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
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
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
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
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
Accession Number
2014-10-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2014-10-3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
40 cm textual records
ca. 50 photographs
Date
1940-2012
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records of Canadian Young Judaea. Records include correspondence, camp committee meeting minutes, camp committee and staff lists, the CYJ constitution, organizational newsletters, donation lists, flyers and camp reunion ephemera. Records also include clippings and reproductions from the Zionist Archives, and Camp Solelim photographs, as well as publications from other Jewish organizations.
Administrative History
Canadian Young Judaea was founded in 1909 as a Zionist movement for Canadian youth by members of the Herzl Zion Club. As a Zionist organization, Young Judaea continues to be committed to fostering a sense of Jewish identity and values in today's Jewish youth and to encouraging a lifelong commitment to Israel. In order to foster a closer connection to Israel, Canadian Young Judaea employs educational Shlichim from Israel who are posted to various Jewish communities throughout Canada and to offices at the national level in Toronto Young Judaea also operates several Zionist summer camps located in each region of Canada, and a summer leadership institute called Camp Biluim in Quebec. In addition to the social programme of the organization, Young Judaea also offers educational seminars and conferences.
Use Conditions
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
Descriptive Notes
Access restriction note: Files contain personal information of donors, campers, committee members and applicants for subsidies.
Subjects
Camps
Youth
Zionism
Name Access
Canadian Young Judaea
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2015-8-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2015-8-7
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
ca. 70 cm of textual records and other material
Date
1928-2013
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the activities of Ben Zion Shapiro and his family. The bulk of the records document the Shapiro family's involvement in Young Judaea. The Young Judaea material includes: yearbooks, photographs, correspondence, meeting minutes, event programmes, song books, newsletters, and two Camp Biluim flags made by Bunny Shapiro. One flag contains Camp Biluim's crest (1951) and the other one was created for Camp Biluim's colour war and contains the text "We will try and we will succeed Camp Biluim" (1954?). Also included is a VHS tape containing a copy of the Toronto Zionist Council's video about Camp Shalom (1991?). Of note are minute books maintained by Roy Shapiro for the Toronto Young Judaea Administrative Board (1928-1934) and for the Leadership Club (1940-1948).
Accession also contains material relating to Roy and Ben Zion's involvement with the following organizations: the Coordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (Circle of Care), B'nai Israel Beth David Congregation, Beth Tzedec's Mispacha Program, Beth Tzedec's Israel Action Program, Congregation Beth Haminyan, and Holy Blossom Temple's Department for Jewish Living. These records include, minutes, correspondence, newsletters and publications, evaluation reports and other reports. Also included is a demographic report entitied "Rapid Growth and Transformation: Demographic Challenges Facing the Jewish Community of Greater Toronto" (1995), material from a conference at the University of Toronto on the university's partnership with Israel, CHAT alumni directories, and a CHAT book entitled, "Voices: Jewish Teens of the 90's". Of note are buttons, photographs, reports and correspondence documenting Bunny and Ben Zion's trip to the Soviet Union on behalf of the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry.
Finally accession includes material documenting family activities of the Shapiro and Sherman family. Included is a transcript of Bessie Sherman telling her life story (1978), haggadot, PowerPoint presentations created by Ben Zion for his grandchildren and for a family reunion outlining the family history of his family and Bunny's family. There is also a video of Ben Zion presenting his PowerPoint at the Michalski / Cohen family reunion. Also included are family films and videos containing footage of Bunny and Ben Zion's wedding and honeymoon, Camp Biluim, Young Judaea events, Bunny on Machon, family wedding anniversaries and birthday parties, trips to Israel, the United States, and Europe as well as footage of the Cousin's Club. Also included is a VHS tape containing a recorded segment from CityPulse News featuring the family's Pesach festivities in 1995.
Photo identification: Back row, left to right: Ray Markus, Michelle Landsberg, Menachem ?, Frank Narrol. Front row, left to right: Gilda Mitchell, Bunny Shapiro, BenZion Shapiro, Malka Rabinowitz.
Administrative History
Ben Zion Shapiro was born in Toronto in 1931 to Roy Shapiro and Beck Shapiro (née Cohen). He has a younger brother, Morden "Mort" Shapiro (b. 1940). His father worked as an office manager at Rotstein Furniture and Maple Leaf Cleaners, and his mother worked as a legal secretary until marriage. Roy was active in a number of organizations including: Young Judaea, Sons of Jacob Society, Toronto Camera Club, a founding member of Beth David Synagogue, Coordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (Circle of Care) and president of the Association of Jewish Seniors. Beck was active in Young Judaea and Pioneer Women (president of the Golda Meir Club).
Ben Zion received a master of social work degree from the University of Toronto and attended the Jewish Agency Institute for Youth Leaders from Abroad in Jerusalem (1951-1952). He has worked for a number of organizations throughout his career, including: Young Judaea (he was director of both Camp Shalom [1962-1969] and Camp Biluim [1954-1956]), B'nai Brith Youth Organization, University Settlement, St. Christopher's House and director of the Novomeysky Centre in Jerusalem (1957-1961). He was also professor and associate dean of social work at the University of Toronto and three times visiting professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Ben married Bunny "Bernice" Shaprio in 1955. Bunny was born in 1934 in Noranda, Quebec to Irving Sherman and Bessie (née Consky). Bunny attended public school in Noranda, Noranda High School and Forest Hill Collegiate in Toronto, University of Toronto (BA), the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (M.Ed. in special education), and the Jewish Agency Institute for Jewish Leaders from Abroad (1952-1953).
Bunny graduated from the first Camp Biluim Institute for leadership training in 1951 and worked with Ben Zion at Camp Shalom as Camp Mother in 1962 and from 1964-1969. She also worked at Camp Biluim from 1955-1956. In 1983, Bunny and Ben Zion went to the Soviet Union to visit refuseniks on behalf of the Soviet Jewry Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region.
Bunny and Ben have two children: Ayala and Ilan. Since Ben Zion's retirement in 1996, he and Bunny have been living in Jerusalem for half of each year. In 2015, they moved full-time to Jerusalem.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes ca. 300 photographs (256 tiff), 2 PowerPoint presentations, 1 textual record (doc), 4 buttons, 2 flags, 5 VHS tapes, and 18 film reels (8 mm).
Subjects
Camps
Youth
Zionism
Name Access
Shapiro, Ben Zion, 1931-
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-6-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-6-7
Material Format
graphic material (electronic)
Physical Description
48 photographs (jpg) : col.
Date
[Taken in 2017]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of forty-nine photographs taken at the 2017 Pride Parade in Toronto. Rafi Yablonsky, the donor of the photographs, is visible in many of the pictures.
Administrative History
As of June 2019, Rafi Yablonsky was campaign director at the Jewish National Fund of Canada.
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
Gay Pride Day
Jewish sexual minorities
Parades
Name Access
Yablonsky, Rafi
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions