Accession Number

2018-6-22

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1947, 1972-1992

Scope and Content

Accession consists of materials assembled by Stanley Emerson and donated to the Ontario Jewish Archives. Included are: one hardbound book commemorating the Toronto Hebrew Free School's liquidation of its capital debt on May 8, 1947; one spiral-bound book assembled on the occassion of Shomrai Shaboth Congregation's twentieth anniversary testimonial dinner honouring Rabbi Gedalia Felder to be held on Sunday, June 18, 1972; one Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto programme for its annual dinner to be held on Thursday, June 22, 1978; one programme for a Machanaim Testimonial Dinner honouring Dr. Isadore Cass on Wednesday, May 2, 1979; one Associated Hebrew Schools graduation programme for Wednesday, June 27, 1979; one newspaper clipping from the Thursday, June 6, 1985 edition of the Canadian Jewish News relating to Rabbi Gedalia Felder, former spiritual leader of Shomrai Shaboth-Chevra Mishnayoth Congregation; one newspaper clipping from the Thursday, June 13, 1985 edition of the Canadian Jewish News relating to Harold Dessen, former president of Associated Hebrew Schools; and one paperbound book assembled on the occassion of a Sol Edell tribute dinner commoemorating the fiftieth yahrzeit (death anniversary) of HaRav Yosef Weinreb and the establishment of the Saol Edell Family Endowment Fund to be held on Saturday, October 31, 1992.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Schools

Synagogues

Name Access

Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto

Cass, Isadore M., 1916-1996

Dessen, Harold

Felder, Gedalia, 1922-

Shomrai Shabbos Chevrah Mishnayos (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-7-24

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

3 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller

Date

1988-2016

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Gerald "Jerry" Rosenberg and his involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion's General Wingate Branch 256. Included are General Wingate Branch 256 meeting agendas (2013-2015), Royal Canadian Legion correspondence (2014), two General Wingate Branch newsletters (October 2015 and March 2016), an annual branch inspection report form (27 September 2015), a branch regulations and clubhouse rules submission form (2012), financial statements and receipts (2013-2015), certificates of merit and appreciation from the Royal Canadian Legion (2002-2009), and a document in Hebrew commemo

In addition to the above documents, there are three photographs for which identification is missing: one of a funeral, one of a demonstrators carrying signs urging recognition of China, and a portrait of an unknown veteran.

Finally, the accession contains an undated letter to the editor of an unspecified newspaper that outline Jerry's views of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Custodial History

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

Administrative History

Jerry Rosenberg grew up in Hamilton, Ontario along with his twin sister, two brothers, and older sister. When he was seventeen years old, Rosenberg lied about his age in order to fight in the Second World War. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served for the duration of the war.

After the war, Rosenberg approached the Canadian Zionist Organization about volunteering in Palestine. After a circuitous journey that first took him from Montreal to New York to France, he arrived in Haifa in February or March 1948. Rosenberg was part of Machal, a group of overseas volunteers who fought alongside Israeli forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Rosenberg joined the Haganah and fought in the 52nd Givati Regiment. As part of this unit, he participated in battle in the Arab village of Bashshit.

After the war, Rosenberg made preparations to leave Israel. Upon arriving in Canada, he worked with Jewish organizations and started a family. He became president of the Royal Canadian Legion's Wingate Branch 256. He died on 23 August 2017.

Descriptive Notes

Language: English, French

Subjects

Arab-Israeli conflict

Veterans--Canada

Name Access

Bessner, Ellin, 1961-

Rosenberg, Jerry

Royal Canadian Legion

Places

Canada

Israel

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

74

Item

29

Material Format

graphic material

Date

27 Sept. 1981

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 13 x13 cm

Notes

Credit: Royal Canadian Legion.

Name Access

Monson, Rabbi David

Royal Canadian Legion

Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

Cemeteries

Rabbis

Accession Number

1987-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

74

Item

28

Material Format

graphic material

Date

7 Sept. 1980

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 9 cm

Notes

Credit: Royal Canadian Legion / Sacks.

Name Access

Royal Canadian Legion

Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

Cemeteries

Accession Number

1987-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

74

Item

30

Material Format

graphic material

Date

22 Sept. 1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm

Scope and Content

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

Notes

Photograph is by Graphic Artists, Toronto

Name Access

Goldman, Barry

Goldman, Randy

Stein, Ernie

Royal Canadian Legion

Mount sinai Cemetery

Goldman, Israel

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

Cemeteries

Physical Condition

Good

Accession Number

1986-12-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

General Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

74

Item

31

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm

Scope and Content

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

Notes

Photograph is by Graphic Artists, Toronto

Name Access

Pritzker, Lee

Arons, Jack

Royal Canadian Legion

Mount sinai Cemetery

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

Cemeteries

Accession Number

1986-12-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dr. Isadore M. Cass fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

40

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1909-1995

Physical Description

45 cm of textual records

14 photographs : b&w (8 negatives) ; 18 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Dr. Isadore M. Cass (1916-1996), a well-known pathologist and practicing mohel--Jewish ritual circumcisor--for the Toronto Jewish community, was born and educated in Toronto, attending the University of Toronto's medical school. After serving with the army during the Second World War, Dr. Cass returned to Toronto to private practice. He began studying pathology in 1953, and performed research at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Connaught Labs and the Ontario Department of Health throughout his career. He was chief of pathology at Ajax and Pickering hospitals for twenty-three years, until his retirement in 1986.

In 1945, Dr. Cass began doing ritual circumcisions and was the first medical doctor in Toronto to do so. He performed over 40,000 circumcisions throughout Canada and the eastern United States and trained many physicians to perform them as well.

Dr. Cass was a member of the following organizations: New York Academy of Sciences; the Academy of Medicine, Toronto; the Israel Medical Association; General Wingate Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion; and many other associations and societies.

Dr. Cass studied Torah under Rabbi Jacob Gordon and was a Torah reader at Goel Tzedec Synagogue and later, Beth Tzedec. He also studied and taught Torah throughout his life, chairing the Canadian Jewish Congress' Tanach study group for many years, and leading weekly Gemara classes at Beth Tzedec. He belonged to Shaarei Shomayim and Beth Lida synagogues, as well as Lubavitch. In 1987, Dr. and Mrs. Cass were honoured as "Couple of the Year" by Machanaim, The Network of Educational Institutions in Kiryat Gat, Israel, for their great contributions to this charity over the years.

Dr. Cass was married to Miriam Cass and they had four daughters: Sharon, Hylah, Judy, and Elaine. He had four brothers: the late Rabbi Samuel Cass, Harry, Al, and Elie (who was a Reform mohel), and two sisters: Miriam Cass and Zelda Fink. He also had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Dr. Cass died on January 24, 1996 of cancer.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of records relating to the personal and professional life of Dr. Isadore Cass. These records include appointment books documenting circumcisions he performed, correspondence, writings, Tanach study group notes, a Machanaim invitation and programme, prayer books, certificates, memorial cards, and photographs.

Name Access

Cass, Isadore M., 1916-1996

Subjects

Physicians

Access Restriction

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

Physical Condition

The prayer book is in poor condition and some of the early daytimers are in fair condition.

Related Material

See also the Ontario Jewish Archives' reference news clipping file under "Cass, Dr. Isadore".

Creator

Cass, Isadore M., 1916-1996

Accession Number

1997-5-1

1997-8-2

Source

Archival Descriptions