Accession Number

1993-1-9

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1938-[ca.1980]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Goel Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto. Included are a script of a sisterhood play; copies of the religious-school newsletter Keren Ami; a program for Beth Tzedec's First Congregational (1955); a certificate for charter members of the North Toronto YMHA awarded to the law firm of Singer and Kert; a Young Judaea publication The Leader (1938), which includes a prize-winning address by Shelton Kert; and a menu from Old Ed's, one of Ed Mirvish's restaurants.

Administrative History

The Singer and Kert law partnership lasted from 1920-1965. Joseph Singer was a gold metalist at Osgoode Hall in 1911. He was the first Jewish Controller in Toronto, and legal adviser to the Primrose Club. At the time of his death in 1967 he had practiced law for 56 years.

Lawrence Kert helped organize the Associated Hebrew Schools and the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. He was on the board of Goel Tzedec Synagogue. When he passed away in 1976 he had been a lawyer for 56 years.

Name Access

Kert, Sheldon

Kert, Lawrence

Singer, Joseph

Goel Tzedec Synagogue

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Gordon Mendly fonds

Events and organizations series

B'nai Brith lodges sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

18

Series

3-1

File

14

Material Format

graphic material

Date

17 Apr.1966

Physical Description

9 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of images taken at the B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge installation of officers banquet, held at Beth Tzedec Synagogue. The images depict a number of members accepting awards and plaques, speakers at the podium, as well as several images of lodge members and invited guests.

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Part Of

Gordon Mendly fonds

Events and organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

18

Series

3

File

49

Material Format

graphic material

Date

9 Sep. 1963

Physical Description

5 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of five images taken at the opening banquet for the thirteenth annual State of Israel Bonds drive. The banquet was held at Beth Tzedec Synagogue. The images include individuals seated around banquet tables and at the head table, and speakers at the podium. The banner behind the head table reads: build a better Israel with Israel Bonds in the bar mitzvah year.

Item 1: The woman seated on the far right facing the camera at the centre banquet table is Bertha Kaplan, who for many years was the treasurer at Adath Israel Synagogue.

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2018-1-9

Material Format

textual record

sound recording

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

1 audio cassette

Date

1960-1997

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to Gordon Kushner's activities as music director of Beth Tzedec Congregation. The accession includes Kushner's compositions for V'al Kulam (1982), Mi Sheberach (1983), and Tikanta (1987) along with a collection of compositions by Srul Irving Glick, Paul Kowarsky, and Sid Robinovitch. Of particular note is a composition commissioned by the Canadian Jewish Congress for the Jewish Music Festival 1960. Recordings of selections from Robonvitch's compositions are included in an audio cassette. Also included are correspondence, meeting minutes, repertoire and music lists, and choir membership lists, and program books related to the activities of the Beth Tzedec choir and its performances, such as its participation in various Jewish music festivals. In addition, there are records related to Mel Sach's resignation from the Toronto Jewish Cultural Council as program coordinator; bulletins of Beth Tzedec Congregation, and Jewish Music Committee meeting minutes.

Administrative History

Gordon Kushner (1916-2007) was the music director of the Beth Tzedec Congregation (previously Goel Tzedec) in Toronto from 1948 to 1999. Born in Winnipeg, Kushner trained as a pianist under Gwendda Owen Davies and appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 1940. After serving as a bandsman in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, he resumed his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto under John Weinzweig in theory and conducting in 1946. As music director for Beth Tzedec Congregation, he composed several choral compositions for the synagogue and coordinated the Beth Tzedec Choir's participation in various concerts and events across Toronto, including the Jewish Music Festival sponsored by the Music Committee of the Toronto Jewish Cultural Council of Toronto Jewish Congress. Kushner was active in the cultural activities of the Toronto Jewish community. He was a member of the education and cultural committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1950 and became co-chair of the central region music committee in 1967. Kushner was also a music educator and during the 1960s taught at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music Summer School, which he became director of in 1969. He served as the Principal and Vice-Principal of the Royal Conservatory of Music from 1978 to 1991.

Subjects

Music festivals

Synagogue music

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Kushner, Gordon, 1916-2007

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-11-5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material (electronic)

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

285 MB of photographs and textual records

Date

[188-]-2018

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the From Latkes to Laffa exhibition that was held at Beth Tzedec Congregation in 2017. Included are textual records organized into the following files: Planning, Introduction, The Ward, Kensington, Eglinton, Dairy/bagels, Delis, Kosher, and New trends. There are two additional files without names that contain additional material related to the exhibition. Also included are electronic records, primarily graphic, that relate to the exhibition. The latter have been organized into two folders: Photographs and USB.

Administrative History

From Latkes to Laffas was an exhibition at Beth Tzedec Congregation's Reuben & Helene Dennis Museum that explored the history of Toronto's Jewish restaurants. The exhibition opened on Wednesday the 6 September 2017.

Descriptive Notes

Source of supplied title proper: Title based on a label on the side of the binder.

