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Simchat Torah rally on Bathurst Street, Toronto [graphic material] – October 6, 1985.

Level: Item

ID: Item 3815

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 3815

Material Format: graphic material

Date: October 6, 1985

Physical Description: 1 photograph

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of a Simchat Torah rally on Bathurst Street.; Left to right: Rabbi L. Englander; Rabbi D. Marmur; Rabbi J. B. Friedberg; Dr. E. Y. Lipsitz.; Background: Mayor Mel Lastman.

Notes: Credit Graphic Artists.

Name Access: Lastman, Mel

Subjects: Mayors

Places: Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number: 1985-10-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

Phil Givens with PM Trudeau [graphic material] – 1968.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Jewish communal series; Canadian Zionist Federation sub-series; Canadian Zionist Federation - Tribute album file

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 51; Series 9-2; File 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Jewish communal series; Canadian Zionist Federation sub-series; Canadian Zionist Federation - Tribute album file

Level: Item

Fonds: 51

Series: 9-2

File: 1

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1968

Physical Description: 1 photograph: b&w ; 21 x 25 cm

Admin History/Bio: William Dennison was Toronto's fifty-fifth mayor. He was in office from 1 January 1967 to 31 December 1972.

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of Phil Givens (left) conversing with Prime Minister Trudeau (centre) and Mayor Dennison during a visit to Toronto's New City Hall during the 1968 federal election.

Name Access: Canada. Prime Minister (1968-1979 : Trudeau)

Subjects: Mayors; Prime ministers--Canada

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

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Louis Borsook and Albert White [graphic material, textual record] – 1983.

Part Of: Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds; Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee series; Photograph collection sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 61; Series 2-2; File 41

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds; Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee series; Photograph collection sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 61

Series: 2-2

File: 41

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Date: 1983

Physical Description: 5 photographs : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm; 0.5 cm of textual records

Scope and Content: This file consists of several photographs of Louis Borsook and Albert White, two original members of the YM-YWHA Executive Committee. The photographs were taken in the Bloor and Spadina branch gymnasium, probably at an event in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Bloor and Spadina building. There is also a small program booklet from the event.

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Philip Givens fonds [multiple media] – [192-]-1990.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds

Level: Fonds

ID: Fonds 51

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds

Level: Fonds

Fonds: 51

Material Format: multiple media

Date: [192-]-1990

Physical Description: 1.35 metres of textual records (20 vols.) and other material

Admin History/Bio: Philip (Phil) Gerald Givens, QC, (1922–1995) was a Canadian politician, judge, police commissioner, and active Jewish communal leader. He is is largely remembered as the fifty-fourth mayor of Toronto.; Phil Givens was born in Toronto, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945. In 1947, he married the former Minnie “Min” Rubin. They had two children together: Eleanor and Michael.; Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949; however, shortly thereafter, he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951, he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a controller.; Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962.; Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals.; Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor, but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture The Archer for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike, because traditional and representational public art pieces were the norm in Toronto at the time and The Archer sculpture was considered expensive, bold, and unrelatable. The controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. Ultimately, the sculpture was purchased with privately solicited donations and has become one of Toronto’s beloved and recognized landmarks.; Givens ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 and 1958 federal elections but was defeated in his bid to become member of Parliament for Spadina. In 1967, Givens entered national politics for the second time, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971, he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Again, running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill. In the 1975 provincial election, he was re-elected as a member of Provincial Parliament in the Armourdale constituency.; In 1977, Givens retired from politics and was appointed as a provincial court judge and chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retired from public life in 1988.; In addition to his political career, Givens also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM.; Givens was an ardent Zionist and a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds, and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chair of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985, he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation. In the 1990s, he served as the national chairman of the Committee for Yiddish of the Canadian Jewish Congress.; Givens was the honouree of the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Dinner in 1968. He received the Human Relations Award from the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1969 and the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith in 1972.; Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Phil Givens until they were donated to the Archives in September 1990 by his wife.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records documenting the personal, professional and communal activities of Phil Givens. The bulk of the material is graphic and most of the photographs relate to his tenure as Mayor of Toronto and to his Jewish communal work. The records also include general correspondence, speeches, campaign material, scrapbooks, cartoons, certificates and awards, biographical writings, audio and visual materials and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series representing Givens’ various roles and activities and have been described to the file level and item level when necessary. These series are: 1. Personal life; 2. City of Toronto Alderman; 3. City of Toronto Controller; 4. City of Toronto Mayor; 5. Metropolitan Toronto Police Commissioner; 6. Provincial politics; 7. National politics; 8. Legal career; 9. Jewish communal service.

Notes: Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 915 photographs, 14 drawings, 1 print, 1 presentation piece, 27 objects, 4 DVD’s, 4 videocassettes and 1 audiocassette.; Physical Extent Note: Fonds was reduced from 5.5 m of records to 2.6 m of records. Please see accession record for further details regarding the records that were culled.; General Note: Previously cited as MG6 B; Associated material note: City of Toronto Archives: “Philip Givens fonds” (fonds 1301) and Series 363, Sub-series 2 “Mayor' Office journals” (fonds 200). Library and Archives Canada: “Correspondence and subjects” series (R4942-1-1-E) in the Stuart E. Rosenberg fonds (R4942-0-X-E); Henry S. Rosenberg fonds (R3946-0-9-E); Jewish National Fund of Canada fonds (R4347-0-1-E), “Subject series: Givens, Judge Philip G. – Toronto” (R4347-7-4-E); “Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports” series (MG31-H67), Zdzislaw Przygoda fonds (R6257-0-0-E) [Sir Casimir Gzowski monument committee records –chaired by Phil Givens]; B'nai Brith Canada fonds (R6348-0-9-E); Canadian Zionist Federation fonds (R9377-0-6-E).

Name Access: Givens, Phillip, 1922-1995; Givens (nee Rubin), Min

Subjects: Law; Politicians

Related Material: See Fonds 2: Benjamin Dunkelman fonds; See Fonds 18: Gordon Mendly fonds; See Fonds 28: Zionist Organization of Canada fonds; See Fonds 37: Gilbert Studios fonds (Negev dinners series, Zionist Building series, Portraits series).

Creator: Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Accession Number: 1990-9-7

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Camp White Pine, 1956-present

Address: 1335 Camp White Pine Ct.

Source: Landmarks

Camp White Pine, a children’s summer camp located in the Haliburton Highlands outside of Toronto was founded by Joe Kronick in 1956. Joe's son, Adam, took over as director of Camp White Pine in 1987. He has run the camp with his wife, Dana, as co-Director since 1990.

Address: 1335 Camp White Pine Ct.

Time Period: 1956-present

Scope Note: Camp White Pine, a children’s summer camp located in the Haliburton Highlands outside of Toronto was founded by Joe Kronick in 1956. Joe's son, Adam, took over as director of Camp White Pine in 1987. He has run the camp with his wife, Dana, as co-Director since 1990.

Category: Camps and Resorts

Source: Landmarks

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Former mayors group photo [graphic material] – 23 Sept. 1981.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; City of Toronto Mayor series; City of Toronto Council sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 51; Series 4-2; File 7

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; City of Toronto Mayor series; City of Toronto Council sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 51

Series: 4-2

File: 7

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 23 Sept. 1981

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of a group portrait of former City of Toronto mayors. Identified is (left to right): William Allan, Allan Lamport, Paul Godfrey (in his capacity as Metro Toronto Chairman), Phil Givens, and David Crombie.

Notes: Photograph is by Boris Spremo of the Toronto Star.

Subjects: Mayors; Portraits, Group

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

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Philip and Carolyn Cowan and family [textual record] – 1978-1995.

Part Of: Cowan family fonds

Level: File

ID: Fonds 102; File 60

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Cowan family fonds

Level: File

Fonds: 102

File: 60

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1978-1995

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Admin History/Bio: Philip Cowan is the only child of Norman and Bertha Cowan. Both he and his wife Carolyn are clinical psychologists in California.

Scope and Content: File consists of a review of an academic book on an aspect of clinical psychology by Phillip, a newsletter with family updates, and wedding invitations for Philip and Carolyn's three children.

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Ex-mercenary aims for country 'uniquely' white [textual record] – 19 Jun. 1991.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; Community Relations Committee series; Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 17; Series 5-3; File 51; Item 6

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; Community Relations Committee series; Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level: Item

Fonds: 17

Series: 5-3

File: 51

Item: 6

Material Format: textual record

Date: 19 Jun. 1991

Physical Description: 1 newspaper clipping

Scope and Content: Item is a newspaper clipping from the 19 June 1991 edition of the Toronto Star about Wolfgange Droege and the neo-Nazi organization Heritage Front. The article was written by Rosie DiManno.

Notes: Availability of other formats: Also available as a PDF file.

Name Access: Droege, Wolfgang, 1949-2005; Heritage Front (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Neo-Nazis

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

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Correspondence about white supremacist event in city of Markham [textual record] – 1998.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 17; Series 2; File 91

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

Fonds: 17

Series: 2

File: 91

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1998

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number: 2005-2-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Harry Culiner interview [sound recording (electronic)] – 1975-[ca. 1982].

Accession Number: 2014-3-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2014-3-2

Material Format: sound recording (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 audio recording : mp3

Date: 1975-[ca. 1982]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one audio recording of an oral history interview conducted by Mike Culiner with his father Harry Culiner. The interview was conducted in San Francisco in the early 1980s. In the interview Harry describes his early life in Russia and in the Russian army, his immigration to Canada and early life here.

Custodial History: The original cassette tapes are in the possession of Jill Culiner, the granddaughter of Harry and niece of Mike. Jill is the daughter of Jack Culiner. She digitized the cassette tape and brought the digitial file into us.

Administrative History: Harry was born around 1885 in Privitnoye (Russia). Around 1904 he went into the Russian army and soon after immigrated to Ontario. He initially worked on the railway in South Porcupine and Cochrane. Around 1918 he moved to St. Catharines and eventually moved from there to the Junction area of Toronto. He opened a menswear shop at 2996 Dundas Street West and lived above the shop. He married Milder Culiner and they had four children together: Alex (b. 1911), Jack (or John) (1913-2013), Norman (b. around 1915), and Mike (b. around 1917). Harry passed away in 1985 or 1986.

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

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada

Name Access: Culiner, Harry

Places: Russia; South Porcupine, Ont.; Cochrane, Ont.; Toronto, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions

Southern African Jewish Association of Canada [textual record] – 1993-1998.

Accession Number: 2018-11-13

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-11-13

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 7 cm of textual records

Date: 1993-1998

Scope and Content: Accession consists of meeting minutes of the Southern African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC). The earliest minutes are from 8 May 1993; the latest minutes are from 12 January 1998.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada

Name Access: Southern African Jewish Association of Canada

Places: Ontario

Source: Archival Accessions

Royal Canadian Legion General Wingate Branch 256 [multiple media] – 1976-2007.

Accession Number: 2017-7-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2017-7-5

Material Format: multiple media

Physical Description: 45 cm of textual records (6 vol.); ca. 1000 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller; 5 drawings; 2 ribbons

Date: 1976-2007

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs and textual records that document the activities of the General Wingate Branch 256 from 1976-2007. Also included in the accession are 6 albums dated 1976, 1984, 1985-1986, 1998-2002, 2002-2004, and 2002-2007.; The album for 1976 consists of material related to the First World Assembly of Jewish War Veterans held in Jerusalem. Included are photographs, correspondence, a contact list for branch officers, executive committee and chaplains for 1976/77, newsclippings and general memorabilia related to the First World Assembly in Israel. Of note is a photograph of Moshe Dayan at a lecture of the First World Assembly and of Ephraim Katzir, Israel's fourth president.; The album for 1984 consists of material related to the unveiling of the Canadian Jewish War Veterans's Cenotaph at Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Toronto. Included are photographs of the Cenotaph, Mt. Sinai cemetery, the annual Remembrance Day parade, newsclippings, drawings and political cartoons. Of note are letters of congratulations from members of Parliament to the General Wingate Branch for their efforts in making the Cenotaph possible.; The album for 1985-1986 consists of material related to the annual memorial service dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives in World War II and in particular the 430 Jewish men and women slain in the Canadian Forces. Included are photographs and newsclippings related to the annual memorial service at Mt. Sinai cemetery, Remembrance Day parade and fundraising events.; The album for 1998-2002 consists of material related to the memorial service dedicated to 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. Included are photographs of the memorial service, articles related the Wingate Branch donations to Baycrest and Sunnybrook Hospitals, the CNE Warrior Day parade, the annual Veterans' seder and poppy campaign and the Jewish military exhibit held at Toronto's Lipa Green Building. Of note is a letter from Jean Chretien paying tribute to war veterans.; The album for 2002-2004 consists of material related to the 70th anniversary of the General Wingate Branch 256. Included is a 70th anniversary commemorative soft cover booklet, photographs, newsclippings, general meeting newsletters, correspondence, letters from members of Parliament and the 2004-2005 report to the community.; The album for 2002-2007 consists of material relating to the Wingate Branch annual memorial services held at Mt. Sinai cemetery. Included are photographs of the annual memorial services, community and fundraising events, newsclippings concerning the diminishing membership of the Canadian Legion, letters from members of Parliament, a Portraits of Bravery: Canadian Jewish War Veterans brochure and photo negatives of 2003-2006 events.

Administrative History: The Jewish Brigade was a member of the Great War Association in the 1920s. After its first president was installed in the early 1930s, the Royal Canadian Legion granted a charter for a Jewish Veteran’s Branch. The brigade was renamed the General Wingate Branch in the mid-1940s after the British army officer Major General Orde Charles Wingate, D.S.O. Although Major Wingate was not Jewish, he was a passionate Zionist. At first, the branch met at a veteran’s hall at Crawford and College Street in Toronto, but later purchased its own house at 1610 Bathurst Street. In 1968, the branch moved to Eglinton Avenue West. It is currently located at the Zionist Centre on Marlee Avenue. The Branch holds an annual memorial march and service at the Mt. Sinai Cemetery where there stands a Cenotaph funded and maintained by the branch. The Cenotaph memorializes Jewish servicemen who died and are buried overseas, as well as those who fought in Israel's War of Independence and partisans who fought the Nazis. Once a year veterans distribute poppies and the funds raised are disbursed to assist veterans and their families, hospitals, medical research and charitable causes in the community. In 2018, after more than eight decades of operation Toronto's General Wingate Branch 256 of the Royal Canadian Legion voted to close its doors and give up its charter.

Subjects: Veterans--Canada

Name Access: Royal Canadian Legion. General Wingate Branch 256

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Demonstrations against Nazi war criminals in Canada [textual record, graphic material] – 1986, 1997.

Part Of: United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds; Toronto Holocaust Museum series; Second Generation sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 67; Series 28-10; File 26

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds; Toronto Holocaust Museum series; Second Generation sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 67

Series: 28-10

File: 26

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Date: 1986, 1997

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

Scope and Content: File consists of photographs and flyers from the protests against Nazi war criminals in Canada and correspondence raising awareness of the issue.

Subjects: Demonstrations; Nazis--Canada; War criminals--Canada

Places: Canada

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) Canada [textual record] – 1980.

Accession Number: 2009-3-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2009-3-5

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1980

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a report prepared by JIAS Canada detailing the situation of recent immigrant arrivals to various small communities in Ontario. The communities discussed are Cambridge, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, St. Catharines and Windsor.

Custodial History: The custodial history for this item is unknown. The accession number has been assigned by the assistant archivist.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Communities

Name Access: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Cambridge (Ont.); Hamilton (Ont.); Kitchener (Ont.); London (Ont.); Ottawa (Ont.); St. Catharines (Ont.); Windsor (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

News releases and correspondence about Canada-Israel-Palestinian Authority and The Isabel Silverman Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO) [textual record] – 1997.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 17; Series 2; File 80

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

Fonds: 17

Series: 2

File: 80

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1997

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Isabel Silverman Canada International Scientific Exchange Program; Palestinian National Authority

Subjects: Canada--Foreign relations

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number: 2005-2-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Bella Wilder [graphic material, textual record] – 1919-1939, [ca. 2005].

Accession Number: 2013-3-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2013-3-1

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: ca. 71 photographs; 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1919-1939, [ca. 2005]

Scope and Content: Accession consists primarily of photographs documenting the early life of Bella Wilder (née Goldbach) and her family in Poland. Included are images of Bella with her siblings and friends, group photos of Bella at her Jewish school in Poland, a group image of Victor in the Polish army, and other photographs of Bella's family and friends. Also included are two family histories documenting the story of Bella's mother, Shifra Frimeth Goldbach, and the story of Max and Bella Wilder, which was written by their granddaughter Sandee Sharpe. Of particular note is a 1925 school photograph of the Workers Evening School in Opatow (?), which has Yiddish writing suggesting that the school may have received aid from an organization referred to as "Gives Relief" in Toronto.

Custodial History: The records were originally donated to the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto section) by Bella's daughter Ann Sharpe. JGS Toronto donated the material to the OJA a few months later with her consent.

Administrative History: Bella (nee Goldbach) Wilder was born on May 12, 1910 in Opatow, Poland to Chaim Shlomo Goldbach and Shifra Frimeth Schatz Goldbach. Bella's older brothers, Victor, Jack and Hymie began immigrating to Toronto in the 1920s and had saved enough money by 1936 to bring Bella and her mother to Toronto. After arriving in Toronto Bella found work sewing in a factory.; Bella married Max Wilder on September 29, 1939. Max worked at Superior Men's Tailoring where he sewed zippers into men's pants. They had two children together: Ann (born 5 April 1940, married Norman Sharpe) and Stan (born 21 Jan. 1945, died June 1974). Max passed away in 1999 and Bella passed away in 2002.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Photographs have been digitized and are available as digital images.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Families

Name Access: Goldbach, Shifra; Sharpe, Ann; Wilder, Bella, 1910-2002; Wilder, Max, ?-1999

Places: Poland; Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Royal Canadian Legion, General Wingate Branch 256 [textual record] – 1975-1985.

Accession Number: 2016-1-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2016-1-6

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 30 cm of textual records; 285 photographs : b&w and col. ; 10 x 12 cm of smaller

Date: 1975-1985

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the activities of the Royal Canadian Legion, General Wingate Branch 256. Included are meeting minutes from 1975-1977; an album containing photographs, event materials, and newsclippings celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legion in 1984, remembrance day memorial and an event in tribute to Phil Givens; and one scrapbook containing newsclippings, photographs and other textual records related to various activities of the Branch and its membership, including a tribute to Ben Dunkelman and a 99th birthday celebration for Norman Creed.

Custodial History: The records were originally loaned by the donor to an OJA researcher who arranged to have the materials donated to the OJA.

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces

Name Access: Royal Canadian Legion, General Wingate Branch 256 (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Gloria Geller [textual record] – 1912-2013.

Accession Number: 2019-11-8

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2019-11-8

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1912-2013

Scope and Content: Accession consists of copies of immigration and naturalization records related to the Granovsky (Granowski/Grainer) and Avrutsky families. Included are: naturalization information for Sam Granovsky (Gloria's maternal grandfather) obtained from the Citizenship and Immigration Department of the Government of Canada; a ship's manifest copied from a microfiche retrieved from the Toronto Public Library showing the Granovsky family travelled on the ship Ausonia from Southampton to Quebec City in 1912; and copies of correspondence between the Russian Embassy and Gloria's uncle, Mordko Granowski, obtained from Library and Archives Canada. Also included is a family memoir written by Gloria Geller entitled "Threading My Grandmother's Needle."

Administrative History: Shaya Ber Shlema Leibov Granovsky (Sam Granovsky) (1871–1945) was born in Zvenigorodka, Ukraine, and was the only son of Shlioma Leib Vigdorovich Granovsky and Kreinya (?) Granovsky. He married Hinda Avrutsky (1873–1959), born to Gedalia Ber Avrutsky and Riva (Rifka, family name unkown), in the mid-1890s and moved to her town, Tal'noe, where he worked as a businessman. They had six children between 1896 and 1907: Mordkho (Max, 1896–1984); Aaron (Harry, 1899–1974); Victor (1901–1982); Rochel (Rose, 1903–1945); Lisa (Lillian, 1905–1996); and Sura (Sally, 1907–1972). Sam and Hinda immigrated to Canada in around 1912. In 1913, Hinda gave birth to their seventh child, Louis Leib (Lou, 1913–2006). The family run a bicycle repair business at 75 Chestnut Street between 1914 and 1918, then moved to 507 1/2 Yonge Street, where Sam had a second hand goods business. From the early 1920s to the mid-1940s, Sam and Hinda owned a used tire business, United Tire Exchange, at 751 Queen Street West. In the early 1920s, Max graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Later, Lou attended university and became a pharmacist. He owned Grainer Drugs for many years. Sam and Hinda's fourth child, Rose Geller (née Granovsky), married Sam Geller in the mid-to-late 1920s. She gave birth to Saul in 1929 and Gloria in 1938. She died at the age of 42 in 1945 due to a hospital error. Gloria lived with her grandmother, Hinda, for a period of time after her mother died and for a longer time after her father Sam's death in 1948.

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

Subjects: Immigrants; Ukrainians--Canada

Places: Ukraine; England; Québec (Province); Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds [textual record, graphic material, moving images] – 1947-2006.

Part Of: Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Fonds

ID: Fonds 75

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Fonds

Fonds: 75

Material Format: textual record; graphic material; moving images

Date: 1947-2006

Physical Description: 5.1 m of textual records and graphic material; 1 DVD

Admin History/Bio: The Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) was established on 16 June 1947. After the Second World War thousands of survivors arrived in Canada in search of homes, education for their children and jobs. The returning servicemen, in turn, were also in need of employment. For the first two years of its existence, JVS catered exclusively to these two groups. By 1949, it had expanded its mandate to become a community-wide agency.; Max Enkin, the founder of the post-war "tailor scheme" became its first president and chairman of the board. Under this scheme, he and other members of his delegation were able to bring over 2,200 displaced persons to Canada as skilled tailors. Other members of the JVS board included Lipa Green, Sydney Harris, Dr. Albert Rose and Louis Lockshin. The executive director was Norman Stack. He served for a few years and was replaced by Milton Freidman in 1949. Freidman was a social worker who relocated to Toronto from Buffalo and spent close to 40 years in this position, retiring in 1985.; JVS's early mandate was to serve as a placement service for applicants and employers and to provide individual counselling services to its clients. Its office was situated above the original Tip Top Tailors building at 455 Spadina Avenue. It later moved its office to 152 Beverley Street and then in the 1960s to Tycos Drive. By the 1960s, JVS began to expand its services to all segments of society including newcomers, people with disabilities and from all sectors of life. The staff included social workers, psychologists, job counsellors and clerical staff.; During the 1980s, Bernie Berger became the new executive director. He served in that capacity until 1991. He was replaced by Ed Segalowitz. During this period, JVS set up a seniors' program called ATLAZ on the grounds of the Baycrest Home for the Aged. It was funded by the Bick family and was intended to create programs to keep seniors engaged. Today, this program is called the Al Green Resource Centre and provides employment, placement, training and volunteer opportunities to adults of all ages and with developmental disabilities. JVS also launched a youth program called Youthinc and a women's program.; Karen Goldenberg became executive director in 1998 and was replaced by Frank Markel in 2011 after her retirement. JVS has expanded its clientele, helping people from all backgrounds with diverse needs to identify their strengths and goals, develop skills, and achieve success in school, work and life. By 2009, it offered an expansive range of over 40 employment-related support programs and services throughout the Greater Toronto Area to thousands of unemployed and underemployed individuals and served 23,000 people. They operated out of 12 locations and have approximately 200 professionals on staff.; Kim Coulter became president and CEO in 2013.

Custodial History: The case files were located in the vault with no accession number. They were likely transferred to the OJA during the 1970s or 1980s. They were assigned accession number 2002-10/34.; The remaining records were in the possession of Amanda Batchelor of JVS, who had acquired the material from various past board and committee members for the creation of the 60th anniversary book.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records documenting the activities, programs, finances, operation and history of the Jewish Vocational Services. Included are meeting minutes, photographs, correspondence, surveys, reports, financial statements, certificates, bulletins, newsletters, newsclippings, press releases, anniversary books, and one DVD. The fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Formation and history; 2) Board of Directors; 3) Executive board; 4) Annual general meetings; 5) Special and general meetings; 6) Committees; 7) Career, employment and training services; 8) Disability services; 9) Immigrant and newcomer services; 10) Women in New Roles (WINR); 11) Youth services; 12) Volunteer program; 13) Studies and reports; 14) Finance; 15) Personnel; 16) Planning and operations; 17) Publications and publicity; 18) Fundraising; 19) United Way; 20) Events; 21) Conferences and workshops.

Name Access: Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto

Subjects: Charities; Immigrants--Canada

Access Restriction: Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.

Creator: Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto (1947-)

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number: 2002-10/34; 2008-9/6; 2010-11/7

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Sadie Stren fonds [textual record, graphic material, graphic material (electronic)] – [189-]-1997.

Part Of: Sadie Stren fonds

Level: Fonds

ID: Fonds 78

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Sadie Stren fonds

Level: Fonds

Fonds: 78

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

Date: [189-]-1997

Physical Description: 15 cm of textual records; 176 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller; 2 photographs (jpg) : b&w

Admin History/Bio: Sadie Stren (1915-2014) was born on April 19, 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. Her father and mother had come from a small town in Russia. Samuel Goldberg, her father, arrived to stay with family in Brantford, Ontario in 1910 and began working as a peddler. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1912 where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and later owned a confectionary store. Emma, Sadie’s mother, came from Russia to reunite with Samuel after he began living in Detroit and the couple married and started a family there.; Sadie grew up in a predominately Jewish neighbourhood in Detroit with her parents and her sister Sarah. She graduated from what is now Wayne State University and worked as a social studies teacher in Detroit for approximately 10 years, until she married at age 31. Sadie first met her husband, Maurice "Maurie" Strenkovsky (1910-1995), while visiting relatives in Brantford. By the time the two had met, Maurie was going by the last name Stren, although it is not certain when he began to do so. He served in the Second World War and corresponded with Sadie during their courtship. The two married in 1947, five years after meeting. The couple initially lived in Detroit, where their son David was born on August 28, 1948, but soon moved to Brantford, where Sadie gave birth to a daughter, Patti, on August 8, 1949. Maurie became a manufacturer of surgical dressing and continued in this profession until his retirement.; When Sadie first moved to Brantford, she joined several Jewish women’s organizations, including Hadassah. She continued to be actively involved in both Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations for the remainder of her life. She ran and taught the Beth David Sunday school in Brantford for many years, and in 1976, was honoured for her work as Sunday school supervisor by the Beth David Sisterhood. During her time in Brantford, Sadie served on the board of directors for eight different organizations, and was the president of four. She was a member of the board of directors for the Family Service Bureau and was elected president in 1966. She was also a past president of the University Women’s Club and a former board member of the YM-YWCA. Her husband was quite active in the community as well. Maurie Stren’s commitments included serving as president of B’nai B’rith Brantford from 1965-1966 and as District Governor of the Lions Club from 1963-64, among other things.; Upon moving to Toronto, Sadie became a member of the Baycrest Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Aphasia Institute.; Sadie was an amateur historian who served as the Brantford Jewish community's archivist and historian for a number of years. She had been collecting sources of Brantford Jewish history in her home since at least the 1970s in order to assemble the history of Brantford's community. Sadie was also an author who wrote about the history of the Brantford community, spoke at conferences, and was a contributor to the Canadian Jewish Historical Society Journal in 1981. She passed away on December 9, 2014.

Custodial History: The records were donated by Sadie Stren in five different transfers from 1976-2006. The first accession was received as a part of the small communities project in 1976 and included only photographs. Subsequent accessions included photographs and textual documents relating to both Sadie’s family and the Brantford community. Sadie is an author and she acquired some of the materials when researching the history of the Brantford community.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of material created and collected by Sadie Stren related to the Brantford Jewish community, as both a member of the community and an author researching its history. Among the records are newspaper and article clippings, correspondence, research notes, records of the Brantford Hebrew Association, miscellaneous printed and published material, Hadassah minutes, records related to Congregation Beth David and its Hebrew school and photographs.; The Brantford Hebrew Association records include 3 ledger books which span the years between 1909 to 1952, legal documents for the Association including the original letters patent incorporating the Brantford Hebrew Association in 1911.

Notes: Some of the photographs are modern copies of older photographs.; Some early accessions contained photocopies of orginal documents that were eventually donated in later transfers. These photocopies were culled.; Many photographs were described at the item level at the time they were accessioned, but there are quite a few photographs in the fonds which have not yet been described in detail.

Name Access: Stren, Sadie, 1915-2014

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Volunteers

Related Material: For additional material related to the Brantford Jewish community see also accession #1978-11-4, accession #2009-2-5, oral history #AC91, and accession #2004-5-71.

Creator: Stren, Sadie, 1915-

Places: Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number: 1976-6-9; 1977-5-6; 1978-11-3; 2005-11-10; 2006-12-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Remembrance Day Service, Yorkminster Baptist Church [graphic material] – 11 Nov. 1981.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series; Official engagements sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 51; Series 5-3; File 8

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series; Official engagements sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 51

Series: 5-3

File: 8

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 11 Nov. 1981

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w. ; 12 x 18 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of one photograph of Phil and Min Givens attending a Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Yorkminster Baptist Church..

Name Access: Givens, Min; Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Remembrance Day (Canada)

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Givens standing in front of Jewish war vets memorial [graphic material] – 11 Nov. 1984.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series; Official engagements sub-series; Remembrance Day at Jewish War Vets Memorial file

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 51; Series 5-3; File 15

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series; Official engagements sub-series; Remembrance Day at Jewish War Vets Memorial file

Level: Item

Fonds: 51

Series: 5-3

File: 15

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 11 Nov. 1984

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of Phil Givens standing in front of the Jewish war veterans monument during the Remembrance Day ceremony held by the General Wingate Branch 256 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Also identified in the photograph is J. Sacks.

Name Access: Royal Canadian Legion. General Wingate Branch 256

Subjects: Remembrance Day (Canada)

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

Related Material: See Fonds No.74 (OJA): Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion.

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Meeting with Brian Mulroney [graphic material] – 1985.

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; National politics series; Phil Givens with Brian Mulroney (Breakfast event) file

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 51; Series 7; File 12

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Philip Givens fonds; National politics series; Phil Givens with Brian Mulroney (Breakfast event) file

Level: Item

Fonds: 51

Series: 7

File: 12

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1985

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 20 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of Phil Givens meeting with Brian Mulroney at a breakfast event. Identified in the photograph are (foreground, left to right): Brian Mulroney, Paul Godfrey, and Phil Givens.

Notes: Photograph is by Mike Peake (The Toronto Sun)

Name Access: Canada. Prime Minister (1984-1993 : Mulroney)

Subjects: Prime ministers--Canada

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

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Harry Simon fonds [textual record, graphic material] – 1931-[198-].

Part Of: Harry Simon fonds

Level: Fonds

ID: Fonds 23

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Harry Simon fonds

Level: Fonds

Fonds: 23

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Date: 1931-[198-]

Physical Description: 25 cm of textual records; 17 photographs (6 negatives)

Admin History/Bio: Harry Simon (1909-1993) was born in Russia on 15 July 1909 and immigrated to Canada with his parents and two younger brothers in 1923. In 1930, he married Eva Millman and together they had two sons, Morris and Norman. Simon was involved in a number of labour unions and organizations during his lifetime, namely the Fur Workers' Union, the AFL-CIO, the Canadian Labour Congress and the Labour Zionist Movement.; In 1926, at the age of 17, Simon left his schooling in Toronto and went to work in a fur factory. He joined the International Fur Workers' Union and at the age of 20, Simon held the distinction of being the youngest business agent elected to a union in Canada. He joined the Canadian Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1933 and ran as a political candidate in the 1937 provincial election for the St. Andrew riding in Toronto.; Simon also served as the Canadian representative for the American Federation of Labour from 1944 to 1956. In 1956, he was appointed to the Canadian Labour Congress, becoming the CLC's Ontario regional director of organization until his retirement in 1974. Simon also held the position of national chairman of the Jewish Labour Committee of Canada and as president of the Labour Zionist Movement of Canada. He was also a member of the national executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress.; After his retirement Simon often spoke about labour issues at various functions and events when requested. He died on 22 December 1993 at the age of 84.

Scope and Content: This fonds consists of the records related to the professional career of Harry Simon. This includes meeting minutes, general correspondence, speeches, posters, flyers, booklets, programmes and photographs. The bulk of the material is in the form of correspondence sent to or from Harry Simon. There is also a small amount of biographical material and a number of photographs, which have been described at the item level.

Name Access: Simon, Harry, 1909-1993

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Labor leaders

Physical Condition: Some photographs require conservation work.

Arrangement: The files were originally arranged by Harry Simon according to organization. This original order has been maintained by the archivist.

Creator: Simon, Harry, 1909-1993

Accession Number: 1988-5-6

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Canada's Response to Refugees [textual record] – 1982.

Part Of: United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds; Toronto Holocaust Museum series; Special events and projects sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 67; Series 28-18; File 15

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds; Toronto Holocaust Museum series; Special events and projects sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 67

Series: 28-18

File: 15

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1982

Physical Description: 1 folder textual records

Scope and Content: File consists of flyers, correspondence, evaluation forms, address lists, and programmes for the seminar "Canada's Response to Refugees...Past, Present and Future..."

Subjects: Refugees--Government policy--Canada

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Dr. Stephen Speisman interview [moving images] – July 1985.

Accession Number: 2011-4-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-4-3

Material Format: moving images

Physical Description: 1 DVD

Date: July 1985

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one DVD copy of a July 1985 interview of Dr. Stephen Speisman by the donor, recorded at the TJC Archives. Dr. Speisman discusses his family's connections with the Gold family because of their common background in Ostrow, Poland. He also talks about the socialist views of many Jewish immigrants, the factors influencing their desire to emigrate in the First World War era, their early experiences learning English, the reasons for Anglicizing their names, and the cultural values that Polish Jews brought to Canadian life.

Custodial History: DVD copy created from original videocassette created by the donor.

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

Descriptive Notes: Use Conditions: Any re-use requires written permission of the donor.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Families; Socialism

Name Access: Speisman, Stephen A., 1943-

Source: Archival Accessions

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto [multiple media] – 1960-2011, predominant 2011.

Accession Number: 2014-5-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2014-5-2

Material Format: multiple media

Physical Description: 15 cm of textual records; 8 architectural drawings; 2 CDs

Date: 1960-2011, predominant 2011

Scope and Content: Accession consists of architectural drawings for the construction of the Northern YM-YWHA at 4600 Bathurst Street (1960) as well as floor plans for the proposed re-development of the site in 1999. Also included are submissions for the competition to design and build the Jewish War Veterans of Canada memorial at the Sherman Campus (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.

Subjects: Architecture; Charities; Veterans--Canada

Name Access: Young Men's Hebrew Association (Toronto, Ont.); Bathurst Jewish Community Centre; Jewish War Veterans of Canada; UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Source: Archival Accessions

We Are Our Brother's Keeper [moving images] – [ca. 1980].

Accession Number: 2014-12-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2014-12-2

Material Format: moving images

Physical Description: 1 film reel (ca. 22 min.) : 16mm; 1 videocassette

Date: [ca. 1980]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one film reel and one videocassette copy of the JIAS film entitled "We Are Our Brother's Keeper".

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Nonprofit organizations

Name Access: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Memorial service, General Wingate Br. 256, Royal Canadian Legion, Mount Sinai Cemetery, Toronto [graphic material] – 7 Sept. 1980.

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 74; Item 28

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 74

Item: 28

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 7 Sept. 1980

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 9 cm

Notes: Credit: Royal Canadian Legion / Sacks.

Name Access: Royal Canadian Legion; Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; Cemeteries

Accession Number: 1987-12-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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General Wingate Branch, Royal Canadian Legion and Jewish war veterans memorial service, Mount Sinai Cemetery, Toronto [graphic material] – 22 Sept. 1985.

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 74; Item 30

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 74

Item: 30

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 22 Sept. 1985

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of the General Wingate Branch, Royal Canadian Legion and Jewish war veterans memorial service held at Mount Sinai Cemetery. Identified in the photograph are Barry Goldman (5 yrs.) and Randy Goldman (6yrs.). Their father Israel Goldman is buried in the cemetery. On the far left is Ernie Stein, a Jewish war veteran and member of the colour party.

Notes: Photograph is by Graphic Artists, Toronto

Name Access: Goldman, Barry; Goldman, Randy; Stein, Ernie; Royal Canadian Legion; Mount sinai Cemetery; Goldman, Israel

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; Cemeteries

Physical Condition: Good

Accession Number: 1986-12-3

Source: Archival Descriptions

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First World War veterans Jack Arons and Lee Pritzker take salute at annual remembrance parade of Wingate Branch Royal Canadian Legion, Mount Sinai cemetery, Toronto [graphic material] – 1986.

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 74; Item 31

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 74

Item: 31

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1986

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of the annual remembrance parade of Wingate Branch Royal Canadian Legion, held at Mount Sinai cemetery. Identified in the photograph are Jack Arons (left, with glasses) and Lee Pritzker (centre right).

Notes: Photograph is by Graphic Artists, Toronto

Name Access: Pritzker, Lee; Arons, Jack; Royal Canadian Legion; Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; Cemeteries

Accession Number: 1986-12-3

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Canada and Israel pin [object] – [198-?].

Part Of: Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds; Jewish community involvement series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 92; Series 4; Item 4

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds; Jewish community involvement series

Level: Item

Fonds: 92

Series: 4

Item: 4

Material Format: object

Date: [198-?]

Physical Description: 1 pin : 2 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a pin of the Canadian flag and Israel flag crossing over one another.

Notes: Artifact number 155.

Subjects: Flags--Canada; Flags--Israel

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds [textual record, graphic material] – 1925-1989.

Part Of: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Fonds

ID: Fonds 9

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Fonds

Fonds: 9

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Date: 1925-1989

Physical Description: 31.8 m of textual records; 319 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio: The Jewish Immigrant Aid Society of Canada was established in 1920 by the newly-formed Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). A Toronto branch was established in a storefront office on Spadina Avenue, but the organization was rudimentary. As the enthusiasm that spurred the founding of CJC died out, JIAS soon faltered. Then in 1922 it was taken over and reactivated under the cooperative support of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto, B'nai B'rith, and the Council of Jewish Women. JIAS was legally incorporated on 30 August 1922. It also operated under the moniker of the Emergency Jewish Immigrant Aid Committee, and it changed its name to Jewish Immigrant Aid Services in 1954.; Charged with organizing emergency relief for European Jews in distress, JIAS became the central agency of the Jewish community to facilitate the lawful entry of Jewish immigrants into Canada, and provided them with welfare services, transportation, and assistance with accommodation and employment after their arrival. In addition, JIAS offered consultation services for sponsors of potential immigrants, ran a competitive foreign remittance service, and campaigned to counter the activities of unscrupulous steamboat agents, lawyers, and influence peddlers, or “shtadlanim,” who often victimized immigrants and sponsors alike.; In conjunction with similar efforts by the CJC, JIAS was also actively engaged in negotiating for the increased admission of Jewish immigrants to Canada. In 1923, the federal government instituted a permit-based immigration program and JIAS competed with travel agents and solicitors in the private sector for these limited quota permits. After combating the anti-immigration policies of the Depression era, the outbreak of war in 1939 virtually closed the already limited avenues for immigration.; JIAS Canada was organized into a national office in Montreal and regional offices in Winnipeg (Western Region), Toronto (Central Region), and Halifax (Eastern Region). The Central Region covered Ontario, and established a full-time head office in 1935 at 399 Spadina Avenue in Toronto (hence the Central Region was sometimes called simply the Toronto Office). The office later moved to 265 Spadina Avenue. JIAS Toronto’s board of directors met on a regular basis at different locations in Toronto, including 206 Beverley Street and in the Talmud Torah building at 9 Brunswick Avenue. The first JIAS Toronto board included notable Toronto residents such as Henry Dworkin, Mrs. Draiman, Mr. Kronick, Dr. Brodey and Mrs. Willinsky. The role of the board was to oversee the operations of the Central Region. It rendered decisions on issues relating to finances, procedures and policies, negotiations with the federal Immigration Branch, as well as individual cases that required their attention.; General meetings of the Central Region membership were held annually. The 1943 JIAS constitution states that regional annual meetings were to be held for “receiving and considering reports,” holding nominations and elections for the executive, and discussing JIAS’s program and policies.; In the post-war era, JIAS shifted its focus to renewed efforts on behalf of individual claimants and community support, while the focus for lobbying for a reversal of Canada's immigration policy fell increasingly under the jurisdiction of the CJC. A boom in immigration between 1947 and 1952 saw the arrival of large numbers of Jewish immigrants to all parts of Canada and the Toronto Office of JIAS renewed its efforts to meet the needs of this new influx. Major world events also sparked other waves of immigration from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, North Africa, and Russia, to which JIAS responded in turn. JIAS worked in conjunction with other immigrant aid societies such as HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, in the United States, to facilitate immigration to the United States, and later to Israel, where many of the immigrants and refugees coming to Canada had family and ultimately settled.

Custodial History: Custody of these records was transferred to the Ontario Jewish Archives by JIAS in 1983, as preparations were under way for the move to a new facility in North York. Much of the material was in four-cubic-foot boxes and in file cabinets.; The accession was divided into three sections: files which were at the JIAS office and had been retained in their original order; files which had been retrieved from a flood in the basement of 152 Beverley St. and consequently had been thrown into dry boxes without regard to order; files discovered in the furnace rooms at 150 and 152 Beverley St., intact but covered in coal dust. The bulk of the records were stored off-site, with dirty files being isolated from the rest.; The dust-covered materials were cleaned at an off-site location, placed in temporary boxes and transferred to the Archives and restored, as far as was possible, to their original order.; Clips were removed and replaced as appropriate with archivally acceptable ones. All materials were transferred to acid-free folders and boxes.

Scope and Content: Fonds contains the records of the Toronto Office (Central region) of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada. The fonds consists primarily of textual records: minutes, correspondence, financial records, reports, immigration files, naturalization case files, social service case files and the records of attempts to trace missing individuals. There are also photographs of special events, speakers and arriving immigrants.; The fonds represents an important resource for the study of Canadian Jewry, especially when taken in conjunction with the JIAS National Office records at the Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives in Montreal, and those of the Western Office at the Library and Archives of Canada. It documents the means by which a particular Canadian ethnic community has dealt with the problems of rescue, settlement and government relations. These records also offer insight into the relationship between the Toronto Office and the other branches of JIAS, and invite comparison with similar agencies in the United States, as well as those of other ethnic groups in Canada.; The material collected includes information about the countries of origin, transportation routes, settlement and employment patterns of Jewish immigrants to Canada in the twentieth century. The documents also touch upon important related issues such as advocacy, sponsorship, admission processes, health and social problems.; These records cover several waves of immigration following the Second World War: Holocaust survivors in the late 1940s, Sephardic (North African) and Hungarian Jews in the 1950s, Russian and Czechoslovakian Jews in the 1960s, and additional Russians in the 1970s.; The records also contain significant information for those researchers looking to conduct genealogical research into Jewish immigrants and their descendents.; The fonds has been arranged with one sous-fonds, which contains the records of the National JIAS office in Montreal. In total there are 17 series. The Toronto office (main fonds) series are: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee Minutes; 2. Annual meeting proceedings; 3. Reports; 4. Legal ; 5. Administration; 6. JIAS Committees; 7. External committees; 8. Financial ; 9. Arrivals; 10. Immigration case files; 11. Social service assistance case files; 12. Photographs; 13. Miscellaneous. The National Office sous-fonds is divided into the following series: 1. National executive meeting minutes; 2. National annual meeting proceedings; 3. National annual reports; 4. Publications; and Photographs.

Notes: Physical description note: Physical extent is based on fully processed records. Additional accessions are not included (see Related Material note below).; Associated material note: The CJC National Archive, in Montreal, has additional JIAS records from 1920-1989 including 275 m of textual records and graphic materials (3250 photos): collection number I0037; alpha-numeric designation MA 4. The National Archives of Canada, Manitoba branch, in Winnipeg, has Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada JIAS textual records from 1923-1950 on 18 microfilm reels: Former archival reference number MG28-V114 (no replacement listed). The originals of these records are maintained by the Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada.

Name Access: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Nonprofit organizations

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.; Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.

Related Material: Other OJA records relating to JIAS may be found in the following accessions: 1979-9-5; 1988-5-2; 1991-10-5; 2006-3-11.

Creator: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto

Accession Number: 1983-8-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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JIAS National Office sous-fonds [textual record] – 1926-1982.

Part Of: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Sous-fonds

ID: Fonds 9-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Level: Sous-fonds

Fonds: 9-1

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1926-1982

Physical Description: 51 cm of textual records; 14 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio: The Jewish Immigrant Aid Society of Canada was organized into a national office in Montreal and regional offices in Winnipeg (Western Region), Toronto (Central Region) and Halifax (Eastern Region). The national office was responsible for directing and managing all the affairs of the organization, including defining national and international policy; administration of regional offices; national budget; fundraising; external relations with other organizations, such as the United Jewish Relief Agencies (UJRA) and Jewish Family & Child Services (JF&CS); and publicity. It also organized the annual meeting, special events and conventions.; Membership in JIAS was open to individuals, organizations or companies who paid an annual fee. General meetings of the membership were held at least once every two years, where reports were presented and considered, nominations and elections held for national officers and the national executive committee, policies, programs and problems discussed, and decisions taken.; The National Executive Committee of JIAS was composed of the following members: national president; three vice-presidents (the presidents of the Western, Central and Eastern regions), with the addition in the 1950s of a vice-president at large; three regional treasurers, eventually reduced to one national treasurer; secretary; and twelve members comprising four representatives from each region. In 1929 the ‘executive secretary’ position was renamed ‘executive director.’ According to the 1943 constitution, the executive was required to hold meetings at least three times a year, in alternate cities. In 1954 this was amended to twice a year.; During the early stages of JIAS's operations, it had to face the difficulty of being overstretched financially, as it sought to respond to and to change the often oppressive living conditions of new immigrants and the situation of those held in federal detention centres. The organization’s principled approach to immigrant welfare won JIAS much of its early success, as it became the preferred contact for government officials who had formerly dealt with numerous independent agencies, many of which had profited from the exploitation of desperate immigrants. This situation also profited the government, however, as the responsibility for establishing the priority of applications reverted increasingly to JIAS as it had to limit its appeals by the quotas imposed by the federal government.; JIAS was one of the founding organizations responsible for the establishment of the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) in 1978, which has since operated as a non-profit umbrella organization to coordinate the efforts of immigrant and refugee advocacy groups. JIAS continues to operate offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor and Winnipeg. The JIAS National Office moved from Montreal to Toronto in 1989, with the appointment of Susan Davis to National Director, and is now located at 4580 Dufferin St., Suite 306, Toronto, Ontario.

Scope and Content: Sous-fonds consists of National Office records retained by the Toronto JIAS office as reference copies. Records include meeting minutes, speeches and reports from annual meetings, and the published annual reports produced from the annual meetings. The sous-fonds covers the years 1926 to 1982 and is divided into the following series: 1. National Executive meeting minutes; 2. National annual meeting proceedings; 3. National annual reports; 4. Publications; and 5. Photographs.

Name Access: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada (creator)

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Nonprofit organizations

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Moe Greenspoon (Sudbury, ON) [graphic material, graphic material (electronic), textual record (electronic)] – [1910?]-2008.

Accession Number: 2008-2-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2008-2-4

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

Physical Description: 5 photographs : b&w and col. (jpg); 1 photograph : col.; 2 documents : col. (jpg)

Date: [1910?]-2008

Scope and Content: Accession consists of six photographs of the Greenspoon family of Sudbury, Ontario. There are also two scanned documents: Moe Greenspoon's 1918 birth certificate and his statement of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, issued in 1990.; Photographs include the following:; 01. Benjamin and Fanny Greenspoon ca. 1910. (photograph was a reprint of a scanned original); 02. Paul Allan Greenspoon with grandfather Benjamin and his second wife at bar mitzvah, ca. 1966.; 03. Greenspoon family gathering ca. 1942. L to R (back): Nathan, Doris, Moses (Moe), Max, Sydney, Irving, Bill, Ruth, Louis. L to R (front): Dave, wife Ann, Ben, Fanny, Harry, wife Millie.; 04. Greenspoons at the Nahala dedication plaque in Israel, Oct. 1972. L to R: Rose (married to Max), daughter Elaine, Max, son Ira, Ira's wife Merle, and Ben in front.; 05. Zady's Boyz - basketball team of all the grandsons with Moe, 2008.

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: Canada--Armed Forces; Communities; Families

Name Access: Greenspoon, Moe

Places: Sudbury, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions

Correspondence and general information regarding Arab and Muslim communities in Canada [textual record] – 1994.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 17; Series 2; File 347

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

Fonds: 17

Series: 2

File: 347

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1994

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Subjects: Arab Canadians; Communities; Muslims--Canada

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number: 2005-2-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Norman Hersch [graphic material, textual record] – 1920-1980.

Accession Number: 2015-3-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-3-2

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: ca. 100 photographs; 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1920-1980

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs of the Hersch family, a screenplay by Phillip Hersch, school certificates from Landsdowne School, Canadian naturalization certificates, thank you notes, a New Year's greeting card, and a Polish passport. Included are photographs of weddings, Europe vacations, class photos, houses in Toronto, bar mitzvah, Niagara falls, Channukah, Farms, studio sets, the beach, and snow scenes.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Norman Hersch until his death in the mid-1980s, at which point the donor took possession of the records and stored them until donating them to the OJA in March 2015.

Administrative History: Norman Hersch was a special effects technician for the CBC from the early 1950s until his retirement in the mid-1980s. He was married to a French woman from Western Canada named Margaret. He is buried in the Mount Albert area with his wife. He served in the Canadian military during the Second World War and graduated from Central Technical School upon his return. In later years, he started P & M Display in Yorkville. Norman's older brother Phillip was a screenwriter in Toronto. He wrote the CBC series Wojek. Their mother Lily (Polish) volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital. Their father Alexander (Romanian) worked in stainless steel manufacturing. They lived around Cecil Street. Doug Wardle was a friend and colleague of Hersch's at CBC in the Special Effects Department.

Subjects: Bar mitzvah; Immigrants--Canada; Families

Name Access: Hersch, Norman

Source: Archival Accessions

Gabriella Szanto [graphic material, textual record] – 1920-2018.

Accession Number: 2018-7-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-7-6

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 62 photographs : b&w and col. ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller; 4 cm of textual records

Date: 1920-2018

Scope and Content: Accession contains material documenting Gabriella Szanto and her family. Included are family photographs, vital records, correspondence, and a 2018 Baycrest calendar that features a portrait and short biography of Gabriella.

Custodial History: Shirley Worth served as the executor of Gabriella Szanto's estate. Following Gabriella's death, Shirley donated the records that make up the accession to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Administrative History: Gabriella "Gabi" Szanto (née Lazlo) was born in Budapest, Hungary on 26 January 1916. Gabriella's parents, Arnold and Ilonka Lazlo (née Diamenstein), were women's clothing manufacturers who employed twenty-five people. Their skills complemented each other: Arnold had studied design in Berlin for two years while Ilonka was a dressmaker. On 18 May 1919, Arnold and Ilonka had their second child, George.; During the Second World War, Gabi and her mother moved to the outskirts of Budapest where they passed as Catholics, rarely leaving their house. Miklos Szanto—the man Gabriella married after the war—was sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp. Gabriella's brother, George, was sent to a camp in Siberia and did not survive. It is not known where or how Gabriella's father survived the war.; After the war, Gabriella, her mother and father, and her husband Miklos reunited in Budapest. The four lived in the family apartment near the city opera house.; During the period of Communist rule, Gabriella and Miklos bribed their way out of Hungary and travelled to Vienna. From Vienna, they travelled to Australia, where they lived for five or six years, working as a short order cook and a seamstress respectively.; At some point, Gabriella and Miklos made the decision to immigrate to Canada. Their first stop—most likely in the 1950s—was Montreal. There, Gabriella worked for a high-end retailer before moving with her husband to Toronto one year later. In Toronto, Miklos worked again as a short order cook at the Noshery Restaurant on Eglinton, holding this job until he retried. Gabriella, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress until she was in her mid-80s.; In their retirement, Gabriella and Miklos spent two months each winter in Florida. Gabriella died in 2018.

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

Descriptive Notes: LANGUAGE NOTE: English, Hungarian, German.

Subjects: Families; Holocaust survivors; Immigrants--Canada

Name Access: Szanto, Gabriella, 1916-2018

Places: Australia; Austria; Canada; Hungary

Source: Archival Accessions

Jerry Rosenberg [textual record, graphic material] – 1988-2016.

Accession Number: 2018-7-24

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-7-24

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 3 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller

Date: 1988-2016

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting Gerald "Jerry" Rosenberg and his involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion's General Wingate Branch 256. Included are General Wingate Branch 256 meeting agendas (2013-2015), Royal Canadian Legion correspondence (2014), two General Wingate Branch newsletters (October 2015 and March 2016), an annual branch inspection report form (27 September 2015), a branch regulations and clubhouse rules submission form (2012), financial statements and receipts (2013-2015), certificates of merit and appreciation from the Royal Canadian Legion (2002-2009), and a document in Hebrew commemo; In addition to the above documents, there are three photographs for which identification is missing: one of a funeral, one of a demonstrators carrying signs urging recognition of China, and a portrait of an unknown veteran.; Finally, the accession contains an undated letter to the editor of an unspecified newspaper that outline Jerry's views of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Custodial History: At the time of his death, Jerry Rosenberg was living with his partner Frances Cohen. Frances' daughter Ronda "Rhonnie" Cohen took possession of the records following Jerry's death. Rhonnie subsequently gave the records to author Ellin Bessner who donated them to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Administrative History: Jerry Rosenberg grew up in Hamilton, Ontario along with his twin sister, two brothers, and older sister. When he was seventeen years old, Rosenberg lied about his age in order to fight in the Second World War. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served for the duration of the war.; After the war, Rosenberg approached the Canadian Zionist Organization about volunteering in Palestine. After a circuitous journey that first took him from Montreal to New York to France, he arrived in Haifa in February or March 1948. Rosenberg was part of Machal, a group of overseas volunteers who fought alongside Israeli forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Rosenberg joined the Haganah and fought in the 52nd Givati Regiment. As part of this unit, he participated in battle in the Arab village of Bashshit.; After the war, Rosenberg made preparations to leave Israel. Upon arriving in Canada, he worked with Jewish organizations and started a family. He became president of the Royal Canadian Legion's Wingate Branch 256. He died on 23 August 2017.

Descriptive Notes: Language: English, French

Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict; Veterans--Canada

Name Access: Bessner, Ellin, 1961-; Rosenberg, Jerry; Royal Canadian Legion

Places: Canada; Israel

Source: Archival Accessions

David Croll [graphic material, textual record, object] – 1919-1992.

Accession Number: 2018-5-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-5-2

Material Format: graphic material; textual record; object

Physical Description: ca. 78 cm of graphic material, textual records, and 1 stamp

Date: 1919-1992

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting David Croll. Included are: forty photographs (military, political, and sport) of Croll; two scrapbooks (one a congratulatory scrapbook on Croll's appointment to the Ontario provincial cabinet, the other a scrapbook of the 1939 royal visit to Windsor, Ontario); several personal documents including Croll's marriage certificate and address book/phone book; and Croll's stamp.

Custodial History: Records were donated to the Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre by Croll's granddaughter.

Descriptive Notes: Related groups of records external to the unit being described: Other records relating to David Croll can be found in the Rebecca Kamarner fonds; the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds; the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; the Zionist Organization of Canada fonds; the Philip Givens fonds; the Dora Till fonds; Julius P. Katz fonds; the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds; the United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds; and the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds.

Subjects: Legislators--Canada; Royal visitors; Veterans

Name Access: Croll, David, 1900-1991

Places: Windsor (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Kirschner family [graphic material, textual record] – 1925-1980.

Accession Number: 2018-10-10

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-10-10

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 7 cm of graphic material and textual records

Date: 1925-1980

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the Kirschner family, in particular Maurice and Gertrude Kirschner. Included are family photographs, wedding telegrams, marriage certificates, certificates of naturalization, and passports. Individuals identified in the photographs include: Ann Kirschner, Chaim Kirschner, Gertrude Kirschner (née Taylor), Hannah Kirschner, Helen Kirschner, Joseph Kirschner, Maurice Kirschner, Shlomo Kirschner, Ruth Lowe, Bernice Taylor, Leah Taylor, and Saul Taylor.

Administrative History: Gertrude Kirschner (née Taylor) was born on 29 November 1907 in Toronto, Ontario. She lived with her parents at 770 Markham Street and finished high school. On 3 July 1932, she married Maurice Kirschner, with whom she had two daughters: Helen (b. 1934) and Elaine (b. 1942). The couple lived at 770 Markham Street until they bought their first home at 46 Gloucester Grove. They became founding members of Beth Sholom Synagogue on Englinton Avenue. Gertrude died 7 June 1982.; Maurice Kirschner was born on 13 August 1904 in Lyck, Germany. He was trained as a watchmaker and opened a watch repair shop on Bay Street, just north of Queen. The shop was demolished to make way for the new city hall. Maurice subsequently went to work for Sayvette, where he remained for the rest of his career. He died on 15 February 1980.

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: Digital copies (jpg, tif) have been created for thirty-one documents.

Subjects: Families; Immigrants--Canada; Married people

Name Access: Kirschner (family); Kirschner, Gertrude; Kirschner, Maurice

Places: Germany; Ontario; Soviet Union

Source: Archival Accessions

Royal Canadian Legion. General Wingate Branch 256 [object] – [between 1940 and 2019].

Accession Number: 2019-5-9

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2019-5-9

Material Format: object

Physical Description: 2 flags

Date: [between 1940 and 2019]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two flags that belonged to Royal Canadian Legion General Wingate Branch 256. The first is a flag of Israel. The second is a blue ensign bearing the name of the branch. (The blue ensign is a blue flag with the Union Jack in the top corner next to the flagpole; it is similar to the red ensign, which was the flag of Canada until 1965, when it was replaced by the maple leaf.)

Administrative History: The Jewish Brigade was a member of the Great War Association in the 1920s. After its first president was installed in the early 1930s, the Royal Canadian Legion granted a charter for a Jewish veterans' branch. The brigade was renamed the General Wingate Branch in the mid-1940s after the British army officer Major General Orde Charles Wingate, DSO. Although Major Wingate was not Jewish, he was a passionate Zionist, hence the name.; At first, the branch met at a veteran’s hall at Crawford and College Streets in Toronto, but later purchased its own house at 1610 Bathurst Street. In 1968, the branch moved to Eglinton Avenue West. It was then located at the Zionist Centre on Marlee Avenue.; The branch held an annual memorial march and service at the Mt. Sinai Cemetery, and distributed poppies to raise funds for veterans and their families, hospitals and medical research. Members also gave speeches at schools on Remembrance Day. It closed in September 2018 after more than eighty years.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Photographs of the flags are available as JPEG files.

Subjects: Flags--Canada; Flags--Israel; Veterans

Name Access: Royal Canadian Legion. General Wingate Branch 256

Places: Canada; Israel

Source: Archival Accessions

Rabbi David Monson speaks at memorial parade, General Wingate Br. 256, Royal Canadian Legion, Mount Sinai Cemetery, Toronto [graphic material] – 27 Sept. 1981.

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 74; Item 29

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 74

Item: 29

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 27 Sept. 1981

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 13 x13 cm

Notes: Credit: Royal Canadian Legion.

Name Access: Monson, Rabbi David; Royal Canadian Legion; Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; Cemeteries; Rabbis

Accession Number: 1987-12-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Correspondence, newspaper articles and general information regarding Arab and Muslim communities in Canada [textual record] – 1997.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 17; Series 2; File 672

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; General office subject and correspondence files series

Level: File

Fonds: 17

Series: 2

File: 672

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1997

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual material

Subjects: Arab Canadians; Communities; Muslims--Canada

Access Restriction: Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number: 2005-2-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Helen Marks [graphic material, textual record] – 1908-1985.

Accession Number: 2021-10-11

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-10-11

Material Format: graphic material; textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records and graphic material; 1 oversized photograph

Date: 1908-1985

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material documenting the family of Helen Marks. Included are two wedding three school photographs, school photographs, personal identity documents, a certificate of naturalization, a letter, a program for a gala evening, and a un untranslated document.; The first wedding photograph was taken at the wedding of Rose Miltz and Nathan Weisblatt on 29 December 1935. Rose and Nathan were part of Helen's father's family.; The second wedding photograph was taken at the wedding of Rose Nimon and Isadore Weisblatt. Rose and Nimon were Helen's parents.; Two school photographs were taken at John Fisher School in the 1930s. Helen attended the school from kindergarten until grade eight.; A third school photograph was taken at North Toronto Collegiate sometime around Christmas 1939. Helen attended the school for one year from 1939 to 1940.; There are several identity documents for Helen's father-in-law, Morris Marks. The first such document is a Romanian passport dated 24 May 1908. The second such document is a deed poll testifying to Morris' change of name dated 23 January 1933. The third document is a document certifying that the latter is a true copy.; The certificate of naturalization is for Harry Schnall. Helen believes Harry was her mother-in-law's father but is not positive.; The letter is from Max Niman and Moishe Fishbaum and is dated 15 August 1985. The letter regards the amalgamation of the Ostrovtzer Congregation and the Shaarei Tefillah Congregation. Helen's mother's family were founders of the congregation.; The program is for a gala evening presented by the Chinese community for the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Centre expansion, which was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on 22 June 1985.; Finally, there is a document in what appears to be Romanian but which has not been translated.

Descriptive Notes: Language: English, Romanian, French

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; Ketubah; Public schools

Places: Romania

Source: Archival Accessions

Willi Holz [textual record] – 1933-1982.

Accession Number: 2023-2-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-2-7

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 7 cm of textual records

Date: 1933-1982

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material, mostly correspondence, documenting Willi Holtz. Included are: a letter to Willi from the German Metal Worker's Union (20 November 1933); Willi's German Reich passport (1936); a postcard from Palestine (1938); a confirmation regarding application for certificate of entry into Palestine (2 January 1938); a letter to the Reich Interior Ministry from Willi (15 April 1939); a certification of good character for Willi (6 June 1939); a letter to the American consul in Canada from Leon L. Berkowitz regarding Willi Holz's internment in Camp "N" (17 February 1941); and a letter to F. C. Blair, director of the Immigration Branch of the Department of Mines and Resources, from Willi (8 January 1943).

Custodial History: Records were in the possession of Camille Norton, Willi Holz's stepdaughter, prior to Camile donating them to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Administrative History: Willi Israel Holz was born on 6 April 1912 in Breslau, Germany (today Wroclaw, Poland). From 1919–27, he attended elementary school in the same city. Starting in 1927, he attended technical high school. In 1929, he joined the Kommunistischer Jugendverband Deutschlands (Young Communist League of Germany). In 1931, he received his electrician's license. Apart from a period of unemployment in 1932, he worked from 1931–38 with several firms, acquiring experience in electrical installations. In 1933, he lost his membership in the German Metal Workers' Union (Deutscher Metallarbeiter-Verband) on racial grounds.; In 1938, Willi was put in a Nazi concentration camp. In January 1939, he was released from the concentration camp. He nevertheless had to report to the Gestapo headquarters on a monthly basis until he was able to leave Germany. This proved difficult, as Willi tried and failed to immigrate to a number of countries, including Palestine, Bolivia, and China. (In the latter case, the Republic of China granted Willi and his mother visas, but there were no ship tickets available.) In February, Willi applied to be accepted for a transit camp for Jewish emigrants that was located in Richborough, England; in July, he was accepted. He arrived in Richborough on 8 August 1939. Willi's mother was unable to come with him.; From Richborough, Willi was moved between several locations before departing from Liverpool, England, on the SS Ettrick. He arrived in Quebec, Canada, on 13 July 1940 at Internment Camp "L." From there, he was transferred to Internment Camp "N" in Sherbrook. In January 1941, he was provided with an affidavit for immigration to the United States, but he was unable to enter owing to an unspecified condition. In 1942, Willi's mother was deported to eastern Europe (she died in Auschwitz). In November of that same year, Willi was transferred to yet another camp.; In February 1943, Willi was released from internment for work at Stark Electrical Instrument Co. in Toronto, Ontario. In 1944, Willi started working as foreman of the machine shop for the same company. In 1946, the plant at which Willi was working ended up moving to a different location, and Willi started work on the production line. That same year, Willi appeared before a county court judge to take the oath of allegiance. He became a Canadian citizen on 4 May 1946.; Willi died on 10 October 1979. His funeral took place at Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel.

