Name
Neville and Ruth Sischy
Material Format
moving images
Interview Date
17 Nov. 2016
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Neville and Ruth Sischy
Number
OH 439
Subject
Canada--Emigration and immigration
Jews--South Africa
South Africa--Emigration and immigration
Interview Date
17 Nov. 2016
Interviewer
Miriam Borden
Total Running Time
OH 439 part 1: 37 min.
OH 439 part 2: 7 min.
OH 439 part 3: 7 min.
Biography
Neville and Ruth were born toward the beginning of apartheid rule in South Africa. Indeed, Neville was born the same year the National Party returned to power and formalized the system of apartheid. Because of their young age, Neville and Ruth were largely unaware of the political developments taking place in their country. By the time they left South Africa in the mid-1970s, the government had devolved into a police state. For them, the Canada of Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a welcome contrast to the injustice of apartheid South Africa.
Neville and Ruth grew up in traditional Jewish homes, in which their grandparents spoke Yiddish and were treated with deference. Neville met Ruth while attending medical school in Johannesburg. He was twenty-one at the time; she was eighteen. The two married on the condition that they leave South Africa and, after a positive look-see, came to Canada in 1975. Initially, Neville had trouble finding work as a general practitioner but was eventually able to open a clinic, where he has worked for forty years. Ruth, meanwhile, quickly found work in the nursery department of Holy Blossom Temple, the latter serving as a launching pad for their integration into Canadian society.
Although there were challenges along the way, Neville and Ruth have never regretted their decision to immigrate to Canada. They have four children, all of whom have made friends with the children of their Holy Blossom friends, and hope to see those friendships continue into the third generation.
Material Format
moving images
Language
English
Name Access
Sischy, Neville
Sischy, Ruth
Geographic Access
Benoni (South Africa)
Cape Town (South Africa)
Germiston (South Africa)
Toronto (Ont.)
Vancouver (B.C.)
Original Format
Digital file
Copy Format
Digital file
Transcript
Part 1:
00:35 Ruth discusses her parents' immigration history. Her father came to Benoni, South Africa from Lithuania and Latvia at age fifteen. Her mother came to Cape Town from Lithuania as an infant with her mother.
03:40 Ruth discusses her Jewish home life growing up. Yiddish was the primary language spoken by her grandmothers and between her grandparents and her parents. She describes her parents' home as traditional but not religious.
05:04 Ruth discusses her education. She attended a public school. She describes her brothers' Jewish education. She did not have any formal Jewish education.
05:42 Ruth continues to describe her home life.
06:55 Neville discusses his family's immigration history. His father came from Sveskna, Lithuania to live with an aunt in South Africa at age sixteen in 1927. He eventually bought a men's clothing business in Germiston, where Neville was born. His mother was born in South Africa. His maternal grandfather came to South Africa from Lithuania at the turn of the twentieth century, leaving behind a wife and child. He was able to bring them to Johannesburg, South Africa thirteen years later.
09:23 Neville explains that he lived in Germiston until 1971, when he moved to Johannesburg to go to medical school. He met Ruth while he was attending medical school. He explains that he and Ruth were married knowing they would leave South Africa.
10:29 Neville discusses the factors that contributed to his decision to leave South Africa.
11:49 Neville considered moving to England after he did an elective there during medical school. He explains why he decided to come to Canada instead. Neville discusses the circumstances that led to two of his father's cousins to leave South Africa and come to Canada.
13:24 Neville and Ruth explain why they decided to settle in Toronto rather than Vancouver, their initial destination. Ruth discusses the challenges of leaving her family. She recalls her first Rosh Hashanah in Toronto and how she found comfort from a sense of community.
17:23 Ruth notes that she chose Toronto over Vancouver thinking she would have a greater chance of seeing family. Paradoxically, her family immigrated to Oregon.
18:21 Ruth discusses the reaction of friends and family to their decision to emigrate.
19:12 Neville and Ruth discuss a look-see visit to Canada in 1974. They relate a humorous incident involving trying to get to the Canadian embassy in Rome.
21:04 Ruth describes the homesickness she felt as a new immigrant to Canada. She highlights the poor communication at the time: slow mail; postal strikes; sending mail via Buffalo, New York; expensive and complicated long-distance phone calls.
23:06 Neville discusses some of the challenges he encountered when he first arrived.
24:38 Neville and Ruth discuss the support they received from the Jewish community. They identify support from their colleagues.
26:10 Neville and Ruth explain the factors that directed them to choose their first neighbourhood.
27:12 Ruth discusses her adjustment to Canadian winter.
28:31 Ruth comments on her surprise of being able to practice Judaism openly in Toronto.
30:44 Ruth contrasts open conversations about the Holocaust in Canada with minimal discussion in Johannesburg. Neville discusses the impact of the Holocaust on his family.
32:25 Ruth discusses the role their household staff played in her life in South Africa.
33:11 Neville recounts an anecdote demonstrating the prevalence of domestic help in white South Africa.
34:08 Neville contrasts the oppressive society of South Africa with the open, welcoming Canadian governance and society.
35:11 Neville discusses why the military was glorified in South Africa.
36:02 Ruth discusses her professional career.
Part 2:
00:47 Neville's sister and family and parents immigrated to Canada a year-and-a-half after their arrival. Ruth's family immigrated to the United States.
01:25 Neville and Ruth have four children, all born in Canada.
02:01 Both Neville and Ruth strongly identify as Canadian. Neville recalls he felt Canadian when she took his children to school. Ruth distinguishes between her "childhood life" in Africa and her "adult life" in Canada.
04:16 Ruth explains when and why she returned to South Africa for visits.
05:07 Neville discusses a desire to help young children and families in South Africa.
07:17 Neville notes the similarities between Ruth and his backgrounds (e.g. living with a grandmother, Yiddish spoken in the home).
Part 3:
00:22 Ruth explains why she is grateful for coming to Toronto.
00:47 Neville discusses a social group in Toronto comprised of former Jewish residents from Germiston. He notes that he has a large extended family in Toronto.
01:38 Ruth notes that most of their close friends tend to be South African.
02:01 Neville discusses his cousin, Ben Sischy, who had been a political activist in South Africa.
02:30 Ruth notes her awareness of South African politics became stronger after she immigrated to Canada.
03:15 Neville relates stories about Black medical students in his medical school class.
04:24 Neville and Ruth explain that they visited Israel but did not consider moving there.
04:57 Neville and Ruth discuss their limited involvement with Zionist youth movements and reminisce about fundraising as children for Jewish organizations.
Source
Oral Histories

Loneliness

Basic Human Needs

Two Very Distinct Lives

Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Toronto Holocaust Museum series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 28-22; File 27
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Toronto Holocaust Museum series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
28-22
File
27
Material Format
textual record
Date
1990-1999
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of newsletters of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.
Name Access
Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
Places
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Address
1485 Murphy Rd.
Source
Landmarks

Camp Moshava was founded in 1962 in the Kawartha Lakes Region on Lake Buckhorn. Affiliated with the Zionist youth movement B’nei Akiva, Moshava is one of several camps they operate in North America.
Address
1485 Murphy Rd.
Time Period
1962-present
Scope Note
Camp Moshava was founded in 1962 in the Kawartha Lakes Region on Lake Buckhorn. Affiliated with the Zionist youth movement B’nei Akiva, Moshava is one of several camps they operate in North America.
History
Historically, the primary aim of the movement was to promote avodah, specifically agricultural work in the field and aliyah, migration to Israel. Today, Camp Moshava provides an informal environment for campers to encounter Judaism through programming and observances that promote Torah education, prayer and Zionist ideals.
Category
Camps and Resorts
Source
Landmarks
Part Of
Sammy Luftspring fonds
Sammy Luftspring scrapbook file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 82; File 1; Item 29
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sammy Luftspring fonds
Sammy Luftspring scrapbook file
Level
Item
Fonds
82
File
1
Item
29
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1971
Physical Description
1 photograph : col.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of Sammy Luftspring, Muhammed Ali, and Murray Pezim in Vancouver. Murray Pezim was a Vancouver business person and promoter. He had organized the fight between Muhammad Ali and George Chavulo, the event at which the photograph was taken.
Notes
Image is located on page 29 of the 65 x 48 cm scrapbook.
Name Access
Ali, Muhammad, 1942-2016
Pezim, Murray, 1921-1998
Subjects
Businesspeople
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Places
Vancouver (B.C.)
Accession Number
2009-10-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 25
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
25
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
16 photographs : col. slides, (1) b&w print ; 35 mm and 12 x 9 cm
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 27
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
27
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
12 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 28
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
28
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1977
Physical Description
2 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm
Subjects
Habad
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 29
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
29
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
22 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 30
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
30
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
15 photographs : col. slides, b&w prints (1 negative) ; 35 mm and 12 x 9 cm
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 31
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
31
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1977
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 12 x 9 cm
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 3; File 32
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Western Canada synagogues series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
3
File
32
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 5; File 88
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
5
File
88
Material Format
textual record
Date
1958-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains clippings, research notes and two editions (1971) of The Jewish Western Bulletin.
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 5; File 89
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
5
File
89
Material Format
textual record
architectural drawing
Date
1958, 1971
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
4 architectural drawings
Scope and Content
File contains copied newspaper article, "Congregation Beth Israel - Centre of Conservative Judaism," from the Jewish Western Bulletin, and blueprints from 1971 renovations.
Name Access
Beth Israel Synagogue
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 5; File 91
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
5
File
91
Material Format
textual record
Date
1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains a flyer about the High Holiday services in 1977.
Name Access
Congregation Beth Hamidrash
Subjects
High Holidays
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 64; Series 5; File 92
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
The Shuls Project fonds
Reference series
Level
File
Fonds
64
Series
5
File
92
Material Format
textual record
Date
1957
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains the congregation's constitution and by-laws, adopted 1957.
Name Access
Schara Tzedec Synagogue
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
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 27; Series 1; File 24
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Level
File
Fonds
27
Series
1
File
24
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1940
Physical Description
5 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
5 photographs of the theatre's interior: the lobby, auditorium, dressing room, and airconditioning room.
Notes
Title and creation date based on content of the photographs and inscriptions, and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
Photographer: Leonard Frank Photos.
Name Access
Leonard Frank Photos
Subjects
Theaters
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Places
Vancouver (B.C.)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 27; Series 1; File 25
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Level
File
Fonds
27
Series
1
File
25
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1940
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
2 views of the theatre auditorium.
Notes
Title and creation date based on content of the photographs and inscriptions, and Mandel Sprachman's published Inventory of Kaplan & Sprachman theatre projects (Historic Theatres' Trust Bulletin, Spring-Summer 1996).
Subjects
Theaters
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Places
Vancouver (B.C.)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2022-4-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-4-6
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
64 photographs : b&w and col. ; 13 x 18 cm or smaller
ca. 7 cm of textual records
Date
1940-2014
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Mark Drutz's personal life; educational and professional experience; and his active engagement with Ha Mishpacha, which is one of the earliest gay-Jewish groups in Toronto and was co-founded by him. Included are: sixty-four photographs depicting Mark's personal life; newspaper and magazine clippings documenting the announcement of Mark's birth in 1951, an introduction to Ha Mishpacha (4 Nov. 1977), the assistance that Mark and his mother, Evelyn Quitt, provided for the Preyra family's immigration from India to Canada (1968, 1972, 1996), and Mark's support to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (2014). The accession also includes three yearbooks, two school photographs, certificates, diplomas, and academic records, which document his educational experience; and letters of recommendation, CV, and other documents related to his career and professional activities. Also included are: a newsletter of Ha Mishpacha (Nov. 1977), a divorce certificate of Mark's parents (8 Feb. 1972), and a certifiate of change of his name (28 Mar. 1978).
Administrative History
Mark Drutz is the youngest child of Harold "Hy" Drutz and Evelyn Sandra Drutz (née Quitt). Harold (1913–1998) was born to Phillip (Fyvish) and Annie Drutz of Russia. In 1946, he married Evelyn Quitt (1924–1999), the daughter of Samuel Quitt (1891–?) and Bertha Quitt (1890–1953), also of Russia. They had two children: Paul, who ultimately succumbed to AIDS (1947–1994) and Mark (aka Donald, 1951–). 'Evelyn raised Paul's son, her grandson Ezra Matthew (1975–).
Harold worked in the garment trade as a pattern cutter and also served in the Canadian Medical Corps during the Second World War. He was one of seven children. His siblings were: Meyer, Daniel, Harry (Drue), David, Pauline, and Mollie (Simmons). Evelyn was one of five chidren. Her siblings were: Estelle (Drue - married Harold's brother Harry), Rivka (Smolkin), Gordon (Gerhson), and Beverley (Brown).
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
Families
Sexual minorities
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Vancouver (B.C.)
Source
Archival Accessions