Accession Number
2021-4-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-4-3
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
philatelic record
Physical Description
3153 photographs : b&w and col. (3133 negatives) ; 41 x 51 cm or smaller
13 sheets of postage stamps
1 folder of textual records
2 presentation pieces : 23 x 34 x 2 cm
Date
[1945?]-2006
Scope and Content
Accession consists of Negev Dinner negatives for the years of 1969, 1975-1977, and 1979-2006. Also included are several presentation pieces comprised of portraits that Gilbert took for presidents and prime ministers of Israel and Israeli Prime Ministerial postage stamps produced from those portraits. Some of the presentation pieces are accompanied by thank-you letters address to Gilbert and signatures of Gilbert and presidents and prime ministers of Israel being featured. Accession also includes six portraits featuring Robert Sterling, Elliotte Friedman’s grandmother, [Sydney Sugarman?], and one unidentified person; two unidentified group photographs; one unidentified wedding photograph; and one photograph depicting Al Gilbert at an event. Also included is an oversized group photograph of Greenfild’s Jewish Radio Hour of CKOC featuring Max Mandel and his colleagues.
Negev Dinner honourees include Mark Levy and Harry Gorman (1969); Rabbi Gunther Plaut (1975); James Kay (1976); Premier Bill Davis (1977); Murray Koffler (1979); Rose Wolfe (1980); Theodore Richmond (1981); Arnold Epstein and Madeline Epstein (1982); Kurt Rothschild and Edith Rothschild (1983); Abe Posluns (1984); Donald Carr and Judy Feld Carr (1985); Dr. Gerald Halbert (1986); Edwin Goodman (1987); Douglas Bassett (1988); Max Sharp and Isadore Sharp (1989); Bernard Weinstein (1990); Harry Gorman (1991); Albert Mandel, Nathan Hurwich, and Lewis Moses (1992); George Cohen (1993); Joey Tanenbaum (1994); Leslie Dan (1995); Henry Newton Rowell “Hal” Jackman (1996); Edward Bronfman (1997); Allan Silber (1998); Dr. Anne Golden (1999); Avie Bennett (2000); Alex Grossman (2001); Toby Feldberg and Saul Feldberg (2002); Eli Rubinstein and Renée Rubinstein (2003); Ronald Appleby (2004); Joseph Lebovic and Wolf Lebovic (2005); Ed and Fran Sonshine (2006).
Presidents and prime ministers of Israel being featured include Levi Eshkol, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Shimon Peres, and Chaim Herzog.
Custodial History
Accession donated by Nina Gilbert, Al Gilbert's daughter, on behalf of the Estate of Al Gilbert.
Administrative History
Nachman (Nathan) Gittelmacher was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1898 to Shloima and Mattie Gittelmacher. Suffering terribly during the pogroms of 1918 and 1920, he fled from place to place and then emigrated to Canada in 1921. Trained as a photographer in Europe, he opened his own photography studio in Toronto in 1922, called Elite Studios. First located at 513 Queen Street West, he soon moved to 615 Queen Street West. Nathan serviced a largely Jewish clientele, photographing weddings, bar mitzvahs, and Jewish community events. Nathan was married to Nina Sokoloff and had three sons and a daughter: Louis (Lou), Albert (Al), Jack, and Ruth. During the early 1940s, the family legally changed their name from Gittelmacher to Gilbert and subsequently altered the name of the business to Gilbert Studios. When Nathan moved to the United States, Al, who had been working there since a young age, took over the business. It thrived under his management. To accommodate his growing clientele, he moved the studio to Eglinton Avenue and later to 170 Davenport Road, where it is situated today. Al made a name for himself as a portrait photographer, using natural light in innovative ways to create more natural looking portraits. Al’s primary work involved producing portraits of families, weddings, bar mitzvahs, special events, and dinners. Most of his early clients were from the Jewish community. He was also paid to produce portraits for local entrepreneurs. Moreover, his multi-year contract with the city gave him sole responsibility of producing portraits for the mayors and council members. He later branched out beyond the Jewish community and began to produce images for businessmen and leaders from the Italian community in Toronto. In addition to the paid contracts involving local personalities and groups, Al Gilbert has also produced many artistic portraits of local, national, and international celebrities, artists, and leaders, such as Wayne and Shuster, Howie Mandel, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robertson Davies, several Canadian prime ministers, Prince Charles, and the last Pope. He also produced portraits for all of the Israeli prime ministers, which were made into postage stamps by the Israeli government. Gilbert’s work, therefore, captures a huge range of individuals from the ordinary brides to extraordinary world leaders. Throughout his career, Al has won many professional awards and accolades from his peers. He is the three-time recipient of the prestigious Photographer of the Year award of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). He has been named Fellow of the photographic societies in Canada, Britain, and the United States. In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Canada. In January 2007, the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is the highest honour that PPA can bestow on a person for their body of work and influence on professional photography.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
Photographers
Name Access
Gilbert, Al, 1922-2019
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-10-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-10-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records
5 photographs : b&w & col. ; 30 x 20 cm or smaller
2 metal award certificates : 28 x 21 cm
1 key : framed in a wooden box
Date
1913-2013
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records related to the Kiever Synagogue or had been stored at the synagogue. Included are certificates (1930-[1961?]); a print of the 1913 Officers and Members of the Grand Order of Israel of Canada; a poster of Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (president of Israel) presented by National Committee for Labour Israel for Israel Histadrut campaign; National Synagogue Directory issued by Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee (2011-2012); The Jewish Magazine (2006); Baycrest Men's Service Group Honour Roll books (1993-1997, 1999); shabbat, wedding, and bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah benchers (1965-2013); newspaper clippings; blessing guides; and administrative material such as receipt books (1933-1934), Synagogue Laws and Customs (1976), and a memorandum of agreement (1920). Also included are photographs featuring David Pinkus, Nate Leipciger, students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936), and the top view of bimah and chuppah of the Kiever Synagogue, which was taken at Samara Kaplan’s wedding (2004); and miscellaneous material such as raffle tickets (1928), invitation tickets from Chevra Kadisha (1928), and record books of Toronto Free Loan Association. This accession also includes the following artifacts: two metal certificates of Recognition of Service Award granted by State of Israel Bond and Canada-Israel Securities Limited (1964 and 1965) and a skeleton key framed in a wooden shadow box, which is possibly the original key to the building. People identified in the photograph of students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936) are: Solly Speisman (second row, fourth from left), Myer Orzench (second row, far right), Hymie Reingewietz (second row, sixth from left), Mr. Hoffman (teacher, left-hand side), and Mr. Nobleman (teacher, right-hand side). Myer Orzench was the second vice-president of the Kiever Synagogue; Mr. Nobleman was father of Ben Nobleman, the municipal politician of York Region.
Custodial History
Records deposited by David Moyal of the Kiever Synagogue.
Administrative History
The Kiever synagogue, also known as the Kiever Shul, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Toronto. It was founded in 1912 by a small congregation of Jewish immigrants from the Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) and formally incorporated in 1914 by the granting of the Letters Patent by the Provincial Secretary. The congregation’s formal name is "The First Russian Congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev." According to the earliest congregational records, Max Bossin was president in 1912. At first, services were held in members’ homes and later in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward. Not being able to afford a rabbi, services were led by members, including Cantor Herschel Litvak. In 1917, sufficient funds were raised to mortgage a house at 25 Bellevue Avenue on the outskirts of Kensington Market. The congregation relocated there and the facilities were enlarged in 1921 with the acquisition of a second house. In 1927, a new synagogue, which was built on the site of the two houses and designed by a Jewish architect named Benjamin Swartz in the Byzantine Revival style, was completed to accommodate increasing number of congregants. During the construction from 1924 to 1927, religious services were conducted at the home of Mr. Silverman at 29 Wales Avenue. Equipped with a rabbi and a proper synagogue, the Kiever was able to play a larger role in the Toronto Jewish community. The shul offered Yiddish and bar-mitzvah lessons, a youth minyan led by Fischel Cooper, a credit society, as well as a women’s auxiliary. Several decades later, the Kiever’s membership declined in the 1950s and 1960s due to demographic changes—Jews began leaving the downtown core for the north end of town. The synagogue building deteriorated. In 1973, the Archives Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region decided to help preserve it, and by 1982, sufficient funds had been raised to restore the building. In 1979, the Kiever Synagogue became the first building of Jewish significance to be designated a historical site by the province of Ontario and has been protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since then. Some of the founders included: B. B. Smith, Yehudah Leib "Louis" Bossin, Isaac Mosten, Jake Dubin, Harry Cohen, and Wolf Ganz. The congregation's first and longest-tenured rabbi was Solomon Langner, who served from around 1929 until his death in 1973. Sheldon Steinberg served as rabbi from the time of Langner's death until the mid-1990s. David Pinkus served as president of the Kiever Shul from the late 1970s to 2011. His parents, Molly and Isadore Pinkus, were co-founders of the shul. As of 2022, the synagogue president is Adam S. Cohen.
Descriptive Notes
LANGUAGE NOTE: material is in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English.
Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for some documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.
Subjects
Synagogues
Name Access
Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-3-11
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-3-11
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
ca. 200 photographs (15 negatives): b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
1 small metal pendant
Date
[ca. 1900]-[ca. 1943]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs, textual records, and an artifact relating to or collected by Mooney Stitt. Textual records include receipts, correspondence, immigration documents, a trademark certificate issued by the United States Patent Office, material related to Mooney’s municipal election in Sioux Lookout, and Mooney’s British Columbia free miner’s certificate. Photographs make up the majority of this accession, featuring Mooney’s family and personal life. Also included is a small metal pendant with Russian inscriptions.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Peter Marcovitz’s mother, Lillian Averson, until her death in 1965. Since then, the records have been stored possibly in the family house until being found and gifted to the Ontario Jewish Archives in 2021 by Peter and his wife, Joyce Borenstein.
Administrative History
Mooney Stitt (1904-1943), also known as Munya Studnitz, was born in 1904 in Poland to Simcha Studnitz and Miriam Woyler. He might also be referred to as Chaim Studnic or Hiame Studnitz. Mooney had four siblings: David, Dina (Dinah/Diana), Dora, and Miron. In 1923, Mooney and Dina Studnitz immigrated to Canada from Poland under the sponsorship of their uncle, Nathan Stitt, who resided in the City of Fort William (now Thunder Bay) and had a clothing store named Stitt & Sons. Mooney and Dina lived in the City of Lemberg (now Lviv) before moving to Canada. By taking the ship Laconia, Mooney landed in Halifax in 1923; then he made his way to Thunder Bay and started working on a farm of David J. Piper in the Township of Paipoonge. Later, he moved to Sioux Lookout, where he presented himself in a municipal election. Mooney relocated to Montreal in the mid-1930s and founded a company called Canadian Art Studios, which manufactured silk scarves. In 1939, he married Lillian Averson (1916-1965). It is possible that Lillian also helped him operate the business. On March 13, 1943, Mooney passed away of heart ailments in Montreal. Upon his death, one of Lillian’s brothers-in-law joined the company, and a children’s wear division was launched shortly afterwards. The company ceased manufacturing scarves in the early 1950s and grew into a successful children’s wear manufacturer under the name Tam O’Shanter (spelling uncertain). Lillian was bought out by her brother-in-law in the late 1950s. The company finally ceased operating in the late 1980s. Mooney and Lillian did not have children together. In 1945, Lillian married her second husband, Joel Marcovitz. Peter Marcovitz was born in 1947 to Lillian and Joel.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: photographs and documents have been scanned and are available in PDF, TIF, and JPG formats.
LANGUAGE NOTE: A small number of records are in Russian and Polish.
RELATED MATERIAL NOTE: See accession 2008-7-13 and OH 308 for additional information on the Stitt family and the Stitt & Sons clothing store.
Subjects
Families
Name Access
Stitt, Mooney, 1904-1943
Places
Fort William (Ont.)
Sioux Lookout (Ont.)
Thunder Bay (Ont.)
Montréal (Québec)
Poland
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-5-15
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-5-15
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 armband : white fabric ; 18 x 5 cm
Date
1947-1948
Scope and Content
Accession consists of Leslie Mezei's certificate of identity in lieu of passport, issued on 2 Dec. 1947 by the Office of the Military Governor, US Zone of Germany. It contains Leslie's picture and signature, as well as the 13 Jan. 1948 Canadian stamp of arrival in Halifax. Also included is the armband worn by Leslie on his way to Canada, which says, "Sponsored by the Canadian Jewish Congress. Chief Welfare Officer Ethel Ostry-Genkind."
Custodial History
Records were donated by Leslie Mezei himself.
Administrative History
Leslie (Laszlo) Mezei was born in Budapest, Hungary, on 9 July 1931. After the war, he and his siblings stayed at the Leipheim DP camp, in Germany, and at a children's camp in Prien am Chiemsee, in Southern Germany. After going on the Exodus 1947 illegal immigration to then Mandatory Palestine, they were sent back to Prien, where a Canadian social worker signed them up for immigration. They arrived in January 1948 on board the USS General SD Sturgis, an American troop carrier that had been used for carrying refugees. They landed at Pier 21, in Halifax. Then, they took a train to Montreal, and, after spending some time at the YMHA, Leslie was taken in by the Winkler family, with whom he stayed with for five years. After completing his basic education, he enrolled at McGill University for a BSc in mathematic and physics followed by an MA in meteorology in Toronto, where he got married in August 1953 to his fiancée, Annie Wasserman, a Holocaust survivor from Poland. Leslie became a computer programmer in 1954 and a systems analyst in 1958. His wife, Annie, with whom he had two children, Frances and Michael, developed a brain tumor and died in January 1977. After Annie's death, Leslie started to work with the interfaith movement. He later married Kathy, a seventh-generation Canadian of English, Irish, and Scottish background. Between them, they have five children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. In 2021, Leslie was awarded a certificate of recognition signed by the mayor of Toronto, the president of the Interfaith Council, and the head of the Toronto Sufi Order International. In 2019, the Azrieli Foundation published the Holocaust story of his family in a book titled "A Tapestry of Survival."
Descriptive Notes
Physical Description note: Armband has been measured in flattened position.
Subjects
Holocaust survivors
Refugee children
Immigrants--Canada
Name Access
Mezei, Leslie (Laszlo), 1931-
Places
Germany
Halifax (N.S.)
Montréal (Québec)
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-6-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-6-3
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 knapsack : canvas, leather and metal ; 48 x 48 x 5 cm
Date
1944
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a knapsack worn by Ibolya (Ibi) Grossman when she, her mother, and her son, Andy Reti, were deported to the Budapest ghetto. Ibi used the knapsack to carry some food and provisions for her baby son. Andy Reti later used it in 1956 and for camping trips in Canada - all special journeys for him.
Custodial History
Object was donated by Andy Reti, Ibi's son.
Administrative History
Ibolya (Ibi) Grossman was born on 11 December 1916 in Pécs, Hungary, to Ignacz Szalai and Laura Fisher. Around 1931, she joined the Zionist movement in Hungary; there, she met Zoltan (Zolti) Rechnitzer, who she would later marry. In 1933, she moved to Budapest, where her older sister lived; for several months, she worked at a thread factory. The Rechnitzer family moved to Budapest in 1936, and she married Zolti in September 1939. She became pregnant in 1941, and a son Andras (Andy) was born in July 1942. In November 1942, Zolti reported for duty as a labourer in the Hungarian army, as was required for all Jewish males between the ages of 18 and 50. In May 1944, Zolti was taken to a labour camp; Ibi never saw him again. In the meantime, she was confined to a Jewish ghetto in Budapest. In July 1944, her parents and two half-sisters were taken to Auschwitz. In 1945, Grossman was liberated from the ghetto by the invading Russian army. In 1949, she attempted to escape from Hungary. She was betrayed, arrested and jailed. Her second attempt succeeded, and she came to Canada with her son in 1956, first to Winnipeg, and then to Toronto. In 1958, she married Emil Grossman. She passed away on 11 March 2005 in Toronto.
Subjects
Holocaust survivors
Jewish ghettos
Refugees
Name Access
Grossman, Ibolya (Ibi), 1916-2005
Reti, Andy, 1942-
Places
Budapest (Hungary)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-7-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-7-6
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
ca. 8 cm of textual records
25 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
1 medal : bronze
Date
1922-1997
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records, photographs, and a bronze Shekel Medal for Israel’s twenty-fifth anniversary, most of which document Pearl Freedhoff and her Jewish communal and public service activities.