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: Language: A significant portion of the material is in German.

Subjects: Electricians; Holocaust survivors; Immigrants--Canada

Name Access: Holz, Willi, 1912-1979

Places: Breslau (Germany); Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Dr. Rolf Lederer [textual record] – 1970-1997.

Accession Number: 2010-11-16

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-11-16

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 45 cm of textual records

Date: 1970-1997

Scope and Content: This accession consists of records related to Rolf Lederer's role with the Canadian Jewish Congress' Chaplaincy Services Committee, JIAS, and Congregation B'nai Torah. The records include meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence, reports, financial records, bulletins, invitations, and pamphlets, In addition, there is one document that lists the founders of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Rolf Lederer until they were donated to the Archives on 22 November 2010.

Administrative History: Dr. Rolf Lederer was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1934. His family immigrated to South Africa in 1936 and Rolf remained there until 1961, earning his medical degree from Cape Town University. After completing his psychiatric training in Edinburgh and Boston, Rolf settled in Toronto in 1968. There he set up private practice as a General Psychiatrist.; After moving to Toronto, Rolf became actively involved in the Jewish community and served on a number of committees. He was on both the local and national board of directors of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) as well as a number of JIAS sub-committees, including the South African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC), the Local Case File Committee and the Management Committee.; From 1985 to 1988 Rolf was chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’s (CJC) Chaplaincy Services Committee. He was also a member of other CJC committees; including, the Jewish Cultural Council and the Joint Adult Education Committee. In addition, Rolf co-founded the Jewish Genealogical Society (JGS) in 1985 and served as the society’s president from 1987 to 1991. Finally, he was an active member of B’nai Torah Congregation, serving as secretary and first vice-president in the early 1980s

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

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access: Lederer, Rolf, 1934-

Source: Archival Accessions

Rolf Lederer [textual record, graphic material] – 1980-2000, predominant 1980-1990.

Accession Number: 2011-6-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-6-4

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: ca. 25 cm of textual records; 1 photograph

Date: 1980-2000, predominant 1980-1990

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting Rolf Lederer's involvement with JIAS, the Canadian Jewish Congress's Chaplaincy Services Committee, the Toronto Jewish Congress Ontario Region Archives Committee, SAJAC, and the Jewish Genealogical Society. JIAS records make up the bulk of the accession and include; statistical reports; meeting notices; agendas and minutes for various committees, such as the Executive Committee, Immigrant Case Committee, Integration Committee and the Board of Directors; newsclippings, correspondence, programmes, reports, JIAS Information bulletins, and JIAS News newsletters.; Chaplaincy records include meeting notices, agendas and minutes, bulletins, invitations, brochures, and general correspondence. JGS records include one photograph of a plaque awarded to the agency and correspondence regarding its cemetery project. Archives Committee records include event invitations, correspondence, and documents related to the Sense of Spadina tour. Finally, accession also consists of SAJAC News publications (1989), correspondence with the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists and a Congregation B'nai Torah dedication banquet programme (1984).

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Rolf Lederer until he donated them to the OJA on June 22, 2011.

Administrative History: Dr. Rolf Lederer was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1934. His family immigrated to South Africa in 1936 and Rolf remained there until 1961, earning his medical degree from Cape Town University. After completing his psychiatric training in Edinburgh and Boston, Rolf settled in Toronto in 1968. There he set up private practice as a General Psychiatrist.; After moving to Toronto, Rolf became actively involved in the Jewish community and served on a number of committees. He was on both the local and national board of directors of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) as well as a number of JIAS sub-committees, including the South African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC), the Local Case File Committee and the Management Committee.; From 1985 to 1988 Rolf was chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’s (CJC) Chaplaincy Services Committee. He was also a member of other CJC committees; including, the Jewish Cultural Council and the Joint Adult Education Committee. In addition, Rolf co-founded the Jewish Genealogical Society (JGS) in 1985 and served as the society’s president from 1987 to 1991. Finally, he was an active member of B’nai Torah Congregation, serving as secretary and first vice-president in the early 1980s

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access: Lederer, Rolf, 1934-; Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto; Southern African Jewish Association of Canada; Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region; Ontario Jewish Archives

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Percy Skuy [graphic material (electronic), textual record] – 1932-2014, predominant 1947-1978.

Accession Number: 2015-5-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-5-2

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record

Physical Description: 98 photographs (tiff); 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1932-2014, predominant 1947-1978

Scope and Content: Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the personal and professional activities of Percy Skuy. Photographs include: family portraits, school photographs, images of Percy as an apprentice pharmacist, images of Habonim camp in Vryheid, images of Frances as a child in Sudbury, images of Percy and Frances's honeymoon, images of Percy with his family in Toronto, images of trips back to South Africa, photos from the cottage, images of Percy receiving awards, and street scenes of Kensington Market (1978).; Also included is Percy's memoir entitled "My Story Unfolds", articles written by Percy for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and a book written by Percy entitled "Tales of Contraception."

Administrative History: Percy Skuy was born in Vryheid, South Africa on February 17, 1932 to Benjamin and Chana (nee Cilevitz) Skuy. Percy is the middle of three children. His siblings are Max (b. 1929) and Rita (b. 1942). At seventeen, Percy began his apprenticeship and education to be a pharmacist. After qualifying as a pharmacist in 1954, he worked for a year at a pharmacy near Johannesburg before starting his travels through Europe, Australia and the United States. He had planned to return to South Africa, however, he did not have enough money for the fare back. Although he did not originally intend to visit Canada, he headed to Toronto to find a job so he could earn money for the passage home. He eventually secured a job with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals as a Medical Sales Representative and decided to stay. In 1959 he completed his requirements to become a liscenced pharmacist in Ontario and was the first South African pharmacist registered in Ontario.; Percy met Frances Goodman in 1960 on a blind date and they married that same year. Frances was a nurse from Sudbury. They had two children together: Beth (b. 1961) and David (b. 1963).; In 1961, Percy began his thirty-four-year long career with the Johnson and Johnson Corporation. He had a variety of roles within the company and was president for twenty-two years with two Johnson & Johnson affiliate companies, namely Ortho Pharmaceutical (Canada) Ltd and Ortho-McNeil Inc. Percy is also the founder of the only museum devoted exclusively to the history of contraception located at the Dittrick Medical History Centre in Cleveland, Ohio.; Throughout his career, Percy has been appointed to a number of government and research councils including: the Premier's Council of Ontario, the Federal National Advisory Council on Pharmaceutical Research, and the Board of Governors of the Riverdale Hospital. In September 1995, Percy was inducted as a Candian Pioneer in Family Planning. He has also been an active member of the Rokeah Chapter of the Rho Pi Phi fraternity.; in 1977, Frances passed away. Percy eventually re-married to Elsa Ruth Snider on December 16, 1979.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access: Skuy, Percy, 1932-

Places: Vryheid, South Africa; Toronto, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions

Ivor Simmons [graphic material (electronic), textual record] – [194-?]-2015.

Accession Number: 2015-6-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-6-3

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record

Physical Description: 8 cm of textual records; 140 photographs : tiff

Date: [194-?]-2015

Scope and Content: Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the activities of Ivor Simmons. Included is personal correspondence and photographs of Ivor's early life in South Africa and his family life and activities in Toronto. Of note are family portraits, Bialik Hebrew Day School class photos, Holy Blossom Temple Religious school images, images of the Toronto Island Yacht Club, images of Camp New Moon, Camp Ahmek, and Camp Walden, an image at Crystal Beach, and images of Ivor and his family visiting South Africa. Identified in the photographs are: Ivor Simmons, Milly Simmons, Jack Simmons, Renee Simmons, Gail Simmons, Alan Simmons, Eric Simmons, Anthony Giffard, Theo Wardaugh, Ruth Gold, Marlene Goldbach, Vicki Feraris, and Kim Bresge.

Administrative History: Ivor Simmons was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1937 to Milly and Jack Simmons. He has two younger brothers: Michael (B. 1941) and David (b. 1945). Ivor's father owned a printing business. Ivor studied chemical engineering at the University of Capetown and found work at a petroleum refinery near Johannesburg soon after graduating. Around 1961, Ivor moved to London, England where he worked for the Lummus Company. He moved to Canada in 1963 and settled in Toronto. He worked for Union Carbide for a few years conducting industrial market research and then took a job performing the same work for Falconbridge Nickelmines. Around 1970, he opened his own business called A&A Liquid Waste Removal Company.; Ivor married Renee Rothman in 1966. Together they had three children: Alan, Eric, and Gail. Ivor sold his business in 1997. In his retirement, Ivor has volunteered with a variety of organizations including, animal and bird rehabilitations centres, Friends of Cedarvale, the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, and Trinity College (assisting with its annual book fair). Ivor is a member of Adath Israel Synagogue and was a member of B'nai Brith for many years.

Subjects: Immigrants--Canada; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access: Simmons, Ivor, 1937-

Places: Bloemfontein, South Africa; Toronto, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions