- Accession Number
- 2014-10-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-10-1
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 10 cm textual records
- ca. 70 photographs: b&w and col. ; 10 cm x 15 cm or smaller
- 1 scrapbook
- Date
- 1963-2013
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting the activities of "Council '63", a branch of the Toronto Section of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC). Types of records include a photograph album, a scrapbook, correspondence, souvenirs, meeting minutes, membership lists, program materials and budgets.
- Administrative History
- The "Council '63" Branch of the Toronto Section of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) was formed in 1963. Currently consisting of 20 members, the group was initially spearheaded by Barbara Norwich (d. 2011), and they met regularly in homes in the Cedarvale area. The group primarily did volunteer work, although it later evolved into a study group and book club.
- Subjects
- Women
- Nonprofit organizations
- Name Access
- National Council of Jewish Women (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1940-1996
- Physical Description
- 30 cm of textual records
- 11 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The International Council of Jewish Women is made up of Jewish women's organizations from across the world. Founded in 1912 and revived in 1949, the ICJW's goals were to promote equal rights, women's rights, understanding, and peace throughout the world. It sought to spread knowledge about and strengthen Jewish cultural traditions, to help build Israel, and to encourage women to participate in community services. It cooperated actively as a non-governmental organization with UNESCO, and was an accredited observer at the United Nations. The National Council of Jewish Women has been a vital member of the ICJW, with a number of its members having served on the executive and as vice-presidents and presidents of the ICJW.
- In a first attempt to form an international council of Jewish women, representatives from the National Council of Jewish Women in the United States, along with similar organizations in Great Britain and Germany, met in Rome in 1912. Their efforts were aborted with the onset of World War I, but in the 1920s, Jewish women's groups reconvened and ended up holding three meetings. After a long hiatus due to the devastation of World War II and the Holocaust, the International Council of Jewish Women was officially re-born in 1949 in Paris. The ICJW has held conventions every three years since 1954, and in countries around the world, including in Toronto in 1972, and in Vancouver in 1987.
- The ICJW was organized in a committee system which communicated through a network of newsletters, mailings, and triennial meetings. Committees have included By-Laws, Community Services, Herczeg Israel Seminar, Newsletter, North American Committee, Public Relations, Resolutions, Soviet Jewry, Status of Women, and United Nations. The ICJW also held regional meetings, seminars such as the Rosa and Esteban Herczeg seminars in Jerusalem, and field trips.
- Canadian presidents of the ICJW have included Antonia S. Robinson (1957-1960), and Helen Marr (1990-1993). While serving as president, Tony Robinson represented Jewish women of Canada at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Helen Marr served as president of National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto Section from 1973 to 1976, and as president of the NCJWC from 1981 to 1985. She married Gerald Marr, and has three children. Helen served as Canada's Vice-President to the ICJW from 1986-1989, and chaired the ICJW's triennial convention in Vancouver in 1987. She also held leadership positions with the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Ben Gurion University, Canadian Jewish Congress, and the Skylight Theatre.
- Scope and Content
- Series contains records documenting the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada's involvement in the International Council of Jewish Women. It includes pamphlets and publicity material, newsletters, the 75th anniversary tribute book, by-laws and resolutions, material from conventions and other activities, correspondence, and photographs.
- A portion of the records were generated during Helen Marr's presidency of the ICJW. These records include by-laws and guidelines, committee files, and mailings.
- Notes
- The International Council of Jewish Women was variously called the World Congress of Jewish Women, the World Conference of Jewish Women, and the World Organization of Jewish Women between 1912 and 1929.
- Name Access
- Helen Marr
- World Congress of Jewish Women
- World Conference of Jewish Women
- World Organization of Jewish Women
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Women
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Committee for Soviet Jewry series
- Affiliated organizations sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 17
- Series
- 3-4
- File
- 19
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1973-1987
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 6 photographs : col. ; 11 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- File contains six unidentified colour photographs of participants in an event, newsletters, facsimiles and originals of letters sent to Parliament and meeting reports, notices and minutes of the World Jewry Committee. Case files are attached to several of the letters. The file also contains a petition, a Passover program, with guest speaker Jim Peterson M.P., and an event poster. Among the members of the organization identified in the documents are Helen Marr, Jeanette Goldman and Stella Rozan.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Na'amat Canada Toronto fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 130
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- [195-]-2018
- Physical Description
- 1.1 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Na’amat Canada Toronto is a chapter of Na'amat Canada, a Jewish non-profit volunteer women’s organization whose goal is to improve the lives of women, children, and families in Israel and Canada. Na'amat was founded in 1925 under the name the Women's Organization for the Pioneer Women of Palestine, an organization connecting the labour Zionist movement in Palestine with Jewish communities in Canada and the United States. The need for a women’s organization arose in the context of a feminist movement in which women sought to become equal partners in founding the State of Israel by lobbying for maternity leave laws, the creation of daycare centers near places of employment, and equal-pay legislation.
