Rabbi David Kirshenbaum [textual record, graphic material, object, text] – 1928-1981.
Accession Number
1981-9-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1981-9-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
text
Physical Description
1.5 m of textual records and graphic material
Text
Artifacts
Date
1928-1981
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the life and career of Rabbi David Kirshenbaum of London, Ontario. Included is material related to Congregation B’nai Moses Ben Judah and Congregation Or Shalom, communal records, minutes, articles, sermons, orations, correspondence, books, periodicals, notes, photographs, scrapbooks, personal and family records and awards. Also included are the following artifacts:
Shochet's knife and sharpening stone. -- [ca. 1925-1960]. -- 1 sharpening stone : stone, black ; 0.8 x 7.5 x 2 cm; 1 knife : metal, gold, black and silver ; 21 cm. This shochet’s chalef (ritual slaughtering knife) and sharpening stone belonged to Rabbi David Kirshenbaum (1903-1981), who served in London, Ontario from the mid 1920s until his retirement in the 1960s. This size of knife, used for poultry, was specially-designed to maximise cleanliness, speed, and efficiency, and minimise pain. During the height of the Jewish markets in the Kensington area, from the 1920s until the 1940s, buyers had the option of paying someone to pluck the chicken’s feathers, or they could bring the animal home and do it themselves.
Pen and pad given to the Zionist Organization of Canada, Central Division 27th Convention.
Ontario Zionist Region conference delegate badge. -- 1 badge : textile, blue and gold ; 10 cm in length. -- A light blue ribbon with a pin at the top saying "Rev Kirshenbaum, London".
Administrative History
Rabbi David Kirshenbaum (1902-1981) was born in Koriw, Poland and came to Canada in 1921. In 1926 he became rabbi of B’nai Moses Ben Judah Congregation in London, Ontario and remained in that position until his retirement in 1966. During his tenure in London he was active in many Jewish organizations including the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Jewish National Fund, the Israel Histadrut Campaign and the Jewish Community Council of London. He was a regular contributor to Yiddish and Anglo-Jewish publications. His articles appeared in the Hebrew Journal, Kanader Adler, Voice of Radom and The Jewish Standard. He was also the author of several books : Our Chassidic Treasuries, What is General Zionism?, Ships at Sea, A Journey to Israel, Mixed Marriages and the Jewish Future, Religion: Love or Hate? and Feast Days and Fast Days. He was also elected to the Board of the Victoria Hospital Trust and served on the University Assembly of the University of Western Ontario.
Rabbi David Kirshenbaum was married to Pearl Kirshenbaum.
MG_RG
MGC 6
Subjects
Rabbis
Name Access
Kirshenbaum, David, 1902-1981
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Lerner and Rosenthal family [graphic material] – [ca. 1900]-1969.
Accession Number
1993-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1993-6-2
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
7 photographs : b&w
Date
[ca. 1900]-1969
Scope and Content
This accession consists of seven copy photographs of the Lerner and Rosenthal family in Woodstock; London, Ontario; and Detroit
Places
London (Ont.)
Woodstock (Ont.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Source
Archival Accessions
London, Ontario [graphic material] – 1953-1983.
Accession Number
2004-5-106
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2004-5-106
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
4 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller
Date
1953-1983
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs documenting the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Tabelle Burns Chapter of Hadassah in London, the goundbreaking ceremony for the London Jewish Community Village, and the community council's fiftieth anniversary. Individuals identified in the photos include future senator Jerry Grafstein and actor Paul Soles.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: Digital reproductions available.
Subjects
Anniversaries
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
London Jewish Community Council (London, Ont.) [textual record] – 1957–1973.
Accession Number
1978-8-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1978-8-7
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1957–1973
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the Jewish community of London, Ontario. Included are a copy of the Constitution of the London Jewish community, a speech form the dedication of the new B'nai Israel Synagogue, a community council report from January 1957, a copy of the Report to the Special Committee for the Study of the London Jewish Community by R. P. Kannee dated 24 April 1973, a 1975–1976 program guide to the Jewish Community Centre of London, and other documents.
MG_RG
MG2 M4
Subjects
Communities
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Leff family [graphic material] – [193-]-1973.
Accession Number
1978-8-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1978-8-10
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
10 photographs : b&w (5 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm and 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Date
[193-]-1973
Scope and Content
Accession consists of four pohtograph of the W. Leff & Co. scrap business in London, Ontario, and one photograph of the Jewish Communty Centre in London, Ontario.
Subjects
Scrap metal industry
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Congregation B’nai Israel, London, anniversary book [textual record] – 1960.
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 22; Item 44
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
Fonds
22
Item
44
Material Format
textual record
Date
1960
Physical Description
1 item
Name Access
B'nai Israel Synagogue, (London, Ont.)
Congregation Or Shalom (London, Ont.)
Subjects
Anniversaries
Synagogues
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Milton Harris congratulates Rabbi David Kirshenbaum (London, ON) [graphic material] – [196-].
Level
Item
ID
Item 4050
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4050
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[196-]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a group of six men dressed in tuxedos. Pictured third from the left is Milton Harris, who is congratulating Rabbi David Kirshenbaum.
Name Access
Kirshenbaum, David, 1902-
Harris, Milton, 1927-2005
Subjects
Businessmen
Portraits, Group
Rabbis
Places
London (Ont.)
Accession Number
1986-8-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Dr. Isadore Goldstick, London, Ontario [graphic material] – [ca. 1960].
Level
Item
ID
Item 770
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
770
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1960]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm
Scope and Content
This item is studio portrait of Dr. Isadore Goldstick, of London, Ontario.
Notes
Acquired in June 1976.
Reproduction restriction note: Copyright owned by Bill Barrett, London. Please credit upon publication.
Name Access
Goldstick, Dr. Isadore
Subjects
Physicians
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.
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Apter Synagogue, 1918-unknown
Address
216 Beverley Street
Source
Landmarks

The Apter Synagogue was formed by a group of people who came to Toronto from the area of Opatow (Apt) in Poland around the turn of the century. They first established a small synagogue on Centre Avenue near Dundas Street in the Ward. In 1918, in anticipation of more Apter immigrants coming to Toronto after the First World War, the synagogue was sold and a larger one purchased on Beverley Street. Both the synagogue members and the Apter Friendly Society met there.
Address
216 Beverley Street
Time Period
1918-unknown
Scope Note
The Apter Synagogue was formed by a group of people who came to Toronto from the area of Opatow (Apt) in Poland around the turn of the century. They first established a small synagogue on Centre Avenue near Dundas Street in the Ward. In 1918, in anticipation of more Apter immigrants coming to Toronto after the First World War, the synagogue was sold and a larger one purchased on Beverley Street. Both the synagogue members and the Apter Friendly Society met there.
History
In later years, a bitter controversy between the synagogue and society erupted and the building was sold.
Category
Political
Religious
Private Clubs
Source
Landmarks
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London Hadassah-WIZO Council [textual record, graphic material, moving images] – 1953-2018.
Accession Number
2019-10-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-10-4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
moving images
Physical Description
ca. 60 cm of textual records and other material
Date
1953-2018
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the London Hadassah-WIZO Council, predominantly under the direction of Patricia Alpert. Included are minutes of council meetings, London Jewish city directories, and a small number of negatives and CD-ROMs. In addition to London activity, the collection also includes communication and direction received from the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO headquarters.
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.
Name Access
Alpert, Patricia Joy, 1931-2001
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
London senior meet [textual record] – 1962.
Part Of
Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
Central Region sous-fonds
Young Judaea series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 28-1; Series 4; File 43
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
Central Region sous-fonds
Young Judaea series
Level
File
Fonds
28-1
Series
4
File
43
Material Format
textual record
Date
1962
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
The file consists of correspondence regarding press and publicity for the conference, Congregation B'Nai Israel hosting the conference and the arrangement of billets and hotel accommodations, and preliminary draft of the schedule.
Subjects
Older people
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Manny Grafstein and Reva Grafstein [graphic material, textual record] – [194-]-2000.
Accession Number
2021-11-28
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-11-28
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
3 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Date
[194-]-2000
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the communal lives of Manny Grafstein and Reva Grafstein of London, Ontario. Included are certificates from B'nai Brith, Hadassah-WIZO, Jewish National Fund, London Jewish Youth Association, and the Canadian Technion Society. Also included are general correspondence related to the London Hadassah-WIZO, a copy of the Jewish Observor detailing the three Grafstein sons enlisted during the Second World War, a London Jewish Directory (1950–1951), a B'nai Brith Digest, newspaper clippings related to the Grafstein family, and three photographs of Al Siegel of B'nai Brith.
Administrative History
Manny Grafstein (1917–1984) was born in London, Ontario, to Max (Melech) W. Grafstein and Rose Grafstein. Max was an author, showman, and proprietor of the London Silk Shoppe. He used to serve as the editor of the Jewish Observor and was a member of the B'nai Israel Congregation. In his youth, Manny and his other two brothers served in Canada's Armed Forces. Later, he became the owner of Manney's Fabric Centre and once served as president of the East London Business Association. He was also an active member of the London Jewish Youth Association and B'nai Brith. Manny married Reva Grafstein (1924–2018), who used to be a communication team member of the London Hadassah-WIZO and the co-ordinator of a clinic at the Jewish Community Centre in London. Manny and Reva had three children together: Norman Grafstein, Karen Grafstein Reiss (Willie Reiss), and Susan Grafstein.
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
Awards
Families
Married people
Places
London (Ont.)
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