Level

Item

Item

6105

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6106

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6107

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6108

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6109

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6110

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman and a man, possibly members of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6111

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6112

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman and a man, possibly members of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6113

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman and a man, possibly members of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6114

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6116

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6117

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6118

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6119

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man wearing a coat, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6120

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a boy, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6121

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a woman, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6122

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a girl, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family. She is holding a book in one hand.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Europe

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6123

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a girl, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6115

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a grou portrait, possibly of members of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits, Group

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2016-3-60

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

ca. 5 cm of textual records

2 photographs : col. & b&w ; 10 x 15 cm and 5 x 4 cm

Date

1972-2010, predominant 1977-1983

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the Robinson family's immigration to Ontario and Morris Robinson's professional history and business activities with Libman and Company.

Included are family correspondence, the Robinsons' customs paperwork and travel documents, Morris' curriculum vitae, professional records and some documentation of his business activities, and genealogical accounts of the Robinson family (including a history by Lilian Henry). Of note is a letter Morris Robinson sent to Irma when he first arrived in Boston on his way to Toronto and letters Morris' parents hand delivered to Irma just before she left with the children to join Morris in Canada.

Identified in the photographs are: Morris Robinson and Phoebe Robinson.

Custodial History

Material was in possession of Morris Robinson. Morris donated it to the OJA.

Administrative History

Morris Robinson was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on 27 May 1948 and grew up in Benoni. He completed his bachelor of commerce degree at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated as a chartered accountant in 1973. On 25 February 1973, Morris married Irma Startz, who was born in Benoni, South Africa, on 10 December 1951. Irma earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Witwatersrand and went on to obtain a post-graduate higher teacher's diploma. The Robinsons have three sons. Their first son, Marc, was born in South Africa on 26 September 1976 (just a few months after the Soweto riots). Their sons Frank (b. 31 December 1980) and Daniel (b. 12 March 1985) were born in Toronto.

The Robinsons were motivated by political unrest, which manifested in the anti-apartheid Soweto uprising of June 1976, and the desire for a safe future for their family, to seek opportunity abroad and to emigrate. In February 1977, Morris heard through friends about an accounting job opportunity in Canada and was officially appointed to the post of comptroller at Libman and Company, then Canadas’ largest jewellery manufacturer. The Robinsons arrived in Toronto in early 1978 and settled in Thornhill, Ontario. In 1989, Morris became a partner of Libman and Company. During his career in the jewellery industry, Morris was involved with the Canadian Jewellers Association and served as the organization's chair. He was also a founding member and first treasurer of the Diamond Bourse of Canada. Irma pursued a teaching career with the Toronto District School Board, specializing in ESL and eventually becoming the principal at an ESL school for adults. The Robinsons were founding members of Shaar Shalom Synagogue. In 2012, the Robinsons sold the family home in Thornhill and moved into the city to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: Textual records available as PDF files and photographs available as JPEG files.

Subjects

Business

Immigrants--Canada

Families

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Source

Archival Accessions

• 

Accession Number

2019-4-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

ca. 3 cm. of textual records 1 photograph

Date

1976-1990

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Glen Barry Eker. Included are university diplomas including graduation certificates from McMaster University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Western Ontario. There is also an undated graduation photograph of Mr. Eker and a card given to Dorothy Eker, Glen Eker's mother, by her husband, Paul Eker.

Administrative History

Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.

Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.

Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.

Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.

Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.

Subjects

Married people

Portraits

Postsecondary education

Name Access

Eker (family)

Eker, Glen

Places

Hamilton (Ont.)

London (Ont.)

Waterloo (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Cowan family fonds

Level

File

Fonds

102

File

62

Material Format

textual record

Date

1984-2005

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Max Altshuller was the great-grandfather of Saul Cowan's first wife Lillian Rosenthal.

Scope and Content

File consists of corrspondence between family members concerning reminiscences and genealogy, a family tree of Saul Cowan's parents Harris and Annie Cohen, two descendant family trees of Mayer Gollom (father of Annie Gollom Cohen), and a memoir titled "Altshuller Family Tree". Included in this document are photocopies of photographs, maps, a report on a 2005 reunion in Pontypool, Ontario, and a memoir of Belle Ewart by Al Sherman, which mentions the activities of the Rosenthal, Altshuller, Goldman, and Aiken families, as well as a 24-page descendant family tree of Max Altshuller.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Refusnik cases sub-series

Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

3-6-1

File

14

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1981]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10 cm

Scope and Content

The case file is in reference to the refusnik Aron Aaverbukh, but the photograph is labelled as Izrail Averbukh. No other information indicates whether these items are related to the same person or related persons.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Maurice Berg fonds

Level

File

Fonds

41

File

15

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[191-]-1987

Physical Description

38 photographs : b&w and col. (1 negative) ; 11 x 18 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

This file consists of the family photographs of Maurice Berg. Some of the individuals that have been identified on the verso include: The Rotems; Berg's neice and nephew, Ronnie and Shira; Robin, David, and Samuel; and Miriam, Dalit, Amit, and Ori Flomin.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Maurice Berg fonds

Level

File

Fonds

41

File

21

Material Format

textual record

Date

[198-?]

Physical Description

2 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

This file consists of two photocopies of Maurice Berg's family tree.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Thelma Harris Rose Family fonds

Harris family series

Level

Series

Fonds

115

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1880-2004

Physical Description

535 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. (148 negatives) ; 15 x 20 cm on mat 23 x 30 cm or smaller

2 folders of textual records

1 artifact

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs documenting the various members of the Harris family, including the patriarch and matriarch, Samuel and Sarah Harris, and the families and descendants of their three sons, Samuel Aaron, William and Louis. Also included is a small amount of textual records related to Sgt. Fred Harris' service in the Canadian Armed Forces, certificates belonging to Samuel Aaron Harris, and wedding memorabilia related to Rose Geldzaeler Harris' marriage to Samuel A. Harris, including a section of Rose’s bouquet.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Thelma Harris Rose Family fonds

Geldzaeler family series

Level

Series

Fonds

115

Series

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1890]-[ca. 1945], [ca. 2000]

Physical Description

147 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. (20 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Mark Geldzaeler was the son of Simcha and Chaya (née Belf[i]eld) Geldzähler. Yetta (née Shumer) Geldzaeler was the daughter of Louis and Chava (née Shapiro/Shapira) Shumer. Mark and Yetta were the parents of Rose Geldzaeler. They were grandparents to Thelma Harris Rose.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs documenting the family of Mark and Yetta (née Shumer) Geldzaeler.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Henry Rosenbaum fonds

Photograph series

Level

Item

Fonds

121

Series

1

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1985]

Physical Description

1 photograph : col ; 15 cm x 10 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a colour photograph of Rosenbaum family, (Toronto, ON), ca. 1985. Standing from left to right are Henry Rosenbaum, Bella Rosenbaum, Miri Dover (niece visiting from Israel), and Brenda Bornstein (née Rosenbaum).

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2021-10-2

Material Format

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

12 textual records (pdf)

Date

1977-2021

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material (chiefly genealogical research) documenting Glen Eker's family, particularly the Bishinskh line. Also included are two theses by Glen Eker—Leisure and Lifestyle in Selected Writings of Karl Marx: A Social and Theoretical History and The Early Writings of Karl Marx on the Position of Women and the Family in Bourgeois Society—and articles written by Debby Eker for the Excalibur and the Enterprise. Finally, there is an article by Paul M. Eker titled "Biblical Genealogy of Eker," which appeared in the March 1999 issue of Shem Tov.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Eker (family)

Eker, Glen

Marx, Karl, 1818-1883

Places

Ontario

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2021-11-21

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

13 cm of textual records

Date

1927-1984, predominant 1927-1947

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Posluns family. Included are letters to Sam Posluns written in 1927, when Sam was in New York; letters to Sam Poslun written in 1947, when he was in Europe with the Tailor Project; miscellaneous newspaper articles; and a 1984 Negev Dinner book. Of note is a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Posluns from Abby Fuhrman, whose son, David Fuhrman, went to live with the Posluns during the Second World War.

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

Families

World War, 1939-1945

Name Access

Posluns (family)

Posluns, Samuel, 1910-1994

Places

Europe

New York (N.Y.).

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1992-7-1

Material Format

sound recording

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1.5 cm of textual records

2 audio cassettes

1 audio disc

12 photographs (6 negatives)

Date

[ca. 1922]-1992

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records created and collected by Marc Bernstein. Included are the following records: audio cassettes; a Sacred Service record by Ernest Bloch with Leonard Bernstein conducting; and some individual scrapbook pages, photographs, and textual files from Cantor Bernstein's Summer Hotel at Lake Shore House and Cabins in Orillia.

The audio cassettes contain recordings of Cantors Akiba Bernstein, Pinchos Borenstein, and Haynach Borenstein; a recording of Mary Simmons in early broadcasts; plus Cantors Akiva, Haynach, Hershal, and Archie Borenstein.

Photographs include some portraits of family members and several group portraits

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Name Access

Bernstein, Akiva

Places

Orillia (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1994-12-5

Material Format

object

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

Artifacts

Photographs

1 folder of textual records

Date

1884-1986

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs, textual records, and artifacts documenting the Sadowski family from Massey, Ontario. Records include family photographs, family correspondence, geneological information, and business records. Of note are photographs of the Sadowski General Store in Massey, a meal token from the store, a notebook documenting animal fur transactions (1920-1922), and a land survey of the Sadowski family property (1893).

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1991-6-1

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1991

Scope and Content

Accession consists of Nana's Memoirs, a book by Mina Sprachman (1900-1991) transcribed from audio tape recordings made between approximately 1978 and 1986 and a Sprachman family tree compiled by Carol Bleiwas.

Use Conditions

See donation record

Name Access

Sprachman, Mina

Bliewas, Carol

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2008-6-10

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

graphic material

textual record (electronic)

textual record

Physical Description

3 photographs : b&w and sepia (2 jpg) ; 14 x 9 cm

1 textual record (7 jpg files)

1 folder of textual records

Date

[ca. 1870]-2008

Scope and Content

This accession consists of records documenting the Posluns family of Toronto. They include two scanned copies of photographs and one original, depicting various members of the Posluns family such as the family patriarch, Yosef ben Abraham and a copy photograph of the Tip Top Tailors building under construction in 1928.

The textual records consist of one electronic copy of a short history of the Posluns family, taken from Samuel Bernstein's biography, as well as a copy of a YMHA bulletin cover page from June 15, 1934, featuring a message from the president, Louis Posluns.

Custodial History

The records were loaned to the OJA on June 17, 2008 to be copied and returned to the donor.

Administrative History

A history of the Poslaniec (Posluns) family can be found online at: http://www.posluns.com/tree/pdfs/poslaniec.pdf

Use Conditions

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Name Access

Posluns, Wilfred, 1932-2010

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2009-2-5

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

1 artifact

Date

1902-1981

Scope and Content

The records consist of material produced by Rabbi Saul Gringorten and his son I. M. Gringorten. They include certificates and identification for Rabbi Gringorten and his wife, along with his son I. M. Gringorten. In addition, the accession includes a great deal of correspondence in both English and Yiddish from the father and son during the 1940s, particularly during the period when the rabbi resided in the United States. Some material also documents I. M. Gringorten's involvement in the United Zionists organization during the 1940s. Finally, this accession includes a chuppah (marriage canopy) that was first used in 1910 by Saul Wolf Gringorten in Brantford, Ontario. The chuppah is made out of a tallis with embellishments sewn into the centre. The chuppah was subsequently used by various members of the Gringorten family.

Administrative History

Saul Wolf Gringorten and his wife Rachel Gringorten (nee Melnick) were born in Poland in 1876 and 1881 respectively. They moved to Canada in 1910 with their eldest child Morris. They subsequently had five more after their arrival. Their children included: Israel Morris (I. M.), Jennie, Jacob, Esther, Louis and Isaac.

Rabbi Gringorten served as spiritual leader, teacher, shochet and mohel for the Brantford Jewish community after his arrival for thirteen years. He would also be on call in northern and western Ontario where the communities were too small to support a rabbi. He then moved to Toronto during the early 1920s and became the principal of a Jewish school. The family lived at 26 Cecil Street at that time and then moved to 393 Markham Street during the late 1920s or early 1930s. He became active in the Jewish community, serving as vice-president of the Sons of Jacob, a board member of the Folks Farein and the first Trustee of the Old Folks Home.

Rabbi Gringorten and his wife moved to California during the mid-1940s in order to live in a climate that was better for their health. Rachel passed away in 1947 and the Rabbi followed in 1959.

Their oldest son, Israel Morris Gringorten, was born in Poland in 1904. He was educated in Brantford and later graduated from the University of Toronto. He served during the Second World War from 1943 until 1945. After his discharge, he spent his career working as an auto parts manufacturer with Canada Motor Products Ltd. He was an ardent Zionist who served as president of the United Zionists - Revisionists of America during the 1940s. He and his wife had four children.

Use Conditions

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

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

Descriptive Notes

Language: Records are in Yiddish and English.

Access restriction: One file contains medical information and is closed.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Gringorten, Saul Wolfe

Gringorten, Rachel

Gringorten, Israel Morris

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2009-11-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm and 9 X7 cm

1 matchbook

Date

1928-2009

Scope and Content

Accession consists of mementos, family documents and clippings from Nancy Draper (née Frankel). The records include a birth announcement card for Nancy in 1928 and a matchbook party favour from her wedding to Darrell Draper in 1949. There is also a scholarship application letter from the donor's granddaughter, Haley Draper, to UJA. Other records include a staff list from Camp Wabi-Kon in 1946; a Globe and Mail obituary of Dr. Martin Wolfish, a past volunteer of OJA; a photograph of David Steinhauer; a clipping about an Inuit sculpture inspired by the experience of Holocaust survivor Leon Kahn; and three eulogies for Patricia Drevnig Goldstein (1940-2005) (née Jacobs). Patricia was the granddaughter of Rabbi Solomon Jacobs of Holy Blossom, and her mother, Edna, was a Frankel. Finally, the accession includes a photocopy of a photograph of members of the Siglen family of Meaford with Maurice Frankel, the great-uncle of the donor, and Irwin Rosen, ca. 1928.

Administrative History

Nancy Frankel (b. 1928) is the daughter of Carl and Dorothy Jacobs Frankel, past prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community and members of Holy Blossom Temple. Nancy attended Camp Wabi-Kon, a Jewish camp in northern Ontario near Temagami, and then worked there as a teenager. She married Darrell Draper on December 10th, 1949. Nancy is a longtime volunteer at the OJA.

Subjects

Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

Camps

Families

Letters

Obituaries

Name Access

Draper, Nancy

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Ida Lewis Siegel fonds

Level

File

Fonds

15

File

5

Material Format

textual record

Date

1924-1980

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of family correspndence including letters, cards, postcards and 2 newspaper articles featuring Sair Lee. The correspondence is between Ida Lewis Siegel and family members between the years 1924 and 1980.

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Pinkus fonds

The Pinkus family series

Level

Series

Fonds

138

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

philatelic record

Date

1909-2013

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

12 photographs : b&w and col. ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller

other material

Admin History/Bio

David Pinkus’ father, Isadore (Israel) Pinkus (1887-1947), was born in Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire. David’s mother, Molly (Mollie) Pinkus (née Parelstein) (1892-1990), was born in Podolia Gubernia of the Russian Empire and later moved to Ukraine with her family. David’s maternal grandfather, Eliezar Parelstein, was a manager of a royal estate, while his paternal grandfather was in the cattle business. Isadore and Molly met and married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 16, 1910, and moved to Toronto in 1911. At that time, the Pinkus family lived with Moshe [Morris?] Brodsky in The Ward at 94 Edward Street between Bay and Yonge Street. In around 1914, the Pinkus family settled in Kensington and was one of the first Jewish settlers to the Kensington neighbourhood. Isadore worked various jobs and finally became a fruit and vegetable wholesaler servicing merchants in Kensington Market. He and other fourteen merchants of Toronto established a joint stock company named “The Mutual Fruit and Produce Company Limited” in 1923. The Pinkus family lived at 83 Huron Street in the early 1920s and then moved to 34 Nassau Street in 1927. Isadore and Molly were co-founders of the Kiever Shul.

Molly’s brother, Myer Leib Parelstein (1885-1972), was born on January 15, 1885, in Kamianets-Podilskyi of the Russian Empire. He came to Canada in 1906 and obtained Canadian citizenship in 1909. Myer worked as a pedlar.

David had two siblings: Max Pinkus (1912-2013) and Goldie Pinkus (1915-1973). Max was born on July 6, 1912, at Grace Hospital (College Street and Huron Street). He attended Ryerson Public School, Ogden Public School, and Central Technical School. He served in military for a short period of time during the Second World War through an immediate call for military training; at that time, he was an employee at an insurance company named Murray and Company, a branch of the Prudential Assurance Company Limited of London, England. Max was an active member of the Kiever Synagogue. His involvement with the Kiever started in as early as 1927 when the building of the synagogue was built. He was also a toy collector. Max passed away on March 16, 2013, in his 101st year.

Goldie was born on February 13, 1915, at the Toronto Western Hospital, and handicapped from poliomyelitis from age three. She attended Ogden Public School and Wellesley School. David had a cousin also named Goldie Pinkus, known as Goldie Pinkus Michael. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1911 to Sadie Pinkus and married Sam Michael of Revere, Massachusetts. Goldie Pinkus is not to be confused with Goldie Pinkus Michael.

Ernie Pinkus and Melvin (last name not specified) are David’s cousins. Ernie attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute, the University of Windsor, and the University of Waterloo. He worked at Audio Magic Inc. from 1981 to 1998 and has been serving as president of Satel Distribution since 1998.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the Pinkus family members—Isadore Pinkus, Molly (Mollie) Pinkus, Max Pinkus, Goldie Pinkus, Ernie Pinkus, Myer Leib Parelstein, Eliezar Parelstein, and Melvin (last name not identified). Included are constitution handbooks, licenses and permits, receipts, funeral records, sympathy cards, certificates, legal documents, mortgage records, postcards, correspondence, notebooks, education records, identification documents, application forms, birthday greetings, business cards, financial documents, voters’ lists, and historic papers pertaining to 34 Nassau Street. Series also contains a small number of photographs featuring Max Pinkus, Melvin, and the Pinkus family house at 34 Nassau Street. Also present are a prepaid sales tax stamp of the State of Ohio as well as artifacts, including two brooches of Molly Pinkus’ funeral, two tax tokens of the State of Washington, and fifteen pedlar-on-foot registration badges of Toronto.

Notes

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Also included are 15 Toronto pedlar-on-foot registration badges, 2 funeral brooches, 2 tax tokens, and 1 sales tax stamp.

HISTORY/BIO NOTE: The document indicating that Israel Pinkus was another name used by Isadore Pinkus was discovered on the Ancestry website and stored at S:\Collections\138-Pinkus

Access Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Pinkus fonds

Genealogical research series

The Rotenberg family file

Level

File

Fonds

138

Series

3

File

6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1908-2011

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

3 photographs : b&w ; 19 x 13 cm and 10 x 7 cm and 7 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of records documenting the Rotenberg family. Included are an invitation to Morris Rotenberg’s bar mitzvah, two letters sent from Morris Rotenberg to David Pinkus, and three photographs of Louis Rotenberg. One of the photographs was taken shortly after Louis arrived in Canada in 1908; the other two were taken in the 1940s, and one of them features Louis and his wife, Sarah Rotenberg, on vacation. Morris was the son of Louis and Sarah Rotenberg.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Pinkus fonds

Genealogical research series

The Bossin family file

Level

File

Fonds

138

Series

3

File

15

Material Format

textual record

Date

1921-[200-?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of records documenting the Bossin family. Included are a 2004 newspaper clipping documenting the Bossin family celebrates its one hundred years in Canada; a postcard printed with a 1921 photograph depicting Zussman Bossin in front of his store at 185 York Street; and documents pertaining to the Bossin family’s history, including a document, which was likely written by a Bossin family member or someone who knows the family well, and David Pinkus’ genealogical research notes. Also included is a document that might be used in a funeral; it reads, “In loving memory of Rose Bossin, dearly beloved wife, loving mother, and devoted daughter.”

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Pinkus fonds

The Pinkus family series

Family correspondence file

Level

File

Fonds

138

Series

4

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1961-1987

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2011-6-6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 photo album

12 cm of textual records

Date

1963-2004

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the involvement of Itshe Meyer Korolnek and his children in the Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah and Jewish education in Toronto. Eitz Chaim records include a graduation programme (1968), an annual dinner book honouring Harry and Max Korolnek (1992), and a dedication journal (1963). Also included are anniversary dinner programmes for the Beth Jacob High School and the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation, a memorial breakfast booklet for the Toronto Cheder (2003), a publication by Mayer S. Abramowitz titled "Toronto's Sages," and a CJC book commemorating seventy years of Jewish life in Canada. Finally, the accession also includes a photo album documenting a testimonial dinner for Itshe Korolnek and issues of the Jewish Times (1983), the Canadian Jewish Review (1950), and the Hebrew Journal (Yiddisher Zhurnal) (1972).

Subjects

Education

Name Access

Bais Yaakov High School (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2012-6-7

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

58 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller

Date

[190-]-2003

Scope and Content

Accession consists of original and photocopies of photographs related to the Lyons, Agranove, Rotenberg, Pollock families from Toronto and Hamilton. Included are family portraits, wedding portraits, the family likely at community events, and a photo of the family at Crystal Beach. There is also a photocopy of a story in the Canadian Jewish News about a Rotenberg family reunion in 2003.

Administrative History

William Agranove was active in Keiltzer Society and was in the furniture manufacturing business. He was also a major fundraiser for the UJA, a close friend of Sam Kronick. He is mentioned in Hesh Troper's book "None is Too Many" as helping Jews come to Toronto from Europe.

Rotenberg Family were a large family with 10 children. Saul Rotenberg raised horses and was partners with Lyons in the furniture business that had many locations, one on Yonge Street.

Descriptive Notes

Donor's cousin Judy will be in touch with OJA to provide more information.

Subjects

Families

Places

Hamilton (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-1-1

Material Format

moving images

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

3 film reels (ca. 12 min.) : col., si. ; 8 mm

7 photographs

1 folder of textual records

Date

1939-1993, predominant 1939-1962

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the activities of Cyrel Troster and her family. Included is a Coronet Club invitation to an annual charity ball in aid of German refugees (1939), a fyler advertising the 100th anniversary of Beth Tzedec synagogue, a brochure for a Jewish Women's Voices conference (1993), and photographs of a Brownie group celebrating Purim at Clanton Park synagogue, a talent show at Camp Timberlane, and campers at Camp New Moon and Camp Shalom. Also included are home movies of a Jewish Cub Scout parade featuring Joel Troster and visiting day at Camp Tamarack and Camp Shalom. Identified in the photographs are: Cyrel Troster and Larry Troster. The home movies were filmed by Cyrel's father, Jack Troster.

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.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-2-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

20 cm of textual records

ca. 100 photographs

Date

[190-]-2012

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to three generations of the Ladovsky family and their restaurant, the United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. Also included is a small amount of material related to Jewish organizations in Toronto, such as the Kieltzer Society and B'nai Brith, as well as the Bakery and Confectionary Union. Records include family and business photographs, correspondence, newsclippings, UB menus and other ephemera, and records related to family simchas and celebrations.

Custodial History

The records were created and accumulated by Aaron Ladovsky, Herman Ladovsky and Ruthie Ladovsky.

Administrative History

Aaron Ladovsky was born in 1888 in Kielce, Poland. He immigrated with his wife Sarah to Toronto in 1906 at the age of 18. Soon after arriving, Aaron Ladovsky worked to help form a Jewish bakers’ union to advocate for collective rights among Jewish Bakers. In 1912 he opened the United Bakers Dairy Restaurant at Dundas and Bay Streets (known then as Agnes and Terauley Streets respectively) in the heart of the Ward. That same year, the couple had twin sons Herman and Samuel, who were born on September 23, 1912.

Only a short time later, in 1920, Aaron moved the location of his restaurant to 338 Spadina Avenue, just north of Dundas. He and his family lived in an apartment upstairs. Herman and Samuel attended Hester How Elementary School until 1919, Lord Lansdowne Public School once the family moved to Spadina, and later Central Commerce. The twins worked in the family business in the 1920s delivering fresh breads and buns by horse cart.

Aaron Ladovsky was involved in a number of community organizations. He was instrumental in founding the Kieltzer Society of Toronto in 1913; a community based immigrant-aid association extending aid to Kielcers in Poland and around the world. Ladovsky remained an active member of the organization until his death on April 5, 1960 . His restaurant provided a welcome gathering place for the Jewish community, serving traditional dishes and maintaining a friendly open-door policy. Aaron Ladovsky was known for his generosity and claimed that no one, whether they had money or not, left his restaurant hungry. The United Bakers' menu was mainly based on Sarah’s original recipes, and continues to be so to this day.

During the Second World War, Herman served overseas as an electrician in the Canadian army show with comics Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. After returning from the war, he married Dora Macklin in 1947, a registered nurse from Regina. He also began to take over management of the family business. Later, his son Philip and daughter Ruth would follow in his footsteps, helping to run the restaurant with him and later taking over managment. United Bakers remained on Spadina Avenue for 66 years – until 1986 when it moved to its current location at 506 Lawrence Avenue West, off of Bathurst Street. Herman was an active fixture in restaurant until his death on January 6, 2002. He also supported and was involved in the work of the Ontario Jewish Archives over the years. Today, Philip and Ruth carry on the family tradition of running United Bakers Dairy Restaurant.

Descriptive Notes

To be integrated into the Ladovsky family fonds 83.

Subjects

Families

Restaurants

Name Access

Ladovsky, Herman

Ladovsky, Aaron

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-11-2

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

6 photographs : b&w and col. ; 15 x 20 cm and 9 x 15 cm and 11 x 8 cm

1 photograph (electronic) : jpg

Date

1930-2007

Scope and Content

Accession consists of three colour photographs from the reunion of the Baldwin Club, a young men's club from the 1940s based in Kensington Market. The reunion took place in 2006 at the Steeles Deli (the time stamps on these photographs indicate 2007). The photographs feature: Pearl Godfrey with Rose Simon Zand and her husband David Zand (Rose Simon Zand grew up in the market and her family owned a grocery store); Jack Gelman (founder of the Baldwin Club. His parents owned P. Gelman Fruit and Groceries at 174 Baldwin Street). To his right is his wife. Seated are Rose Simon and Pearl Godfrey; Left to right: Solly Raykeff, Jackie Gelman, Mel Lastman.

Also included are three black and white photographs depicting 1) Three women in front of 172 Baldwin, left to right: Sandy Shabinsky, Katie Lottman Grossman, Ruth Berman; 2) Two girls in front of 172 Baldwin: left to right: Bella Tichberg (Judy Lottman Tichberg's daughter) and her cousin Henry; 3) Jake Lottman and his father Sam Lottman at 181 Baldwin shown cracking eggs for a photo taken for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Toronto.

Also included is one electronic photo of three women working at Lottman's bakery (Helen Wiseman who worked at the bakery for 50 years, Katie Lottman Grossman's mother in law Brancha Loffman, and Gertie who also worked at the bakery for many years)

There is also a small amount of textual records including two newspaper articles entitled "From Humble Beginnings in Kensington" (National Post, 2006) and "Demise of Lottman's Bakery mounred by all" (CJN, Thursday, November 29, 1984); a cookbook of recipes by Rose Simon entitled Recipes by Rose (2001); as well as five photocopies of photos of the Baldwin Street Boys (1940s).

Administrative History

Pearl Godfrey's father was Sam Lottman, owner of Lottman's Bakery which opened in the 1920s and was originally located at 172 Baldwin Street. It had a brick oven and on Friday nights women would bring their pots to keep the chollent warm for the Sabath. Sam Lottman was born in Poland and arrived in Toronto when he was 12 years old. He arrived with nothing but soon got a job as a baker. Sam's first wife Bella died in the 1920s. They had two children Judy Tichberg and Joe Lottman. There was also another daughter that died. Sam was a founder of the Hebrew Loan Society (Axia), where members donated 25 cents per week.

Pearl's mother was Emma (Birkin) Lottman. She arrived from Poland with her sister and mother in 1919 and was a wig maker. Emma Lottman mother would go with neighbours to collect household items for new immigrants. She also worked alongside Sam in the bakery. They lived on top of the bakery until Pearl was 12 years old. Emma and Sam had three children: Jake Lottman, Katie Grossman and Pearl Godfrey. Pearl went to Ryerson Public School and then to Harbord Collegiate for a year before transferring to Forest Hill.

The family lived on top of the store until 1947 when they moved to 50 Ava Road in Forest Hill. They built a new store at 191 Baldwin. It had a traveling oven which was very rare at the time, which allowed for the baked goods to move along a conveyer belt through the heat.

Jake who had built the business alongside his father moved to California. Joe Lottman took over the business when Sam retired. Joe died at the age of 60 in 1981 and his daughter Bonnie Lottman and son Terry Lottman ran the business.

The bakery closed in 1984.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Business

Name Access

Lottman, Sam

Lottman, Emma

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2014-6-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

ca. 40 photographs

3 CDs

Date

1919-2013, predominant 1919-1974

Scope and Content

Accession consists of scanned photographs and textual records that document the Natanson family. Photographs include images of the Lazar and Muriel Natanson's wedding, family portraits, portraits inside and in front of the store, class portraits and Lazar in his military uniform, Textual records consist of the eulogies for Lazar and Muriel Natanson, and copy of a summary of the history of the Weinstein family, and scanned copies of letters from Muriel Natanson to Eileen Bellan (nee Natanson) while Eileen was at Camp B'Nai Brith. Of note is the brief description of Muriel as an eyewitness to the Christie Pitts riot in 1933. CDs consist of digital copies of the photo reproductions in this accession.

Administrative History

Lazar Natanson (1918-1984) was born to Benjamin and Rose (nee Gratz) Natanson. He had five siblings, Albert (b. 1900), Freida (b. 1902), Celia (b. 1905), Nathan (b. 1909) and Ida (b. 1916). Soon after the end of the Second World War Lazar took ill and went to Montreal to recover and returned to Toronto several years later. Muriel Natanson (nee Weinstein) (1923-2013) was born in Bucharest, Romania, to Solomon (Shlomo) and Sylvia Weinstein. She had two brothers, David (1924-2010) and Albert (b.1933). Solomon was a housepainter and wallpaper hanger. Muriel left school at the age of 16 to help support her family, working at Tip Top Tailors and later Reader Mail. She went to night school to obtain her high school diploma. Muriel worked for her father when he opened a confectionary store in 1950. Lazar married Muriel in 1951 and they opened a store, Moffat's North York Bargain House, at 1291 Wilson Avenue that same year. They later changed the store's name to Les and Muriel's. They were likely one of the first Jewish families to move to the Downsview area, and lived above the store. Lazar and Muriel had two children, Eileen and Bob. While caring for their their children Muriel worked alongside Lazar at Les and Muriel's, and when he suffered a stroke in 1968 they sold the store. Eileen Natanson married Stanley Bellan and they had two children, Chad and Renee. Bob Natanson became a stockbroker. Lazar died in 1984 after suffering from a long-term illness. Murial passed away in 2013.

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

Donor provided photo identification on the back of reproduced photos.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Natanson family

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2014-8-12

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

7 photographs : b&w and col. (tiff)

Date

[1970?]-2011

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs of Ben and Carrie Grossman and their family at family gatherings. Identified in the photographs are: Carrie Grossman, Ben Grossman, Jack Grossman, Warren Grossman, Rita Bergstein, Borris Litman, Ruth Malka Grossman, Miriam (Mimi) Grossman, Lillian Rose, Martha Sud, Hilda Grossman, and David Sud.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Bergstein, Rita

Grossman, Ben

Grossman, Carrie

Grossman, Hilda

Grossman, Jack

Grossman, Miriam

Grossman, Ruth

Grossman, Warren

Litman, Borris

Rose, Lillian

Sud, David

Sud, Martha

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2014-5-8

Material Format

textual record

moving images

graphic material

Physical Description

2 m of textual records

10 film reels : 8mm

ca. 300 photographs

Date

[192-]-[200-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Steinberg family. The bulk of the material was collected and created by Elise Steinberg. Included are photographs and slides, family films, Israel and Miriam's wedding album and honeymoon scrapbook, correspondence and greeting cards, newsletters, Holy Blossom Temple bulletins, newsletters, certificates, Elise's school notebooks and assignments, and financial and legal records pertaining to the estate of Joseph Steinberg. Of particular note are Elise Steinberg's diaries which span the years from 1974 to 1984. Also of note is material documenting the family's resignation from Holy Blossom Temple.

Custodial History

The material came into the possession of Charles Levi and his parents after the death of Israel and Miriam Steinberg.

Administrative History

Irving (Israel) Steinberg was born to Joseph and Leah Steinberg (Schindermann) on January 16, 1919. Joseph and Leah had immigrated to Canada in 1914. They initially lived in Peterborough, but moved to Toronto by 1921. They lived in Toronto for a few years, but evetually settled in Sudbury and opened the Toronto Bargain Store.

Irving joined the Canadian army in 1942 and served in Canada. He married Miriam (from Philadelphia) and they lived in Toronto. They had one daughter, Elise, on September 25, 1955. Israel worked as an accountant and Miriam was a musician and patron of the arts. In her teen years, Elise developed an intellectual and physical disability (possibly scoliosis). Elise was an avid doll collector and volunteered for many years at Holy Blossom Temple's library. The family were members of Holy Blossom Temple for many years and tried advocating for better access to the synagogue for individuals with disabilities. They resigned their membership in the 1990s.

Elise passed away on April 5, 2005. Miriam passed away on February 28, 2011. Irving passed away the following day on March 1, 2011.

Subjects

Diaries

Families

Synagogues

Name Access

Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.)

Steinberg, Elise, 1955-2005

Steinberg, Irving, 1919-2011

Steinberg, Miriam, ?-2011

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2015-1-7

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

ca. 20 photographs

Date

1929-1982

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the Heaps family. Included are general letters and postcards, wartime correspondence, political materials, photographs, and newsclippings. Of note is a 1948 letter written (but perhaps not sent) to David Ben-Gurion describing various issues he was finding with the Israeli army. There is also a great deal of correspondence between Leo, David and A. A. during the war, including some letters describing his escape from Arnhem and a letter describing the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945.

Administrative History

Leo Heaps (1923-1995) was born in Winnipeg in 1923, the son of A. A. Heaps and Bessie Morris. His father A. A. was a founder of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the forerunner of the New Democratic Party. Leo Heaps was raised in Winnipeg and received an education at Queen's University, the University of California, and McGill University. During the Second World War, at the age of 21, Heaps was seconded to the British Army and found himself commanding the 1st Battalion's Transport. He participated in the Battle of Arnhem as a paratrooper.

Leo Heaps was awarded the Royal Military Cross for his work with the Dutch Resistance. His brother, David, had also achieved the same distinction, thereby making them the only Jewish brothers during the Second World War to win the decoration. After the war, Heaps went to Israel and aided their army in the establishment of mobile striking units. Whilst there, he met his wife-to-be, Tamar (1927-). Together they had one son, Adrian, and three daughters, Karen, Gillian, and Wendy.

During the Hungarian Revolution he led a special rescue team to bring refugees out and across the border. In the mid-1960s he returned to Britain where he dabbled in various entrepreneurial projects as well as writing several books, notably "The Grey Goose of Arnhem", telling his own story of Arnhem, the aftermath of the battle, and also the stories of other Arnhem evaders and their dealings with the Resistance.

Leo Heaps spent most of his life in Toronto, Canada, and was amongst the forty Canadian veterans who returned to Arnhem in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary. He died in 1995.

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

Subjects

Concentration camps

World War, 1939-1945

Zionism

Name Access

Heaps, Leo, 1923-1995

Heaps, David

Heaps, A. A.

Source

Archival Accessions