinstein's Order of Ottawa and Law Society medals are held at his former law firm, Soloway Wright LLP. A video of Abe as part of the Shirley Berman Lecture Series is held at the Ottawa Jewish Archives.

Subjects: Law; Lawyers

Name Access: Feinstein, Abraham, 1936-2021

Places: Ottawa (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Forberg and Michalowicz families [textual record, graphic material, sound recording, object] – 1920-2013.

Accession Number: 2022-7-10

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-7-10

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; sound recording; object

Physical Description: ca. 9 cm of textual records; 186 photographs : b&w and col. ; 22 x 28 cm or smaller; 1 album (197 photographs) ; 34 x 25 cm; 1 audio cassette : 1/8 in.; 1 identification tag : metal ; 5 x 5 cm

Date: 1920-2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the Forberg and Michaels (Michalowitz) families. They include family histories, Holocaust documentation, and records pertaining to Bathurst Manor. Accession also includes 186 photographs documenting ancestors, family life, and family celebrations from the early 20th century to the early 2000s, including life in the DP camps and Bathurst Manor, and an album containing 197 photographs documenting Honey and Esther Forberg's 1967 trip to Israel. Additional records include Syma Forberg's metal Jewish identification tag, tributes to the Forberg family, Esther Forberg's school history project, Henry and Pola Michaels' funeral records, among others.

Custodial History: Records were donated by Esther Michaels, David and Syma's daughter, Harry and Pola's daughter-in-law.

Administrative History: David Berel Forberg was born in Czestochowa, Poland, on 1 February 1922. From 1939 to 1942, he lived in the Czestochowa Ghetto, where he worked as a manual labourer and painter. Syma Jurkowska was born in Opatow, Poland, on 5 August 1924. From 1939 to 1942, she lived in the Opatow Ghetto, where she made brushes in a factory and cleaned Gestapo homes and the post office. David and Syma met at the Polish labour camp Hasag-Palcery, where they worked at an ammunitions factory. After the war, they were placed in a DP camp in Lampertheim, Germany, where they got married on 11 September 1947. In July 1948, they left the German DP camp after three years and immigrated to Canada, via Quebec. They had two children, Joseph (born 19 June 1946 in Mannheim, Germany) and Honey Sarah (born 16 January 1948 in Lampertheim, Germany). They had been sponsored by Syma's uncle Cheil Slavny, who lived in Toronto. David and Syma rented rooms in their home, while David worked as an upholsterer and Syma babysat. In the early 1950s, they started making chairs and tables, which they delivered on the streetcar. David and Syma's younger children, Esther and Billy Avraham, were born in Toronto on 23 May 1949 and 26 Sep. 1952, respectively. David died on 9 October 2011. Syma died on 9 April 2021.; Harry Michaels (Hersz Michalowicz) was born in Kalisz, Poland, on 26 May 1918. Pola Lewkowicz was born in Zagorow, Poland, on 28 August 1916. By the end of the Second World War, they were living in the Soviet Union, where their first son, Julius (Jozef) was born, in the city of Gelendzhik, on 8 May 1945. After the war, they lived in Jawor, Poland, before resettling at the Steyr DP camp, in Austria, where their second son, Albert (Abram) was born, on 22 April 1947. In 1948, the family immigrated to Canada, arriving via Halifax on 1 October of that year. In Toronto, Harry worked as a furniture merchant. He died on 27 Sep. 1997. Pola died on 23 Apr. 2003.; David and Syma's daughter Esther married Harry and Pola's son Albert.

Use Conditions: Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.

Subjects: Holocaust survivors; Families

Source: Archival Accessions

Justice Sydney Robins [textual record, graphic material] – 1939-2012.

Accession Number: 2022-6-17

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-6-17

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 4 cm of textual records; 10 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25 x 31 cm or smaller

Date: 1939-2012

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the life and career of Justice Sydney Robins. The records include photographs, diplomas, correspondence, and material written by or about Justice Sydney Robins.

Custodial History: Records were donated by Robins' son-i-law, Steven Sharpe.

Administrative History: Sydney Lewis Robins (1923-2014) was born in 1923 in Toronto, Ontario, to Samuel Robins and Bessie Kamarner. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1944 and was admitted to Osgoode Hall Law School that same year. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in September 1947. Robins received an LL.M. degree from Harvard University in 1948. Robins served as a special lecturer on torts at Osgoode Hall Law School from 1948 to 1960, and participated in many continuing legal education sessions for the Law Society of Upper Canada. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1962. Robins was first elected a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1961, and served as its Treasurer from 1971 to 1974. Robins was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario in 1976, and to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 1981. Robins served on several Ontario provincial commissions, and arbitrated a TTC labour dispute. Following his retirement from the bench in 1998, Robins joined the law firm of Goodmans LLP. He served as Chair of the Law Foundation of Ontario, and was active in the Canadian Bar Association. Robins died in Toronto on 10 January 2014.

Subjects: Lawyers; Justice

Name Access: Robins, Sydney Lewis, 1923-2014

Source: Archival Accessions

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto [textual record] – 2004-2017.

Accession Number: 2022-9-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-9-2

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 13 cm of textual records

Date: 2004-2017

Scope and Content: Accession consists of materials transferred from UJA Federation of Greater Toronto's Community Capacity Building department. Included are a number of documents put together by Lord Cultural Resources: a phase-one report titled "UJA: Cultural Components of Central Campus Redevelopment Project" that is dated May 2004, an exhibit master plan on the National Centre for Jewish Heritage (NCJH) that is undated, an interpretative plan on the NCJH that is dated August 2009, a business plan on the NCJH that is dated December 2009, and an interim report on the Jewish Museum of Canada that is dated 20 December 2013. Also included are a small number of financial documents related to Aish HaTorah and the Ontario Jewish Archives, as well as an itinerary for UJA's Centennial Journey to Israel, which took place from 31 October 2017-8 November 2017. Lastly, there is a demographics report issued by UIA Canada's National Task Force on Jewish Demographics that relates demographic information about Jewish Toronto in 2021; the latter is dated 29 June 2009.

Use Conditions: UJA Federation meeting minutes and general correspondence are closed for 10 years from date of creation. Contracts and donor agreements are permanently closed.

Name Access: UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Canadian Society for Yad Vashem [moving images, sound recording (electronic), graphic material] – 1988-2016.

Accession Number: 2022-8-14

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-8-14

Material Format: moving images; sound recording (electronic); graphic material

Physical Description: ca. 260 optical discs; 83 videocassettes; 27 photographs

Date: 1988-2016

Scope and Content: Accession consists of audiovisual materials documenting the events and programs of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem. Most of the recordings are DVDs and VHS tapes and document Holocaust commemoration and memorialization programs, and include some Canadian and international dignitaries, as well as survivor speakers. There are also a few DVD-ROMs featuring Yad Vashem educational content and a few CDs containing photographs of events.

Name Access: Canadian Society for Yad Vashem

Source: Archival Accessions

Eva Muller and Louis Muller [moving images (electronic)] – 2010, 2014.

Accession Number: 2022-11-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-11-2

Material Format: moving images (electronic)

Physical Description: 10 videos (mp4)

Date: 2010, 2014

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting Eva Muller and Louis Muller. Included are multi-part interviews with both, in which they discuss their lives as children during the Holocaust, their memories of the Hungarian Revolution, their coming to Canada, and their lives in Ontario as Jewish immigrants. Louis's interview was recorded in December of 2010; Eva's interview was recorded in the spring of 2014. Each of them was seventy-six years old at the time of the interview. The person interviewing them is their son Robert Tom Muller.

Administrative History: Eva Muller (née Berger) was born 22 October 1937 in Budapest, Hungary, to Aranka Berger (née Flohr) and Oscar Berger. She had two siblings: an older sister named Edith and a younger sister named Marika. From 1937–1956, Eva resided in Budapest. While hiding in Budapest during the Second World War, Eva used the name Eva Kadet (she had false papers issued under this name). After the war, she attended the Vegyipari Gimnázium, graduating in 1955. Along with Louis Muller, she escaped from Hungary in December 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution. From 1956–1957, she resided in Linz, Austria. It was there that she married Louis Muller in a civil ceremony on 29 December 1956; two days later, on 31 December 1956, she married Louis in a Jewish ceremony that took place in Vienna. From 1957, Eva has resided in Toronto. She and Louis had three children: William Muller (born 4 January 1958), Robert Tom Muller (born 5 April 1964), and Steven Muller (born 29 March 1969). In 1976 and 1979, Eva won a bronze medal at the YMHA (Jewish Community Centre)'s yearly swim-a-thon. Around the same time, she studied property management at Seneca College, graduating circa 1979. Starting in 1980, she began working as a property manager. She also did some work as a court interpreter translating Hungarian to English from 1987–1990. In 2011, Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto) issued a certificate of appreciate for Eva's service to the synagogue. As a hobbyist, Eva was an avid amateur artist (painter).; Louis Muller was born Lajos Müller 12 April 1934 in Bratislava, Slovakia, to Anna Müller (née Kovacs) and Vilmos Müller. Louis had one sibling: a younger sister named Hermina (Mimi). From 1934–1939, Louis resided in Bratislava. From 1939–1956, he resided in Budapest. During the Second World War, he used the name Louis Pap while in hiding (he had false papers issued under this name). After the war, he trained and apprenticed as a master upholster, becoming a Kárpitos Szakmunkás, completing his training in 1950. He then completed an intensive one-year high school program, graduating circa 1952. He also studied at the University of Physical Education, Testnevelési Foiskola, but did not graduate, as he was expelled for political reasons and immediately drafted into the army. Along with Eva Berger, he escaped from Hungary in December of 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution. From 1956–1957, Louis resided in Linz. It was there that he married Eva Berger in a civil ceremony on 29 December 1956; two days later, on 31 December 1956, he married Eva in a Jewish ceremony that took place in Vienna. From 1957–2022, he resided in Toronto. There, he ran Louis Interiors, a fine furniture-manufacturing business, which he established in 1961. He and Eva had three children: William Muller (born 4 January 1958), Robert Tom Muller (born 5 April 1964), and Steven Muller (born 29 March 1969). In 2015, Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto) issued a certificate of appreciation for Louis's service to the synagogue. He has been listed as an Honored Member in the Who’s Who Among Top Executives. He passed away 8 May 2022.

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: Hungary--History--Revolution, 1956--Biography; Immigrants--Canada; World War, 1939-1945

Name Access: Muller, Eva; Muller, Louis, 1934-2022; Muller, Robert T.

Places: Budapest (Hungary); Linz (Austria); Toronto (Ont.); Vienna (Austria)

Source: Archival Accessions

Nate Leipciger [textual record, graphic material, graphic material (electronic)] – [1923]-2021.

Accession Number: 2022-8-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-8-7

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 30 cm of textual records and graphic material

Date: [1923]-2021

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photo albums: two family albums, one album titled "Auschwitz: Back to life", one album titled "Journey to Warsaw" in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and one album titled "Poland" documenting Nate's trip to Poland with his son Cary in 1990. The trip was an invitation to the Second Conference of the International Advisory Committee on the Future of Auschwitz. Nate attended as one of 28 representatives from around the world as a delegate of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Also included are textual records that document Nate Leipciger's family and life in displaced persons camps and immigration to Canada and life in Canada post-Holocaust. Also included are records related to Nate's involvement with the March of the Living and the Holocaust Centre in Toronto, as well as clippings, correspondence, speeches and writings, etc.

Administrative History: Nate Leipciger was born in Chorzów, Poland, in 1928. He survived the Sosnowiec Ghetto and the camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Funfteichen, GrossRosen, Flossenberg, Leonberg, and Dachau. Nate and his father were liberated in May 1945, and immigrated to Canada in 1948. In Toronto Nate attended Harbord Collegiate and eventually obtained a university degree in engineering. He later established an engineering firm with several partners. In 1982, Nate chaired the Toronto Holocaust Remembrance Committee, later becoming an executive member of the Canadian Jewish Congress National Holocaust Remembrance Committee. Nate was a member of the International Council to the Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau for fifteen years and has been an educator on March of the Living trips to Poland and Israel for fifteen years. In 2015, The Azrieli Foundation published Nate's 280-page memoir "The Weight of Freedom" as part of their series of Holocaust memoirs by survivors in Canada. In 2016, Mr. Leipciger guided Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Descriptive Notes: SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Album of Nate's trip to Poland is in digital format only. The original album was returned to the donor at his request.

Subjects: Holocaust survivors

Name Access: Leipciger, Nate, 1928-

Source: Archival Accessions

Gerry Salsberg [textual record, moving images, graphic material] – [19--]-2018, predominant 2010-2018.

Accession Number: 2023-2-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-2-6

Material Format: textual record; moving images; graphic material

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records and graphic material; 1 optical disc

Date: [19--]-2018, predominant 2010-2018

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting Gerry Salsberg. Included are two newspaper clippings that mention Gerry, a program for a celebration of Gerry's life, the text of a speech given at said event by Karen Faith (Gerry's sister), the text of a tribute to Gerry by Riva Stern, a certificate certifying that Gerry's name will be permanently inscribed in the Trans Canada Trail Pavilion in Toronto, a printout of an email forwarding the announcement about the tribute for Gerry at Second City, a printout of the Steels Memorial Chapel condolence book for Gerry, and an undated photograph of Sam Salsberg and Stan Salsberg in front of Salsberg's variety store on College Street. There is also a video recording of the celebration of life on DVD.

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.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

Subjects: Actors

Name Access: Salsberg, Gerry, 1949-2010

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Andre Rosenbaum [textual record, graphic material] – [ca. 1890]-2016.

Accession Number: 2023-2-8

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-2-8

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: ca. 18 cm of textual records; 207 photographs : b&w and col. ; 28 x 32 cm or semaller

Date: [ca. 1890]-2016

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to Clara and Sándor Rosenbaum, and their extended families. Included are documents and photographs documenting their lives in Hungary prior to the Holocaust, as well as their lives after immigrating to Tangier and, subsequently, Canada. Also includes Holocaust accounts and restitution papers, immigration documents, vital documents, correspondence, paper money, a late 19th- or early 20th-century prayer book, and a book of Shabbat songs.

Administrative History: Clara (Klára) Szabó was born in Bölcske on 28 Nov. 1920, the daughter of local lawyer Imre Szabó (born on 2 Jun. 1893 in Bölcske) and Vilma Szabó (née Stern, born in Bölcske in 1892). She had three siblings: Elizabeth (Erzsébet), born on 30 Dec. 1913; Anna, born on 10 Jan. 1915; and András, born on 5 Dec. 1916. The family lived in Paks, where she spent most of her youth. She went to elementary school in Paks, but moved to Budapest in 1935 to attend boarding school, returning to Paks in 1939. Her father committed suicide on 3 Mar. 1940. She married Sándor Rosenbaum in Paks on 14 Jan. 1941. While visiting her sister in Békéscsaba, the whole family were deported to Auschwitz: Clara, her mother, her brother, her two sisters, and her two-year-old niece. From Auschwitz, Clara and her sister Elizabeth were sent to Ravensbrück, and from there to Neustadt bei Coburg, where they worked as forced labourers at a Siemens factory. The rest of her family were killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. On 15 Apr. 1945, Clara and Elizabeth escaped from a forced march and headed towards the American advance. After the war, Clara and her husband reunited, and in 1946 relocated to Tangier, where Sándor's brother, Nikolas, had been living since 1940. There, they had two children: André (born on 27 Aug. 1949) and Anique (born on 1 Oct. 1950). They lived there until 1956, when the family relocated to Montreal. There, she was the president of the Dayan Chapter of Hadassah-WIZO from 1980 to 1982. She moved to Toronto in 1997 to be closer to her children. Clara died on 6 Feb. 2016 in Toronto.; Sándor (Alexander) Rosenbaum was born in Paks on 28 Jul. 1906, the son of Mihály (Michael) Rosenbaum (merchant, born on 1875 or 1876) and Regina Freund (1882-1932). He had three siblings: Hedvig (married to Oskar Barotti), Sari (married to Zoltan Barotti), and Nikolas. During the war, from May 1943 to Sep. 1943, he served at the Jewish labour service squadron No. 104/3, in Budapest, at the post office No. 70 labour service. The squadron was then moved to the Carpathians, and Sándor worked as a farm labourer in the region. He served as a yellow armband labour serviceman in the Carpathians until the end of Oct. 1944. He escaped from the labour camp with a friend, hiding in the Carpathian forests for a few weeks. After the war, Sándor changed his last name to Rostás to sound more Hungarian, later changing it back to Rosenbaum. He immigrated with his wife Clara to Tangier, and later to Montreal with their two kids, having worked most of his life as a businessman. He died in Montreal on 6 Jul. 1987 and was buried at Shaar Hashomayim Cemetery in Outremont.

Subjects: Holocaust survivors; Families

Name Access: Rosenbaum, Clara (Klára), 1920-2016; Rosenbaum, Alexander (Sándor), 1906-1987

Places: Hungary; Tangier (Morocco); Montréal (Québec); Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Judith Cohen [textual record, object, text, philatelic record] – [ca. 1910]-2013.

Accession Number: 2023-2-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-2-2

Material Format: textual record; object; text; philatelic record

Physical Description: 10 cm of textual records; 1 sheet of postage stamps; 8 artifacts; 1 prayer book; 1 plaque; 8 photographs : b&w and col ; 10 x 18 cm or smaller

Date: [ca. 1910]-2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two scrapbooks containing emails, letters of thanks, articles and program materials related to Judith's various speaking engagements and presentations as a survivor speaker. Also included are eight photos of family members, a prayer book, plaque, a spice box and eight kiddush cups, two certificates affirming completion of English language courses at McGill University, two certificates of recognition of commitment to Holocaust Education from the Ontario Government and the Government of Canada, one sheet of stamps remembering the Holocaust issued by Canada Post, and a labour discharge certificate from the Tailor's Immigration project.

Administrative History: Judith Cohen was born in 1928, in Debrecen, Hungary. Cohen was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration and Death Camp, and to other labour camps. Cohen lived in a displaced persons camp in Germany following liberation where she reunited with her remaining siblings. In 1948, Cohen arrived in Canada as part of the Tailor Project, originally settling in Montreal and later moving to Toronto. She chaired the Holocaust Education Centre and is a committed Holocaust educator and speaker as well as a human rights activist.

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.

Source: Archival Accessions

David Matlow [multiple media] – 1982-2017, predominant 2014-2015.

Accession Number: 2023-5-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-5-5

Material Format: multiple media

Physical Description: 40 cm of textual records and other material

Date: 1982-2017, predominant 2014-2015

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting David Matlow's role as chair of the UJA Campaign 2015, his involvement in the March of the Living, and other community organizations. Also reflects Andrea Cohen's role as co-chair of campaign and Allison Himel as chair of Women's Philanthropy. Includes 40 cm of textual records, 16 photographs (col. ; 22 x 28 cm or smaller), 2 prints (poster ; 28 x 36 cm or smaller), 1 wristband, 1 medal (8 cm in diam. on loop 4 x 42 cm), 1 t-shirt, and 1 papercut (18 x 18 cm in frame 30 x 36 cm).

Administrative History: David Matlow is the owner of the world’s largest private collection of Theodor Herzl memorabilia and is the producer of My Herzl, a 52 minute documentary by Israeli film maker Eli Tal-El. A partner at Goodmans LLP in Toronto, David was the co-chair, together with Andrea Cohen, of Toronto’s 2015 Campaign for the United Jewish Appeal.

Subjects: Fund raising; Jewish outreach; Jewish philanthropists

Name Access: Matlow, David; UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Source: Archival Accessions

Rabbi Joseph Benjamin Friedberg [architectural drawing, graphic material, object, textual record, sound recording] – 1930-2012.

Accession Number: 2022-8-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-8-4

Material Format: architectural drawing; graphic material; object; textual record; sound recording

Physical Description: ca. 11 m of textual records and other material

Date: 1930-2012

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the life and career of Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg. Included are subject files, eulogies, sermons, marriage records, funeral record cards, conversion certificates, gittin (Jewish divorce documents), addresses for High Holiday services, and photographs. Also include are a few artifacts, such as felt patches and medallions, as well as sound recordings. A large number of documents are relating to Rabbi Friedberg's rabbinical career at Beth Tzedec Congregation.

Administrative History: Rabbi Joseph Benjamin Friedberg (1927-2022) was born on June 26, 1927, in Toronto to Chaim (Chamel) and Rochel Rose Friedberg. Rochel Friedberg was born in Polaniec, Poland (Russian part of Poland), the daughter of Moshe and Sura Poss. Rochel had little formal education but learned Talmud from her father. In her youth, Moshe came to Toronto to make a living and had to leave the family behind; shortly thereafter, World War I broke out, and Rochel was sent to the town of Stopnitz. She was then sent to Crackow to work. Rochel married Chaim (Chamel) Friedberg from Patchenev, who was enlisted in Pilsudski’s army. Before the Great Depression, Rochel and Chaim immigrated to Canada. Later on, Chaim took ill and had to go to the Western Sanitarium; soon after that, he passed away in 1957. Rochel passed away in 1992.; Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg was a native of Toronto and received his basic religious and secular education there. He attended Harbord Collegiate in his youth. After spending a number of years at the Yeshiva University in New York, he returned home to attended the University of Toronto, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. In 1950, Rabbi Friedberg entered the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his Master of Hebrew Letters degree and rabbinical ordination in 1954.; Rabbi Friedberg’s first pulpit was in Rochester, New York. He served as assistant rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation in 1955; and then as rabbi of B’nai Israel Congregation in London, Ontario. In 1959, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in Bible and Archaeology. As part of his doctorial program, he studied in the Department of Archaeology and Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; he also spent several years studying in the Department of Religion at the University of Ottawa with special emphasis on the Samaritans.; In 1961, Rabbi Friedberg was called to the pulpit of Agudath Israel Congregation in Ottawa, Ontario, where he served for thirteen years until 1974.; In 1974, he was appointed senior rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto. His major emphases in the congregation were the development of both child and adult education and emphasizing Israel as the dominant fact in Jewish life today. Much of the programming at Beth Tzedec that he instituted dealt with Israel.; Rabbi Friedberg’s interest in Jewish education was responsible for the founding of a Hebrew High School in Ottawa. His concern with Jewish youth prompted him to devote his time as counsellor to the Hillel Organization on the campuses of the University of Western Ontario, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa. He taught Bible, Biblical Hebrew, and courses in Judaism at the University of Ottawa; and was an occasional lecturer at the University of Western Ontario in the Orientals Department. While living in Ottawa, he was active in a number of Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and the organizer of the Ottawa Soviet Jewry Committee and was head of the Jews in Foreign Lands Committee and Canada-Israel Committee. Also, he was on the Social Welfare Council and was chairman of the Aliyah Committee in Ottawa.; Rabbi Friedberg was active with the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). He worked actively on behalf of the CJC’s Educational Department. He was on the executive of the CJC Central and Eastern Regions and served as national chairman of the CJC’s International Affairs Committee. As an active Zionist, he served as national chairman of the Hasbara Committee of the CZF and was president of Mercaz Canada, the Zionist organization of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement. He also organized Israel tours and led Israel tour groups for a number of times. Rabbi Friedberg was the recipient of citations of the UJA, State of Israel Bonds, and various other awards in recognition of his communal work. In addition, he had also been invited to serve as a member of Teddy Kollek’s Jerusalem Committee.; Rabbi Friedberg was a contributor to Anglo-Jewish press, television work, and radio. He was chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Religious Advisory Committee and hosted his own television program called “Focus.” He had written for the London Free Press, and the Ottawa Citizen, and a number of Jewish periodicals.; Rabbi Friedberg was married to the former Lola Constant of Montreal (1930-2022). They had three children together—Mark, Gilah, and Esther. Lola Friedberg had a degree from McGill University in Arts and Music. She had given two-piano recitals in conjunction with her twin sister, Miriam “Mitzi” Leboff, on a number of occasions. Lola had taught piano and conducted choirs in Montreal and Ottawa.

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: Rabbis; Sermons; Eulogies

Name Access: Friedberg, Benjamin, 1927-2022; Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Toronto (Ont.); Ottawa (Ont.); London (Ont.); Jerusalem

Source: Archival Accessions

Toronto Holocaust Museum [moving images, textual record] – 2000-2012.

Accession Number: 2023-9-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-9-1

Material Format: moving images; textual record

Physical Description: 16 videocassettes : VHS; 1 folder of textual records and graphic material; 1 optical disc

Date: 2000-2012

Scope and Content: Accession consists primarily of audiovisual material documenting Jewish veterans in the Second World War. The bulk of the material consists of VHS tapes, most of which have labels. The following labels are found on the tapes and give a sense of their contents: Getto Warszawske [sic] 1993 ceremony, Jewish war veteran parade, M. Lipman, Marie Thérese Fournier Dumont, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Hart, Sam Borod, Saul Gordon, Sen. Jack Marshal, Testaments of Honour, veterans, Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943–1993. Of note is a documentary produced by the Jewish War Veterans of Canada titled "No Greater Honour: A Record of Canadian Jewish Military Service," which "provides an historical account of Jewish participation in Canada's military efforts, from the British Naval Captain who covered General Wolfe's landing at the Plains of Abraham in 1759, to Passover services on the European front in World War II" (from back cover).; Also included is one CD-R containing documents, images, and videos from a Remembrance Day service held at the Old City Hall Cenotaph (60 Queen Street West) on 11 November 2012.

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.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

Subjects: Veterans

Source: Archival Accessions

Camp Winnebagoe, 1933-present; Camp Ogama, 1946-1971

Address: 52 East Fox Lake Rd.

Source: Landmarks

Established in 1933, Camp Winnebagoe was the first Jewish co-educational camp in Canada, owned and operated by Joe and Sadie Danson. First located on the Rouge River, just east of Toronto, the camp moved to a number of different lakeside locations in the Huntsville area, during its long history. In 1971, Camp Winnebagoe purchased Camp Ogama on Fox Lake and it has been there since, operated by the Lustig family. The camp’s programming includes secular and Jewish traditions including themed days, events honouring individual campers’ outstanding contributions and Friday Night Services.

Address: 52 East Fox Lake Rd.

Time Period: 1933-present

Scope Note: Established in 1933, Camp Winnebagoe was the first Jewish co-educational camp in Canada, owned and operated by Joe and Sadie Danson. First located on the Rouge River, just east of Toronto, the camp moved to a number of different lakeside locations in the Huntsville area, during its long history. In 1971, Camp Winnebagoe purchased Camp Ogama on Fox Lake and it has been there since, operated by the Lustig family. The camp’s programming includes secular and Jewish traditions including themed days, events honouring individual campers’ outstanding contributions and Friday Night Services.

History: In 1946, David Lieberman founded Camp Ogama, a private a co-educational overnight camp for children aged 6-16, on Fox Lake near Huntsville. It was touted to be “Canada’s most progressive camp for young Jewish boys and girls.” The socially conscience programming offered at Camp Ogama had a profound impact on counselors and campers alike producing highly influential alumni. Former camper journalist Earl Pomerantz reflects, “Camp inoculated us with a passion for justice. And it wasn’t write a check and see you later; this was money where your mouth is.”

Category: Camps and Resorts

Source: Landmarks

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Reclaiming Our Pride video [moving images] – 2010.

Accession Number: 2010-5-17

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-5-17

Material Format: moving images

Physical Description: 1 DVD ( 58 mins., 41 secs.)

Date: 2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of 1 DVD titled "Reclaiming Our Pride: A documentary film about Pride and Prejudice" by Martin Gladstone. The film explores the controversy that surrounded the 2009 Gay Pride Parade generated by the inclusion of groups that branded Israel an apartheid state.

Descriptive Notes: Produced by Queer Films Corporation.

Subjects: Gay pride parades; Israel; Sexual minorities

Name Access: Gladstone, Martin; Pride Toronto; Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Aba Bayefsky [graphic material (electronic)] – 2010.

Accession Number: 2010-6-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-6-4

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 9 photographs : col.

Date: 2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a DVD containing images which document the Aba Bayefsky mural located in the BJCC. The images are saved in DNG, TIF and JPEG format.

Custodial History: The DVD was transferred to the archives by Stephanie Olin Chapman.

Administrative History: The Aba Bayefsky mural, titled "Swifter than Eagles, Stronger than Lions," was located in the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre until 2010, when the building was demolished.

Source: Archival Accessions

Young Maccabees [graphic material, textual record] – 1962-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-6-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-6-7

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 26 photographs : col. ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller; 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1962-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs and textual records which document the Young Maccabees organization. The records include photocopies of articles and a speech regarding the history of the Young Maccabees club and members. Additionally there is a copy of the club's statement of purpose. The photographs document Young Maccabees lectures in 1985 and 1986. Many of the individuals in the photographs have been identified on the verso.

Custodial History: The photograph was donated by Luba Richardson. Her late husband, Sam Richardson, was a member of the Young Maccabees.

Administrative History: The Young Maccabees was a club for Jewish boys created by Alan Coatsworth in 1923. Coatsworth himself was Christian, but keenly interested in helping the poor Jewish boys in his neighbourhood. The organization served as popular discussion group for the youth. Irving Himel and other former Young Maccabees later created the Alan Coatsworth Lecture Series in his honour as a way of furthering racial harmony.

Descriptive Notes: Related material note: see related accessions #1991-1-7 and 2010-3-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto gittin [textual record] – [1998?]-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-7-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-7-2

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 40 cm of textual records

Date: [1998?]-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one box of gittin.

Use Conditions: Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director and rabbi in charge of gittin (or the chair of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto) prior to accessing the records.

Descriptive Notes: General: Gittin are in sealed envelopes and identified by the surname(s) of parties involved. The start date assigned to this accession may not be accurate as the gittin are sealed and not all are marked with a date on the envelope.

Subjects: Get (Jewish law)

Name Access: Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Albert Edelstein [textual record] – 1942-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-11-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-11-2

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1942-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a program for a concert put on by Harbord Collegiate Institute's Choral Society and Orchestra (1942), an invitation for Mrs. Sheva Stern (1949), an Israel Histradut Campaign brochure documenting an address delivered by Thomas Douglas at its annual banquet (1954), a copy of the journal Jewish Women's Forum (1995) and an order form for the book Passionate Pioneers (2010).

Descriptive Notes: Language note: English and Yiddish.

Source: Archival Accessions

Pardes Chaim Cemetery [textual record] – 2010.

Accession Number: 2010-11-13

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-11-13

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 2010

Scope and Content: This accession consists of records relating to the community openeing of the Pardes Chaim Cemetery. The records include an invitation, a program, a pamphlet for the Pardes Shalom Memorial Garden as well as a speech by Sid Freedman, founder and honourary life president of the THMP and one by Bill Draimin, its current president.

Custodial History: The records were in the custody of Howard Mamon, Toronto Hebrew Memorial Park's current Executive Director.

Administrative History: Pardes Chaim Cemetery is the second cemetery established in the Greater Toronto Area by the Toronto Hebrew Memorial Park. The THMP was established in 1972 by Sid Freedman when he gifted property bought in 1970 to the Jewish community for use as the Pardes Shalom Cemetery. Collective ownership by the community which it serves has ensured that the cemetery will never be in danger of abandonement or dereliction. The THMP Board of Directors now governs two cemeteries, Pardes Shalom and Pardes Chaim, which was opened on 10 October 2010.

Source: Archival Accessions

Iakov Kreinine [graphic material, textual record, object] – [ca. 1943] - 2010.

Accession Number: 2010-11-17

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-11-17

Material Format: graphic material; textual record; object

Physical Description: 2 photographs : col. ; 10 x 15 cm and 11 x 9 cm and other material

Date: [ca. 1943] - 2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs, textual records and military medals and pins that document Iakov's experience serving in the Soviet Union's military during the Second World War. Included is a photograph of Iakov receiving a medal from the Russian Minister of Infrastructure to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the end of the war (1995), a photocopy of a docment certifying that he fought in the war, several thank you cards from the Russian president and the Russian Consulate to commemorate various anniversaries since the end of the war, a certificate documenting the battles Iakov fought in, newspaper clippings of articles written by Iakov about the war, and one photograph of Iakov at the Vaughan Community Center in Toronto with his English language classmates (2000). Also included is one CCCP Red Star pin, one medal to commemorate the 65th anniversary since the end of the war, and one military rank pin.

Custodial History: Part of the Russian Jewish War Veterans oral history program.

Descriptive Notes: Physical description note: includes 1 folder of textual records, 1 medal and 2 pins.

Subjects: Soviet Union--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Source: Archival Accessions

Yakov Perlamutrov [graphic material (electronic), textual record (electronic)] – 1943-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-11-21

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-11-21

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 3 photographs (tiff); 5 cm of texual records (jpg)

Date: 1943-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs and textual records that document Yakov's experience in the Red Army during the Second World War. Included is a photograph of Yakov in uniform with his family, Yakov's graduation portrait from pharmacy school (1951), and a photograph of Yakov's father (Gregory) in his military uniform, which he sent home from his military base in Lithuania (1944). Also included are various credential cards for medals Yakov received and a letter that was sent to Yakov from Toronto's Russian consulate.

Administrative History: When the Seond World War began, Yakov lived in Odessa and assisted the Soviet Union's war effort by digging trenches. His army unit was mobilized in 1943, just after he graduated from military college. After serving for three months, he was wounded in an attack. He recovered from his wounds and went on to fight in northern Donetsk and Dneper. His unit also passed the Kharkov and Poltavskaya regions. After his unit forced the crossing of Dneper, the Khrushchev got involved and transported the army to Kiev, where they were supported by the 209 Armoured Brigade. Here, Yakov's unit sometimes experienced up to twenty bombing and shooting attacks per day. During these attacks, Yakov was wounded twice in his legs. First, a bullet hit his leg and then a mine exploded. He still has shrapnel in his legs from this explosion.

Descriptive Notes: Language note: Russian; Location of originals: The originals are in the possession of the donor. They were loaned to the archives for copying and returned to the donor the same day as part of the Russian Jewish war veteran oral history program.

Subjects: Soviet Union--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Places: Soviet Union

Source: Archival Accessions

Shlomo Mushkat [graphic material (electronic), textual record (electronic)] – 1942, 2005-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-12-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-12-5

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 2 photographs (jpg and tiff) : col. and sepia; 2 textual records (jpg)

Date: 1942, 2005-2010

Scope and Content: This accession consists of digital copies of two photographs and two documents related to the military career of Russian war vet, Shlomo Mushkat. The photographs are two portaits of Mushkat in military dress and the documents are a letter detailing his participation in the war as well as a letter from the Ukrainian Embassy on the 65th anniversary of the end of the war.

Custodial History: The original records are in the possession of the donor. They were loaned to the Archives for copying as part of the Russian Jewish War Vet oral history program.

Administrative History: Shlomo Zalmanovich Mushkat was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 1940, he was drafted into the Soviet Army and a year later he was sent to the front. He was wounded in battle in 1941, but after recuperating in hospital was again sent back to the front. He participated in the battles of Smolensk and Leningrad. He received many medals for liberating Russian territories and cities, inlcuidng the Order of Glory.

Subjects: World War, 1939-1945; Soviet Union--Armed Forces

Source: Archival Accessions

Miriam Beckerman interview [sound recording] – 22 June 2010.

Accession Number: 2010-12-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-12-6

Material Format: sound recording

Physical Description: 1 audio cassette

Date: 22 June 2010

Scope and Content: This accession consists of one audio cassette of an inteview with Yiddish translator, Miriam Beckerman. The interivew was conducted by Myrna Levy of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto). There is an accompanying transcript attached to the accession record.

Administrative History: Miriam Beckerman (nee Dashkin) is a Yiddish literature translator. She attended the Farband Folkshule in Toronto during the 1930s and later worked as a bilingual secretary (Yiddish and English) at the Ontario region, Canadian Jewish Congress. In 1946, she travelled to Israel where she met her husband, Moshe Beckerman, at a kibbutz. The couple and their children emigrated from Israel to Toronto in 1952.; Beckerman continues to work as a Yiddish translator for individuals, scholars and institutions. She has a number of published translations, including her recent collaborative work "A Thousand Threads: a story through Yiddish letters." Her work has been recognized by the Dora Teitelboim Foundation of Coral Gables, Florida. Her husband Moshe passed away in 1993.

Source: Archival Accessions

Al Gilbert [graphic material] – 1970-2010.

Accession Number: 2010-12-13

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-12-13

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 44 photographs : b&w and col. (22 jpgs) ; 41 x 51 cm and 300 dpi

Date: 1970-2010

Scope and Content: The records in this accession include 22 portrait prints and the corresponding digital images taken by photographer, Al Gilbert. These photographs document prominent Toronto figures including: Jalyn Bennett, Rudy Bratty, Michael Lee Chin, Archbishop Thomas Collins, Dr. James E. Cruise, Dominic D'Allesandro, Eric Exton, Julian Fantino, Saul Feldberg, Lloyd Fogler, Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Harry Gorman, Ben and Hilda Katz, Medhat Mahdy, Rabbi David Monson, Dr. Nancy Olivieri, Rabbi Gunther Plaut, Rabbi Erwin Schild, Judy Sgro, John Tory, Bill Wen, and Joyce Weiland.

Administrative History: Nachman (Nathan) Gittelmacher was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1898, the son of Shloima and Mattie Gittelmacher. Suffering terribly during the pogroms of 1918 and 1920, he fled from place to place and then emigrated to Canada in 1921. Trained as a photographer in Europe, he opened his own photography studio in Toronto in 1922, called Elite Studios. First located at 513 Queen Street West, he soon moved to 615 Queen Street West. Nathan serviced a largely Jewish clientele, photographing weddings, bar mitzvahs, as well as Jewish community events.; Nathan was married to Nina Sokoloff and they had three sons and a daughter: Louis (Lou), Albert (Al), Jack, and Ruth.; During the early 1940s, the family legally changed their name from Gittelmacher to Gilbert and subsequently altered the name of the business to Gilbert Studios. When Nathan moved to the United States, Al, who had been working there since a young age, took over the business and under his management it thrived. In order to accommodate his growing clientele, he moved the studio to Eglinton Avenue and later to 170 Davenport Road, where it is situated today.; Al made a name for himself as a portrait photographer, using natural light in innovative ways to create more natural looking portraits. Al’s primary work involved producing portraits of families, weddings, bar mitzvahs, special events and dinners. Most of his early clients were from the Jewish community. In turn, he also was paid to produce portraits of local entrepreneurs, and his multi-year contract with the city, gave him sole responsibility for the production of portraits of the mayors and councilmen and women. He later branched out beyond the Jewish community, and began to produce images of businessmen and leaders from the Italian community in Toronto.; In addition to the paid contracts involving local personalities and groups, Al Gilbert has also produced many artistic portraits of local, national and international celebrities, artists and leaders such as: Wayne and Shuster, Howie Mandel, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robertson Davies, several Canadian prime ministers as well as Prince Charles, all of the Israeli prime ministers, which were made into stamps by the Israeli government, and finally, the last Pope. Gilbert’s work therefore captures a huge range of individuals from the ordinary bride to extraordinary world leaders.; Al has won many awards as well as accolades from his peers throughout his career. He is the three-time recipient of the prestigious Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) Photographer of the year honour. He has been named Fellow of the photographic societies in Canada, Britain and the United States. In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Canada. In January 2007, the Professional Photographers of America presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is the highest honor PPA can bestow on a person for their body of work and influence on professional photography.

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

Source: Archival Accessions

Yeugeny and Sima Vesyoly [graphic material (electronic), textual record (electronic)] – 1945-2010.

Accession Number: 2011-3-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-3-6

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 6 photographs (electronic) : b&w and col. ; 28 MB; 3 textual records (electronic) ; 13 MB

Date: 1945-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of electronic copies of photographs and textual records related to the Vesyoly's service with the Soviet army during the Second World War. There are also photocopies of a newspaper article and other documents detailing their military service attached to the accesssion form.

Administrative History: Yeugeny was born in Gomel Region, Belarus. He moved to Canada in 1981 with his wife, Sima. At the start of the Second World War, Sima was working in a hospital in Belarus as a civilian. She was drafted in 1943 at the age of nineteen and went to the Third Belarusian Front and served in Berlin and both North and South Korea as a nurse to Japanese prisoners.; Yuegeny was eighteen years of age at the start of the war and served in the air force in the Normandy Regiment and at the Ukrainian Front. He worked as a mechanic on the planes returning from battle. After the end of the war, Stalin sold the Soviet planes to the Chinese and Yeugeny tought their pilots how to operate them. He served for twenty-five years in the Soviet military.

Subjects: Soviet Union--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Source: Archival Accessions

Avgust Vikhnina [graphic material (electronic)] – 1950-2010.

Accession Number: 2011-3-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-3-3

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 8 photographs (electronic) : b&w and col. ; 90 MB

Date: 1950-2010

Scope and Content: Accession consists of eight electronic copies of original photographs of Avgust Vikhnina. The photos relate to his career in the Soviet military during the Second World War. The photographs consist of one portrait of Avgust in military dress, several snapshots taken at a Moscow parade in commemoration of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the end of the war, as well as snapshots taken at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa.

Custodial History: Photographs were loaned for copying as part of the Russian Jewish War Veterans oral history project. Originals were returned to donor.

Administrative History: Avgust Vikhnina was born in Kharkov, in 1926. He was 15 when the war began and was drafted in 1943. Vikhnina served in the Artillery and fought in the Ukraine, Pribaltika and Prussia. He was decorated with the Order of Patriotic War First Class, the Medal for Valour, and the Medal for Combat Merits.

Subjects: Soviet Union--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Source: Archival Accessions

Bill Gladstone [textual record, graphic material] – [ca. 1950]–2011.

Accession Number: 2011-6-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-6-3

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 45 cm of textual records and graphic material

Date: [ca. 1950]–2011

Scope and Content: Accession consists of the records created and collected by Bill Gladstone during the course of his research for a book, The History of the Jewish Community of London Ontario from the 1850s to the Present Day. The book was commissioned by the Rubinoff family. The records document several long-standing families of the London Jewish community, as well as business and religious and social institutions. Included are vital statistics, correpsondence, demographic reports and surveys, photographs, and other related material.

Administrative History: Bill Gladstone is a researcher, writer and genealogist living in Toronto. He has written and edited numerous books on Canadian Jewish history and is a frequent contributor to the Canadian Jewish News, the Globe and Mail and other publications. He is often asked to give community presentations on a variety of topics related to the history of Jewish Toronto.

Use Conditions: Copyright for original written work and photographs is maintained by the donor. Permission is granted to the OJA for use of photographs with proper credit.

Source: Archival Accessions

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Corporate Affairs [textual record, moving images] – [199-]-[2010].

Accession Number: 2011-8-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-8-6

Material Format: textual record; moving images

Physical Description: 4.2 m of textual records; 8 DVDs

Date: [199-]-[2010]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to the legal operations and activities of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto during the 1990s and the 2000s. Records relate to a number of key events and institutions, including the legal reorganization of UJA Federation. There is no discernable order to the way in which the files have been arranged in the box. Each file is labelled with the title of the agency, organization or event to which it pertains. The files largely consist of correspondence and legal documents but they also contain reports, trial transcripts, financial records and a few DVDs titled: Rally For Sderot, Stand with Israel - UJA Israel Emergency campaign 2007, Israel Emergency Campaign Launch 2007, Hezbollah Terror Conflict, Rally for Truth, Light & Freedom, The Big Ideas Forum, Remembering Israel's MIA's Nov. 21/07, and Antisemitism in Canada.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Mark Anshan, legal counsel for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, prior to him vacating this position in August 2011.

Use Conditions: UJA Federation meeting minutes and general correspondence are closed for 10 years from date of creation. Contracts and donor agreements are permanently closed.

Name Access: UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Source: Archival Accessions

Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto [multiple media] – 1982-2011.

Accession Number: 2011-10-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-10-1

Material Format: multiple media

Physical Description: 2 m of textual records and other material

Date: 1982-2011

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the activities and the membership of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto. Included are meeting minutes, agendas, newsletters, program and event materials, slides, and audio-visual materials documenting Guild events.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Harriet Liebman, the Guild's archivist. They were donated to the archives by the immediate past president, Rikki Blitt.

Administrative History: The Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles was formed in 1982 for those interested in studying and creating textile art and needlework based on Jewish themes. The Guild charges a yearly membership, which supports its programming, exhibits, and newsletter entitled "The Pomegramme".

Use Conditions: Full citation crediting the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto must appear in all publications alongside the OJA's required caption.

Descriptive Notes: PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Includes approx. 500 slides (col.), 5 VHS, 1 DVD, 1 audio cassette.

Subjects: Arts

Name Access: Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto

Source: Archival Accessions