- A Toronto chapter was established in 1948. In 1966, Pioneer Women (Na'amat) became autonomous in Canada, and the next year it incorporated in Canada as Pioneer Women's Organization Incorporated. In 1987, Pioneer Women's Organization Incorporated officially changed its name to Na'amat Canada Inc. The organization’s mission includes safeguarding the status of women and children, responding to humanitarian concerns, promoting Zionism and Jewish identity, and strengthening bonds between Israel and the Diaspora. To accomplish its goals, Na’amat members organize fundraisers, solicit donations, engage in targeted marketing, attract new members, and obtain publicity among other activities.
- Na'amat Canada Toronto is governed by a council comprised of volunteers that represent the membership across Toronto. More specifically, the council consists of a Toronto president, a Toronto vice-president, an immediate past president, a Toronto office administrator, a membership committee chair, a fundraising committee chair, club presidents, a communication/technology chair, a Toronto technical consultant, a programming/education chair, a leadership chair, a membership experience person, a membership advisor, a school supplies chair, an Israel Day Festival chair, and Dollars for David co-chairs.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of materials relating to Na'amat Canada Toronto which document the organization's fundraising, educational, and publishing activities in the Toronto area from the 1950s until 2018. The fonds is comprised of the following series: publications, administrative records, fundraising and event ephemera, Na'amat Israel, Na'amat USA, newspaper clippings, and clubs.
- Name Access
- Na'amat Canada Toronto
- Subjects
- Charities
- Women
- Zionism
- 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.
- Creator
- Na'amat Canada Toronto
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2019-3-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 2009-1-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-1-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- moving images
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 videocassettes (each 44 min, 39 sec.)
- Date
- 1969, 1997
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of a 1969 letter from Senator A[rthur] W. Roebuck, responding to a thank-you letter sent by Mrs. Sydney Cooper and Mrs. Minden, co-chairs of Crown Gifts division, and Mrs. Allen A. Small, chair of the Women's Division of UJA. The letter refers to the recent visit of a group of women who visited the Parliament buildings in Ottawa and were received by Senator Roebuck. The other items in the accession are a video and guidebook set entitled 'Untying the Bonds... Jewish Divorce: a GET Education Video & Guidebook, Fall 1997."
- Custodial History
- The records were in the office of Frances Goldstein, associate director for Top Gifts at UJA's Centre for Philanthropy, before being transferred to the OJA. Goldstein was formerly the head of Women's Campaign.
- Administrative History
- The Canadian Coalition of Jewish Women for the GET was composed of all the major Jewish women's organizations, which joined forces in the late 1980s to have the federal Divorce Act amended. The Jewish Women's Federation was one of these organizations; the others were Jewish Women International of Canada, Emunah Women of Canada, Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada, Na’amat Canada, Canadian ORT, Women’s Federation CJA, National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Status of Women Committee of Canadian Jewish Congress and Women’s League of Conservative Judaism. In 1990, as part of a lobbying group that included B'nai Brith, Canadian Jewish Congress, and religious groups of all faiths, the Coalition succeeded in having a protective clause added to the Divorce Act, ensuring that no spouse should retain barriers to the religious remarriage of their ex-spouse in a divorce in Canada. The Coalition went on after its successful legislative reform campaign to produce an educational video on Jewish divorce and continue with its activism and public awareness building.
- Subjects
- Women
- Get (Jewish law)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-10-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-10-5
- Material Format
- moving images
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1.2 m of graphic material and moving images
- Date
- [198-]-[202-]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Jewish National Fund of Canada. Much of the material is photographic and audiovisual.
- Name Access
- Jewish National Fund of Canada
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1989-1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of seven copies of "The Newsletter", three published by ICJW France and four by ICJW Canada. The newsletters provide information about council activities and conferences, both local and international, and news of interest to council members.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [195-?]-1995
- Physical Description
- 9 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two photocopies of photographs taken at the opening session of the ICJW in London, England on May 23, 1954; a photograph taken at the 11th Regional Lation American Congress; a scrapbook page of four photographs celebrating Jewish culture; a photograph of 8 pictures of activities in council homes in Paris and Athens and a portrait of a group of council members.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 27
- File
- 523
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 6 Nov. 1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder textual records
- 10 photographs : b&w (10 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of ten negatives depicting the Women's Division-sponsored UJA Day event at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation. Two frames show set tables, with hats as a centrepiece; other frames depict Women's Division members with a female personality known for hats. Also included is a flyer for the event: "Women CAN make a difference! You can learn how on UJA Day, Thursday, November 6, 1980, at Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue, 47 Glencairn Ave. at 12 noon." The program names the guest speaker as former U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug.
- Notes
- Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Availability of other formats: Also available as digital images.
- Name Access
- Abzug, Bella S., 1920-1998
- Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Women
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National Executive Council series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1933-1988
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Executive Council was the main governing body of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada.
- Scope and Content
- Series is composed of two sub-series: National Presidents and National Administration.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 4204
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4204
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1986
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col.
- Scope and Content
- Centre: Esther Rothschild.
- Co-Chairmen of everning: Agnes Deutsch (left); Arlene Weisbart.
- Notes
- Photograph may have been published in Canadian Jewish News.
- Name Access
- Emunah
- Rothschild, Esther
- Deutsch, Agnes
- Weisbart, Arlene
- Subjects
- Women
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zelda Young fonds
- Na'amat Pioneer Women series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 135
- Series
- 24
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Date
- 1984
- Physical Description
- 2 audio reels (ca. 5 min.) : 1/4 in.
- Admin History/Bio
- Na’amat Canada is a Jewish non-profit volunteer women’s organization whose goal is to improve the lives of women, children and families in Israel and Canada. They empower women and raise funds to support Na’amat Israel in the area of education and social services. In its early years, Na'amat was called Pioneer Women. Their members were out in the fields, factories and communal kitchens, building better lives for women in Israel, even before it was a state. Golda Meir was one of its first founders and her vitality and courage live on in modern-day Na'amat - derived from the Hebrew acronym meaning Movement of Working Women and Volunteers. Today, nearly 100 years later, Na'amat is the largest women's movement in Israel, setting the example in uplifting human rights for thousands of members in eight other countries, including chapters across Canada.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of 2 audio reels containing Na'amat Pioneer Women radio spots aired during The Jewish Hour, broadcast on CHIN Radio. Louise Kornblum, chairman of the organization's Adopt a Child program talks about the institution's work in Israel and Canada.
- Name Access
- Na’amat Canada
- Subjects
- Women--Societies and clubs
- 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.
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-5
- 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
- Part Of
- Zelda Young fonds
- Na'amat Pioneer Women series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 135
- Series
- 24
- Item
- 1
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Responsibility
- Studio IV
- Date
- 1 Apr. 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 audio reel (2 min., 49 sec.) : polyester, 7 1/2 ips, 2 tracks, stereo ; 1/4 in.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of Na'amat Pioneer Women in which Louise Kornblum talks about the services provided by the organziation in Israel and tells the story of a four-year-old boy who had been staying at a Na'amat home for the past year. She calls for donations from "spiritual adoptive parents" to support Na'amat homes through the Adopted Child program.
- Notes
- Recorded on 28 March 1984 at Studio IV; aired on Sunday, 1 April 1984.
- Name Access
- Na’amat Canada
- Subjects
- Women--Societies and clubs
- 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.
- Physical Condition
- Tape is in good condition. Audio quality is good. No signs of mold or SBS.
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zelda Young fonds
- Na'amat Pioneer Women series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 135
- Series
- 24
- Item
- 2
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Date
- 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 audio reel (2 min.) : polyester, 7 1/2 ips, 2 tracks, stereo ; 1/4 in.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of Na'amat Pioneer Women in which Louise Kornblum talks about Na'amat Pioneer Women and State of Israel Bonds' tribute to Goldie Bernstein, who started in 1973 the Na'amat campaign to bring Hanukkah gifts to the 23,000 children living at the organization's homes. Bernstein was one of the nine women honoured at that year's (unspecified) Israel Bonds Women of Valor dinner. Kornblum also talks about the comradeship between Na'amat women.
- Notes
- No air date specified.
- Name Access
- Na’amat Canada
- Subjects
- Women--Societies and clubs
- 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.
- Physical Condition
- Tape is in good condition. Audio quality is good. No signs of mold or SBS.
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Ben Kayfetz fonds
- Personal series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 62
- Series
- 1
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1985
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of the Council of National Ethnocultural Organizations of Canada Service Award received by Ben Kayfetz and a brochure and article about the event.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 2018-7-21
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-7-21
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 113 cm of textual and other records
- 1 scrapbook
- Date
- 1938-2016
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Act to End Violence Against Women organization. Included are: meeting minutes of the executive board; a ledger containing executive board waivers of notice; meeting minutes and resolutions from the yearly conventions; photographs of Act to End Violence Against Women members; correspondence with other organizations; correspondence, research material, public reactions, and ephemera from various campaigns; a commemorative booklet for a B'nai Brith cantorial concert; a scrapbook on the formation of the B'nai Brith Women Claire Morry Chapter; constitutions, constitutional amendments, reports, budgets, resolutions and other records of Act to End Violence Against Women; member lists and honour roll of past chapters; material and correspondence with B'nai Brith Washington; UJA material concerning assimilation and intermarriage and 2001 Jewish census data results.
- Administrative History
- The first Canadian chapter of B'nai Brith Women International was formed in Windsor, Ontario in 1923. Other chapters were soon formed throughout Eastern Canada and additional chapters were established in Winnipeg and British Columbia after 1949. The organization was initially administered by the American B'nai Brith Women. In 1976, it finally became autonomous (although still affiliated with the American agency) and changed its name to B'nai Brith Women of Eastern Canada. In 1981, its name was changed again to B'nai Brith Women of Canada. In 1995, the organization became known as Jewish Women International of Canada (JWIC). In November 2011, the organization underwent a final name change to Act to End Violence Against Women.
- JWIC is committed to social change, with a particular focus on improving the lives of women and their families. In the 1980s, the agency initiated programs to counter domestic violence and began operating safe housing for Jewish women and children known as ASTEH (Alternative Safe Temporary Emergency Housing). JWIC also runs the JWI Residential Treatment Centre for emotionally disturbed youth.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Descriptive Notes
- Language note: Material in English, Russian and French.
- Subjects
- Charities
- Family violence
- Women
- Name Access
- Act to End Violence Against Women
- Places
- Canada
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 4202
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4202
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1986
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col.
- Scope and Content
- Standing left to right: Nancy Cooperberg (National President); Howard Moscoe (Controller, North York); Ellen Nash (Executive Director, B'nai Brith Women); Rabbi Harvey Meirovich (Beth Sholom Synagogue).
- Seated: Irving Chapley (Alderman, North York).
- Notes
- Canadian Jewish News photo.
- Name Access
- B'nai Brith Women of Canada
- Cooperberg, Nancy
- Moscoe, Howard
- Nash, Ellen
- Meirovich, Rabbi Harvey
- Chapley, Irving
- Subjects
- Portraits, Group
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-12-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 2016-2-14
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-2-14
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1.8 m of textual records and graphic material
- Date
- 1989-2000
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records created by UJA Federation's Women's Campaign and Advocacy. The records consist of general subject files that document the breadth of work of the WC&A, including the operation of its executive board and committees, fundraising campaigns and the various giving levels, missions, volunteer management, outreach efforts, programming, as well as the WC&A's relationship with the Jewish Women's Federation.
- Custodial History
- These records appear to have originated with Frances Goldstein.
- 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
- Philanthropy and fundraising
- Women
- Name Access
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
- Jewish Women's Federation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Part Of
- Jewish Family and Child fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 79
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1933-2011
- Physical Description
- ca. 4.8 m of texutal records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Jewish Family & Child was established in 1943 from the amalgamation of a variety of different social agencies formed as early as 1868. These included the Ladies Benevolent Fund, the Free Burial Society, Jewish Family Welfare Bureau, Jewish Children’s Bureau, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Ladies Maternal Aid Society. Much of its funding and support after its inception came from the United Jewish Welfare Fund.
- The first executive director of the agency was Dora Wilensky. She was a trained social worker who served for twenty-eight years, until her untimely death from cancer in 1959. Jerome Diamond took over in 1960 and Gordon Wolfe succeeded him in 1981. Ron Levin briefly replaced Wolfe after his retirement in 2003, and was succeeded in 2006 by Dr. Richard Cummings who then retired in 2015. As of 2017, Brian Prousky is the organization’s current executive director.
- During the early years, fees were established, but the agency never refused to assist clients because of their inability to pay. JF&CS became one of the first agencies to rely on trained social workers. It was also the first social agency in Canada to become unionized.
- Over the years the agency’s role has changed and it has expanded significantly, in terms of its staff and services. After the Second World War it played a pivotal role supporting the Holocaust orphans who came to Canada as refugees, particularly in the area of locating foster parents for these children. By 1957, the agency hired its first counsellor and became a member of the United Community Fund of Greater Toronto. The year 1968 marked the start of JF&CS’ new program involving the use of a mobile treatment centre to reach out to Jewish street kids and in 1974 they established the Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre.
- In 1981, JF&CS was mandated by the Province of Ontario as a Jewish children’s aid society responsible for the care and protection of all Jewish youth in the GTA. In 1983 they established the Just-A-Second Shop at 3101 Bathurst Street, which took in used goods from the community to pass on to needy families. Two years later they established the Henry G. Goodman Home for developmentally challenged children on Wilmington Avenue. The following year marked the opening of the Elm Ridge Group Living Residence for elderly people. In 1988, they opened a special shelter for abused women and children, and in 1994, they introduced their Homework Club for kids.
- The current mission of Jewish Family & Child is to support the healthy development of individuals, children, families, and communities through prevention, protection, counselling, education, and advocacy services, within the context of Jewish values. Their services include counselling, rehabilitation and support, foster care, family services, and community services. These services are offered in a host of different languages including Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, French, and English.
- JF&CS is an independent organization that receives its funding from a variety of different sources such as UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, United Way Toronto and York Region, the Government of Ontario, and individual donations.
- As of 2017, JF&CS has nearly 130 staff providing more than thirty community services with a budget of almost $20 million. Their main office is located in the Lipa Green Centre for Community Services at 4600 Bathurst Street. They also maintain offices and run services out of their downtown branch at 35 Madison Avenue, their York Region branch inside UJA’s 1 Open Door at the Lebovic JCC, and their Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre in midtown Toronto.
- Name Access
- Jewish Family and Child
- Wilensky, Dora, 1902-1959
- Wolfe, Gordon
- Diamond, Jerome D.
- Subjects
- Charities
- Children
- Families
- Nonprofit organizations
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.
- Related Material
- See also: Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds (fonds 86); Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds (fonds 87); Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds (fonds 66); and, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds (fonds 67).
