Accession Number

2022-8-4

Material Format

architectural drawing

graphic material

object

textual record

sound recording

Physical Description

ca. 11 m of textual records and other material

Date

1930-2017

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the life and career of Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg. Included are subject files, eulogies, sermons, marriage records, funeral record cards, conversion certificates, gittin (Jewish divorce documents), addresses for High Holiday services, and photographs. Also include are a few artifacts, such as felt patches and medallions, as well as sound recordings. A large number of documents are relating to Rabbi Friedberg's rabbinical career at Beth Tzedec Congregation.

Administrative History

Rabbi Joseph Benjamin Friedberg (1927-2022) was born on June 26, 1927, in Toronto to Chaim (Chamel) and Rochel Rose Friedberg. Rochel Friedberg was born in Polaniec, Poland (Russian part of Poland), the daughter of Moshe and Sura Poss. Rochel had little formal education but learned Talmud from her father. In her youth, Moshe came to Toronto to make a living and had to leave the family behind; shortly thereafter, World War I broke out, and Rochel was sent to the town of Stopnitz. She was then sent to Crackow to work. Rochel married Chaim (Chamel) Friedberg from Patchenev, who was enlisted in Pilsudski’s army. Before the Great Depression, Rochel and Chaim immigrated to Canada. Later on, Chaim took ill and had to go to the Western Sanitarium; soon after that, he passed away in 1957. Rochel passed away in 1992.

Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg was a native of Toronto and received his basic religious and secular education there. He attended Harbord Collegiate in his youth. After spending a number of years at the Yeshiva University in New York, he returned home to attended the University of Toronto, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. In 1950, Rabbi Friedberg entered the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his Master of Hebrew Letters degree and rabbinical ordination in 1954.

Rabbi Friedberg’s first pulpit was in Rochester, New York. He served as assistant rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation in 1955; and then as rabbi of B’nai Israel Congregation in London, Ontario. In 1959, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in Bible and Archaeology. As part of his doctorial program, he studied in the Department of Archaeology and Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; he also spent several years studying in the Department of Religion at the University of Ottawa with special emphasis on the Samaritans.

In 1961, Rabbi Friedberg was called to the pulpit of Agudath Israel Congregation in Ottawa, Ontario, where he served for thirteen years until 1974.

In 1974, he was appointed senior rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto. His major emphases in the congregation were the development of both child and adult education and emphasizing Israel as the dominant fact in Jewish life today. Much of the programming at Beth Tzedec that he instituted dealt with Israel.

Rabbi Friedberg’s interest in Jewish education was responsible for the founding of a Hebrew High School in Ottawa. His concern with Jewish youth prompted him to devote his time as counsellor to the Hillel Organization on the campuses of the University of Western Ontario, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa. He taught Bible, Biblical Hebrew, and courses in Judaism at the University of Ottawa; and was an occasional lecturer at the University of Western Ontario in the Orientals Department. While living in Ottawa, he was active in a number of Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and the organizer of the Ottawa Soviet Jewry Committee and was head of the Jews in Foreign Lands Committee and Canada-Israel Committee. Also, he was on the Social Welfare Council and was chairman of the Aliyah Committee in Ottawa.

Rabbi Friedberg was active with the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). He worked actively on behalf of the CJC’s Educational Department. He was on the executive of the CJC Central and Eastern Regions and served as national chairman of the CJC’s International Affairs Committee. As an active Zionist, he served as national chairman of the Hasbara Committee of the CZF and was president of Mercaz Canada, the Zionist organization of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement. He also organized Israel tours and led Israel tour groups for a number of times. Rabbi Friedberg was the recipient of citations of the UJA, State of Israel Bonds, and various other awards in recognition of his communal work. In addition, he had also been invited to serve as a member of Teddy Kollek’s Jerusalem Committee.

Rabbi Friedberg was a contributor to Anglo-Jewish press, television work, and radio. He was chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Religious Advisory Committee and hosted his own television program called “Focus.” He had written for the London Free Press, and the Ottawa Citizen, and a number of Jewish periodicals.

Rabbi Friedberg was married to the former Lola Constant of Montreal (1930-2022). They had three children together—Mark, Gilah, and Esther. Lola Friedberg had a degree from McGill University in Arts and Music. She had given two-piano recitals in conjunction with her twin sister, Miriam “Mitzi” Leboff, on a number of occasions. Lola had taught piano and conducted choirs in Montreal and Ottawa.

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

Rabbis

Sermons

Eulogies

Name Access

Friedberg, Benjamin, 1927-2022

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Ottawa (Ont.)

London (Ont.)

Jerusalem

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

272

Material Format

textual record

Date

1984-1993

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a CJC report, clippings from JCRC Matters, and correspondence documenting the criminal trials against Ernst Zundel for disseminating hate literature in Canada.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

General: Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Name Access

Zundel, Ernst, 1939-

Subjects

Trials

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

273

Material Format

textual record

Date

1989

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence and a report by Ben Kayfetz documenting the appeal hearings in the case against Ernst Zundel, who was under trial for disseminating antisemitic literature.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Ben, 1916-2002

Zundel, Ernst, 1939-

Subjects

Anti-Jewish propaganda

Trials

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

274

Material Format

textual record

Date

1989

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of newspaper clippings documenting the appeal hearings in the court case of Ernst Zundel, who was under trial for distributing antisemitic literature.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

General: Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Name Access

Zundel, Ernst, 1939-

Subjects

Anti-Jewish propaganda

Trials

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

275

Material Format

textual record

Date

1987-1990

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of records documenting the appeal hearings in the court case of Ernst Zundel, who was under trial for distributing antisemitic literature. Included is correspondence, court transcripts, press releases, memos, and newspaper clippings.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Name Access

Zundel, Ernst, 1939-

Subjects

Anti-Jewish propaganda

Trials

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1981-9-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

text

Physical Description

1.5 m of textual records and graphic material

Text

Artifacts

Date

1928-1981

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the life and career of Rabbi David Kirshenbaum of London, Ontario. Included is material related to Congregation B’nai Moses Ben Judah and Congregation Or Shalom, communal records, minutes, articles, sermons, orations, correspondence, books, periodicals, notes, photographs, scrapbooks, personal and family records and awards. Also included are the following artifacts:

Shochet's knife and sharpening stone. -- [ca. 1925-1960]. -- 1 sharpening stone : stone, black ; 0.8 x 7.5 x 2 cm; 1 knife : metal, gold, black and silver ; 21 cm. This shochet’s chalef (ritual slaughtering knife) and sharpening stone belonged to Rabbi David Kirshenbaum (1903-1981), who served in London, Ontario from the mid 1920s until his retirement in the 1960s. This size of knife, used for poultry, was specially-designed to maximise cleanliness, speed, and efficiency, and minimise pain. During the height of the Jewish markets in the Kensington area, from the 1920s until the 1940s, buyers had the option of paying someone to pluck the chicken’s feathers, or they could bring the animal home and do it themselves.

Pen and pad given to the Zionist Organization of Canada, Central Division 27th Convention.

Ontario Zionist Region conference delegate badge. -- 1 badge : textile, blue and gold ; 10 cm in length. -- A light blue ribbon with a pin at the top saying "Rev Kirshenbaum, London".

Administrative History

Rabbi David Kirshenbaum (1902-1981) was born in Koriw, Poland and came to Canada in 1921. In 1926 he became rabbi of B’nai Moses Ben Judah Congregation in London, Ontario and remained in that position until his retirement in 1966. During his tenure in London he was active in many Jewish organizations including the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Jewish National Fund, the Israel Histadrut Campaign and the Jewish Community Council of London. He was a regular contributor to Yiddish and Anglo-Jewish publications. His articles appeared in the Hebrew Journal, Kanader Adler, Voice of Radom and The Jewish Standard. He was also the author of several books : Our Chassidic Treasuries, What is General Zionism?, Ships at Sea, A Journey to Israel, Mixed Marriages and the Jewish Future, Religion: Love or Hate? and Feast Days and Fast Days. He was also elected to the Board of the Victoria Hospital Trust and served on the University Assembly of the University of Western Ontario.

Rabbi David Kirshenbaum was married to Pearl Kirshenbaum.

MG_RG

MGC 6

Subjects

Rabbis

Name Access

Kirshenbaum, David, 1902-1981

Places

London (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1983-7-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

Date

1899-1982

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the life and career of Rabbi Ernest Klein. Records include personal as well as professional correspondence, certificates, newspaper clippings and book reviews, a marriage register, bar mitzvah invitations, and Klein's birth certificate.

Administrative History

Ernest Klein (1899-1983) was born in Szatmar, Hungary on 26 July 1899. He studied at the University of Vienna and served as a rabbi in several countries including Czechoslovakia, Romania, and France. The Second World War brought great hardship for Klein, who survived Auschwitz and Dachau (his wife and son were killed in Czechoslovakia just before the war). After the War, Klein came to Canada, where he became rabbi of Congregation Beth Yitshak in Toronto. A polyglot and a scholar, Klein wrote three etymological dictionaries, the most famous of which was his Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language (1966-67). For his work, he received honourary degrees from McMaster University and the University of Guelph in 1977 and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1978. He passed away on 4 February 1983.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

USE CONDITION NOTE: Accession contains medical records that are closed to researchers until January 2034.

MG_RG

MG 6 D

Subjects

Birth certificates

Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

Invitation cards

Marriage records

Rabbis

Name Access

Klein, Ernest, 1899-1983

Source

Archival Accessions

Level

Item

Item

3595

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of the Beth David Congregation's rabbi speaking at the podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the synagogue and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place in the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Rabbis

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Adas Israel Synagogue series

Clergy sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

4

Series

5-2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1963-2008

Physical Description

3 folders of textual records

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of correspondence relating to Adas Israel's search for a rabbi and cantor. It also includes programme books from tribute dinners honouring Rabbi Morton Green and Cantor Kirshblum.

Name Access

Adas Israel Congregation (Hamilton, Ont.)

Jewish National Fund

Green, Morton (Rabbi)

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Rabbis

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Toronto Holocaust Museum series

Special events and projects sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

28-18

File

22

Material Format

textual record

Date

1986

Physical Description

1 folder textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a memo and flyers promoting Rabbi Menahem Fogel's lecture on "The Righteous Among the Nations: The Rescue of Jews during the Holocaust."

Subjects

Lectures and lecturing

Rabbis

Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Fonds

Fonds

103

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[192-?]-1993

Physical Description

45.9 m of textual records

35 photographs

Admin History/Bio

Nachman Shemen, a rabbinic scholar, author, and Jewish civil servant, was born Nachman Boimoil in Chodel, Poland on 15 March 1912. His great-grandfather was a disciple of the founder of Hasidism in Poland, known as the “Seer of Lublin,” and both of his parents were descendants of Hasids and scholars. Shemen was ordained in Warsaw in 1929 at age seventeen by the chief rabbi of Warsaw, Rabbi Eliezer Ezra Kershenbaum of Lublin, and the famous scholar Rabbi Pinchas Eliezer Grosfershtand. In 1930, he settled in Toronto with his family, becoming a teacher at the Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah until 1965. He was also a disciple of Rabbi Yehuda Lieb Graubart, spiritual leader of the city’s Polish Jewish community and an internationally respected rabbinic authority and author. In 1936, he married Toby Rosenberg and they had a son and three daughters.

From 1940 until his death in 1993, Shemen was a secretary of the Canadian Federation of Polish Jews, later known as the Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, serving as secretary of the Toronto branch and executive secretary of the national executive. From 1954 to 1993, he was director of the Orthodox Division of the Canadian Jewish Congress, now known as the Kashruth Council of Canada.

Shemen was a prolific writer, contributing articles to periodicals not only in Canada, but also in the United States, Europe, South America, and Israel. Shortly after his arrival to Canada, Shemen began a journalistic career with the Toronto Hebrew Journal. Writing under seven pen names, his works appeared in numerous Yiddish dailies, weeklies, and periodicals around the world. From the mid-1950s, he served as the editor of Yidishe Nayes for a decade, a monthly bulletin published jointly by the Canadian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto. He edited commemorative volumes for many Toronto Jewish organizations and wrote more than twenty books ranging from biographies of rabbis to works on fascism, Chasidism, and labour issues. He was also a founder and volunteer rabbi for the Torah V’Avodah Congregation.

Custodial History

The records of this fonds were housed in the basement study of Rabbi Shemen's home on Lonsmount Drive in Toronto until 1987, when a flood prompted an emergency effort by his family to rescue the collection. Material was not packed carefully, and was transferred to dry boxes without regard to size or subject. The flood also encouraged Shemen to offer the collection to the archives.

It was Shemen's intention to donate the material piecemeal as he reordered it, and to assist in its processing at the archives following his retirement; however, illness prevented him from doing so. The collection was instead transferred to the Ontario Jewish Archives in a state of disarray in several accessions between 1987 and 1991. Processing began in May of 1996 when funds were made available from the Canadian Council of Archives and other sources.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records that provide insight into the career and thought of Rabbi Nachman Shemen, an influential figure in Canadian Orthodox Jewry. It consists primarily of textual records, both in English and Yiddish, and includes minutes and correspondence related to Canadian Jewish Congress, the Kashruth Council of Toronto, the Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, and the Kehilla of Toronto, as well as Shemen's own articles and monographs together with research material for his writings. Also included are Shemen's private correspondence with scholars and literary figures throughout the Jewish world. Of special interest is the plethora of ephemera collected over a half-century.

Notes

Associated material: For related material, refer to records at the Archives of Religious Zionism at Bar Ilan University in Israel.

Name Access

Shemen, Nachman, 1912-1993

Torah V'Avodah Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Authors

Orthodox Judaism

Rabbis

Access Restriction

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

Related Material

For related material at the OJA, refer to the Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah fonds, Canadian Jewish Congress fonds, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds, United Jewish Refugee and War Relief series and the Rabbi David Kirshenbaum accession.

Arrangement

Attempts were made to restore the collection as much as possible to its original order, which required educated guesswork. Duplicate and irrelevant material were culled, and the remainder cleaned as required. Records were arranged into a preliminary series. Further rearrangement of the series and rehousing of material have been carried out by archivists to improve accessibility and address conservation needs.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Clanton Park Synagogue series

Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch file

Level

File

Fonds

4

Series

6

File

25

Item

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

18 Feb. 1983

Physical Description

1 letter

Scope and Content

Item is a letter addressed to Sol Edell from Sandy Hofstedter and dated 18 February 1983. In the letter, Sandy extends an invitation to Sol "to be a guest in our home" on 7 March 1983 in order to greet Rabbi Nachum L. Rabinovitch.

Name Access

Rabinovitch, Nachum L., 1928-2020

Subjects

Rabbis

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

298

Item

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

10 Jan. 1985

Physical Description

2 newspaper clippings

Scope and Content

Item is a newspaper clipping with photographs about Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel's trial. The article was written by Paul Lungen.

Notes

Availabilty of other formats: Also available as a PDF file.

Name Access

Zündel, Ernst, 1939-2017

Subjects

Holocaust deniers

Trials

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

298

Item

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1 Mar. 1985

Physical Description

3 newspaper clippings

Scope and Content

Item consists of newspaper clippings with photograph from the 1 March 1985 edition of the Winnipeg Sun about the outcome of Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel's trial.

Notes

Availabity of other formats: Also available as a PDF file.

Name Access

Zundel, Ernst, 1939-

Subjects

Holocaust deniers

Trials

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2012-2-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

45 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1949-2009

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the records created and accumulated by Rabbi Joseph Kelman. The records detail Kelman's involvement with a number of organizations, particluarly Reena, She'arim Hebrew Day School, and Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue. They also document the numerous awards and tributes he received in his life and detail his personal life. The records primarily consist of personal and professional correspondence, event invitations, photographs, news clippings, and biographical material. There is also one file folder related to Sol Edell, the brother of the donor, and an oversized photograph of the Harbord Collegiate choral society and orchestra.

Photo Captions:

001: Portrait of Rabbi Joseph Kelman, (Toronto, ON), ca. 1950s.

002: Simcaht Torah celebrations, Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue, 100 Elder St. (Toronto, ON), [197-].

003: Rabbi Kelman meets the chief of staff of the Israeli police, Mordecai Gur, [Israel], [197-].

004: Rabbi Joseph Kelman awarded with honorary doctorate, [198-?].

005: James Harris, Rabbi Joseph Kelman, Liberal leader John Turner and [identified], Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue, 100 Elder St. (Toronto, ON), 1984.

Custodial History

The records were in the possession of Rabbi Joseph Kelman until his death in 2009. They were donated to the Archives by his wife, Sara Edell Shafler Kelman, on 1 February 2012.

Administrative History

Rabbi Kelman was born in Vienna, Austria in 1927, the son of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda and Mirl Kelman and the descendent of a long line of distinguished rabbis. He immigrated to Toronto with his family at the age of three in 1930. He attended Harbord Collegiate and was ordained at Yeshiva University in New York. Beginning in 1953, Kelman became seved as a rabbi in Sherbrooke, QC; Beverley, MA; and Suffern, NY; before accepting the pulpit at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagoge in Toronto in 1959. At the time, Beth Emeth was a small congregation in the fledgling Bathurst Manor neighbourhood. He facilitated its merging with Bais Yehuda to form BEBY, and under his guidance it grew to become the third-largest Conservative synagogue in the GTA with a membership of approximately 1,500 families.

Kelman's life work was dedicated to providing opportunities for the developmentally disabled and learning challenged in the Jewish community. He was the founder of the Ezra and Kadima Schools, the Kadima Centre, the Camp Tikvah program, the Reena Foundation, Chai Tikvah, and She'arim Hebrew Day School. He also served as a chaplain in Toronto hospitals and jails.

Rabbi Kelman was the recipeint of numerous awards for his contributions to Jewish education and community service, including a honorary doctorate from Ryerson University and Tel Aviv University. The Kelman School for Jewish Education at Tel Aviv University is named in his honour. Rabbi Kelman died on 27 June 2009 at the age of eighty-two.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

Includes approx. 50 photographs, 1 CD and 1 artifact.

Subjects

Rabbis

Name Access

Kelman, Joseph, 1927-2009

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2015-9-10

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1930-1989

Scope and Content

Accession consists of various lettters, one in Polish and others in Hebrew and Yiddish. One of the letters appears to have been addressed to Rabbi Shemen's mother (Gitl), although undated, it appears to be from the late 1920s or early 1930s. A letter in Yiddish is addressed to the Boimoil family of Chodel, Poland. Boimol was the original last name of Rabbi Shemen.

Custodial History

It appears that the documents came directly from Rabbi Nachman Shemen

Administrative History

Rabbi Shemen was a Rabbinic scholar, author and Jewish civil servant. He held the following positions: Executive secretary of the Canadian Federation of Polish jews (1940-1993), Director of Orthodox Division of CJC, Ontario (1950-1992). Rabbi Shemen died in 1993.

Subjects

Families

Letters

Rabbis

Name Access

Shemen, Nachman, Rabbi, 1912-1993

Places

Toronto, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-3-69

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1950-1991

Scope and Content

Accession consists of interviews with various persons concerning their link with Goel Tzedec and its successor synagogue, Beth Tzedec. The interviews were primarily conducted by Ben Keyfetz and Jack Orenstien, the latter serving as the executive director of Beth Tzedec at that time. Persons interviewed included Carl Keyfetz, N. N. Levine, Meyer Axler, and Bert Godfrey. There is also other information in the file concerning cantors and rabbis who served at Goel Tzedec, including Julius Price, Bernard Wladowsky, Jacob Gordon, and Samuel Sachs. There is a document from Bert Godfrey—undated but with a reference to 1950—titled "Report of Construction Sub-Committee." This presumably preceded the construction of the building housing the Beth Tzedec Synagogue on Bathurst Street. Also included is a 1955 publication of the Ne'ilah Service of Beth Tzedec to take place on 6 February 1955, concluding a half century of worship at the synagogue on University Avenue. Lastly, there are several pages of notes concerning the synagogue and its history.

Custodial History

There is no information on the acquisition of this material.

Subjects

Committees

Synagogues

Rabbis

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Places

Toronto, Ontario

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2017-12-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

22 photographs : col. (12 negatives) ; 9 x 9 cm and 35 mm

3 signs

Date

1938-1982

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records belonging to Rabbi Abraham A. Price. The bulk of the records are marriage registers from 1938 to 1982. There are also some loose marriage certificates spanning 1939 to 1946, Price's registration certificate as a marriage officiant from 1938, a letter in Yiddish, and his Isaac Kook Award of Merit certificate, as well as some photographs and corresponding negatives of a family vacation. Also included are three kashruth signs. One was issued by the Kashruth Council of the Canadian Jewish Congress (likely in the 1950s); the other two are hand-painted and were issued by Rabbi Price (likely in the 1940s). They are in both Yiddish and English and read: "Certificate of Kashruth. All meat and meat products of this butcher shop is strictly Kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Abraham A. Price."

Custodial History

The donor is the son-in-law of Rabbi Price.

Administrative History

Rabbi Abraham A. Price (1900–1994) was a prominent rabbi and Talmudic scholar in Toronto. He was born on 10 December 1900 in Stopnitz, Poland, to Rabbi Joseph and Basia Price. He married Sarah Wine and had two children: a son, Moshe Leib, who predeceased him, and a daughter, Leah (Lola) Zuchowsky. He also had a brother, Lazar.

Price lived in Poland until 1923, when he moved to Berlin and became a banker. He left Berlin for Paris in 1931 and lived there for six years, before fleeing to the United States in 1937. Rabbi Price originally went to New York City but spent only ten days there before moving to Toronto.

Rabbi Price studied with world-famous scholars Rabbis Abraham Borenstein and Sillman, by whom he was ordained at the Rabbinical Seminary Sochatzow (Sochatov), Poland, in 1919. He was hired in 1937 by Moishe Oelbaum, Moishe Sigal, and W. J. Silverberg to head Yeshivah Torath Chaim and to act as the official rabbi of Chevra Shas Congregation. Price remained dean of the yeshivah until at least 1985. He published ten volumes of highly-acclaimed rabbinical studies, including three volumes of Mishnath Avraham with commentaries of the Book of the Pious "Sefer Chasidim," which were awarded the Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook Award of Merit in 1965. It was the first time this prize was given to an author outside Israel.

Price was one of Toronto's most influential rabbinic authorities. He worked tirelessly to help European yeshivah students during and after the Second World War. In 1942, he orchestrated the release of over fifty German-Jewish men from an internment camp in Quebec and brought them to study at the yeshivah. In 1948, he again intervened to sponsor fifty-five young yeshivah boys from Prague. He brought these boys to study at Torath Chaim as well.

Rabbi Price died on Thursday, 31 March 1994, in Toronto.

Descriptive Notes

Language: Records are in Yiddish and English.

Subjects

Marriage records

Rabbis

Name Access

Price, Abraham A., 1900-1994

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-6-21 [Processed]

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

13 cm of textual records

Date

1982-1989

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Cantor Harold Klein and Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg. Cantor Klein's records include sound recordings and sheet music. Rabbi Rosenberg's records include certificates of conversion, divorce, and marriage; counselling and pastoral cards; decree absolutes; a letter to Mr. A. Copnick from Garry Goldberg regarding a "Burn the Mortgage Campaign" (the letter includes a note to the rabbi); a letter to Rabbi Rosenberg from Rabbi Bernard Baskin; and wedding record cards.

Custodial History

6/25/2018: Rabbi Yossi Sapirman of Beth Torah Congregation donated the records to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Administrative History

Cantor Harold Klein was the chazzan of the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto. Cantor Klein was a classmate, and then later a student for many years, of Professor Noach Schall of Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg led Beth Torah Congregation for nine years. Prior to that, he was senior rabbi for seventeen years at Beth Tzedic, the largest Conservative congregation in Canada.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Rabbis

Name Access

Klein, Harold

Rosenberg, Stuart E

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

543

Material Format

graphic material

Date

5 Apr. 1981

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm

Scope and Content

File consists of two negatives of an unknown group with a man and woman. Possibly identified is Rabbi Monson.

Notes

Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Name Access

Monson, David, 1917-2008

Subjects

Rabbis

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4008

Material Format

graphic material

Date

14 Sep. 1984

Physical Description

1 photograph : col

Notes

No restrictions.

For identification of others, see accession record.

Name Access

John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005

Pearlson, Rabbi Jordan

Toronto Board of Rabbis

Subjects

Rabbis

Popes

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-9-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4334

Material Format

graphic material

Date

11 Apr. 1980

Physical Description

2 photographs : (1 negative)

Scope and Content

Right to left: Rabbi Yitzchok Kerzner; Rabbi Gedalia Felder; Rabbi Zolty, chief rabbi of Jerusalem; Yitz Feldman; and Rabbi Nachman Shemen.

Name Access

Felder, Gedalia, 1922-1991

Feldman, Yitz

Kerzner, Yitzchok

Shemen, Nachman, Rabbi, 1912-1993

Zolty, Yaacov Bezalel, 1920-1982

Subjects

Portraits, Group

Rabbis

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1987-12-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5060

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Places

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5061

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Places

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5062

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Places

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5063

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Places

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5064

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Places

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5065

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5066

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5067

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5068

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family and friends at a dinner.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5069

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5070

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5071

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5072

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5073

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family and friends at a dinner.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5074

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured are the rabbi's family.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5075

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of the graduation ceremony of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Pictured is Rabbi Meirovich being presented with his scroll.

Name Access

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Subjects

Graduation (School)

Rabbis

Theological seminaries

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

New York (N.Y.).

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5081

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1987

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Rabbi Avraham Feder grew up in New York and attended the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. After being ordained a rabbi, he moved to Canada. In 1967, he was involved in the founding of Toronto's Beth Tikvah Synagogue and the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. A cantor as well as a rabbi, he was known for incorporating singing into his sermons. Later, he earned a PhD in philosophy of education from the University of Toronto. He also held master's degrees in Hebrew literature and sacred music.

An arden Zionist, Rabbi Feder made aliyah with his first wife, Leona, in 1981. Despite this move, he made repeated trips to Toronto to deliver lectures and visit with friends. In 1983, he was appointed rabbi of Beit Knesset Moreshet Yisrael in Jerusalem, retiring in 2003.

Rabbi Feder died in 2018. He was surivived by his second wife, Tzipora; his seven children; and his six grandchildren.

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Abraham Feder. The photograph was kept by Beth Sholom's adult education department. It is unclear whether or not he spoke in Toronto.

Name Access

Feder, Abraham

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Portraits

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5085

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[198-]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Jack Riemer of Beth David Congregation in Miami, Florida. Riemer's photograph was kept by Beth Sholom's adult education department. It is unclear whether or not he was invited to speak in Toronto.

Name Access

Congregation Beth David (Miami, Fla.)

Riemer, Jack

Subjects

Portraits

Rabbis

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

Miami (Fla.)

Accession Number

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5088

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi David Hartman. Hartman's photograph was kept by the Beth Sholom Synagogue adult education department. It is unclear whether or not he was invited to speak in Toronto.

Name Access

Hartman, David, 1931-2013

Subjects

Portraits

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5093

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1987

Physical Description

1 photograph ; b&w ; 14 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal. Segal's photograph was kept by the Beth Sholom Synagogue's adult education department. It is unclear whether or not he was invited to speak in Toronto.

Name Access

Segal, Benjamin J.

Subjects

Portraits

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5096a

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich at home of Ken Saltsman. The snapshot features several men and women.

Notes

There are two photographs that have been assigned the photo #5096.

Subjects

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5096b

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Harvey W. Meirovich at home of Ken Saltsman. The snapshot features several men and women.

Notes

There are two photographs that have been assigned the photo #5096.

Subjects

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6000

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 24 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Simcha Dinitz, of Israel, standing with Rabbi Harvey and Cheryl Meirovich.

Subjects

Portraits, Group

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6001

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 24 cm

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Couples

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6004

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[198-]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Steven Saltzman. The photo was kept by Beth Sholom Synagogue's adult education department.

Name Access

Saltzman, Steven

Subjects

Portraits

Rabbis

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6006

Material Format

graphic material

Date

13 Jul. 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of members of Richard Seligman and Margaret Stinson's wedding party. Included is Rabbi Harvey Meirovich, who officiated the ceremony.

Subjects

Rabbis

Weddings

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6007

Material Format

graphic material

Date

13 Jul. 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of members of Richard Seligman and Margaret Stinson's wedding party. Included is Rabbi Harvey Meirovich, who officiated the ceremony.

Subjects

Rabbis

Weddings

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6008

Material Format

graphic material

Date

13 Jul. 1986

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of members of Richard Seligman and Margaret Stinson's wedding party. Included is Rabbi Harvey Meirovich, who officiated the ceremony.

Subjects

Rabbis

Weddings

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

1989-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions