Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

14

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1917-2011

Physical Description

2.82 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

As early as 1916 the Ezras Noshem Society (a mutual benefit society for Jewish women) started to raise funds to purchase and renovate what would become The Toronto Jewish Old Folks' Home (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care’s forerunner) after its members recognized the need for a home in Toronto where the Jewish elderly could receive kosher meals and communicate with staff in their own language. Property at 31 Cecil Street was purchased in 1917 and sometime between September 1918 and January 1920 the Home officially opened there. The Home was run by a small staff and the women of Ezras Noshem who volunteered their time to make beds, cook kosher meals, do laundry and sponsor fundraising events. By 1938 the Home had expanded into its neighboring houses at 29, 33, and 35 Cecil Street and was caring for 115 residents. It provided residents with synagogue services, a hospital ward and social activities. At this time the Home also became a member of the United Jewish Welfare Fund.

In 1946, the need for a larger and more modern building prompted a fundraising campaign, which was headed by Abe Posluns, to purchase and build a new facility. In December 1954, the new building opened at 3650 Bathurst Street and consisted of two new institutions: The Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital. This location continued to expand over the years, including a new building for residents in 1968, an apartment building for seniors called the Baycrest Terrace in 1976, and a community centre known as The Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre in 1977. These additions enabled Baycrest to expand its programs to include a day care program, recreational programs, and a Sheltered Workshop which was run in cooperation with the Jewish Vocational Service and provided residents with employment. In 1986 a new Baycrest Hospital was erected, and in 1989, the Rotman Research Institute, which is also affiliated with the University of Toronto, opened to create a research facility where top researchers could study and find new treatment methods for the elderly.

In recent years, Baycrest’s services and programs have continued to expand. In 2000, the Apotex Centre, the Jewish Home for the Aged and the Louis and Leah Posluns Centre for Stroke and Cognition opened to help residents with progressive dementia caused by vascular disorders. In 2001 a condominium building opened at 2 Neptune Drive for seniors, and in 2003 the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic was established to provide out-patient services for seniors with memory disorders. Baycrest Centre also provides numerous cultural and religious programs for the inhabitants and the greater community, including a heritage museum, art exhibits and a Holocaust program.

Custodial History

Records were donated to the OJA in a series of accessions from a variety of sources, including the Baycrest Women's Auxiliary and the Multicultural Historical Society of Ontario.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the history, governance, and activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, reports, speeches, photographs, artifacts, constitutions, publications, press releases, financial records, event invitations, programs, a scrapbook, a poster, lists, theatrical scripts, newspaper clippings, brochures and booklets, flyers, a land deed, certificates, schedules, annual calendars, cards, questionnaires, and lists.

Fonds is arranged into eleven series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports; 3. Committees and meetings; 4. Women's Auxiliary; 5. Men's Service Group; 6. Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home; 7. Programs and services; 8. Religious services; 9. Fundraising; 10. Publications and publicity; and, 11. Events. Records are described to the file level with some item level descriptions.

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 1102 photographs, 4 coins, 2 posters, 1 badge, 1 pin, 1 key chain, 1 postcard, and 1 pen.

Associated material note: related material at Library and Archives Canada includes a small Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds, and the Eric Exton fonds. For architectural records see the Irving D. Boigon fonds 243 at the City of Toronto Archives (Boigon was an architect who designed many of Baycrest's buildings between the 1970s and 1990s). Contact Baycrest Centre's Heritage Museum for committee records from the 1930s, and consult Baycrest's website to access electronic copies of current issues of Baycrest's publications.

Name Access

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Baycrest Hospital

Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Hospitals

Old age homes

Related Material

See Gordon Mendly Fonds 18, series 3-4; Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds 75; United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds 67; accession # 2009-6-2; Dora Till Fonds 52; J. Irving Oelbaum Fonds 24; Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds 61, series 1-1; Gilbert Studios fonds 37; Ben Kayfetz fonds 62, series 3, file 3; JFWB fonds 87, series 6, files 5 and 6; JIAS fonds 9, series 7, file 1; Harold S. Kaplan fonds 27, series 1-4, and Morris Norman fonds 22.

Creator

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 1917-

Accession Number

1982-11-1

1983-11-2

1988-2-7

1979-9-17

1979-9-23

1987-9-7

2004-5-50

MG 2 O 1A

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

17

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1936-1992

Physical Description

47 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

By 1919 the plight of post-war eastern European Jewry and the need for a united community voice for Canadian Jewry led to the creation of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Its founding meeting was held on March 16, 1919 in Montreal. Though it briefly maintained a tiny regional office in Toronto, the CJC remained inactive until 1933, when it fully reconvened by opening offices in Winnipeg, Montreal, and Toronto. Egmont L. Frankel was the first president of the new central division in Toronto. While the national office in Montreal focused on the overarching issues of the social and economic rights of European Jewry, assistance for Jewish immigrants, and combating prejudice in Canada, the Toronto office dealt with local, violent anti-Jewish demonstrations as well as continuing discrimination both in employment and in access to public recreational facilities. The structure was based on regular national biennial plenary conferences, at which policies were delineated and national and regional executives were elected. Between plenary sessions, national and regional councils were in charge. These were augmented by the following standing committees: administrative, officers, personnel, financial, publications, and educational and cultural. Special committees were created to deal with issues such as: youth, community loans, kashruth, fundraising, Israel, Russian Jewry, and various emergency issues such as refugees, immigration, and housing.

During the 1930s the central division office moved several times and occupied offices in the following locations: Yonge Street, the Bond Street Synagogue, Scheuer House, the Zionist Building, and its long-term home at 150-152 Beverley Street, where it remained until its July 1983 move to the Lipa Green Building in North York.

The CJC's activities expanded to include taking responsibility for Jewish educational standards, but by 1941 its main efforts shifted to support for Canada’s war effort. Immediately after the end of the war, the focus again shifted to Jewish immigration projects and the maintenance of Jewish identity in small communities. By 1950, the CJC’s use of the title “division” was changed to “region” to accommodate internal operational divisions within each region. Also, by then, the central region was busy expanding its programs for all Ontario Jewish communities, creating a province-wide council of youth groups, and working with the newly-created Bureau of Jewish Education (later Board of Jewish Education, now Mercaz). Standardization of kashruth rules in Ontario was implemented. As well, regular educational conferences and cultural events were held throughout the province, while province-wide fundraising efforts in support of Moess Chittin for relief projects in Israel and for local Congress activities were expanded. Many of its educational and cultural responsibilities necessitated working with other Jewish organizations such as the United Jewish Welfare Fund, Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS), Hadassah, the Canadian Legion, B’nai Brith, the World Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Congress, and the many landsmenshaften (Jewish mutual benefit societies, each formed by immigrants originating from the same Eastern European community).

During the 1960s, the central region began sending Moess Chittin relief shipments to Cuban Jews unable to acquire kosher foods for Passover. Its lobbying efforts included participation in the Royal Commissions on Hate Propaganda, and its greatest success came with the introduction and implementation of Ontario’s fair employment and fair accommodation practices legislation, an achievement in which Congress played a pivotal role.

From 1971 to 1989 the major focus became international and national lobbying for, and providing support to, Soviet Jewry. Virtually all local and Canadian efforts to assist the Soviet Jewish “refusniks” were organized and coordinated in Toronto by the Ontario region office, which provided staff and funding for the many lobbying activities and public demonstrations that characterized this successful effort.

As of November 1975, the central region’s responsibilities in Toronto were radically altered. To improve cost efficiency in Toronto, CJC educational and social service program activities were merged with similar programs already provided by Toronto’s United Jewish Appeal. The UJA assumed sole responsibility for these amalgamated programs in Toronto and was renamed Toronto Jewish Congress. The central region still retained province-wide responsibilities for Ontario’s smaller Jewish communities, and its office remained in Toronto. Also, following this reorganization, its name was changed to Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region. Although CJC no longer provided direct social and educational programs to Toronto, the TJC’s senior executive was, at the time, still obliged to continue to keep it notified about developments concerning previous Congress responsibilities.

From 1983, the Ontario Region's offices were located in the Lipa Green Building at 4600 Bathurst Street. It continued its work of financially supporting various Israeli institutions and fostering Canada-Israel relations. It also spearheaded the movement to support and protect Jews in Arab lands, especially in Syria. Funding for the CJC came from the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, which restributed a portion of the funds raised by the local Jewish federations across Canada.

The CJC dissolved in 2011. Today, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) acts as the Jewish community's primary lobby group.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of the records of the Ontario Region office of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Of primary importance in documenting this organization’s history are its minutes of the Executive and Administrative Committees and the various standing, and short-term committees such as Community Organization, Finance, Fund Raising, Educational and Cultural, Research, Immigration, War Efforts, and Jewish Education. Most of these records are still managed all together within Fonds 17, Series 1. Fonds 17, Series 2 contains the general subject and correspondence files of these committees. Records in both series require further processing.

Records now found in Series 3 document the efforts of the Committee for Soviet Jewry in coordinating the activities of the many Toronto and Ontario organizations involved in assisting Soviet Jewry during the 1971 to 1989 period.

Series 4 consists of administrative and committee records of the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies in Toronto from 1938 through 1967. These document its work rescuing the survivors of European Jewish communities, settling as many as possible in Ontario, and providing assistance to those attempting to obtain restitution payments.

Series 5 consists of the records of the Community Relations Committee (1938-1976). Responding to depression-era anti-Semitism in Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress and B’nai Brith together established in 1938 a new joint committee. Since then this Committee has documented racist threats in Canada; initiated advocacy activities to work for improved civil rights; promoted legislation combating hate; worked to ensure equality of access to employment, education and accommodation; and investigated specific incidents of discrimination. The Committee, for example, played a key role in achieving the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1944, and the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1951, key steps leading to Canada’s current Human Rights Code. Although originally named Joint Public Relations Committee in 1938, a series of name changes later occurred; s follows: Joint Community Relations Committee, Central Region (1962-1978), Joint Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1978-ca. 1991) Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1991-present) Records in this series were reorganized into 5 sub-series and a further 9 sub-sub-series during the 2009 to 2011 period. For further details please view the database records for Fonds 17, Series 5. Although this series will eventually hold all CRC records up to 1992, only those prior to 1979 are currently fully processed.

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 1839 photographs, 89 audio cassettes, 11 videocassettes, 4 drawings, and 6 microfilm reels (16 mm).

Processing note: Processing of this fonds is ongoing. Additional descriptive entries will be added in future.

Name Access

Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region

Subjects

Pressure groups

Access Restriction

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

Arrangement

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

Creator

Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region (1919-2011)

Places

Ontario

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

8

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[190-?]-1961

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

5 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Toronto Cloakmakers Union was established in 1909 as an organized effort to assist and protect workers in the women's garment industry. Two years later they became affiliated with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) in Toronto and became Local 14. Today they are the oldest local still in existence and are now called Unite Here Canada.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of textual and graphic material documenting the activities and membership of the Toronto Cloakmakers Union and International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Included are ILGWU membership dues and strike cards issued to Sara Clodman; letters and cards announcing ILGWU meetings, celebrations, and other matters; an invitation to a dinner honouring A. Magerman's 25 years in the Cloakmaker's Union; copies of the Golden Jubilee Souvenir Journal and the 40th Jubilee Celebration book; a photocopy of the Constitution of the ILGWU; Toronto Cloakmakers Union Local 14 Minute Book in Yiddish; and five black and white photographs of union members, events, and committees.

Name Access

International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union

Toronto Cloakmakers Union

Subjects

Labor unions

Creator

Toronto Cloakmakers Union, 1909-

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1987-12-6

1979-10-1

1998-3-18

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Maurice Solway fonds

Level

File

Fonds

13

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1926-1958

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

The file contains low quality photocopies from the original scrapbook. These are primarily of newspaper clippings regarding recitals and reviews from Toronto newspapers in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Subjects

Scrapbooks

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

20

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[190-]-1979

Physical Description

42 cm of textual records

69 photographs : b&w and sepia (23 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Lipa (Louis) Green (1899–1976) was born on 15 April 1899 in Usupow, Poland. He immigrated to Toronto in 1910 and later began work as a bricklayer. In 1924, Lipa married Fanny Green and had three sons: Abraham (Al), Harold and Sam; and three daughters: Deana (Weiman), Rookie (Goldstein), and Shavy (Tishler). In 1948, with partner, Arthur Weinstock, he founded the Greenview Construction Company, later to be renamed Greenwin. Green's sons, Al and Harold, along with Weinstock's son-in-law Al Latner, later became involved in the business.

Green was a prominent Jewish communal leader and philanthropist in Toronto and was affiliated with organizations such as the Labor Zionists (Farband), the Jewish Vocational Service and the Jewish Public Library. He was a strong advocate of the Yiddish language and was involved with many Yiddish committees, both at the local and national levels. The current building for Jewish agencies in Toronto is named the Lipa Green Building for Jewish Community Services.

Custodial History

The records were in the possession of Lipa's son, Harold, before being donated to the OJA in January 1978.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of records documenting Lipa Green's personal life as well as his professional and philanthropic endeavours. Included are financial documents, event invitations and programs, meeting minutes, photographs, personal, business and organizational correspondence, speeches and writings, a scrapbook, records on a cooperative Jewish summer resort near Pickering, Ontario, as well as some material produced by other organizations and collected by Green during the course of his life. Most of the personal correspondence, speeches and other writings are in Yiddish, including Green's reminiscences on his life in Poland and his bar mitzvah. The files have been grouped according to personal records, business records, organizational records and ephemera.

Name Access

Green, Lipa, 1899-1976

Subjects

Businesspeople

Immigrants--Canada

Philanthropists

Physical Condition

Some of the photographs are in very poor condition and require conservation work.

Related Material

See Gordon Mendly Fonds 18 for a portrait of Lipa Green.

Arrangement

The records had been previously arranged as MG6 A. Many of the files were kept or combined, but several new files were also created to better reflect the records in the fonds. Several files were also culled as they did not relate to the mandate of the OJA. See the accession record for further information on the culled materials.

Creator

Green, Lipa, 1899-1976

Accession Number

1978-1-4

2004-5-150

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Collection

Fonds

22

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1856-1995

Physical Description

1.1 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Morris Norman (b. 1946) is a chartered accountant living and working in Toronto. He is an avid collector of Canadiana, specifically Judaica. He purchases lots at auction and donates them to the Ontario Jewish Archives, as well as other institutions.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of the individual items collected at auction by Morris Norman. The records relate to the Toronto Jewish community and Ontario Jewry and include textual documents, photographs, near-prints, publications, artifacts, posters and broadsheets, sound recordings, and ephemera. Most of the items relate to various Jewish organizations, businesses, synagogues and individuals, and to Christian missionary work in Toronto. The material has been described at the file level, or where appropriate, the item level.

There are also four distinct series of records which document Berul Sugarman, who was a concert violinist and orchestral leader; the Franklin family, who owned a large amount of property in Toronto in the late 1800s and early 1900s; radio and television scripts written by Wayne and Shuster, Henry Karpus and Russell Bradley; and a collection of Turofsky photographs.

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 49 objects, 25 photographs, 7 audio recordings and 4 prints.

Name Access

Norman, Morris

Norman, Jessie

Creator

Norman, Morris (1946-)

Accession Number

1995-9-3

1995-9-4

1995-9-8

1996-6-3

1996-7-3

1996-9-1

1997-7-1

1998-1-1

1998-3-44

1998-7-2

1999-10-1

2000-7-4

2000-12-3

2001-3-3

2001-4-3

2001-8-5

2001-10-6

2001-11-1

2002-4-1

2002-5-1

2002-7-1

2002-9-1

2002-10-5

2002-10-58

2002-12-3

2003-5-3

2003-10-6

2004-7-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

951

Material Format

textual record

Date

[195-?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a six page typescript of a speech given by the Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey, Governor-General of Canada to members of the Canadian Jewish Congress, to which is appended typed excerpts of stories and songs in English and Yiddish of early Canadian Jewish immigrants.

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

Collection

Fonds

34

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1882-1996

Physical Description

58 cm of textual records

11 photographs : col. and b&w ; 28 x 36 cm or smaller

4 lantern slides : col. (hand painted) ; 5 x 8 cm

Admin History/Bio

Larry Becker (1939-1998) was a collector with a focus on his native Toronto. He grew up in central Toronto, near Dundas and Ossington, where his father ran a cigar store. Around 1948, the family moved north to Vaughan. Larry attended Lakeshore Teachers' College and married fellow teacher, Rose Weber, in 1961. He taught primary school in Welland, Ontario

Larry returned to Toronto in June 1965, and began collecting for profit and posterity. That year, with the active assistance of his wife Rose, opened the first of three businesses that sold collectables. Both his father and grandfather had been small-scale collectors. From 1965 to 1996, the growing Becker family lived at 25 Lesgay Crescent in North York. In December 1996, the Beckers moved to a larger place in the Kettleby countryside, where Larry had planned to retire and work on his collection

Larry Becker died on February 20th, 1998

Scope and Content

The collection consists of items collected by Larry Becker including postcards, bulletins from Ontario Jewish organizations, sermons, periodicals, books, hand painted lantern slides documenting scenes of Jews in early Toronto, and other material relating to Ontario's Jewry

Notes

Information for biographical sketch gathered and cited from "Collecting Toronto: Through the Eyes of Larry Becker" virtual exhibit from the City of Toronto website at: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/archives/becker_collections/

The lantern slides have been rehoused and moved to the negative cabinet.

Associated material note: The City of Toronto Archives has an extensive collection in the Larry Becker fonds, Fonds 70 (see Accession file for details)

Physical Condition

The textual records are in good condition. The colour photographs are suffering from severe dark fading and have taken on a distinct red cast.

Creator

Becker, Larry (1939-1998)

Accession Number

2002-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

Programming and events sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

52

Series

1-5

File

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

[192-]-[193-], 1953

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 poster

Scope and Content

Of particular interest in this file is a cardboard poster outlining the rest home's schedule and routine, written in Yiddish.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Publications and publicity series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

10

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1957-2011

Physical Description

35 cm of textual records

1 postcard

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the Baycrest Centre's various publications and publicity activities. Included is a meeting notice and minutes, a memo, a postcard, articles, a news release, brochures, newsletters, magazines, and bulletins.

Series is arranged into four sub-series: 1. Baycrest News ; 2. Baycrest Bulletins; 3. Baycrest Breakthroughs; and, 4. Attach Your Name to Baycrest.

Related Material

See the Baycrest Centre's website for electronic copies of current issues of Baycrest's publications, including: Baycrest Matters newsletters, the Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre newsletters, and Baycrest Bulletins. A link to the website is here: http://www.baycrest.org/publications-18.php

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dr. Alexander Brown fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

95

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1934-1982

Physical Description

58 cm of textual records

125 photographs

1 print

Admin History/Bio

Dr. Alexander Brown (1909-1984) was a leader in the field of Jewish education in Toronto. He held various positions with Toronto’s Board of Jewish Education (BJE) and the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto, and was actively involved with other Jewish organizations, such as the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and the United Jewish Welfare Fund (UJWF).

Brown was born in the Ukraine on 14 February 1909 to Louis and Bessie Brown. The family immigrated to Canada in 1920. Brown attended the Simcoe Street Talmud Torah and studied under Rabbi Jacob Gordon. He continued his education at the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago and returned to Toronto in 1933. Between 1934 and 1936 Brown served as the first executive secretary of the CJC, Central Region. From 1936 to 1937 he was an announcer for the Jewish Radio Hour, where he read the News of the Week. In 1945 he graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA and then again in 1948 with an MA in Oriental languages. Brown was married to Dorothy Mercovitch (1912-2009) of London, Ontario, and together they had two children: Martin and Paul.

Brown entered the field of Jewish education as the principal of Shaarei Shomayim Hebrew School from 1942 to 1948, as a principal of the AHS of Toronto and as dean of the Midrasha L'Morim. From 1957 to 1964 he worked as a consultant with the BJE in Toronto and then became the BJE's associate director until the early 1980s. He also was a member of the UJWF’s Study Committee on Jewish Education, the National Council of Jewish Education, the Toronto Zionist Council, and the Educational and Cultural Committee of the CJC. In 1969, he received an honourary doctorate in Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois.

Dr. Brown died on 15 September 1984 at the age of 75.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Paul Brown, Dr. Brown's son, until their donation to the OJA.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of textual and graphic material documenting the professional activities of Dr. Alexander Brown. The bulk of the material relates to his involvement with the BJE and the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto. Included are meeting notices, agendas, and minutes, reports, studies, speeches, proposals, constitutions, correspondence, financial records, publications, questionnaires, photographs, booklets, articles, biographies, press releases, newspaper clippings, programmes, invitations, flyers, lists, applications, statistics, and a directory.

Records have been arranged into the following four series: 1. Board of Jewish Education; 2. Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto; 3. United Jewish Welfare Fund Study Committee on Jewish Education; and, 4. Jewish communal activities. Two files are attached directly to the fonds level. Records are described to the file level with a selection of item level descriptions.

Notes

Fonds was reduced from approximately 1.2 metres to 0.74 metres. Records that were culled include duplicate or damaged photographs, duplicate graduation programmes and invitations, duplicate UJWF Study Committee Interim reports that are located elsewhere in OJA's holdings, and other duplicated material. Also removed were American and other non-Canadian booklets.

Photographers and photography studios are identified on the photographs.

Name Access

Brown, Alexander, 1909-1984

Gordon, Jacob, Rabbi

Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto

Board of Jewish Education (Toronto, Ont.)

United Jewish Welfare Fund (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Education

Physical Condition

The photographs are in poor condition. They have begun to curl and have become stiff from being stored in a dry environment. They should be flattened through humidification and encapsulated in mylar to prevent re-curling.

Related Material

See: Oral history interview with Dr. Brown (AC 140), Board of Jewish Education fonds 48, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds 67, AHS of Toronto MG2 G-1E, accession 1981-11-4, United Synagogue Day School accession 1990-5-2, accession 1991-12-5, and accession 1988-11-3. For photographs of Jewish schools see Gordon Mendly fonds 18, series 3.

Arrangement

Arrangement has been created by the archivist since there was no discernable original order.

Creator

Brown, Alexander, 1909-1984

Accession Number

2009-7-9

2010-12-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dr. Alexander Brown fonds

Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto series

Level

File

Fonds

95

Series

2

File

41

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1970

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of textual records likely collected by Dr. Brown for curriculum planning. Included is a document outlining the Hebrew curriculum for the 1950-1951 school year at the Toronto Hebrew Day School, weekly teaching schedules, model lesson plans, and other teaching resources.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dr. Alexander Brown fonds

Jewish communal activities series

Level

Series

Fonds

95

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1934-1982, predominant 1958-1982

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

37 photographs

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records documenting Dr. Alexander Brown's various Jewish communal activities. Included are meeting minutes, speeches, publications, correspondence, invitations, flyers, photographs, biographies, newspaper clippings, brochures, a list, and a program.

Notes

Photographers and photography studios are identified on the photographs.

Physical Condition

A number of the photographs are starting to curl along the edges and have become stiff due to poor storage conditions.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Vanek fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1906-1999

Physical Description

12 cm of textual records

10 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

David Vanek (1915–2008) was born on a farm in Whitchurch Township, York County, Ontario in 1915. He was the sixth of seven children born to Jacob and Jesse Vanek, Jewish-Russian immigrants from the Ukraine who immigrated to Canada in 1913. The family lived in the Newmarket-Oak Ridges area, where they owned a farm and the Vanek Grocery and Confectionary Store in Oak Ridges. The family also owned Cedarholm Park in Lake Wilcox, which had a bandstand and cottages and sold refreshments. They opened the park specifically for Jews who were being excluded from other nearby social venues. The family also lived in Toronto.

Vanek completed his elementary school education at Annette Street Public School and attended Richmond Hill High School and Harbord Collegiate. He was admitted to the honour law course at the University of Toronto. In 1936, he graduated with a bachelor of arts in honour law and went on to law school at Osgoode Hall. While in law school he worked for Carswell’s Canadian Law Abridgement and was editor of the Obiter Dicta student publication at Osgoode Hall. He received his bachelor of laws in 1939.

During the Second World War, Vanek served in the Canadian Intelligence Corps and Field Security in England from 1943 to 1945. Following his military service, he returned to Toronto where he tried private practice briefly before beginning a new career as a lecturer in the newly-created Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He taught a variety of subjects, including legal bibliography, real property, and public international law.

A community activist, Vanek was the founder of the Lawrence Manor Ratepayers Association. In 1963, he ran for the Ontario Provincial Legislature as a Conservative candidate but failed to win the seat. He was the founder of the Credit Counselling Service of Metropolitan Toronto, which was established in 1965. Vanek was also actively involved in the new Reform congregation Temple Sinai and served as its third president.

In September 1968, Vanek was appointed to the magistrates' court. A few months later, the Provincial Courts Act came into being and he became a judge of the provincial court's criminal division. Vanek presided over and wrote judgements in many significant cases, including Weightman and Cunningham, involving the residual power of a trial judge to stop unfair prosecution, and Squires, involving the lawful exclusion of cameras from the courtroom. His best-known case was that of Susan Nelles, a nurse who was charged with the death of four babies at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children in the early 1980s. He also served as president of the Ontario Provincial Judges' Association. In 1989, after twenty-one years on the bench, David Vanek retired. A decade later, he published his autobiography, "Fulfilment : Memoirs of a Criminal Court Judge," which documents his life and career.

David Vanek married Joyce Lester in 1942, and the couple had three children. Vanek died in 2008.

Custodial History

The records were donated to the Ontario Jewish Archives by David Vanek in July 2000. The records were used to help with the researching of his autobiography.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of textual records and graphic material that document Vanek's family history and career as a prominent lawyer and provincial court judge in Ontario. The fonds includes family records from Russia, newspaper articles, correspondence and documentation relating to his military service during the Second World War, and press clippings and photographs of his family and community activities. The fonds has been arranged into the following series: Personal records, Military service records, Occupational records, and Community organizations.

Name Access

Vanek, David, 1915-2008

Subjects

Judges

Lawyers

Creator

Vanek, David, 1915-2008

Accession Number

2000-7-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Shirley Baine fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1936-1991

Physical Description

8 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Shirley (Gertzbein) Baine (1910-2005) was born in Lithuania in 1910. She came to Toronto to live with her extended family during the 1930s. She later married Arthur Baine, a widower who had two children. Together, they had three additional children of their own.

Soon after her arrival in Canada, Shirley Baine became very involved in the Mizrachi organization. She was first a member of the Bruria Girls, during the late 1930s, and then joined the Etzion women's chapter later in her life. The role of both groups was to raise funds and provide support for Palestine (and later Israel). In 1972, she was honoured by this chapter with an inscription of her name into their Golden Book. She died in Toronto in 2005.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting Shirley Baine's activites in the Mizrachi movement as well as other initiatives. The fonds includes minutes of meetings, a dance program, a list of members from the Etzion chapter, correspondence, speeches, and a yiskor book.

Name Access

Baine, Shirley, 1910-2005

Subjects

Religious Zionism

Related Material

For related material on the Mizrachi movement, please see MG2 J1A.

Arrangement

By activity and chronological

Creator

Baine, Shirley, 1910-2005

Accession Number

2003-3-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

4

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[ca. 1900]-2010

Physical Description

3.1 metres of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell (1919-2000) was a prominant member of the Toronto Jewish community who initially pursued a career as a pharmacist and was later founder and president of the property development company, Elmdale Investments. He held positions as board member or chair in a wide variety of religious, educational and social service organizations and institutions both in Canada and Israel. In Toronto, these included: Clanton Park Synagogue, Adas Israel Synagogue, Jones Avenue Cemetery, Canadian Jewish Congress and the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (formerly Toronto Jewish Congress, and now the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto).

Edell was born in Toronto on 5 March 1919, the son of Pesach and Molly Edell. He attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the Toronto College of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, in 1943 while on leave of absence from the army. He was enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War and served in the signal corps.

After he completed his army service, he opened Edell’s Drug Store at 1978 Queen Street in Etobicoke in 1948, the first shomer Shabbat drug store in the city. He operated a second store at 494 Spadina Avenue in the late 1940s. In 1955 the Queen Street location was expropriated by the City of Toronto. Subsequently, Edell founded Elmdale Investments, the company which built and managed the Elmhurst Plaza in Etobicoke. He reopened the drug store, which was renamed Elmhurst Drugs in the plaza. He also invested in two retail textile stores, Deltex Drapery and Dodd’s Drapery which had been founded by group of businessmen including his cousin Israel Edell.

In 1952 he married Dolly Weinstock, the daughter of Moishe and Sylvia Weinstock. They lived in the newly developed suburb of North York with their four children: Ethel, Simcha, Malka and Joseph. After 10 years of marriage, Dolly died and in 1966, he married Celia Rogen Hoffman.

Sol Edell was a founding member and first president of the Clanton Park Congregation. He was actively involved in the construction of the synagogue and its development. He continued to be affiliated with Shomrai Shabbos where his grandfather Rabbi Yosef Weinreb had been the rabbi. He was also involved with Adas Israel, the synagogue in Hamilton where his wife Celia had been an active member.

He was chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region -- Toronto Jewish Congress Archives Committee, which subsequently became the Ontario Jewish Archives. During his tenure, the archives was responsible for the reconstruction of the Kiever Synagogue which had been built in the early 1900s but had fallen into a state of disrepair by the 1960s.

Sol Edell was also involved in a number of Zionist organizations. He was the founding chair of the Aliyah Support Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, whose mandate was to assist Torontonians who had moved to Israel and ease their transition into Israeli society. He was also an active member of the Mizrachi organization and its affiliated institutions. Another one of Sol Edell’s interests was ensuring the preservation of local cemeteries. He was president of the Jones Avenue Cemetery and on the board of Pardes Shalom and the Bathurst Lawn Cemetery, Clanton Park section.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting Sol Edell's business activities, community involvement and personal life. Included is correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, financial records, legal records, publications, audio-visual material, invitations, newspaper clippings, artifacts, lists, reports, speeches, and architectural drawings.

The fonds is organized into the following eleven series: Personal; Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy; Elmdale Investments; Deltex Drapery and Dodd's Drapery; Adas Israel Synagogue; Clanton Park Synagogue; Shomrai Shabbos; Aliyah; Cemetery and funeral home; Historical materials; and, Activities and organizations.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 739 photographs, 232 architectural drawings, 11 audio cassettes, 9 audio reels, 13 film reels, 7 videocassettes, 4 slides, 1 plaque, 4 badges, and 1 key.

Name Access

Edell Solomon, 1919-2000

Clanton Park Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Edell, Dolly

Edell, Celia

Edell's Drug Store

Elmhurst Pharmacy

Jones Avenue Cemetery

Canadian Jewish Congress/ Toronto Jewish Congress Archives

Aliyah Support Committee

Subjects

Business

Pharmacists

Access Restriction

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

Physical Condition

The bulk of the architectural drawings are currently being stored rolled up. They should be flattened and encapsulated in melinex.

Film and sound reels should be digitized.

Related Material

See fonds #5 for material related to Paul Edell.

See accession #2012-10/9 for material related to the Edell family.

Creator

Edell, Solomon, 1919-2000

Accession Number

2002-12-2

2008-8-29

2011-5-4

2012-10-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Personal series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

1

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[ca. 1900]-2000

Physical Description

49 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell, the son of Paul and Mollie Edell, was one of five siblings. He and Dolly Weinstock, the daughter of Moishe and Sylvia Weinstock, had two daughters and two sons and lived in Toronto. After Dolly died in 1961, he married Celia (née Rogen) Hoffman, a widow, in 1966. He became the stepfather to the two sons of Max and Celia Hoffman who had been residents of Hamilton. Some members of the family remained in Toronto while others moved to other parts of Canada, the United States and Israel. Sol Edell was actively involved in or provided financial support to many educational, professional and religious organizations.

Scope and Content

Series includes correspondence, invitations, publications, photographs, family films and a sound recording. The series is made up of seven sub-series: Associations, Charities, Community Activities, Education and Extra-Curricular Activities, Life Cycle and Family Events, Religious, and Residence.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 12 photographs, 7 film reels, 1 audio reel, 1 plaque, 4 badges, and 47 architectural drawings.

Name Access

Hoffman, Max

Hoffman, Celia

Rho Pi Phi

Harbord Collegiate

Subjects

Education

Greek letter societies

Physical Condition

Film and sound reels should be digitized.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Adas Israel Synagogue series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

5

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1958-2008

Physical Description

21 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Adas Israel is an orthodox congregation that was founded in the 1920s. The original building was on Cannon Street in downtown Hamilton. After the arrival of Rabbi Morton Green in 1958, a decision was made to move the synagogue to the western suburbs of Hamilton. The new building was built in 1961 and also included the Hamilton Hebrew Academy Day School. Since its move, synagogue membership has increased from 75 families to 350 families. Sol Edell became a member in 1966 after he married Celia Hoffman who was a member of the congregation. He did not attend the synagogue and had no regular involvement but did supervise a number synagogue renovation projects.

Custodial History

The material in this series was originally collected by the Hoffman family who were members of the congregation in the 1960s. Sol Edell became a member of the congregation after his marriage to Celia Hoffman in 1966. After her death in 1973, he inherited the material that she had collected and he continued to receive material from the congregation since he maintained his membership until his death in 2000.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence, blueprints, photographs, audiotapes and films relating to the establishment and construction of the new synagogue in 1961. It also includes correspondence and anniversary books documenting a variety of synagogue activities such as the dedication of the synagogue and a tribute dinner honouring Rabbi Mordechai Green. Also included are synagogue bulletins from 1958 to 2000. The series is made up of 6 sub series: Building, Clergy, Religious, Programmes, Administration and Finance, and Publications.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 27 photographs, 3 audio reels, 1 film reel, 15 architectural drawings, and 1 key.

Name Access

Green, Morton, Rabbi

Hoffman, Celia

Hamilton Hebrew Academy Day School

Subjects

Architecture

Education

Synagogues

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

graphic material

Date

1913-1999

Physical Description

22 cm of textual records

4 architectural drawings

2 photographs

Admin History/Bio

Shomrai Shabbos is an orthodox congregation which was founded in 1896. Sol Edell’s grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb, served as rabbi of the congregation from 1900 until 1942. The synagogue was in several downtown locations until it moved to its present location on Glengrove Avenue in North York in 1966. The congregation has grown steadily over the years and now has a membership of over 350 families. Sol Edell’s family were members of the congregation when he was a child. Although he retained his membership in the congregation after his marriage, he rarely attended the services at the synagogue. However, he did continue to participate in fundraising on behalf of the synagogue.

Custodial History

The earlier records were collected by Sol's grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb, or his father, Paul Edell. After their deaths, Sol maintained his membership in the congregation and continued to receive material from the synagogue.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the establishment, construction, membership and activities of the Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue. Included is correspondence, speeches, technical drawings, financial records, ledgers, a tribute book, legal records, flyers, bulletins, marriage certificate receipts, certificates, invitations, a photograph, and stationary.

Name Access

Felder, Gedalia, Rabbi

Yosef, Weinreb, Rabbi

Subjects

Architecture

Synagogues

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

General community activities series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

11

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1950-2010

Physical Description

77 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

In addition to his ongoing involvement with Clanton Park, the Canadian Jewish Congress Archives, the Aliyah Support Group, Jones Avenue Cemetery, Shomrai Shabbos and Adas Israel, Sol Edell undertook special projects on behalf of a wide array of Jewish organizations. These include cultural (Toronto Cantorial Scholarship Fund), educational (Netivot Hatorah and Yeshivat Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot), religious (Union of Jewish Orthodox Congregations), social welfare (Association of Jewish Seniors and Co-Ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly) and Zionist (Canadian Friends of Yeshivat Hakotel and State of Israel Bonds) organizations.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Sol Edell's involvement with a wide variety of Jewish educational, social and religious organizations and institutions in Canada, the United States, and Israel. Included are meeting minutes, publications, reports, photographs, correspondence, invitations, programmes, financial records, an architectural drawing, and a sound recording. While many of these organizations such as Eitz Chaim, Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot (educational), Mizrachi Organization of Canada, Emunah Women (Zionist) and Beth Jacob V’Anshe Drildz (synagogue) are orthodox, others such as Associated Hebrew Day Schools (educational), State of Israel Bonds (Zionist) and Co-ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (social welfare) have no religious affiliation.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 26 photographs, 1 audio cassette, and 1 architectural drawing.

Name Access

Eitz Chaim

Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot

Mizrachi Men’s Organization

Emunah Women

Beth Jacob V'Anshei Drildz (Toronto, Ont.)

Associated Hebrew Day Schools

State of Israel Bonds

Co-ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly

Camp Moshava

Harbord Collegiate

Netivot Hatorah

Union of Jewish Orthodox Congregations

B'Nei Akiva

Toronto Committee for Bikur Cholim Hospital

Subjects

Charities

Children

Education

Fund raising

Older people

Religion

Zionism

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Personal series

Charities sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

4

Series

1-2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1957-1997

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell made charitable donations to a large number of Jewish organizations mainly ones located in Canada, Israel and the United States.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of correspondence, receipts and certificates from Canadian, American and Israeli educational, religious and welfare organizations and institutions that received charitable donations from the Edell family.

Subjects

Charities

Education

Israel

Religion

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Personal series

Education and extracurricular activities sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

4

Series

1-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1921-1999

Physical Description

4 folders of textual records

1 photograph

4 badges

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell attended Harbord Collegiate and was an honours student winning awards in several extra curricular activities. His children and grandchildren also excelled scholastically while attending a variety various Jewish parochial schools in Toronto such as the Associated Hebrew Day Schools, Eitz Chaim, Netivot Hatorah and Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of material relating to the educational and recreational activities of the Edell family. There are newspaper clippings relating to Sol Edell’s participation in the Harbord Collegiate’s First Aid team and a University of Toronto graduation photograph. Sub-series includes correspondence, notices and booklets from his sisters’ and children’s elementary, high school and university graduation commencement exercises. In addition, sub-series consists of correspondence with the Associated Hebrew Day Schools relating to a scholarship awarded in memory of Sol Edell's grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb.

Name Access

Harbord Collegiate

First Aid team

Rabbi Yosef Weinreb Scholarship

University of Toronto

Subjects

Education

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Personal series

Life cycle and family events sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

4

Series

1-5

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[ca. 1900]-2000

Physical Description

37 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell had a large family and a large circle of friends and aquaintenances. Consequently, he was invited to many circumcisions, weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs. He also set up several memorial funds in memory of his sister and wives.There are also documents in this sub-series that relate to family members.

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of correspondence, receipts, diplomas, photographs and films documenting various family celebrations, vacations and home life. There is a selection of invitations, cards and benchers sent by the Edell, Weinstock and Hoffman families as well as ones that they received from family and friends. In addition, there are newspaper clippings and notices of the deaths of Edell family members and friends as well as correspondence and receipts relating to memorial funds set up in their memory. The sub-series also contains films of family and friends taken at home, on vacation and at family celebrations.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 10 photographs, 7 film reels, and 1 audio reel.

Name Access

Hoffman family

Weinstock family

Edell, Dolly

Edell, Celia

Subjects

Families

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Adas Israel Synagogue series

Publications sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

4

Series

5-6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1958-1999

Physical Description

12 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of the weekly, bimonthly and New Years bulletins that were published by the Adas Israel synagogue from 1958 to 1999.

Name Access

Adas Israel Congregation (Hamilton, Ont.)

Subjects

Newsletters

Synagogues

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

5

Material Format

textual record

Date

1954

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society meeting notice for January 31, 1954, and an envelope addressed to Mrs. Sobel of 15 Page Street, Toronto.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

36

Material Format

textual record

Date

1919

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a list of individual members running for election, their professions and number of votes. H. Dworkin, News Dealer, garnered the most votes with a total of 2,989.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

69

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of three items: a message from Nathan Phillips on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the founding of the Jewish community of Toronto, dated Sept 5, 1956; a list of officers belonging to the Jewish National Club; and a pamplet for the Jewish National Brotherhood with a smiliar list of names.

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Personal series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

1

File

5

Material Format

textual record

Date

[195-]-[196-]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of New Year's cards, in addition to a few Hanukkah, Christmas, thank you and business cards.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Personal series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

1

File

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

1948-1967

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of invitations to wedding, anniversary and birthday celebrations. There are also table place cards, personalised Grace after Meals booklets, an announcement of the 35th wedding anniversary of Lipa and Fanny Green, and a songbook for the wedding of a family member. The songs are all in Hebrew.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Personal series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

1

File

8

Material Format

textual record

Date

[194-]-[196-]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of an assortment of correspondence, most of which is in Yiddish. English written correspondence include personal letters to family members, a Mother's Day card, a poem to Zadie Green, a bar mitzvah speech, and legal papers.

Subjects

Speeches, addresses, etc

Yiddish letters

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Business series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

2

File

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1948-[196-]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of various documents including the announcement of the opening of a new office of Greenview Construction Co; a legal contract between the Green Construction Co. and the Apter Congregation to build a synagogue on Beverly Street, Toronto; tenders to Greenview for building construction; a land survey of 44 Majestic Court, Lipa's home; and an order book.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

3

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956-1975

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of records related to the Farband Labour Zionist Order including invitations to meetings and dinners, pledges, newsletters, minutes of a committee meeting, a musical revue program and an almanac directory of committee members.

Subjects

Labor Zionism

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

3

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

1958-1968

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of records pertaining to the Israel Histadrut Campaign of Toronto of which Lipa Green was a member and canvasser. Records include pledge cards, canvassers' instructions, list of names of prospects to canvass, a Histadrut news bulletin, a Third Seder Haggadah, and a program book commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

3

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1952

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a child-friendly Haggadah produced by the Holy Blossom Parent Council.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Lipa Green fonds

Organizations series

Level

File

Fonds

20

Series

3

File

12

Material Format

textual record

Date

1953-1965

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of meeting minutes of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Public Library, a receipt of membership, a letter about the Library's membership campaign and an invitation to a panel presentaiton at the Library.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Level

Series

Fonds

103

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[192-?]-1993

Physical Description

1.5 m of textual records

35 photographs

Admin History/Bio

The Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, originally called the Canadian Federation of Polish Jews (CFPJ), was established in 1933 to assist Jews in Poland who were victims of anti-Semitism as expressed in economic boycotts and political discrimination. The CFPJ provided political action and advocacy on behalf of Polish Jews, as well as social help, moral strength and material support. It was a constituent member of the World Federation of Polish Jews, established in 1935, which provided relief and economic assistance to Jews in Poland, and coordinated the assistance given to Jewish communal organizations in Poland. In addition, the CFPJ assisted Canadian landsmanshaften (mutual benefit societies) which were giving support to those communities from which their members had emigrated.

In 1939, following the outbreak of the Second World War, the CFPJ was among those Canadian Jewish organizations which founded the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies, the purpose of which was to assist in the war effort and to aid war victims. At the conclusion of the war, the UJRWR was renamed the United Jewish Relief Agencies, with an aim to assist refugees in their effort to settle in Canada.

The scope and mandate of the CFPJ has changed over time as new challenges and projects have emerged. In January 1950, its activities expanded to include building homes in Israel for Polish Jewish immigrants, providing local relief to newly arrived Polish Jewish immigrants in Canada, locating relatives and providing legal advice on matters related to passports and visas, contributing to and participating in memorials honouring lost Jewish communities, and maintaining contact with its sister Farbands across the world.

In December 1951, the name of the organization was officially changed to Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, and as of March 1953, its priorities had shifted to focus increasingly on providing support to Israel.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel. Many records provide insight into the relief efforts carried out to assist Jews in Poland and Israel. Included are meeting minutes, agendas, reports, correspondence, speeches, newspaper articles, financial records, conference material, a ledger book, posters and invitations, membership and donation lists, scrapbooks, leaflets, photographs of important events, letters of appeal, visa and identification applications, property claims applications, and letters from individuals requesting aid.

Name Access

Canadian Federation of Polish Jews

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel

Subjects

Jews--Israel

Jews, Polish

Access Restriction

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

Places

Israel

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

[1939?]-[195-]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of handwritten and typed notes, booklets, newspaper clippings, reports, articles and a 10th anniversary publication. Many records summarize and reflect on the organization's activities and history.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

[ca.1945]-[ca.1959]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of handwritten notes and lists of executive members, committee members, membership fees, member contributions, event attendees, and affiliated organizations. Handwritten notes are in Yiddish.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

5

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1954

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of memoranda, notes and meeting minutes for the organization's Toronto executive meetings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1955-1959

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of memoranda, notes, attendance sheets and meeting minutes for the organization's Toronto executive meetings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

8

Material Format

textual record

Date

[194-?]-[196-?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of memoranda, notes and meeting minutes for the organization's Toronto executive meetings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

[ca.1944]-[ca.1958]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of memoranda, notes and meeting minutes for the organization's national executive meetings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

[ca.1945]-[ca.1961]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of memoranda, agenda notes and meeting minutes for special meetings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

[ca.1944]-[1960?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of notes, agendas, meeting minutes, conference delegate cards, Shemen's conference badge, and lists of delegates for various conferences and conventions. Shemen's badge is from the 1945 conference and the delegate cards are from the 1947 conference.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

[194-]-[196-]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of letters of appeal written in both Yiddish and English.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

15

Material Format

textual record

Date

1948-[1951?]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence with Nioma Waldman and Cantor Moshe Kusevitsky regarding Kusevitsky's performances in 1950 and 1951.

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

16

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1952

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of tickets, invoices, newspaper clippings, programs, pamphlets, and correspondence related to Cantor Moshe Kusevitsky's performances in 1950, 1951, and 1952.

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

17

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1952

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a ledger for the Cantor Moshe Kusevitsky concerts.

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

19

Material Format

textual record

Date

[1944?]-1957

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of invitations, catalogue lists, programs, and advertisements for various community and CFPJ events. Some of these events include the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Jubilee Banquet, Painting Exhibition of Jewish Life in Poland, the Negev Testimonial Dinner, and the Annual Dinner for the Canadian Federation for Polish Jews.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds

Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series

Level

File

Fonds

103

Series

1

File

20

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1952

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of programs and correspondence with Harry Daniels regarding his art exhibit in Hamilton, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Source

Archival Descriptions