- Creator
- Jewish Family and Child (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-101
- 2004-1-8
- 2002-10-38
- 2006-6-7 (Shelf 03-6,Orphan index cards)
- 2009-12-9
- 2010-4-1 (Shelf 34-1)
- 2010-10-5
- 2015-8/11
- 2015-9/1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Board of Jewish Education fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 48
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1936-2001
- Physical Description
- 21.5 m of textual records
- ca. 180 photographs : col. and b&w (ca. 165 col. negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- Established in 1949 as the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Board of Jewish Education (BJE) is the central Jewish agency in Toronto whose mandate is to preserve, enrich, and promote Jewish education in the Greater Toronto area. Its primary tasks are to coordinate and provide leadership in teacher training and professional development, curriculum development, school administration, and inter-school activities, and also to allocate funds to affiliated Jewish schools raised through the annual UJA Federation fundraising campaign.
- The BJE was established following the recommendations of a 1948 study of Jewish education in Toronto undertaken by Dr. Uriah Z. Engelman of the American Association for Jewish Education, and sponsored by the United Jewish Welfare Fund (UJWF; now, the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto) and the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), Central Region. In its constitution, the bureau was described as having the dual characteristics of being an autonomous agency of the UJWF and also as acting for the UJWF in the field of Jewish education. The bureau was governed by a board of governors with representatives from affiliated schools, the UJWF, CJC Central Region, and from the community at large. The inaugural meeting of the board took place on 20 March 1950.
- The organizational structure of the Bureau of Jewish Education mirrored that of the UJWF, with a board of directors and executive committee, standing comittees, and a professional staff. Samuel Posluns was the first president of the BJE and Dr. Joseph Diamond was its first executive director, serving in this position for 18 years. In the 1950s, the staff consisted of the executive director, an administrative assistant, and a school consultant. Over time, the staff was expanded to meet the increased demand for BJE services as the number of affiliated schools grew. For example, the position of director of school finances was created in 1976 to oversee school budgets, monitor tuition fees and teacher salary profiles, and perform other duties relating to financial management.
- The BJE's offices were located with those of the United Jewish Welfare Fund, first on Spadina Avenue and then on Beverley Street, until the 1960s, when the board moved to offices in the Jewish Public Library on Glen Park Avenue. The board remained there until 1983, when the BJE moved into the newly built Lipa Green Building, on Bathurst Street, along with the other departments of the Toronto Jewish Congress, as the UJWF was renamed in 1976.
- During the 1950s and early 1960s, the BJE sponsored adult education programs in Toronto through the Institute for Jewish Studies, in collaboration with the Jewish Community Centre (JCC) and CJC. The BJE also provided assistance and advice to the CJC in support of Jewish education in the smaller Jewish communities in Ontario. The BJE's role in adult education diminished significantly after its reorganization in 1968, but this again became a responsibility for the BJE in the late 1990s.
- The BJE has gone through several periods of reorganization since it was founded: in 1968, when the bureau became the Board of Jewish Education and its board was reduced in size significantly; in the late 1970s, with the implementation of recommendations of the 1975 UJWF Study Committee on Jewish Education; in the early 1990s, following the development of a strategic plan for the BJE; and in the late 1990s, following the recommendations of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto Commission on Jewish Education (1996). The 1968 reorganization was the most significant of these, with the BJE Board of Directors reduced from over 80 members to just 20 members approved by the UJWF, and the number of standing committees was reduced to two. Stephen Berger was appointed as first chairman of the Board of Jewish Education in 1968, and in 1969, Rabbi Irwin E. Witty became the second executive director of the BJE. Later reorganizations typically involved alterations to the number and responsibilities of BJE committees.
- Although its primary function is to support existing educational institutions, the BJE has also participated in establishing several new instititions in Toronto. In 1953, to meet the need for qualified teachers in affiliated schools, the BJE and CJC Central Region founded a Jewish teachers' seminary (Midrasha L'Morim) in Toronto, which was jointly funded by the BJE and CJC for many years. In 1960, the BJE and UJWF sponsored the establishment of a non-denominational Jewish high school, the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT), with the BJE Executive Director as its director. In 1978, the Orah School for Jewish Children from the Soviet Union was established by the BJE, to meet the special needs of the large numbers of recent immigrants from the Soviet Union.
- At its founding, the BJE served a total of 21 day and supplementary schools. When it ceased functioning in 2012, the BJE served more than 70 day and supplementary schools in the Greater Toronto area, with the position of chair held by Baila Lubek and the position of executive director held by Dr. Seymour Epstein. The Board was replaced by the Mercaz and later, the Centre for Jewish Education.
- Custodial History
- The BJE records in accession 1995-8-2 were in the possession of Harvey Raben, formerly a school consultant with the BJE, for several years prior to his donation in 1995, while Raben worked on his Doctor of Education thesis on the history of the BJE.
- Scope and Content
- The fonds documents the interactions of the BJE with affiliated schools, the UJWF and its successors -- the Toronto Jewish Congress (TJC), Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (JFGT) and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto -- and the community in its work of facilitating and financing Jewish education in Toronto. The bulk of the records consist of the files of the executive director, associate director and director of school finances, and minutes of the BJE Board of Directors and its committees. As well as meeting minutes, these records include memoranda, correspondence, committee reports, budget and financial statements, and a small number of photographs of individuals and of BJE events.
- The fonds is arranged into eighteen series defined by the BJE's organizational units, projects and programs, institutions established by the BJE or its officers, and by record form. These series are as follows: Board of directors and executive committee, Executive director, Director of school finances, Subject files, School files, Chronological correspondence and memoranda, Newsletters and other publications, Midrasha L'Morim, Bible contests, Canada-Israel Secondary School Program, Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, Orah School for Russian Jewish Children, Dr. Abraham Shore She'arim Hebrew Day School, Toronto Jewish Media Centre, Meyer W. Gasner Memorial Scholarship Fund, Principals councils, Association of Jewish Day School Administrators, and Parents Council of Hebrew Day Schools
- Name Access
- Board of Jewish Education
- Subjects
- Education
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- The records of the Educational and Cultural Committee in the Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region fonds document the CJC's involvement in the establishment of the BJE and the operation and funding of the Midrasha L'Morim. The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto fonds, accessions 2002-10-54, 2004-6-4 and 2004-6-9 contain records on the establishment of the Bureau of Jewish Education, the appointment of UJWF representatives to its board, the reorganization of the bureau as the Board of Jewish Education in 1968, the various studies conducted of the BJE, and the annual review and approval of allotments for Jewish education in Toronto by UJA Federation and its predecessors. Accession 2004-6-4 also contains records on the funding of Jewish education in Toronto by the UJWF in the late 1930s and the 1940s, prior to the establishment of the BJE.
- Arrangement
- Files at the BJE were typically organized alphabetically by subject with no clear division by function or program. While some files were kept in a central filing system maintained by an administrative assistant and shared by all professional staff, staff members also kept their own series of alphabetical subject files. Since staff responsibilities for programs and support of board committees shifted over time, records relating to these programs and activities became dispersed across several sets of files. The archivist has extracted files relating to programs, committees, and areas of activity from these various sets of subject files and defined series according to these activities, programs and functions. The remaining alphabetical subject files have been integrated into one subject file series. File titles have been edited to bring together records relating to similar topics, events and activities within this series.
- The other two common filing methods employed at the BJE were to store correspondence, memoranda and committee minutes chronologically (often in 3-ring binders), and in series of "School files" -- files organized alphabetically by school name, containing correspondence and other records relating to the school. The school files have been brought together into one school file series. The chronological series have been left in their original order.
- Creator
- Board of Jewish Education (1949-2007)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Na'amat Canada Toronto fonds
- Publications series
- Pioneer Women and Na'amat Canada Tribute Yearbooks file
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 130
- Series
- 1
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1976-2006
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of event programmes, greeting, advertisements, memorials, and lists of club members and donors.
- 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.
- Accession Number
- 2019-3-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 17
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1982-1988
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of reports, correspondence, invitations, general assembly programs, and a Smolar Award book for 1988.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
- Executive director series
- Subject files sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 61
- Series
- 1-1
- File
- 75
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1957-1981
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The Jewish Camp Council was formed in 1945 by five different groups running summer camps for Jewish youth: B’nai Brith, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Mothers’ and Babes’ Summer Rest Home Association, the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto and the YM-YWHA
- The United Jewish Welfare Fund eventually assumed responsibility for all camp property, including Camp Northland in Haliburton, and programming for all camps was organized as a unified service. The Jewish Camp Council Board of Directors included representatives from all five organizations, while the executive director of the YM-YWHA acted as executive director of the Jewish Camp Council. Initially, the head office was located at Camp B'nai Brith, near Orillia, and then moved into the new YM-YWHA building at Spadina and Bloor in 1953.
- Scope and Content
- This file contains textual records relating to the operation of the Jewish Camp Council and the camps it oversaw. Records include reports, executive and community correspondence, financial records, camp pamphlets and program itineraries.
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Morris Norman collection
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 22
- Item
- 46
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1987
- Physical Description
- 1 item
- Name Access
- Congregation Shaarei Tzedec (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- High Holidays
- Synagogues
- Women
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- 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
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 67
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1936-2010, predominant 1938-1976
- Physical Description
- 14.3 m of textual records
- 5593 photographs, 25 x 20 cm and smaller, and other media
- Admin History/Bio
- The Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto (FJPT) was incorporated in Ontario in March 1917 to coordinate the fundraising activities of Jewish charitable, philanthropic, and social service agencies in Toronto. In 1918, ten separate agencies were funded by the FJPT. By 1937, fourteen agencies were funded. The Great Depression of the 1930s and the development of several newer Jewish aid, education, and medical care organizations created both increased need for resources and growing competition for ever-more scarce dollars. Within a very few years, this funding crisis forced a major review of the organization.
- During 1936, a series of special meetings of leading individuals were held to examine the income and expenditures of all Toronto Jewish agencies and also to speculate about the need for a new Toronto Jewish "community chest" as the sole fund-raising organization for a federation of all Jewish agencies, including the FJPT. In 1938, the new United Jewish Welfare Fund was formally constituted. Added to the FJPT's previous list of Toronto client agencies in 1938 were: the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Hebrew National Association, the Jewish Immigrant Aid Association, the Mizrachi Society, the Toronto Free Loan Association, the Geverkshaften, and Old Folks Home, and the United Palestine Appeal, raising the total number of agencies to twenty-two.
- When the State of Israel was established in 1948, the UJWF's annual fundraising campaign was combined with the CJC's United Palestine appeal to form a new, combined campaign named the United Jewish Appeal (UJA). In 1967, the UJA name was legally changed to the United Jewish Appeal of Metropolitan Toronto.
- In mid-1976, the organization's public name was changed to the Toronto Jewish Congress. Although initially thought of as a merger between the UJWF and the CJC, the actual result was the expansion of the UJWF responsibilities to include local education and welfare services previously shared with the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region. The UJWF, however, remained the legal senior entity.
- In 1991, the public name was again changed to the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto and, in 1999, to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. By this date, over thirty beneficiary and affiliated agencies, forty-nine affiliated schools and five federation departments were fully or partly funded by the federation.
- In June 2010, the organization altered its legal structure, with the senior legal entity becoming the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 25 series: Annual Meetings, Annual Reports, Board of Directors, Constitution Committee, Executive Committee, Officers Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Administration Committee, Social Planning Committee, Committee on Capital Needs and Planning, Central Committee on Scholarships in Aid, Joint Committee of the BJE and UJWF Study on Jewish Education, Nominations Committee, Pension Fund Committee, Coordinating Committee, Special Ad Hoc and Temporary Committees, Annual Campaign, Client Agencies, Joint Committee of the CJC and the UJWF, Committee on Community Organization, Sub-Committee on Construction and Administration of Community Schools, Joint Committee on Fundraising, Personnel Committee, Community Leadership Development Council, and Israel at Fifty Community Celebration.
- Over 4500 photographs and a variety of other media are managed within Series 17, Campaign records.
- Notes
- For exact details about the contents of individual series and sub-series, please review their scope and contents notes.
- Name Access
- United Jewish Welfare Fund
- Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto
- United Jewish Appeal
- Toronto Jewish Congress
- Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
- Subjects
- Charities
- Fund raising
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- For records of the predecessor of the UJWF, see Fonds 66, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds.
- Further detailed documentation of the proposed merger between the UJWF and the CJC (creation of the TJC) may be found in Fonds 67, Sub-sub-series 5-5-1, Files 171 and 221.
- Further documentation on the United Jewish Welfare Fund may be found within Fonds 9, Series 7, records of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society.
- For further detailed records of a key community leader's involvement with the UJWF see Accession 1982-8-8, the records of Samuel Godfrey, 1943-1972.
- Creator
- United Jewish Welfare Fund (1938-)
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Ontario Jewish Archives sous-fonds
- Level
- Sous-fonds
- Fonds
- 67-1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1971-2008
- Physical Description
- 2.1 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The Ontario Jewish Archives (OJA) was established in 1973 and remains in operation today. The OJA’s mandate is to acquire, preserve, and make available records documenting Ontario’s Jewish community. The Archives became a legal corporation on 24 February 1977 with authorization from the Federal Corporations Act and the Provincial Letters Patent.
- The Toronto Jewish Historical Society (TJHS) established an Archives Committee in 1971, to preserve the records of Toronto’s Jewish community. This prompted the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) Central Region to work with the TJHS to establish an organization that would preserve records of Jewish communities across Ontario. At a CJC Central Region Officers’ meeting in 1973, TJHS president Victor Sefton proposed that the Historical Society’s Archives Committee become an official arm of the CJC. After approving the proposal, the CJC Central Region allocated a budget for operation of the Archives, and the two Committees merged, forming one archival organization that operated under the umbrella of the CJC Central Region.
- After the Toronto Jewish Congress (TJC) formed in 1976, the Archives became accountable to the TJC but continued to report to the CJC Central Region. In 1992, the TJC and CJC transferred responsibility for the Archives to the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation, and the Archives remains part of that organization today.
- The OJA’s administrative structure includes a Board of Directors, the director of the archives, archivists, an assistant archivist, contract employees, and volunteers. The Board of Directors consists of six to twelve members, each approved by UJA Federation and current Board members. Meetings are held a minimum four times per year and are presided by a Chair or the Vice Chair in the Chair’s absence. The Archives Director manages daily operation of the Archives. From 1973 to around 2000, Stephen Speisman acted as Director of the Archives. Ellen Scheinberg served as Archives Director from October 2002 to January 2011. Dara Solomon began as the OJA's Director in May 2012.
- Since 1973, the Archives has undergone unofficial and official name changes. When first established in 1973, the Archives was called the “Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region Archives.” After the Archives became accountable to the TJC, OJA letterheads and publicity material occasionally bore the name “Toronto Jewish Congress / Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region Archives.” When the Archives became a legal corporation in 1977, the corporation was named the “Ontario Jewish Archives Foundation” but the Archives’ public name remained unchanged. In 1992, the Archives’ public name officially became the “Ontario Jewish Archives.”
- Scope and Content
- This sous-fonds documents the formation, administration, and operation of the OJA. Records relating to the establishment of the Archives date from 1971-1973, while those relating to administration and operation date from 1973-2008.
- This sous-fonds consists of Archives Committee meeting minutes, memoranda, policies, communications with parent organizations (mainly TJC), financial records, correspondence, records documenting the development of the OJA website, and a small amount of acquisition files. Records in the sous-fonds relate to Archives programs and projects, including tours, exhibits, presentations, workshops, and services. Activities of employee and volunteer work are also documented. Also present are budgets and posters from the Oskar Asher Schmidt Museum, which the Archives operated.
- Notes
- Access restriction note: The financial records, personnel and competition files and grant files are restricted to the public.
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- Additional records related to this sous-fonds can be found in the Sol Edell fonds, Victor Sefton fonds, accession 2006-7/7 and Cyrel Troster's records.
- Arrangement
- Correspondence was originally organized in chronological order and remains in the original order. Other records have been arranged according to function or activity.
- Creator
- Ontario Jewish Archives (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- This sous-fonds is comprised of accessions 2005-8/2, 2004-5/99 and 2004-6/5 along with MG8J and materials from the Sol Edell fonds.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 61
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [ca. 1920]-1994
- Physical Description
- 3 m of textual records (19 v.) and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The Schwartz-Reisman Jewish Community Centre, the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre (formerly the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre or BJCC) and the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNJCC) in Toronto are the current incarnations of what began, in 1919, as the Hebrew Association of Young Men's and Young Women's Clubs, later known as the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Toronto (YM-YWHA). The YM-YWHA, in turn, began as a merger between several other small athletic clubs operating in the city. The original mandate was strictly athletic, but soon broadened to include other areas of interest, in order to provide a sense of Jewish identity and camaraderie through physical, educational, cultural and community based programming. During the 1920s, the 'Y' became known simply as the Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) – the name under which it was incorporated in 1930.
- For close to two decades, the ‘Y’ had rented rooms in the Brunswick Avenue and College Street area, including the basement facilities of the Brunswick Avenue Talmud Torah. By the mid-1930s, these facilities were overcrowded and unable to support the growing membership, particularly when the young women’s programming was reintroduced in 1936.
- As a result, in 1937, the YM-YWHA constructed its own athletic building at 15 Brunswick Avenue, next door to the Talmud Torah, to ease the overcrowding. However, the ‘Y’ still had to make use of five scattered buildings to meet its needs, including the Central YMCA gym for its basketball teams. The early ‘Y’ was staffed by volunteers who were granted free memberships in exchange for their time and expertise.
- On 3 February 1953, a new Jewish Community Centre was dedicated at the corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue. By the end of the 1950s, the ‘Y’ was providing services for all ages, ranging from a nursery school to their Good Age Club for seniors.
- As the Jewish community moved northward, so too did the ‘Y’, with the dedication of a new northern branch on 1 May 1961. This new branch, located at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue, was created in order to address the athletic, educational, cultural and community needs of the expanding Jewish community in the north end of the city. Fourteen years later, an improved cultural and physical education wing was added as part of the completion campaign. This included the addition of the Leah Posluns Theatre and the Murray Koffler Centre of the Arts. In 1978, the YM-YWHA changed its name to the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto, in order to better reflect its broader role in the community. A new Northeast Valley branch was also established in Thornhill in the early 1980s and later closed in the late 1990s.
- In 1994, the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto took over the operation of the northern branch, due to financial difficulties. At this point, all three branches became independent of one another and were no longer constituted as the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto. They each had independent boards of directors, while still receiving some of their operating funds from the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of the records created and accumulated by the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto -- which included the Bloor branch and the northern Bathurst Jewish Community Centre -- and its predecessor, the YM-YWHA. The records include textual records maintained by the office of the executive director, financial reports, architectural plans, Y-Times newsletters, program material, photographs and oral histories.
- The records have been arranged into the following series: Executive director, Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee, Publication Committee, Communications Department, Sports Celebrity Dinner, and Combined Building Campaign Committee.
- Notes
- Includes 2539 photographs, 42 architectural drawings, 13 sound recordings, 4 artifacts, and 2 posters.
- Name Access
- Jewish Community Centre of Toronto
- Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
- Subjects
- Community centers
- Related Material
- See photo #2369-2646, 3412, 3519, 3804, 4201, 5004, 6125, accession #1986-7-8, MG2 N1a
- Creator
- Jewish Community Centre of Toronto (Toronto, Ont.)
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2004-6-6
- 2004-5-13
- 2004-5-2
- 1988-11-7
- 1988-4-9
- 1984-7-2
- 1983-12-1
- 1982-12-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 74
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1978-1992
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting agendas and minutes, financial statements, and correspondence.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