Textual records include public speeches, handwritten notes and short writing pieces, invitation and greeting cards, correspondence, materials relating to the sisterhoods of Beth Tzedec and Goel Tzedec synagogues, Pearl’s 1940 National Registration certificate, materials documenting the Ontario Bicentennial Award and dinner, and the 1981 royal tour of Canada, newspaper clippings relating to Pearl’s Jewish communal and public service activities, and an advertisement that Pearl made for Lido Spa. Also included are newsletters, magazines, and bulletins, which document Pearl’s experience in wedding consultation and her active involvement in Toronto Hadassah-WIZO and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jewish Home for the Aged; and travel itineraries and promotional materials for Israel and the Orient trips, which were issued by Toronto Hadassah-WIZO, B’nai Brith, and travel agencies they were in co-operation with. Textual records also include a small number of bulletins and magazines as well as a twenty-fifth anniversary book of Baycrest men’s service group, which document the accomplishments of Pearl’s husband, Dr. Samuel Freedhoff.
Photographs feature the Goel Tzedec Sisterhood, trips to Israel organized by Toronto Hadassah-WIZO, the wedding of Linda Greene (Lorne Greene’s daughter), and various social and political events that Pearl attended.
Accession also includes a bronze Shekel Medal for Israel’s twenty-fifth anniversary. It was presented to Pearl to commemorate her inscription as a governor of the Haifa Community College.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Judith Golden, Pearl's daughter, until being gifted to the Ontario Jewish Archives on 14 July 2022.
Administrative History
Pearl Freedhoff (née Narrol) (1906-1997) was born on 17 September 1906 in Toronto to Harry Narrol and Esther Narrol (née Newman). She had four siblings: Albert, Gertie, Hilda (m. Spivak), and Mendell (died as infant). Pearl married Dr. Samuel Osias Freedhoff (1903–1973) in 1927 and had two children: Stephen and Judith. Samuel was the son of Harry Freedhoff and Molli Freedhoff (née Bohnen). Pearl graduated from the University of Toronto, School of Social Work, and Samuel graduated from the School of Dentistry. Both were members of Goel Tzedec Synagogue, with Pearl serving as sisterhood president from 1949 to 1950 and Samuel as president of the men's club in 1952.
Pearl was an active member of the Jewish community and served on executives and boards in many Jewish communal organizations, including the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO Toronto Centre, the sisterhoods of Goel Tzedec and Beth Tzedec Synagogues, and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jewish Home for the Aged. She had a political interest in the Progressive Conservative Party and was active in federal and provincial politics; she served on the boards of the Victorian Order of Nurses and Ontario Housing Commission and was included in special dinners such as dinners for the royal family. In addition, she had an outstanding reputation as a bridal and bar-mitzvah counsellor for over thirty years. In 1984, she was awarded the Ontario Bicentennial Medal in honour of her contributions to the community at large.
Pearl passed away on 18 December 1997.
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
Politicians
Name Access
Freedhoff, Pearl, 1906-1997
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-7-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-7-10
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
sound recording
object
Physical Description
ca. 9 cm of textual records
186 photographs : b&w and col. ; 22 x 28 cm or smaller
1 album (197 photographs) ; 34 x 25 cm
1 audio cassette : 1/8 in.
1 identification tag : metal ; 5 x 5 cm
Date
1920-2013
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the Forberg and Michaels (Michalowitz) families. They include family histories, Holocaust documentation, and records pertaining to Bathurst Manor. Accession also includes 186 photographs documenting ancestors, family life, and family celebrations from the early 20th century to the early 2000s, including life in the DP camps and Bathurst Manor, and an album containing 197 photographs documenting Honey and Esther Forberg's 1967 trip to Israel. Additional records include Syma Forberg's metal Jewish identification tag, tributes to the Forberg family, Esther Forberg's school history project, Henry and Pola Michaels' funeral records, among others.
Custodial History
Records were donated by Esther Michaels, David and Syma's daughter, Harry and Pola's daughter-in-law.
Administrative History
David Berel Forberg was born in Czestochowa, Poland, on 1 February 1922. From 1939 to 1942, he lived in the Czestochowa Ghetto, where he worked as a manual labourer and painter. Syma Jurkowska was born in Opatow, Poland, on 5 August 1924. From 1939 to 1942, she lived in the Opatow Ghetto, where she made brushes in a factory and cleaned Gestapo homes and the post office. David and Syma met at the Polish labour camp Hasag-Palcery, where they worked at an ammunitions factory. After the war, they were placed in a DP camp in Lampertheim, Germany, where they got married on 11 September 1947. In July 1948, they left the German DP camp after three years and immigrated to Canada, via Quebec. They had two children, Joseph (born 19 June 1946 in Mannheim, Germany) and Honey Sarah (born 16 January 1948 in Lampertheim, Germany). They had been sponsored by Syma's uncle Cheil Slavny, who lived in Toronto. David and Syma rented rooms in their home, while David worked as an upholsterer and Syma babysat. In the early 1950s, they started making chairs and tables, which they delivered on the streetcar. David and Syma's younger children, Esther and Billy Avraham, were born in Toronto on 23 May 1949 and 26 Sep. 1952, respectively. David died on 9 October 2011. Syma died on 9 April 2021.
Harry Michaels (Hersz Michalowicz) was born in Kalisz, Poland, on 26 May 1918. Pola Lewkowicz was born in Zagorow, Poland, on 28 August 1916. By the end of the Second World War, they were living in the Soviet Union, where their first son, Julius (Jozef) was born, in the city of Gelendzhik, on 8 May 1945. After the war, they lived in Jawor, Poland, before resettling at the Steyr DP camp, in Austria, where their second son, Albert (Abram) was born, on 22 April 1947. In 1948, the family immigrated to Canada, arriving via Halifax on 1 October of that year. In Toronto, Harry worked as a furniture merchant. He died on 27 Sep. 1997. Pola died on 23 Apr. 2003.
David and Syma's daughter Esther married Harry and Pola's son Albert.
Use Conditions
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
Subjects
Holocaust survivors
Families
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-12-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-12-9
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records and other material
Date
1958-1967
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Nancy Levy, primarily education records, such as citizenship awards and scholarship awards issued by the Board of Education for the City of Hamilton, Ontario. It also consists of certificates and patches issued by the Canadian Red Cross Society and the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada while at Camp Kadimah and Hamilton's Recreation Centre as well a photograph of a Temple Anshe Sholom confirmation class taken in 1967. Identified in the photograph are: (back row) Michael Epstein, Paul Simon, Leslie Mitchinick, Rabbi Baskin, Michael Isaac, Robert Mitchnick, Harold Barnett, Brian Singer, (front row) Cheryl Hebscher, Sharon Leutcher, Robin Raphael, Gerrie Perrell, Nancy Levy, Jacqueline Houston, Elaine Hotz, Ethel Landrecht, and Debbie Minden.
Administrative History
Nancy Levy was born in 1951 to Corinne (née Cohn) and Edgar Levy. (Corinne and Edgar's name was originally Moshe Noss. He was born in the Ukraine and orphaned at an early age. Around 1921 he immigrated to Canada through the help of a Mr. Grafstein. Once in Canada, Edgar and his brothers were adopted into different families. The Levy family adopted Edgar and he took their name.
Edgar married Corrine Cohn in 1946. Edgar had a business in Hamilton called Piston Service, which was a wholesaler for car parts. Corrine drove a truck for this business and eventually became the bookkeeper for another firm. After marriage, they lived in Hamilton at 18 West Third.
Nancy had two younger siblings: Ann (1956–) and Lois (1958–2018). She married Wayne Greenberg in 1979 and they divorced around 1985. She studied medical lab technology at a community college and worked at various hospitals and businesses, including Henderson Hospital in Hamilton and Baycrest.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: Digitized material.
Subjects
Confirmation (Jewish rite)
Education
Name Access
Temple Anshe Sholom (Hamilton, Ont.)
Places
Hamilton (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-2-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-2-2
Material Format
textual record
object
text
philatelic record
Physical Description
10 cm of textual records
1 sheet of postage stamps
8 artifacts
1 prayer book
1 plaque
8 photographs : b&w and col ; 10 x 18 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1910]-2013
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two scrapbooks containing emails, letters of thanks, articles and program materials related to Judith's various speaking engagements and presentations as a survivor speaker. Also included are eight photos of family members, a prayer book, plaque, a spice box and eight kiddush cups, two certificates affirming completion of English language courses at McGill University, two certificates of recognition of commitment to Holocaust Education from the Ontario Government and the Government of Canada, one sheet of stamps remembering the Holocaust issued by Canada Post, and a labour discharge certificate from the Tailor's Immigration project.
Administrative History
Judith Cohen was born in 1928, in Debrecen, Hungary. Cohen was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration and Death Camp, and to other labour camps. Cohen lived in a displaced persons camp in Germany following liberation where she reunited with her remaining siblings. In 1948, Cohen arrived in Canada as part of the Tailor Project, originally settling in Montreal and later moving to Toronto. She chaired the Holocaust Education Centre and is a committed Holocaust educator and speaker as well as a human rights activist.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-8-4
Source
Archival Accessions
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
1930-2012
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
Accession Number
2023-11-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-11-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records
11 photographs : col ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller
91 slides : col ; 35 mm
54 negatives : col. ; 35 mm
Date
1922-1994
Scope and Content
Accession contains material related to the Beta Sigma Rho Fraternity, Eta Chapter at the University of Toronto. Included in the material is a 1922 constitution and ritual book, pledge and introduction manuals, rushing guidelines, records of initiation and interviews with pledges, programmes and invitations to annual balls, dinner dances, conventions and reunions, revenue reports, invoices and receipts, legal documents relating to the house sale and dissolution of the chapter, meeting minutes, membership lists, ETA and Grand Chapter newsletters, newspaper clippings, personal correspondence and memorabilia, photographs and slides, songbooks and correspondence. Also included is material relating to the Beta Sigma Rho Grand Chapter, New York, New York. The included object is a wooden case with a glass door, presumably used to hold information or announcements.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of several individuals in the following order: Barney Dales, Marvin Pearl, Ed Bogolmy, Richard Stein.
Administrative History
The Beta Sigma Rho fraternity was founded in 1910 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by four Jewish veterinary students who were unable to obtain membership in existing fraternities because of their religion. Originally named Beta Samach, the purpose of the fraternity was to promote fraternal spirit and good fellowship among its members, to diffuse a liberal culture, to advance scholarship, and to further equity in college affairs. Although not formally stated in its constitution, the fraternity also served a social function allowing its members to develop friendships and to take part in social events, such as dances.
The fraternity began to expand nationally in 1914, and in 1920 the fraternity’s name was changed to Beta Sigma Rho. The fraternity expanded into Ontario in 1930 with the Eta Chapter at the University of Toronto. In 1944 a second Canadian chapter was opened at the University of Western Ontario, known as the Iota Chapter.
Membership in Beta Sigma Rho began to decline in the late 1960s, and in 1972 its national office merged with the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity for financial assistance. The chapter at Pennsylvania State University chose not to take part in the merger and became an independent fraternity under the new name Beta Sigma Beta.
Subjects
Greek letter societies
Name Access
Beta Sigma Rho Fraternity (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-5-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-5-3
Material Format
object
textual record
Physical Description
14 shirts and other material
Date
1998-2008
Scope and Content
This accession consists of eight Walk with Israel t-shirts (2002-2008), one hat (n.d), one necklace (2008), and two collection envelopes (2006, 2008) from that same event. Contents also include three t-shirts (1998-2000), and one hat (n.d) from Israel Fun Walk. Other items in this accession include one Ilan Ramon Street Festival t-shirt (2007), one Israel Emergency Campaign t-shirt (2007), and one Telethon t-shirt (2006).
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 2 hats, 1 necklace and 1 folder of textual records.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-4
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 sign : metal ; 711 x 38 cm
Date
[between 1902 and 1936]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of one metal sign with a brown border, green and black hebrew writing and a green and black Star of David. The sign is from the original Shaarei Tzedec Congregation on Centre Avenue in Toronto and reads: “Congregation Shaarei Tzedek, prayer services are held daily, morning and evening, everyone is welcome!”
Descriptive Notes
Shaarei Tzedek Congregation
Subjects
Signs and signboards
Synagogues
Name Access
Congregation Shaarei Tzedec (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Centre Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-5
Material Format
graphic material
object
Physical Description
2 posters : 56 x 36 cm and 57 x 36 cm
2 fans : cardboard ; 29 x 22 cm
Date
[ca.1928]-[1942]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two Yiddish broadsides and two fans from Tip Top Tailors. The broadsides are from performances at Massey Hall and Centre Theatre at Dundas Street and Markham Street.
The Massey Hall broadside is for a November 1942 performance of Judas Maccabaeus, which included contributions by Jack Reid, Emil Gartner, Virginia Dobson, Igor Gorin, Irving Levine, and Ernest Shaeffer.
The Centre theatre broadside is for Joseph in the Land of Egypt, ca.1931.
Custodial History
The donor purchased the broadsides and fans at auction and therefore the custodial history is unknown.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-14
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-6-14
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
25 cm of textual records
11 artifacts
Date
[ca. 1967]-2007
Scope and Content
This accession consists of records created by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, including the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto, Jewish Toronto Tomorrow and other affiliated departments, committees and agencies. Included is publicity material such as pamphlets, flyers and brochures from various UJA Federation sponsored events, Foundation annual reports, proposals on new developments in Vaughan, demographic surveys, newsletters, campaign materials, Walk With Israel buttons and clothing.
Custodial History
This accession consists of items that were transferred to the OJA over the course of one year by UJA Federation president, Ted Sokolsky. With exception is most of the pamphlets, flyers and brochures, which originated from the Communications Department (now Creative) and were contained in several binders as examples of past projects. All the records were pulled together into this one accession.
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.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-7-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-7-10
Material Format
object
Physical Description
3 artifacts
Date
1915-1940
Scope and Content
Accession consists of several artifacts. The main item is a Singer sewing machine which was manufactured in 1915. It was used by the donor's father, Isaac Edelstein, when he worked as a tailor for Tip Top Tailors during the 1920s. He scratched his name and the date, 1923, into the machine. The other two items are sewing shears that were used by Isaac Edelstein and his wife Ida. She also worked in the garment industry at that time.
Custodial History
In 2003 the donor, Albert Edelstein, received a call from an individual who found the sewing machine in his father's basement after he passed away. He saw that it was inscribed with the name I. Edelstein and tried to locate a family member by calling individuals with that surname in the city telephone book.
Use Conditions
Must credit Isaac Edelstein when displaying objects.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-12-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-12-9
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 sign : metal and wood ; 100 x 40 cm
Date
[193-?]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of a Darling Lunch restaurant sign.
Custodial History
The sign was in the possession of the Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum at Beth Tzedec Synagogue before it was transferred to the Archives by the curator, Dorion Liebgott. The sign was used in the Museum's exhibit on the history of the garment industry in Toronto. It was loaned to them by Dr. Martin Belman, who approved of the transfer to the OJA.
Administrative History
The Darling Lunch was located in the rear basement of the Darling Building on the southwest corner of Spadina and Adelaide. It was a frequented by many of the textile workers in the area.
Subjects
Signs and signboards
Places
Adelaide Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-2-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-2-5
Material Format
object
textual record
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records
1 artifact
Date
1902-1981
Scope and Content
The records consist of material produced by Rabbi Saul Gringorten and his son I. M. Gringorten. They include certificates and identification for Rabbi Gringorten and his wife, along with his son I. M. Gringorten. In addition, the accession includes a great deal of correspondence in both English and Yiddish from the father and son during the 1940s, particularly during the period when the rabbi resided in the United States. Some material also documents I. M. Gringorten's involvement in the United Zionists organization during the 1940s. Finally, this accession includes a chuppah (marriage canopy) that was first used in 1910 by Saul Wolf Gringorten in Brantford, Ontario. The chuppah is made out of a tallis with embellishments sewn into the centre. The chuppah was subsequently used by various members of the Gringorten family.
Administrative History
Saul Wolf Gringorten and his wife Rachel Gringorten (nee Melnick) were born in Poland in 1876 and 1881 respectively. They moved to Canada in 1910 with their eldest child Morris. They subsequently had five more after their arrival. Their children included: Israel Morris (I. M.), Jennie, Jacob, Esther, Louis and Isaac.
Rabbi Gringorten served as spiritual leader, teacher, shochet and mohel for the Brantford Jewish community after his arrival for thirteen years. He would also be on call in northern and western Ontario where the communities were too small to support a rabbi. He then moved to Toronto during the early 1920s and became the principal of a Jewish school. The family lived at 26 Cecil Street at that time and then moved to 393 Markham Street during the late 1920s or early 1930s. He became active in the Jewish community, serving as vice-president of the Sons of Jacob, a board member of the Folks Farein and the first Trustee of the Old Folks Home.
Rabbi Gringorten and his wife moved to California during the mid-1940s in order to live in a climate that was better for their health. Rachel passed away in 1947 and the Rabbi followed in 1959.
Their oldest son, Israel Morris Gringorten, was born in Poland in 1904. He was educated in Brantford and later graduated from the University of Toronto. He served during the Second World War from 1943 until 1945. After his discharge, he spent his career working as an auto parts manufacturer with Canada Motor Products Ltd. He was an ardent Zionist who served as president of the United Zionists - Revisionists of America during the 1940s. He and his wife had four children.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
Descriptive Notes
Language: Records are in Yiddish and English.
Access restriction: One file contains medical information and is closed.
Subjects
Families
Name Access
Gringorten, Saul Wolfe
Gringorten, Rachel
Gringorten, Israel Morris
Places
Brantford (Ont.)
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-4
Material Format
object
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
M6 artifacts
1 postcard
1 textual record
Date
[193-?]-[195-?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a Tip Top Tailors wall clock and five tzedakah boxes from Israel. Also included is a postcard of the Mossington Park resort on Lake Simcoe featuring a Gentiles Only sign, several copies from the mid-1940s of the CJC Committee on Social and Economic Studies Information and Comment bulletins, as well as a programme for the twenty-seventh anniversary celebrations for the Soviet Union, held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1944. The program included a message from the prime minister, W. L. MacKenzie King, and a broadcast from Paul Robeson. The master of ceremonies was Lorne Greene. The content of the CJC studies include: research projects of the CJC (1946), racial discrimination and public policy (1946), the use of the terms "racial origin" and "religion" in the Canadian census (1946), opinion polls and social control (1946), intermarriage and children of intermarriages (1946), prejudice and Canadian unity (1946), comparative occupational distribution (1947), community action versus racial prejudice (1947), audience reaction analysis to the film "Don't Be a Sucker" (1947), Fair Employment Practices Laws for Canada (1947), age distribution of Jewish population in Ontario (1949), Immigration of Jews to Canada (1948), Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act (1949), Jews in the professions in Canada (1949), answering the bigot: a summary of the Incident control project (1949), Canadian public opinion on racial restrictive covenants (1949), anti-minority discrimination and the law: a Canadian progress report (1950), immigration to Canada 1945 to 1949: official figures, refugee industries in Canada: latest available statistics (1947), and from juvenile immigrant to Canadian citizen (1950). Authors of CJC reports include Dr. A. F. Citron, Dr. J. Harding, Dr. Louis Rosenberg, Dr. Manfred Saalheimer, Professor F. R. Scott and Dr. Morris C. Shumiatcher.
Custodial History
The items were bought by Morris Norman, a collector of Judaica, and donated to the archives on 3 June 2009.
Subjects
Human rights
Discrimination in employment
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region (Toronto, Ont.)
Tip Top Tailors
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-5
Material Format
graphic material
sound recording
moving images
textual record
object
Physical Description
187 photographs : b&w and col. ; 24 x 20 cm or smaller
20 audiocassettes
10 videocassettes
1 folder of textual records
1 object
Date
[193-]-2006
Scope and Content
Accession consists predominantly of records collected by Bess Shockett in her work with UJA Federation's Committee for Yiddish and Friends of Yiddish. The accession also contains some personal family records. The photographs document programmes of the Committee for Yiddish in the late 1980s and 1990s, including an outdoor Yiddish concert, several International Conferences of Yiddish Clubs (1995, 1998, 1999), Sunday morning Yiddish classes, and a 1993 Hanukah concert. There are also three photographs of the New Fraternal Jewish Association and its celebration of J. B. Salsberg's eightieth birthday in 1980. The videocassettes contain recordings of other events including a storytelling workshop, Purim Mystery Night, a farewell for Miriam Waddington and several Sof Vokh (weekend retreat) programmes of 1993.
The twenty cassette tapes feature panel discussions, lectures and interviews, including "Yiddish education," "Yiddish and the Media," "Yiddish and the Younger Generation," "Yiddish and the Performing Arts," and "Yiddish Language and Translation." There are several interviews with Yiddish poet Avrom Sutzkever, as well as two Toronto Yiddish concerts. Other tapes contain radio interviews with [Aaron?] Lansky; "Chava Rosenfarb--Book Fair", 1988; "Plenary reports and presentations"; and an episode of the program The Forward Hour on Peretz Miransky, an influential Polish writer in the inter-war years.
Personal records in the accession consist of family snapshots dating from the 1930s and 1940s. These were taken in Israel and include images of farming, landscapes, travel, a canal, groups of people, city buildings, and processions. These photos all have Yiddish writing on the back. There is one formal portrait, ca. 1890s, of an elderly Jewish man. As well, there is a folder of original and photocopied poetry (in Yiddish) written by a Jack Shockett.
Accession also includes a Yiddish typewriter, in case, that Bess used in the late 1960s/early 1970s when the Committee for Yiddish was under Congress.
Custodial History
Records were entrusted to the estate of Bess Shockett after her death, and given to her Committee for Yiddish colleague Ethel Cooper, who brought them to the archives.
Administrative History
Bess Shockett was born in the Ukraine in 1919. Her father, Solomon Maltin, was the mayor of the town and helped establish a number of Jewish community institutions. He and his wife had two sons along with Bess: Sam and Ben. In 1925, the family moved to Montreal. As an adolescent, Bess became very active in the Jewish community and joined the United Jewish People's Order. She helped organize a union for workers in the knitting industry and later did the same for fur workers. She also travelled to Winnipeg to organize a laundry workers union. She met her husband, Barry Shockett, in Toronto and they married in 1952 and had three children: Michael, Elka and Eric. Bess eventually became very active in the Toronto Jewish community, particularly in regards to supporting and launching several innovative Yiddish programs. She staffed the office of CJC's Committee for Yiddish in its early years, and was Director from 1974 to 1989. She helped found the Friends of Yiddish in 1985 and served as executive vice-president until her death on August 27, 2007.
Descriptive Notes
There is little written material; what there is (captions and poetry) is mostly in Yiddish; some captions are in English.
Subjects
Committees
Yiddish language
Name Access
Committee for Yiddish (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-8-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-8-1
Material Format
graphic material
object
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm
1 banner: 147.3 x 132.1 cm
Date
[1957?]-[1963?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one large Central Lodge #2042 B'nai B'rith banner and one copy photograph of members of Central Lodge, B'nai Brith. The felt banner is blue, white, and yellow and has four badges and two ribbons attached documenting the lodges Chai campaigns from 1957–1963. It is stored in a bag.
The photograph is of four lodge members at a bowling alley. Standing in the back row are Stan Goldfarb (left) and Leo Goldhar (right). Kneeling in front are Larry Goldhar (left) and Murray Greenspan (right).
Use Conditions
None
Descriptive Notes
Photograph is a copy of the original.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-11-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-11-4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm and 9 X7 cm
1 matchbook
Date
1928-2009
Scope and Content
Accession consists of mementos, family documents and clippings from Nancy Draper (née Frankel). The records include a birth announcement card for Nancy in 1928 and a matchbook party favour from her wedding to Darrell Draper in 1949. There is also a scholarship application letter from the donor's granddaughter, Haley Draper, to UJA. Other records include a staff list from Camp Wabi-Kon in 1946; a Globe and Mail obituary of Dr. Martin Wolfish, a past volunteer of OJA; a photograph of David Steinhauer; a clipping about an Inuit sculpture inspired by the experience of Holocaust survivor Leon Kahn; and three eulogies for Patricia Drevnig Goldstein (1940-2005) (née Jacobs). Patricia was the granddaughter of Rabbi Solomon Jacobs of Holy Blossom, and her mother, Edna, was a Frankel. Finally, the accession includes a photocopy of a photograph of members of the Siglen family of Meaford with Maurice Frankel, the great-uncle of the donor, and Irwin Rosen, ca. 1928.
Administrative History
Nancy Frankel (b. 1928) is the daughter of Carl and Dorothy Jacobs Frankel, past prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community and members of Holy Blossom Temple. Nancy attended Camp Wabi-Kon, a Jewish camp in northern Ontario near Temagami, and then worked there as a teenager. She married Darrell Draper on December 10th, 1949. Nancy is a longtime volunteer at the OJA.
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Camps
Families
Letters
Obituaries
Name Access
Draper, Nancy
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-11-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-11-2
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 artifact
3 posters ; 68 x 45 cm or smaller
Date
1950-1999
Scope and Content
Accession consists of an Ashkenaz Festival of New Yiddish Culture poster (1999), a Drildzer Young Men's Mutual Benefit Society & Congregation poster (1986), a Sense of Spadina walking tour tenth-anniversary poster, and a delegate ribbon for the Jewish Labor Committee National Conference held 1–3 December 1950.
Subjects
Posters
Name Access
Katz, Bernard
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-12-19
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-12-19
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
3 cm of textual record
2 pennants
Date
1943-1948
Scope and Content
Accession consists of 1945 and 1946 campers' banners for Camp Tamarack, camp newsletters from 1945 and 1950, three souvenir programmes, a song sheet, a camp songbook and The Cub Book handbook published in 1943. The programs come from the dedication of the dining and recreation hall at Camp Tamarack in 1948, a Camp Tamarack Dedication Day (n.d.), and the silver anniversary celebration of the 59th Boy Scout Groups in 1946 at Shaarei Shomayim.
Subjects
Boy Scouts
Camps
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-1-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-1-1
Material Format
graphic material
object
Physical Description
2 objects
1 photograph : col. ; 36 x 28 cm
Date
1971
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a large portrait of Martin Shaffer during his bar mitzvah at Shaarey Shomayim Synagogue in 1971. There are also two Shaffer family kiddish cups, one inscribed with Hebrew lettering. Nancy's husband, Sam, received one of the cups at his bar mitzvah and the second was given to Martin.
Custodial History
Photograph and cups were mailed in by Nancy Shaffer to be included with the Shaffer family records.
Descriptive Notes
For related material see accessions 2007-7-4, 2009-8-4, 2009-9-3
Subjects
Bar mitzvah
Families
Kiddush cups
Places
Thunder Bay (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-1-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-1-7
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 objects
2 photographs : b&w ; 41 x 50 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1945]-1985
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Morris Appleby’s accomplishments. The records include an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario life membership certificate awarded in 1985, the program from the night he was honoured, his bar completion certificate awarded in 1965, two composite photographs of the 1963 Osgoode Hall Law School graduate class, and the 1964-1965 bar admission course, as well as a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (1939-1945) and a War Medal (1939-1945).
Custodial History
The records were in the possession of Morris Appleby. Following his death his life-partner Jean Read donated them to the Archives.
Administrative History
Morris Applebaum was born in Toronto in 1916 to Harry (b. 1873) and Rachel Kerbel Applebaum (b. 1879). His parents immigrated to Canada from Poland in 1906. Morris had five brothers: Abe (b. Poland 1897-d. California), Sam (b. Poland 1901-d. California), Nathan (b. Toronto 1906-d. Toronto), David Max (b. Toronto 1909-d. California), and Eron (b. Toronto 1912-d. California). The family lived at 230 McCaul Street. The family changed their name to Appleby in the 1950s. After serving in the Second World War, Morris began his career as an accountant. He later went on to become a tax lawyer. He and his life partner, Jean Read, were together for forty years at the time of Morris' death on April 20, 2009.
Descriptive Notes
For related records see accession 2009-7-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-4-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-4-2
Material Format
object
graphic material
Physical Description
3 objects
32 photographs
Date
[ca. 1906]-[ca. 1970]
Scope and Content
The records include three medals that were awarded to Private Samuel Sterin (J-5639) by the British government for his service during the First World War. They include the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Service at the Front Medal.
The accession also consists of 32 photographs documenting the family of the donor. This includes the following families: Sterin, Coldofsky, Horowitz, Chaplin and Novak.
Custodial History
The records belonged to Sarah Sterin Harvey, who is in a home for the aged in Arizona. Since she doesn't have any family left, Sarah entrusted her family treasures to her friend Molly Rose who passed them on to the OJA.
Administrative History
The Sterin family came from Kiev Russia to Canada during the 1880s. The first arrivals were two brothers Abe and Sam (b. 1886). Abe was a furrier who married Jenny. Sam, who became an upholsterer, married Leah Horowitz and they had two children: Sarah (m. Harvey), who was born in 1927, and Morris (Maurice). Maurice served in the Canadian military during the Second World War. Sarah married James Harvey in Los Angeles in 1972. Neither of the siblings had children. Maurice currently lives in Las Vegas.
The Horowitz family came from Palestine to Toronto during the 1920s. Leah's sister Rose married Percy and they had two children. Eva Horowitz married David Novak and they had one daughter, Honey.
Jack Sterin (b. 1890) was another brother who settled in the United States. He served in the United States military during World War One and became a musician. He played the cello for the Philadelphia Orchestra and died at the age of 43.
His sister Simi Sterin married Sam Coldofsky, who was a barber. He ran the Model Barber Shop at 336 Spadina Avenue. They had three children: Sarah (m. Dacks), Arthur (who changed his name to Coldoff) and David. Arthur (b. 1913) fought during the First World War and was killed in Pontecorvo, Italy on 2 May 1944. His brother David became a musician.
Jack's other sister was Rose Chaplin. She was married to Meyer Chaplin. He worked as a furrier in Toronto. They had nine children: Harold, Charles, Irwin, Norman, Lil, Joan, Sarah, Ruth and Dorothy. Dorothy was institutionalized as a child. Ruth, who was a twin with Norman, passed away at a young age. Lil married Ben and they had 3 girls: Helen, Karen and Nora who were born in the 1940s.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-5-12
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-5-12
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records and other material
Date
[ca. 1941]-2001
Scope and Content
Accession consists of various Second World War infantry uniform patches, including a Canadian Dental Corps and a Royal Canadian Army patch, as well as uniform buttons and other uniform decorations. In addition, acccession contains one cardboard target of a kneeling figure used for rifle practice during the basic training of recruits and one photocopy of an article featuring Sidney from the September/October 2001 edition of the magazine Cab Connection.
Descriptive Notes
Physical Description Note: includes 7 Canadian infantry uniform patches, 4 Canadian infantry uniform buttons, and 2 Canadian infantry uniform decorations
Related Material Note: See also oral history 392.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-6
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 pin
Date
[ca.1950]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a B'nai Brith pin given to Sam Shaffer approximately 60 years ago.
Custodial History
The pin was mailed in by Nancy Shaffer to be included with the Shaffer family records. Sam Shaffer is the donor's husband.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-5-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-5-4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
5 cm textual records and other material
Date
1923-1950, predominant 1942-1950
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records that document Leonard Berger's activities as a bomber in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War as well as his activities in the immediate post-war years. Textual records include letters written by Leonard to his family during the war, in which he discusses such things as his fellow servicemen, the contents of parcels received from his family, his responsibilities as second navigator, and his plans for upcoming leave's of absence. Also included is Leonard's Royal Canadian Air Force flying log book (1943-1948).
Scrapbook contains photographs of Leonard's childhood and wartime experience, such as images of his airforce crew and fellow servicemen on leave. Scrapbook also contains images of Leonard's family and friends from the post-war era, as well as some textual records, including Leonard's wartime identity card, will, and map of Germany.
Administrative History
Leonard was born in Toronto on March 3, 1923 to Samuel and Rebecca (nee Rottenberg) Berger. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a bomber during the Second World War and married Goldie Fine in 1950.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Descriptive Notes
Includes 1 scrapbook, 1 RCAF flying log book, and 1 RCAF patch.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-13
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-13
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 rifle oil container : brass ; 9 cm high ; 15 mm in diam.
Date
[between 1939 and 1945]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one container for rifle oil used by Larry Halfand in the Royal Canadian Army during the Second World War.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-21
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-6-21
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 glass jar : glass ; 8 cm in diam. x 15 cm in height
Date
[ca. 1930]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a clear glass jar with a star of David, the company name "Toronto Hebrew Association of Butter Dealers," and the price of the jar (5 cents) embossed on it.
Custodial History
This item was found in the reading room.
Administrative History
Jewish dairymen banded together to form the Toronto Hebrew Association of Butter Dealers for commercial protection and co-operative action; a counterpart by independent merchants to the trade union movement. These bottles contained a variety of dairy products (usually butter and sour cream) and were returnable for 5 cents.
Descriptive Notes
Related material note: for additional Toronto Hebrew Association of Butter Dealers glass jars see accession 1985-8-2 and Fonds 22. These are all 10 cm in height.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-8-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-8-1
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 window : glass, wood ; 66 x 66 cm
Date
[1955?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one stained glass synagogue window. The wooden-framed window features a blue Star of David on a yellow background. The window was likely created when the building was extensively renovated in 1955. It is possible, however, that it was created for the 1924 building and was retained after the 1955 renovations.
Custodial History
Sidney Holtzkener, the donor's husband, was a house chairman and volunteered to take the window. The window was displayed in the donor's home until the couple moved in 2009.
Administrative History
The London Jewish community had a single congregation until disagreements led to Moses Leff organizing an alternative minyan. This became Congregation B'nai Moses Ben Judah, named after Moses Pollock. Their first synagogue building, a remodelled wooden church, opened in 1907. This building was supplanted by a new and enlarged structure in 1924. The building was renovated and enlarged again in 1955, but did retain some elements of the old structure. In 1966 B'nai Moses Ben Judah almagamated with B'nai Israel, and consequently Congregation Or Shalom was created. The B'nai Israel building was chosen to house the new congregation and the the B'nai Moses building was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese. Accordingly, its stained glass windows were removed. Edward's Glass Company Limited held on to the windows and later contacted the Holtzkeners to give them one. The Holtzkeners were members of B'nai Moses and later Congregation Or Sholom from at least 1944 until they moved to Toronto in 2009.
Descriptive Notes
Related material note: see MG 3 B-7 for further Congregation Or Shalom records
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-9-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-9-1
Material Format
object
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
2 objects
3 photographs : b&w and col. (1 negative) ; 10 x 12 cm or smaller
1 folder of textual records
Date
[ca. 1920]-[193-]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of two nursing uniforms worn by Frances Kadish during her career at Mount Sinai Hosptial in Chicago, Ill. The uniforms are made of denim and include a hat, collar and apron. One uniform has a Mount Sinai crest on the sleeve. The photographs include a copy of Frances Kadish in her nursing uniform, possibly a graduation photo, as well as a copy photograph of an original painting of Frances in her uniform, and a third negative of Frances with her husband and two sons in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The accesion also consists of one composition book from nursing school in Chicago.
Custodial History
The records were in the custory of Sid Kadish, the son of Frances Atkins, until they were donated to the archives on September 3, 2010.
Administrative History
Frances Kadish (nee Atkins) was born in 1903 in Toronto to Henry and Sarah Atkins. She was one of seven children raised on Gerrard Street where her parents owned a candy shop. In the early 1920s, Frances moved to Chicago to attend nursing school at Mount Sinai Hospital. She graduated in the spring of 1927 and that autumn married Hyman "Kay" Kadish in Chicago on 26 September 1927. The couple immediately relocated to Toronto where they were remarried in a traditional Jewish ceremony at the urging of Frances' mother. Frances and Kay had three children: Joseph (b. 17 Aug. 1928, Toronto), Marion (b. 6 Dec. 1929, Hamilton) and Sid (b. 21 June 1934, Kirkland Lake).
Kay went on to work with Thuna herbalists, first in Toronto and then in Hamilton, while Frances briefly worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto from late 1927 to 1928. The couple later moved to Kirkland Lake in the early 1930s where they remained until moving to Barrie in the 1960s. Following the death of her husband in 1968, Frances relocated with her son Sid and his family to Guleph in 1971 and then to Burlington in 1984.
Throughout her life, Frances was very active in various hospital ladies' auxiliaries, setting up library carts in both the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie and St. Joseph's Hospital in Guelph. She passed away on 21 March 1988 in Dundas, Ontario at the age of 85.
Descriptive Notes
Atkins, Frances
Kadish, Frances
Mount Sinai Hospital
Kirkland Lake
Name Access
Kadish, Frances, 1903-1988
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-10-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-10-2
Material Format
object
Physical Description
2 tallisot
Date
[ca. 1945]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of 2 Tallisot previously owned by the Machzikei B'nai Israel Synaogogue, formerly located at 279 Dovercourt Rd. at Dundas St. West. Each tallis bears a stamp from the synagogue.
Custodial History
The tallisot were used by Ann's [father-in-law?], Nathan Sharpe, who was a founding member of the synagogue.
Administrative History
The Machzikei B'nai Israel Synagogue was first located in a store on Ossington Avenue in the early 1930s. In 1933 they purchased and incorporated a cemetery located on McCowan Road at Eglinton Avenue. In 1935, the congregation moved into the basement of 279 Dovercourt Road and gradually renovated the rest of the building to completion by 1950. In the 1970s, the synaoguge had 93 member families, but dwindling membership in the 1980s forced the Synagogue to close and merge with Shaarei Shomayim.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-3
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
Physical Description
8 photographs : b&w ; 17 x 12 cm or smaller and other material
Date
[ca. 1940] - 1945
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Aron Racko's experience serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Included are photographs of Aron with bandages and cast after his propellor accident and others taken while he was stationed in British Columbia. Also included is one military general service pin and two military volunteer service medals. Finally, accession includes one letter from a Jewish Chaplain, Isaac Rose, to Aron's mother and photocopies of Aron's discharge papers.
Administrative History
Aron Sidney Racko was born in Ontario in 1922 and grew up in Toronto. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in December 1939 as an airplane mechanic. In 1942 he was wounded in a possible antisemitic incident after someone turned on the propellar in an airplane he was servicing in Trenton, ON. As a result, Aron never went overseas.
After the war, Aron initially worked as a taxi cab driver, but soon took up construction work building houses and later entered the real estate industry as a broker. He was a member of the Forest Hill Lions Club. Racko passed away in May 2010.
Use Conditions
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 1 folder of textual records, 2 medals, and 1 pin.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-4
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
4 cm of textual records
3 t-shirts
Date
2002-2008
Scope and Content
This accession consists of records related to the Board of Jewish Education's Educational Services Committee, the UJA Federation's Strategic Planning Committee, the Latner Library, the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre Board of Directors and the opening of the Pardes Shalom memorial garden. The records primarily consist of meeting minutes and reports. In addition, there are three Ashkenaz festival t-shirts.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-17
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-11-17
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
Physical Description
2 photographs : col. ; 10 x 15 cm and 11 x 9 cm and other material
Date
[ca. 1943] - 2010
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs, textual records and military medals and pins that document Iakov's experience serving in the Soviet Union's military during the Second World War. Included is a photograph of Iakov receiving a medal from the Russian Minister of Infrastructure to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the end of the war (1995), a photocopy of a docment certifying that he fought in the war, several thank you cards from the Russian president and the Russian Consulate to commemorate various anniversaries since the end of the war, a certificate documenting the battles Iakov fought in, newspaper clippings of articles written by Iakov about the war, and one photograph of Iakov at the Vaughan Community Center in Toronto with his English language classmates (2000). Also included is one CCCP Red Star pin, one medal to commemorate the 65th anniversary since the end of the war, and one military rank pin.
Custodial History
Part of the Russian Jewish War Veterans oral history program.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 1 folder of textual records, 1 medal and 2 pins.
Subjects
Soviet Union--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2011-6-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2011-6-1
Material Format
textual record
object
graphic material
Physical Description
1 cup : metal ; 25 cm high mounted on stand 11 cm high
1 name tag : 2 x 6 cm
1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 19 cm mounted on board 43 x 36 cm
3 cm of textual records
Date
1938-1963
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Joseph Webber's membership in the Linitzer Sick Benefit Society. Included are four Linitzer Society jubilee books, one portrait of Joseph that was presented to him on the society's thirtieth anniversary, one "20 Year Member" name tag, and one cup that was awarded to Joseph in 1943 for not drawing benefits for 20 years.
Administrative History
Joseph Webber was born around 1890 in Pogrebishche, Ukraine to Hershel and (?) Webber. He had three siblings: Chisey, Arrona (?), and Esther. Joseph married Risa and together they had three children: Al, Sam, and Ann. Sometime prior to the First World War, Joseph immigrated to Canada with his family. Joseph's first wife likely passed away sometime after coming to Canada and he was re-married to Bella Citron in 1926. He and Bella had one daughter in 1926 named Florence.
Joseph worked as a furrier and was a founding member of the Linitzer Sick Benefit Society, which was formed in 1913. He passed away in Toronto in 1977.
Subjects
Societies
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2011-9-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2011-9-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 items
3 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
Date
[ca. 1940]–1951
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two photographs of Jean and Joseph Shaffer of Thunder Bay, one photograph of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Thunder Bay B'nai Brith, a last will and testament for Sam Shaffer drafted while in the military, a Magen David pin, and a veteran's unit coin worth ten cents.
Custodial History
The items were in the possession of Nancy Shaffer. They were donated to the Archives following the death of Sam Shaffer in August 2011.
Subjects
Families
Name Access
Shaffer (family)
Places
Thunder Bay (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-1-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-1-1
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 item
Date
1945-1954
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a small silver plate trophy presented each year by the United Jewish Welfare Fund to the division with the largest percentage of new givers. It was named after J. Irving Oelbaum, who was a former president of the fund. The first recipient division in 1945 was the Women's Division, followed by the University Students Division, the Metropolitan Division, Youth Division and the Young Men's Division.
Custodial History
The custodial history of this item is unknown. It belonged to the United Jewish Welfare Fund and thus was most likely transferred to the Archives by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. It was in a box at the back of the vault and was discovered during a sweep of the vault.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-1-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-1-2
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
8 cm of textual records
1 matchbook
Date
1958-1993, predominant 1958-1966
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Lillian Troster's role as president of the Eglinton Chapter B'nai Brith and as the Israel Bonds chairman for B'nai Brith District One. Included are meeting minutes, correspondence, membership lists, The Tattler newsletters, certificates, fundraising material, convention proceedings, flyers, invitations, speeches, and one match book of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Custodial History
Records were donated by Lillian's daughter, Cyrel Troster.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-2-1
Source
Archival Accessions
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
2012-7-24
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-7-24
Material Format
textual record
object
graphic material
Physical Description
12 cm of textual records and other material
Date
1942-2005, predominant 1942-1955
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the activities of Albert Edelstein and his family. The bulk of the records document Albert's involvement in the Habonim-Dror labour Zionist youth movement. Included are Habonim concert programmes, correspondence, notes, flyers, and newsletters as well as notes and correspondence documenting the activities and operation of Camp Kvutza. Also included are photographs, invitations and guest lists to the Habonim reunion in Toronto (1983), a CD containing information related to the 75th anniversary of the Habonim movement, and a newspaper clipping, notes, and a badge related to Camp Gesher. Accession also contains a brochure, a broadside, and event programme books of the Jewish Farband Folk Schools, and a Bureau of Jewish Education brochure. In addition, there are I.L.G.W.U. membership dues cards belonging to Ida Edelstein, issues of the Labour Zionist publications Farband Chaver (1943) and Insight (1984), and fundraising material related to the Israel Histadrut Campaign. There are also programmes, flyers and brochures of various Jewish organizations including, Hadassah, UJWF, United Jewish People's Order, YM-YWHA, Hashomer Hatzair, and the State of Israel Bonds. Finally accession consists of Second World War Victory Bonds receipt and brochure, a Monteith Inn (Shopsowitz) dance dinner menu, and a Zionist Youth Committee of Toronto flyer for a march in support of the Jews suffering through the Holocaust in Europe.
Custodial History
Material was in the possession of Albert Edelstein until its donation in 2012.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 87 photographs (17 negatives), 1 badge, and 1 CD.
Language note: records are in English and Yiddish.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-10-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-10-2
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 jacket
1 cream and sugar service set
Date
[195-]-1958
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one varsity jacket with a YMHA crest, as well as a copper cream and sugar service set in celebration of the society's 50th anniversary in 1958. The items belonged to former member, Marvin Allen.
Custodial History
The items were donated by Marlee Petroff, the daughter of Marvin Allen
Administrative History
Marvin Allen (1931-1995) was born 15 Jan. 1931 to Percy and Anne Appelbaum. As a child he attended the Palmerston Ave. school and Harbord Collegiate. He then took his chartered accountancy exam though Queen's Univeristy. In 1952, he married Bertha Allen and had four children: Marlee (Petroff), Laruel (Sandler), Kelvin and Jordan. Marvin was introduced to the YMHA society through his friends. He was also a member of Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Marvin died on 5 Feb. 1995 at the age of 64.
The YMHA Mutual Benefit Society was founded in 1908 and was not affiliated with the YMHA athletic assocation.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-11-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2012-11-1
Material Format
graphic material
object
textual record
Physical Description
5 cm of textual records
5 objects
25 photographs
Date
1945-2012
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records related to The Lizzies and the Lizzies Old Timer Association, including newspaper articles, membership lists, a proclamation, booklets, articles, photos, one hat, two shirts, and one luggage tag.
Custodial History
This material was gathered together by Bronstine and Cornack and donated to the archives. Further accruals from other former Lizzies are expected.
Administrative History
The Lizzies were a collection of sports teams that played amateur baseball and basketball in Toronto starting in 1912 in the school yard of the Elizabeth Street School. This “Playground” was situated in Toronto’s first Jewish quarter, St. John’s Ward, or simply “The Ward”. Supervised by the Parks Department’s Playground and Recreation branch, these playgrounds were popular places for inner-city children. They hosted athletic teams that competed in intramural competitions. The Lizzies won more than 150 titles at the city, provincial, and national levels in baseball, basketball, football, and hockey.Bob Abate (1893-1981), coached the Lizzies’ teams for 26 years and in 1990, the Elizabethan Recreation Centre (at Grace Street and Bloor Street West) was renamed the Bob Abate Recreation Centre in his honour. The Lizzies Old Timers Association is run by Harvey Bronstine and Norm Cornack and they bring together the remaining members of the Lizzies annually at a dinner.
Subjects
Sports teams
Name Access
Lizzies Old Timers Association
Places
Elizabeth Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-2-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-2-1
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 ring : gold
Date
[ca. 1938]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one men's YMHA ring that was owned by Louis Green.
Custodial History
The ring was in the possession of Louis's son, Irving, who donated it to the OJA. He explained that Louis never really wore the ring (perhaps only a few times) and kept it in a drawer for many years.
Administrative History
Louis Green (1900-1978) came to Canada from Lithuania around 1921. He worked as a furrier and owned his own shop, J. and L. Green Fur Company, which was located on Spadina Ave. The company was named after Louis and Joe Green (unrelated), but Louis was the sole proprietor. They made inexpensive fur coats, which they sold to Eaton's and other small stores. Louis met his future wife, Frances Saperia (1904-1995), when she entered his store with a friend to shop for a coat. They married around 1927 and had two children together: Joan Kerbel (1930-1995, married Norman Kerbel) and Irving Green (b. 1932). Louis was actively involved in the Farband of Lithuanian Jews, and was also a member of a men's social group of the YMHA.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-5-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-5-3
Material Format
object
Physical Description
1 kippah : blue and silver ; 16 cm in diam.
2 ribbons : green, blue and gold ; 16 cm long
Date
1999, 2009
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one kippah, one Executive member ribbon, and one general member ribbon documenting the 100th and 110th anniversaries of the Toronto Hebrew Benevolent Society.
Descriptive Notes
Availability of other formats: Digitized material.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-11-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-11-6
Material Format
textual record
object
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records and other material
Date
[ca. 1950]-2005
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records and objects documenting the Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society. Included are anniversary books and ritual books, a voting box and livery collars that were worn by the executive and general membership. Collars with the gavel symbols were worn by Masters, collars with keys were worn by Guards, and collars with quills (not included in this accession) were worn by treasurers. The plain blue collars were worn by the general membership.
Custodial History
Records were donated by Darryn Mandel, the son of Master Sam Mandel.
Descriptive Notes
Physical description note: includes 5 livery collars, 1 voting box, and 1 pin.
Subjects
Societies
Name Access
Judean Benevolent and Friendly Society (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2014-3-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2014-3-3
Material Format
object
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual material
3 objects
Date
[196-?]-2012
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two program books for the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, 1997 (at Bloor Cinema) and 2012, and two pins that belonged to Lillian Troster. One pin is fron B'nai Brith Women and the other is from the Federation of Zionist Organizations of Canada. Also included is one small menorah pin, possibly from B'nai Brith Women or Girls.
Name Access
Federation of Zionist Organizations of Canada
Troster, Lillian
Source
Archival Accessions