Subjects

Ethnic restaurants

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Rothstein, Gella

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Level

Item

Item

4215

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists.

Name Access

Ben-Gurion, David, 1886-1973

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Prime ministers--Israel

Synagogues

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-1-6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4216

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists.

Name Access

Ben-Gurion, David, 1886-1973

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Prime ministers--Israel

Synagogues

Accession Number

1986-1-6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4217

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists.

Name Access

Ben-Gurion, David, 1886-1973

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Prime ministers--Israel

Synagogues

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-1-6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

2355

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1 Jun. 1965

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Possibly taken at Beth Tzedec.

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists.

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Smith, Mr.

United Jewish Appeal

Sugar, Mrs. David

Subjects

Awards

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1956-1978

Physical Description

447 photographs : b&w and col. (392 negatives) ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Negev dinners were established in 1948, coinciding with the creation of the State of Israel, as an annual fundraising dinner. The Jewish National Fund hosted these annual dinners in honour of a leading Canadian citizen, and the proceeds from the dinners were used to establish JNF projects in Israel in the name of the honouree. The JNF projects have, and continue to do so today, raised money to purchase land in Israel's Negev desert and for re-forestation efforts.

The annual dinner was dedicated to a member of the Toronto Jewish community, who had demonstrated outstanding support and commitment to the Community and to the State of Israel. In honour of this individual's contributions, the secured land in Negev was named after them. The honourary guests were presented with awards of appreciation from members of the Canadian and International Jewish community, often including delegates from Israel. The dinners were attended by prominent members of Toronto's Jewish community, including politicians, business men, and philanthropists.

Each subsequent dinner became larger and more successful in its aim to raise funds for Israel, as a result this event soon became the most significant Jewish event in Toronto. As well, it was also the largest annual kosher meal served in Toronto.

The JNF produced an annual Negev Dinner yearbook, commemorating the event, and documenting both the lives of the honouree's family and the current activities of the JNF. As well, the names of individuals who donated money for the JNF projects were recorded in the Souvenir books under patrons and sponsors of the dinners.

Scope and Content

Series consists of negatives taken by Al Gilbert documenting eight Negev Dinners hosted by the Jewish National Fund. The images depict the various activities undertaken at these dinners including: the procession and introduction of the head table guests, the presentation of awards, speeches, toasts, presentation of flowers to the honouree or the wife of the honouree, and the entertainment. The majority of the negatives are portraits taken of the guests posing with the honouree and his or her family. One dinner in this series was dedicated to the Toronto Jewish Community (1956) on the year of its centenary, while the others are in honour of one significant member of the community.

There were Negev dinners held across Canada; however, the dinners in this series were all held in Toronto and were primarily attended by members of the Toronto Jewish community. The honourees documented in this series include: 1956, Toronto Jewish Community; 1966, Bert Godfrey; 1967, Nathan Silver; 1968, Phil Givens; 1970, Leon E. Weinstein; 1973, Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker; 1974, Phil Granovsky; 1978, Eric and Esther Exton.

Notes

Selection for this series reflects the various activities of the Negev dinners, including: speeches, toasts, award presentations, dinner tables, introductions, honourees, entertainment and presentation of flowers. In addition, we selected a sample of images documenting the dinner tables and guests who were not part of the evening's programme, and therefore, would not be captured in the aforementioned criteria.

Name Access

Negev

Jewish National Fund

Godfrey, Bert

Silver, Nathan

Givens, Phil

Weinstein, Leon E.

Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John G.

Granovsky, Phil

Exton, Eric

Exton, Esther

Subjects

Awards

Dinners and dining

Fund raising

Arrangement

Series has been arranged into files representing each annual dinner.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941-1978]

Physical Description

56 negatives : b&w, 1 col. ; 18 x 13 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Al Gilbert was born on November 18, 1922 in Toronto. His father Nathan Gittelmacher [Gilbert] owned a photography studio, called Elite Studios, where Al began to learn the photography trade. Al went to Central Technical High School for commercial art and started working at his father's store after he graduated at the age of 19. Al returned to school as an adult and earned his Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsmen degree from the Professional Photographers of America.

Al took over Gilbert Studios and moved to a larger location on Eglinton Street and then later to Davenport Road. Al married, and he and his wife Gail had two children named Nina and Michael.

Al began his career following in the tradition of his father photographing weddings and other significant events in the community. However, he also expanded his repertoire to include series of portraits documenting different cultural and religious groups. While still making a name for himself, Al arranged a deal with a local radio station -- CKEY -- that had a promotional programme called Club 580. The programme was designed to draw music celebrities down to an auditorium where school kids would get the chance to see them. He approached the station, asking if he could photograph these musicians, and in exchange, provide the station with picture postcards depicting the musicians. Some of the entertainers he photographed during this period included: Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. One of his most personally significant series documents all of Israel's Prime Ministers starting in 1959 with David Ben Gurion up until the late 1990s. Most recently, Al finished a series of portraits depicting prominent Italian Canadian men and women.

One of Al Gilbert's photographic influences was George Hurrell, whose portraits of Hollywood movie starts were backlit with spotlights creating a glamorous effect. In 1943, Gilbert started to introduce some of Hurrell's lighting techniques into his portraits. He was constantly changing the window displays at his store to draw attention to his latest techniques and attract a new clientele. Twenty years later, still fascinated with lighting, Al started using more window lighting and doing outdoor photography; he also perfected the technique of simulating natural light using artificial sources of light.

Al Gilbert built his reputation as a portrait photographer. Due to his innovative style and the prominence of his subjects, Al's work has received much recognition -- he has been given the Canadian Photographer of the Year in 1968, 1969, and 1973 from the Professional Photographers of Canada. He was awarded the Order of Canada and held the Confederate Medal of Canada. In addition, he was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Photographic Industry of America and the International Award from the American Society of Photographers.

Scope and Content

Series consists of portraits taken by Al Gilbert. The portraits depict prominent individuals from the Toronto Jewish community, Jewish clubs, politicians, and several well-known personalities including the comedians Wayne and Shuster.

Notes

All portraits were selected with the exception of duplicates and portraits where the issue of ownership remains unresolved because the photographer is unknown.

Name Access

Wayne & Shuster

Hurvitz, Rabbi

Hennick, Nat

Posluns

Kayfetz, Carl

Sterling, Bob

Van Der Hout, Victor

Goodman, Eddy

Greenberg, David

Kay, Jimmy

Hall, Robert

Shopsowitz, Sam

Lockshin, Lou

Topper, Harry

Drevnick,Bill

Givens, Phil

Silver, Nathan

Tanenbaum, Wayne

Orliffe, Herbert

Leslie, Dr. Harold

Herman, Woody

Waxman, Al

Wayne, Johnny

Shuster, Frank

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

38

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Ruth and Bert Godfrey being introduced at the Negev dinner held in his honour. Standing behind the couple from left to right are: Phil & Min Givens, Rabbi David Monson, Manny Rotman, 2 unidentified guests and Mr. & Mrs. Sam Shainhouse.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Godfrey, Ruth

Godfrey, Bert, 1908-2006

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Monson, David, 1917-2008

Rotman, Manny

Shainhouse, Sam

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

47

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

48

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Godfrey, Bert, 1908-2006

Givens, Phil

Rosenberg, Stuart E., 1922-1990

Hayman, Mrs.

Rosenberg, Hadassah

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Allen, Wm. R.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Leon Weinstein speaking at the Negev dinner held in honour of Phil Givens. Seated at the head table from left to right are: Min Givens, Phil Givens, Leon Weinstein (at podium), Anne Weinstein, Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg, and Hadassah Rosenberg.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Rosenberg, Rabbi Stuart

Rosenberg, Hadassah

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

Weinstein, Leon

Weinstein, Anne

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

18

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Phil Givens giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in his honour. Min Givens is sitting beside him.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

19

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Philip G. Givens giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in his honour. Min Givens is seated beside him.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

32

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allen

Jewish National Fund

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

34

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Weinstein, Leon

Exton, Eric

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

42

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Min Givens receiving flowers from Charles Kent at the Negev dinner held in her husband's, Philip Givens, honour. Philip Givens is seating in front.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Kent, Charles

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

43

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Phil Givens waving to guests at the Negev dinner held in his honour. Standing beside him to the left is Min Givens, and behind the podium is Charles Kent.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Kent, Charles

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

44

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Nat Silver giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in honour of Philip G. Givens. Nat Silver was a part of the evening's programme providing a presentation of the Jewish National Fund Foundation Projects.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Silver, Nat

Givens, Phil

Jewish National Fund

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

45

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Kent, Charles

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

47

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

49

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Rabbi Rosenberg speaking at the Negev dinner held in honour of Phil Givens. Rabbi Rosenberg was on the programme as a guest speaker.

Name Access

Rosenberg, Rabbi Stuart

Givens, Phil

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

The Shuls Project fonds

Reference series

Level

File

Fonds

64

Series

5

File

76

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Date

1955-[ca. 1965]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : col. ; 17 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

File contains an information brochure, a colour photograph in a cardboard folio, and copied pages from the 1955 dedication programme.

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Synagogues

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ellis I. and Fanny Shapiro fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

94

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1961

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 16 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait photograph of Ellis I. Shapiro. The photograph is attached to the inside cover of a United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto annual president's report (1961). The UJWF annual meeting honoured Ellis I. Shapiro.

Name Access

B'nai B'rith

Shapiro, Ellis I.

Northwood Golf and Country Club

Primrose Club

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Canadian Jewish Congress

Jewish Camp Council of Toronto

YM-YWHA

United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto

UJWF

United Jewish Appeal

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

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

Accession Number

2005-8-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

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.

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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