Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

12 May 1993

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of past presidents of Jewish Family & Child Service. Standing from left are: Gordon Wolfe, Marshall Kesten, Lorne Wolfson, Paul Forman, Yale Drazin, Les Scheininger, Howard Perlmutter, and Bernie Aaron. Seated from left are: former Jerome Diamond, Henry Goodman, Francis Storm, Morris Wayman, Rose Wolfe, and Gerald Slan.

Name Access

Aaron, Bernie

Diamond, Jerome D.

Drazin, Yale

Forman, Paul

Goodman, Henry G.

Kesten, Marshall

Perlmutter, Howard

Scheininger, Les

Slan, Gerald

Storm, Francis

Wayman, Morris

Wolfe, Gordon

Wolfe, Rose

Wolfson, Lorne

Jewish Family and Child (Toronto, Ont.)

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

10

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Jan. 1996

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of three individuals at a mezuzah affixing ceremony at Youthdale.

Name Access

Youthdale

Jewish Family and Child (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Mezuzah

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morley Torgov fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

108

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1938-2011

Physical Description

5.2 m of textual records and graphic material

Admin History/Bio

Morley Torgov (b. 1927) is a Canadian novelist and short story writer and former commercial lawyer.

Torgov was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to Allan (b. Russia, 8 July 1895-1964?) and Janey (née Colish) Torgov (b. England, 1901-d. Sault Ste. Marie, July 1926). Allan Torgov owned and operated a clothing store in Sault Ste. Marie named Allan's. Morley married Anna Pearl (née Cohen) in 1948 and had two children, Sarah Jane Steinberg and Alexander Torgov (b. 1959-d. 2009), and four grandchildren.

Torgov was educated at the University of Toronto, receiving his bachelor of laws degree from Osgoode Hall and was called to the bar in 1954. He became a partner in the law firm Olsch, Torgov, Cohen and specialized in commercial law. While practicing law in Toronto during the 1960s, he turned to writing. Torgov's first book, A Good Place to Come From (1974), a comic memoir of growing up Jewish in Sault Ste. Marie, was made into a CBC miniseries and won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. Torgov continued to write other books including the Outside Chance of Maximillian Glick (1982), which won him his second Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The CBC produced a television series based on this work and the book was published in several languages. This success was followed by St. Farb's Day (1990), which won the Toronto Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award for fiction. Other published works include the Abramsky Variations (1977), the War to End All Wars (1998), Stickler and Me (2002), Murder in A-major (2008), and the Mastersinger from Minsk (2012).

Torgov's writings also include several screenplays for television and film and numerous essays and articles for the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Montreal Gazette, the Canadian Lawyer and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. Torgov has been honored by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, naming their annual award the TORGI after Torgov, the first recipient of that award in 1984. In 2005, he received the Order of Mariposa, a lifetime recognition award from the Leacock Society. In 2010, he received the Order of Canada as an acknowledgement of his contributions to Canadian society.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of material related to the life and work of Morley Torgov. Included are literary drafts and working papers, reviews, speeches, presentations, public addresses, memorabilia, sketches and drawings, photographs, correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, and Torgov's original file folders with jottings of ideas and references for future use.

Notes

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: The scope and content for most of the file level descriptions are taken verbatim from the original description provided by Mr. Torgov at the time of donation and therefore is written in the first person.

Name Access

Torgov, Morley, 1927-

Subjects

Authors

Related Material

Researchers should consult the Morley Torgov fonds at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library for other records.

Arrangement

Records were arranged at the file level by the creator. This original arrangement has been maintained by the archivist.

Places

Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.)

Accession Number

1984-12-8

1986-12-6

1989-12-7

1990-12-10

1992-12-4

1995-12-4

1998-12-2

1999-12-3

2000-12-2

2002-12-6

2003-12-4

2004-12-1

2005-3-2

2005-12-3

2006-12-6

2007-12-16

2008-12-7

2011-12-3

2018-8-18

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Edelstein family fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

111

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

text

Date

1890-2005

Physical Description

2 m of textual records

30 photographs

4 posters

2 artifacts

12 books

1 CD

Admin History/Bio

Isaac Edelstein (1889-Dec. 1954) was born to Ronya Edelstein (née Silver) ([18--?]-June 1921) and Abraham Edelstein (1846-[19--?]). The family moved to Canada in 1913, arriving in Quebec before settling in Toronto. Isaac, the eldest, had five siblings: Archibald, Bessy, Lilian, Goldie, and Harry. Isaac married Ida (Hebrew name: Chaya) (1898-1978), who immigrated to Canada from Gomel district in Homiel Province, Belarus.

Isaac was a tailor and Ida was a dressmaker. Isaac and Ida had two children: Rony (nickname Renne) Rabassa (b. 4 Jan. 1931) and Albert (nickname Abi) Edelstein (26 Sept. 1925-1 May 2021).

After meeting through shared involvement in Habonim, Albert married Ruth (née Blumenstein) (15 Sept. 1928-30 Mar. 2023) on 2 Jan. 1949. They had 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.

Albert received vocational training as a watchmaker at Central Technical School, and spent the majority of his career as a retailer, operating a jewelry store with his wife Ruth. He was the president of the District Jewelers Association (1983-1984) and the chairman of the Queen Broadview Business Improvement Area in the 1990s. Ruth and Albert's children were educated in the Jewish day school system. Ruth was involved in the National Council of Jewish Women.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the personal lives of members of the Edelstein family and their communal affiliations.

Name Access

Edelstein (family)

Subjects

Families

Creator

Albert Edelstein

Accession Number

2000-1-1

2000-2-2

2000-3-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

26

Material Format

graphic material

Date

19 Jun. 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 11 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a colour photograph of Lorne Wolfson affixing a mezuzah to a door.

Subjects

Mezuzah

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

27

Material Format

graphic material

Date

19 Jun. 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 11 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a colour photograph of Lorne Wolfson holding a mezuzah while reading from notes. The photograph was taken at the opening of the York Region office. (Wolfson was president of JF & CS.)

Subjects

Mezuzah

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

28

Material Format

graphic material

Date

19 Jun. 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 11 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a colour photograph of a dozen individuals taken at the opening of the York Region office.

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

79

Item

29

Material Format

graphic material

Date

19 Jun. 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 11 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a colour photograph of a group of individuals taken at the opening of the York Region office.

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Pappenheim family fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

113

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1906-2005

Physical Description

2.0 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Albert Pappenheim (1921-1984) was born to Jonas (1877-1941) and Irma (1881-1941) Pappenheim in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He had three siblings, Ernst (b. 1911), Karla (m. Goldschmidt) (1912-1989), and Ruth (m. Possen) (1915-2010). From 1936-1938, Albert studied at the Jewish Teachers Seminary (ILBA) in Wurzburg, Germany, but his studies were interrupted due to Kristallnacht. Albert was sent to study at a yeshiva in England, but was declared an illegal immigrant with the start of the war and was interned and sent to Canada in 1940. He was interned at Ile aux Noix in Richelieu River in Quebec along with other yeshiva students. Upon his release from the camp, he resumed his rabbinical studies and became a prominent rabbi and community leader in Toronto. He married Rhoda Helen (née Kabatznik) Pappenheim (1925-1987) who was born to Eli and Sarah Kabatznik. Rhoda studied to be a teacher at Toronto Normal School. Albert and Rhoda had a daughter Irma. Albert's sister and brother-in-law Karla and Max Goldschmidt emigrated to Palestine. Sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Leo Possen eventually joined Albert in St. Catharines after the war.

Albert received a BA in Oriental Languages in 1947 and MA in 1949 at the University of Toronto. He also continued his training at Yeshiva Torath Chaim Toronto under Rabbi Abraham Price and took the rabbinic exam in 1949. He led the Congregation B'nai Israel in St. Catharines, Ontario from 1948-1953. In 1953, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky to be the rabbi of Ohava Zion Congregation. While in Lexington, he was also a lecturer at the University of Kentucky in Hebrew and Biblical History. In 1956, he returned to Canada to be the rabbi of Beth David Congregation in Downsview, Toronto. Beth David amalgamated with B'nai Israel Synagogue in 1960 and with Beth Am Congregation in 1977. Albert also served on many rabbinical organizations and committees. He was the Chairman of the Education Committee for the United Synagogues of America, Ontario Region; Secretary of the Rabbinical Assembly, Central Region, Canada; and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region. His service and contributions to the rabbinical community was recognized through an honourary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1975.

Custodial History

The records were donated by Irma Pappenheim, daughter of Albert and Rhoda Pappenheim in three accessions. Some of the letters created and accumulated in researching the Pappenheim family history were in the custody of her aunt Karla.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the life and activities of Rabbi Albert Pappenheim and his family, including genealogical research conducted by his daughter Irma Pappenheim. The majority of records document Albert's activities as a rabbi at B'nai Israel Congregation in St. Catharines, Ontario; Ohava Zion Congregation in Lexington, Kentucky; and Beth David B'nai Israel Beth Am Congregation in Toronto. Records include sermons and related research, newspaper clippings, newsletters, bulletins, scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and administrative records. Also included are copies and originals of family correspondence and related material chronologically documenting the Pappenheim family history from the 1930s onwards, including translations. Other records document Albert's personal life and education with some material related to his wife Rhoda and her mother Sarah Kabatznik and include posthumous tributes, letters, and clippings.

Fonds is arranged into six series: 1. Personal, 2. Posthumous material, 3. Sermons and writings, 4. Rabbinical activities and congregational records, 5. Genealogical research 6. Scrapbooks

Notes

Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 250 photographs, 4 scrapbooks, 2 CDs, 3 audiocassettes, 1 audio disc and 1 USB key.

Duplicate copies of genealogical research, sermon notes, and other publications were culled.

Arrangement

Original order was preserved whenever discernible with sermons and writings largely organized into subject files and genealogical research in chronological order.

Creator

Pappenheim (family)

Accession Number

2005-10-1

2017-1-14

2017-8-12

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Pappenheim family fonds

Personal series

Level

Series

Fonds

113

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1938-1990

Physical Description

13 cm of textual records

5 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 19 x 14 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

Series consists of records related to the personal life and education of Albert and Rhoda (née Kabatznik) Pappenheim. Records include general correspondence, administrative documents, school yearbooks, certificates, lecture notes and essays, and personal notebooks. Also included is a photograph of Rhoda at an Eitz Chaim Hebrew School picnic and a program booklet of the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto, featuring Rhoda's mother Sarah Kabatznik on the cover.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Pappenheim family fonds

Posthumous materials series

Level

Series

Fonds

113

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

sound recording

Date

1984-1997

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records

2 audiocassettes

Scope and Content

Series consists of tributes, condolence cards, letters, and other documents related to memorializing Rabbi Albert Pappenheim, Rhoda Pappenheim, and Sarah Kabatznik.

Creator

Pappenheim (family)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Pappenheim family fonds

Rabbinical activities series

Level

Series

Fonds

113

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

moving images (electronic)

Date

1906-2005

Physical Description

32 cm of textual records

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

3 GB of moving images (ca. 60 min.) : sd., col. ; vod

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Rabbi Albert Pappenheim's professional activities while serving at B'nai Israel in St. Catharines, Ontario, Ohava Zion in Lexington, Kentucky and Beth David B'nai Israel Beth Am in Toronto and involvement in rabbinical organizations. Series includes administrative records such as correspondence, contracts, certificates, synagogue newsletters, bulletins, and programs. Also included are photographs of confirmation classes from Beth David B'nai Israel.

Creator

Pappenheim (family)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Pappenheim family fonds

Genealogical research series

Level

Series

Fonds

113

Series

5

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1906-2011

Physical Description

26 cm of textual records and other material

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the Pappenheim family history from the 1900s to the 1980s, collected by Irma Pappenheim in the course of doing genealogical research. Records primarily consist of copies or originals of correspondence between Albert and his siblings Ernst, Ruth Possen, and Karla Goldschmidt. Included are birth certificates and other related documents. Document summaries are provided in both print and electronic formats, and translations of the letters from German to English are also available. Also included is a transcript and recording of an interview with Erwin Schild and Albert on their internment experience, and childhood photographs of the Pappenheim family in Germany.

Notes

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: includes 2 CDs (3 MB of textual records and 4 photographs), 1 USB key (7 MB of textual records), 4 photographs, and 1 audiocassette

Creator

Pappenheim (family)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3432

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Notes

For identification, see accession record.

Photo by McLean.

Name Access

Sprachman, Kate

Subjects

Birthdays

Parties

Repro Restriction

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.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1982-7-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4852

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Notes

Photo by Carriere, Montreal.

Name Access

Montreal

Stein, Etta

Repro Restriction

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.

Accession Number

1989-11-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1854

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content

Identified in this photograph in the centre is Isaac Goldfield, and to his left is Mrs. Goldfield.

Name Access

Rachover Friendly Help Society

Goldfield, Isaac

Goldfield, Mrs. Isaac

Subjects

Dinners and dining

Portraits, Group

Societies

Repro Restriction

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.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-11-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6014

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Aquired May 1990.

Name Access

Nemal ha-te ufah Ben-Guryon

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Airports

Immigrants--Israel

Jews--Soviet Union

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Israel

Accession Number

1991-9-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6015

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Acquired May 1990.

Name Access

Nemal ha-te ufah Ben-Guryon

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Airports

Immigrants--Israel

Jews--Soviet Union

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Israel

Accession Number

1991-9-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6016

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Acquired May 1990.

Name Access

Nemal ha-te ufah Ben-Guryon

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Airports

Immigrants--Israel

Jews--Soviet Union

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Israel

Accession Number

1991-9-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6017

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Acquired May 1990.

Name Access

Nemal ha-te ufah Ben-Guryon

Subjects

Airports

Immigrants--Israel

Jews--Soviet Union

Places

Israel

Accession Number

1991-9-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6018

Material Format

graphic material

Date

May 1990

Physical Description

1 photograph

Notes

Acquired May 1990.

Name Access

Nemal ha-te ufah Ben-Guryon

United Jewish Appeal

Subjects

Airports

Immigrants--Israel

Jews--Soviet Union

Places

Israel

Accession Number

1991-9-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

38

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[190-]-2002

Physical Description

2.6 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) was the first national Jewish women's organization in Canada. The council had its beginnings among the urban elite, and played a strong role over the years in influencing public policy in such areas as relations with Israel, national unity, and the plight of world Jewry. The NCJWC is dedicated, in the spirit of Judaism, to furthering human welfare in the Jewish and general communities -- locally, nationally and internationally. It operated around three main pillars: service, education, and social action.

The National Council of Jewish Women was founded in the United States in 1893 by activist Hannah G. Solomon. In 1897, its first Canadian chapter was established in Toronto. In 1925, with seven chapters in Canada, a Canadian liaison position to the National Council of Jewish Women was created. A full-fledged “Canadian Division” of the NCJW was formed in 1934, with rules drafted at the first conference in Winnipeg three years later. Irene Samuel served as the Canadian Division’s first national president. In 1943, the division was renamed the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, and was officially incorporated in 1944, though it did not receive its letters patent until three years later. Even so, the NCJWC still retained some affiliation with the NCJW, whereby they paid per-capita dues to the Americans in return for program and administrative materials. In 1967 the NCJWC ceased these payments altogether, thereby separating from NCJW completely.

The early NCJWC focused on providing service to young girls and immigrants. They also involved themselves in contemporary politics through support for the war effort; the council donated vehicles to the Red Cross, turned Council House into a servicemen's centre, and even built several libraries at Canadian army camps. A national office opened ca. 1950 in Toronto, but until 1966 it moved to the national president's home city with every election. That year the office was permanently anchored in Toronto. In the 1950s and 1960s the council established Good Age clubs, the Irene Samuel Scholarship Fund, and developed the national Higher Horizons child-care and Newer Horizons elder-care programs. It expanded its overseas programs with support for the Israel Family Counseling Association and Ship-a-Box. The Soviet Jewry projects in the 1970s and 1980s reflected the council’s increasing emphasis on social action. Since the late 1990s, the council has focused on women's issues with efforts such as the Breast Self-Examination (BSE) program.

The NCJWC was governed by an executive council, led by a president. Vice-presidents were each responsible for one portfolio, such as membership, public affairs, etc., which were in turn made up of a number of national committees. The national executive was responsible for producing by-laws, guidelines, policies and procedures, as well as developing national service and social action programs. National also provided support and program materials to the sections, and held biennial meetings every other year from 1937 in cities across Canada. Its decentralized structure meant that while the national office remained in Toronto, officers of the executive have resided right across the country.

As of 1997, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada was an affiliate member of the International Council of Jewish Women, a member of UNESCO Canadian Subcommission of the Status of Women, and a member of the Coalition of Jewish Women Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition for Agunot Rights. Prominent past presidents include Mrs. Harry (Irene) Samuel, Mrs. Lucille Lorie, Dr. Reva Gerstein, Mozah Zemans, Mina Hollenberg, Sophie Drache, Thelma Rolingher, Helen Marr, Bunny Gurvey, Sheila Freeman, Penny Yellen, and Gloria Strom. The council’s national office moved to Winnipeg in November, 1993. As of 2006, the council still had 5 active sections in Canada: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.

Custodial History

NCJWC donated these records to the OJA after they had finished a historical exhibit and catalogue in 1997 called "Faith and Humanity," celebrating 100 years of NCJWC.

Scope and Content

The fonds documents NCJWC’s fundraising, social service and social action work in Toronto, in other cities across the country, and overseas. Records include conference and meeting programs, minutes, hand-written correspondence, speeches and reports, national newsletters, published histories, by-laws and policies, photographs, publicity material, historical subject files and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series: National biennial conventions and annual meetings; National Executive Council; National portfolios and committees; National program and event materials; National history research and subject files; International Council of Jewish Women; Toronto Section; Photos and audio-visual material; and National Council of Jewish Juniors, Toronto Section.

Notes

Physical description note: includes ca. 2470 photographs, 13 architectural drawings, 2 artistic drawings, 3 badges, 3 medals, 1 pin, 28 audio cassettes, and 1 videocassette.

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Subjects

Women

Related Material

See also: photographs 3207, 3192, 4140, 4067, 4066, 4434; Accession 1977-8-7 for National Council of Jewish Women of Welland; National Council of Jewish Juniors, photographs 458, 459, 460, 463, 464, 465, 466, 468; MG2 B-1K

Arrangement

Records have been arranged by function, in accordance with information gleaned from NCJWC's organizational charts and annual reports

Creator

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Accession Number

2001-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6074

Material Format

graphic material

Date

13 Jan. 1991

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of officers of Toronto Hebrew Memorial Park, 13 January 1991. From left to right: Sid Freedman (past president), Bill Draimin (president), Stephen Speisman (secretary), and Merv Rosenstein (treasurer).

Name Access

Toronto Hebrew Memorial Park

Freedman, Sid

Draimin, Bill

Rosenstein, Merv

Speisman, Stephen A., 1943-

Subjects

Portraits, Group

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

744

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--?]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Admin History/Bio

Born in Lithuania, Koussevitsky was a world-renowned cantor. His last post was in Brooklyn, New York. He toured extensively during his career.

Custodial History

Item is a portrait of the Lithunian-born cantor Moshe Koussevitsky.

Name Access

Koussevitsky, Cantor Moshe

Subjects

Cantors (Judaism)

Portraits

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Lithuania

New York (N.Y.).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6104

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of a man, possibly a member of the Reubenson (Robinson) family.

Name Access

Reubenson family

Robinson family

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

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.

Places

Lublin (Poland)

Accession Number

1984-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hadassah-WIZO fonds

Annual Bazaar series

Level

Series

Fonds

71

Series

1

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1924-2006

Physical Description

90 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

In 1924 the first official Toronto annual Hadassah Bazaar was held at the Masonic Temple at Davenport and Yonge. Over the years, venues changed with increasing demands for space as the popularity of the event grew. These locations included Varsity Stadium (1945-1948), the Automotive Building at the CNE (1949-1999), and currently the CNE’s National Trade Centre (Direct Energy Centre).Toronto pioneered the mammoth volunteer-run bazaar concept and was followed by other cities – Montreal (ca.1932), Vancouver (1951) and a number of smaller communities.

Admission fees were documented from 25 cents in 1934 to $4 in the 1990s.In most instances throughout the years, reduced or free admission was offered to preschoolers and seniors.

The early bazaars sold used clothing, hand sewn articles and home cooked kosher specialties. The 1930s saw the introduction of “carnival elements” such as fortune telling and bingo, and social events that included dinners, floor shows and dancing to the music of well known bands. The “Beautiful Child Photography Contests”, fashion shows, art exhibits, and the Hadassah Exposition and Bazaar Cooking Schools were inaugurated during the same decade.

During the Second World War, the Red Cross and war efforts were incorporated into bazaar activities. In the 1950s auctions were introduced.1963 saw the first Eilat Lighthouse – a colossal advertising pyramid. From the 1970s to the 1990s, new features such as clothes boutiques, mini-stores, and disco contests appeared.

Proceeds from the fairs and bazaars from the Bazaar’s inception until recent years rose exponentially from a thousand or so dollars to hundreds of thousands. These funds have generally been directed to medical and welfare services for needy women and children in Israel. From 1939-45, some of the monies were directed to war projects in Palestine, England, and Egypt. Recent beneficiaries include Asaf Harofe Rehabilitation Hospital, Nahalal (a co-educational secondary school focusing on farming technology), and medical research at the Hebrew University.

Enthusiastic crowds of up to 60,000 continue to line up at 6 am on the last Wednesday of October every year. The City of Toronto has recognized the Bazaar since 1989 with it’s proclamation of “Hadassah – Wizo Bazaar Day”.

From modest beginnings, Toronto’s Hadassah Bazaar has evolved into what is billed as the “largest one day bazaar in the world”.

The 84th was the last bazaar held in October 2008.

Scope and Content

The series consists of records in the form of textual documents, photographs, posters, scrapbooks and audio- visual recordings that document the history of the Toronto Hadassah Bazaar from 1924-2006.These include activities such as social events, meetings, rallies, as well as records including press clippings, memorabilia, correspondence, and financial reports.

Photo Captions:

028 - [Unidentified], Ella Fleischmann, [Unidentified], Israel Booth at Hadassah Bazaar, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario [ca. 1965].

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 2472 photographs, 3 posters, 2 audio recordings, 4 video recordings, 2 artifacts, and 8 scrapbooks.

Subjects

Bazaars (Charities)

Arrangement

The textual records are aranged in chronological order and then by activity such as planning, correspondence and publicity.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hadassah-WIZO fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

71

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1924-2006

Physical Description

11 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

The first Canadian chapter of Hadassah was established in Toronto in 1916. Subsequent chapters emerged in other large Canadian cities thereafter. In 1919 several chapters organized to form the Hadassah Organization of Canada. And in 1921, Hadassah Canada joined the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO), and subsequently changed its name to Hadassah-WIZO. The original goal of Hadassah was to raise funds for refugees in Eastern Europe. Later on, their mandate shifted to that of providing money and support for the Jews in Israel. Although it spent a great deal of time and resources raising funds for this cause, Hadassah-WIZO was a philanthropic organization that encouraged productivity rather than charity.

Today, Hadassah-WIZO is the largest organization of Jewish women in Canada. In addition to providing Jewish women with an opportunity to liaise with other women from the community and volunteer for a worthy cause, this organization also promotes some important national and international goals. These goals include: encouraging Jewish and Hebrew culture in Canada; extending the material and moral support of Jewish women in Canada to the people of Israel who require assistance; and cooperating with other organizations in the promotion of Canadian ideals of democracy.

The records in this fonds were created by the Toronto chapter of Hadassah-WIZO. The Toronto chapter is not only the oldest, but also one of the largest and most active affiliates of the 304 Hadassah-WIZO chapters in Canada. Some of the activities that it sponsors include the famous annual bazaar, which was started in 1924 and is one of the largest in North America. They also contribute to the support of a host of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO initiatives in Israel which include: the Nahalal School, the Netanya Technological High School, the Hadassim Children and Youth Village, several day care centres, women’s and youth clubs, the Hadassah-WIZO Canada Research Institute, and two medical centers. The Toronto chapter in particular sponsors youth aliyah, and raises funds and honours important volunteers through the organization of tribute dinners, golf tournaments, and other events. Finally, this chapter is also responsible for producing the Hadassah Reporter, which is the newsletter that documents the activities of the Toronto chapter.

Custodial History

The records were acquired from the main Hadassah office on Sheppard Ave.

Scope and Content

The records in this fonds document the activities of Toronto Hadassah-WIZO. They include the Hadassah magazine the Reporter as well as the national publication Orah. The fonds also consists of photographs, minutes of meetings, certificates, press clippings, correspondence, audio-visual material, posters and scrapbooks.

Notes

Associated material note: The Library and Archives of Canada also possesses material created by members of Toronto Hadassah.

Name Access

Toronto Hadassah-Wizo

Creator

Toronto Hadassah-Wizo (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

2003-3-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hadassah-WIZO fonds

Ilana Chapter series

Level

Series

Fonds

71

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1949-1996

Physical Description

33 photographs : b&w and col. (17 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

2 artifacts

15 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Founded in the spring of 1949 by Mrs. Dolly Tarshis and Mrs. Elaine Culiner, the Ilana Chapter of the Hadassah – Wizo Organization of Canada was created under the organization’s national mandate dedicated to financially and socially supporting the peoples of Israel and promoting Jewish culture and ideals in Canada. Under the leadership of Elaine Culiner as it’s first President, membership in the Ilana Chapter began with 15 women in 1949 and grew to 26 women in it’s second year. By 1965 there were 50 members in total, residing in several different neighbourhoods across central and north Toronto. All chapter meetings were held in members’ homes, generally twice a month. Executive meetings were held once a month between September and June. Over the years many Ilana members were also active in the Toronto Hadassah Council Executive.

The Ilana Chapter was constructed according to the mandate of the Hadassah – Wizo Organization of Canada, and as such, was obligated to administer itself accordingly. It’s administration was comprised of 2 levels – an administrative council and a general membership. The executive consisted of a president, vice-president, treasurer, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, past president, 2 members-at-large, and various portfolio chairmen. The executive met at least once a month to discuss chapter issues, and the general membership met approximately twice a month. All other meetings were held on a rotating basis at members’ homes and the minutes were recorded by the secretary. All issues and activities would be voted on by the membership at large, although it was the executive’s responsibility to ensure that all activities were carried out. Members were required to pay annual dues, of which the chapter retained only a small portion for expenses, as the balance was relegated to the regional council to pay for administrative costs and donations.As well, all fundraising profits raised by the Chapter for support of the various Hadassah - Wizo programs was required to be forwarded to the regional council by the 10th of each month.

Membership in Ilana remained relatively constant until the chapter merged with the Deborah Chapter in 1990, primarily due to waning meeting attendance.

The Ilana Chapter participated in numerous organization-wide fundraising activities, contributing to such social programs as Youth Aliyah, the Children’s Village in Hadassim, the Jewish National Fund, and the Henrietta Szold Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Rose Dunkelman Day Care Center in Tel Aviv is one of 10 Israeli centers sponsored by the Hadassah-Wizo Organization of Canada and is directly affiliated with the Toronto branch and it’s constituent chapters.The Ilana Chapter contributed financially to this center through it’s child sponsorship program, in which a child at the center would be “adopted” for one year.

Fundraising campaigns unique to the Ilana Chapter included the Clothing Name Tape program benefiting the Children’s Village in Hadassim, and the innovative “House That Goodwill Built”, later adopted by the Toronto Hadassah Council, which featured it as the “Eilat Lighthouse” at the annual Toronto Hadassah Bazaar.

Cocktail parties, teas, luncheons, raffle draws, theatre outings, and dinner-dances were also popular fundraising activities for the Ilana Chapter, most taking place in members’ homes and relying heavily on membership donations.In 1964 the Chapter inaugurated a highly successful fundraising event, their annual Treasure Trove and Antique Auction, with proceeds benefiting Youth Aliyah.This project ran until the early 1980’s. Linens, silver, clothing, and other like goods were either donated for sale or offered on consignment by local businesses, proving to be a successful fundraising event for the Chapter. Originally organized in members’ homes, the Auction and Treasure Trove was held at the following venues during the 1960s and early 1970s:The North York Memorial Gardens, St. Lawrence Hall, Edwards Gardens, and finally the Holiday Inn Yorkdale, where it remained from 1973 until its final years.

Scope and Content

The series consists of records in the form of textual documents, photographs, press clippings, memorabilia, and scrapbooks that document the history of the Ilana Chapter from 1949 – 1990, and its successor the Deborah-Ilana Chapter from 1990-1996.

These include administrative documents such as executive council lists (1951-1983), membership lists (1949-1993), master lists of past presidents (1949-1983) and financial records (1952-1991).

Other documents include executive meeting minutes (1952-1972) and general meeting minutes (1951-1982), the opening prayer read before all meetings, a Chapter history compiled by a former President in 1966, and the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws (1964).

Documents of the chapter’s involvement in the Rose Dunkelman Day Care Center include letters, photos, certificates and case histories issued by Hadassim and Wizo Baby Services from 1997- 1988.

Among the membership memorabilia are photos, cards, invitations, press clippings, a sympathy card, and an obituary.

Finally this series includes the meeting gavel which was used by the president to chair the meetings.

The records are arranged in chronological order by subject, such as membership lists, executive council nominations, and executive meeting minutes. The contents of 3 scrapbooks have been placed in files and are arranged chronologically.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

75

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

moving images

Date

1947-2006

Physical Description

5.1 m of textual records and graphic material

1 DVD

Admin History/Bio

The Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) was established on 16 June 1947. After the Second World War thousands of survivors arrived in Canada in search of homes, education for their children and jobs. The returning servicemen, in turn, were also in need of employment. For the first two years of its existence, JVS catered exclusively to these two groups. By 1949, it had expanded its mandate to become a community-wide agency.

Max Enkin, the founder of the post-war "tailor scheme" became its first president and chairman of the board. Under this scheme, he and other members of his delegation were able to bring over 2,200 displaced persons to Canada as skilled tailors. Other members of the JVS board included Lipa Green, Sydney Harris, Dr. Albert Rose and Louis Lockshin. The executive director was Norman Stack. He served for a few years and was replaced by Milton Freidman in 1949. Freidman was a social worker who relocated to Toronto from Buffalo and spent close to 40 years in this position, retiring in 1985.

JVS's early mandate was to serve as a placement service for applicants and employers and to provide individual counselling services to its clients. Its office was situated above the original Tip Top Tailors building at 455 Spadina Avenue. It later moved its office to 152 Beverley Street and then in the 1960s to Tycos Drive. By the 1960s, JVS began to expand its services to all segments of society including newcomers, people with disabilities and from all sectors of life. The staff included social workers, psychologists, job counsellors and clerical staff.

During the 1980s, Bernie Berger became the new executive director. He served in that capacity until 1991. He was replaced by Ed Segalowitz. During this period, JVS set up a seniors' program called ATLAZ on the grounds of the Baycrest Home for the Aged. It was funded by the Bick family and was intended to create programs to keep seniors engaged. Today, this program is called the Al Green Resource Centre and provides employment, placement, training and volunteer opportunities to adults of all ages and with developmental disabilities. JVS also launched a youth program called Youthinc and a women's program.

Karen Goldenberg became executive director in 1998 and was replaced by Frank Markel in 2011 after her retirement. JVS has expanded its clientele, helping people from all backgrounds with diverse needs to identify their strengths and goals, develop skills, and achieve success in school, work and life. By 2009, it offered an expansive range of over 40 employment-related support programs and services throughout the Greater Toronto Area to thousands of unemployed and underemployed individuals and served 23,000 people. They operated out of 12 locations and have approximately 200 professionals on staff.

Kim Coulter became president and CEO in 2013.

Custodial History

The case files were located in the vault with no accession number. They were likely transferred to the OJA during the 1970s or 1980s. They were assigned accession number 2002-10/34.

The remaining records were in the possession of Amanda Batchelor of JVS, who had acquired the material from various past board and committee members for the creation of the 60th anniversary book.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the activities, programs, finances, operation and history of the Jewish Vocational Services. Included are meeting minutes, photographs, correspondence, surveys, reports, financial statements, certificates, bulletins, newsletters, newsclippings, press releases, anniversary books, and one DVD. The fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Formation and history; 2) Board of Directors; 3) Executive board; 4) Annual general meetings; 5) Special and general meetings; 6) Committees; 7) Career, employment and training services; 8) Disability services; 9) Immigrant and newcomer services; 10) Women in New Roles (WINR); 11) Youth services; 12) Volunteer program; 13) Studies and reports; 14) Finance; 15) Personnel; 16) Planning and operations; 17) Publications and publicity; 18) Fundraising; 19) United Way; 20) Events; 21) Conferences and workshops.

Name Access

Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto

Subjects

Charities

Immigrants--Canada

Access Restriction

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

Creator

Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto (1947-)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

2002-10/34

2008-9/6

2010-11/7

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hadassah-WIZO fonds

Hadassim Youth Village series

Level

Series

Fonds

71

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[195-]-1999

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

1 photograph

Admin History/Bio

Hadassim Youth Village was conceived and planned by the members of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO during the Second World War. In December 1944, the first furrow was plowed on a Jewish National Fund tract close to malaria-infested swampland near Natanya in the Sharon region. A master architectural plan was prepared in that year, and three years later during the 1947-48 school year, a residential education centre opened for children orphaned or left homeless during the Holocaust.

Fifty Hungarian and Polish orphans were soon joined by fifty “Sabra” children, for even then, the goal was to integrate as well as educate. From the beginning, Hadassim’s philosophy has been to serve children who are in distress or underachievers, because of family disfunction, behavioral, or cultural issues. Many pupils are new immigrants from such countries as the former Soviet Union, Iran, and Ethiopia.

Four dormitories, a dining hall, and kitchen were the first buildings constructed, and an Arab orange grove was acquired as the first agricultural property. Through the years, the campus of one hundred acres has grown to include primary, junior and senior high schools with upwards of one thousand day students, five hundred residential students, and a staff of over two hundred. There are a dozen student dormitories, housing units for employees and their families, an amphitheatre and performance hall, a synagogue, medical facilities, technical workshops, gymnasium, swimming pool, offices, and many other facilities.The management of the village is directed by the Schools Department of World WIZO, with the involvement of the Israel Ministry of Education and the Youth Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency.

In order to maximize the use of facilities, the village operates summer camp programs for the children of wounded soldiers, children in distress or from large families, and students visiting from Jewish schools in the diaspora.

In the 1970s, Hadassim and WIZO Baby Services extended their mandate to build crèches (day care centres) for children from one month to four years. These facilities are located in all areas of Israel.

In 1994 Hadassim and Day Care Centres campaign became known as WIZO Services.This “umbrella” of projects includes the Hadassim Children and Youth Village, other schools, day care centres, women and youth clubs, and “Women for Women” services for battered women.

Other Village initiatives include guest accommodations, and special programs for underprivileged or academically-challenged children from the local area. A proactive public relations campaign attracts much media attention and visitors to Hadassim. Canadian chapters of Hadassah –WIZO continue to provide major funding for the village.

Scope and Content

The series consists of 1 photograph and textual records, documenting the history of Hadassim Youth Village and Hadassim and WIZO Baby Services in Israel (now known as WIZO Services) from the 1950s to1999.

Included are executive and committee lists, executive and donor correspondence, press clippings, reports, histories, flyers, case histories of students, as well as information about “Women for Women” and Baby Creche and Kindergarten Services.

Major fund raising initiatives such as raffle draws, auction and party events (1970-1989), Famous People Players,and "Lend Your Heart to Hadassim" are documented by invitations, programs, tickets, and publicity.

The records are arranged by function, such as the history of Hadassim, publicity, correspondence, committee lists, and documentation of fund raising activities.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1938-1978, 1991

Physical Description

6.5 m of textual records

15 photographs

Admin History/Bio

The Joint Community Relations Committee was created in 1938 by the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region and the Toronto Lodge B’nai Brith. It was originally named the Joint Public Relations Committee and was responsible for combating antisemitism in Ontario. Public statements, by agreement, were made only by the Canadian Jewish Congress as B’nai Brith recognized the uniqueness of its national constitution. The committee was led by lay leaders from the community and a staff representative from the CJC. Shortly thereafter, similar committees were set up in Montreal and in Western Canada, and soon a National Joint Community Relations Committee was established.

The committee played a key role in achieving the early anti-discrimination act of 1944, and the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1951, leading to the Human Rights Code of today. It was prominent in the action against the spread of sectarian religious teachings in the public schools and took the lead in pressing for legislation against the dissemination of racial hatred. It acted for the preservation of religious and human rights and worked with numerous religious, fraternal and ethnic organizations in the wider community. The committee also investigated and acted upon all complaints of discrimination, antisemitism and other such incidents. They supplied Jewish and secular schools with educational materials including pamphlets and books, and conducted intercultural and inter-religious work in the community through organized lectures, seminars, institutes, and plenary sessions.

The committee was composed of equal representation from both the Canadian Jewish Congress, and the B’nai Brith. The money for the operation of the Committee was first provided by both organizations, however, in a 1947 agreement between the National CJC and B’nai Brith Canada, the parties stated that the finances for the committee would be raised in the name of the CJC, with B’nai Brith agreeing to make “token” contributions and co-operate with Congress’ fundraising campaign. As well, the professional staff and support persons for the committee, along with their salaries, came solely from the Central Region CJC.

The executive director (also referred to as the executive secretary) was the primary staff person responsible for carrying out the policy and activities of the JPRC, which included preparing press releases, liaisoning with affiliated groups, organizations, individuals, journalists, government representatives and any others wanting or needing information on issues relating to the JPRC’s work. The executive director acted as the recording secretary at all committee meetings and was the keeper of all official documents.

Around 1978, due in part to the earlier creation of the B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights in 1970, the Canadian Jewish Congress and the B’nai Brith terminated their joint relationship with the committee. At the time, the CJC felt that B’nai Brith was playing a dual role in advocacy through the League and through the JPRC. B’nai Brith, in turn, felt that the CJC was shutting out the B’nai Brith’s voice. Nevertheless, the “Joint” was not dropped from the name until around 1991.

In 2011 the Community Relations Committee ceased to exist when the CJC Ontario office was closed and the functions of the CJC were folded into the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

Committee name changes were: Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1991-2011) Joint Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1978-ca. 1991) Joint Community Relations Committee, Central Region (1962-1978) Joint Community Relations Committee, (1938-1962)

Scope and Content

Series consists of five sub-series. Sub-series 1 contains the agendas, minutes and associated documentation supporting meetings of the Community Relations Committee. Sub-series 2 contains speeches , publications, press releases and reports presented and/or distributed by the Committee. Sub-series 3 consists of case files documenting the Committee's activities of combating specific antisemitism and Holocaust-denying activities in Canada. Extensive documentation about Ernst Zundel is included Sub-series 4 contains 9 sub-sub-series documenting various categories of research files accumulated by the Committee. Sub-series 5 contains the general office records of the Committee and includes correspondence and memos of the Executive Director and records providing insight to the internal organization and management of the Committee's internal functions.

For more details see descriptions within the scope and contents notes at the sub-series and sub-sub-series levels.

Notes

Previously processed and cited a MG8 S

Physical extent note: when originally listed in 1988, this series contained about 20.5 metres of textual records. When partial processing and reorganization had been completed in 2013, 14 metres had been culled because those documents were duplicates, newspaper clippings, created by outside agencies or maintained in other agencies.

Associated material note:Library and Archives of Canada holds the records for the National B’nai Brith which does contain 30cm of material on the National Joint Community Relations Committee. The Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives in Montreal holds the records for the National Joint Community Relations Committee, which contains some files on the Ontario Region, as they reported to the National office. The whereabouts of the B’nai Brith records pertaining to the Central Region activities are currently unknown.

Subjects

Committees

Arrangement

Because records in this series had been previously organized in a manner that proved difficult for use by archivists and researchers, the records, during 2010 and 2011, were totally rearranged and described to comply with RAD standards, to provide ease of access by researchers, and to fully reflect the activities and organizational history of the Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress during and after the period when it was a joint committee with the B'Nai Brith.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sadie Stren fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

78

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

graphic material (electronic)

Date

[189-]-1997

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

176 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

2 photographs (jpg) : b&w

Admin History/Bio

Sadie Stren (1915-2014) was born on April 19, 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. Her father and mother had come from a small town in Russia. Samuel Goldberg, her father, arrived to stay with family in Brantford, Ontario in 1910 and began working as a peddler. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1912 where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and later owned a confectionary store. Emma, Sadie’s mother, came from Russia to reunite with Samuel after he began living in Detroit and the couple married and started a family there.

Sadie grew up in a predominately Jewish neighbourhood in Detroit with her parents and her sister Sarah. She graduated from what is now Wayne State University and worked as a social studies teacher in Detroit for approximately 10 years, until she married at age 31. Sadie first met her husband, Maurice "Maurie" Strenkovsky (1910-1995), while visiting relatives in Brantford. By the time the two had met, Maurie was going by the last name Stren, although it is not certain when he began to do so. He served in the Second World War and corresponded with Sadie during their courtship. The two married in 1947, five years after meeting. The couple initially lived in Detroit, where their son David was born on August 28, 1948, but soon moved to Brantford, where Sadie gave birth to a daughter, Patti, on August 8, 1949. Maurie became a manufacturer of surgical dressing and continued in this profession until his retirement.

When Sadie first moved to Brantford, she joined several Jewish women’s organizations, including Hadassah. She continued to be actively involved in both Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations for the remainder of her life. She ran and taught the Beth David Sunday school in Brantford for many years, and in 1976, was honoured for her work as Sunday school supervisor by the Beth David Sisterhood. During her time in Brantford, Sadie served on the board of directors for eight different organizations, and was the president of four. She was a member of the board of directors for the Family Service Bureau and was elected president in 1966. She was also a past president of the University Women’s Club and a former board member of the YM-YWCA. Her husband was quite active in the community as well. Maurie Stren’s commitments included serving as president of B’nai B’rith Brantford from 1965-1966 and as District Governor of the Lions Club from 1963-64, among other things.

Upon moving to Toronto, Sadie became a member of the Baycrest Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Aphasia Institute.

Sadie was an amateur historian who served as the Brantford Jewish community's archivist and historian for a number of years. She had been collecting sources of Brantford Jewish history in her home since at least the 1970s in order to assemble the history of Brantford's community. Sadie was also an author who wrote about the history of the Brantford community, spoke at conferences, and was a contributor to the Canadian Jewish Historical Society Journal in 1981. She passed away on December 9, 2014.

Custodial History

The records were donated by Sadie Stren in five different transfers from 1976-2006. The first accession was received as a part of the small communities project in 1976 and included only photographs. Subsequent accessions included photographs and textual documents relating to both Sadie’s family and the Brantford community. Sadie is an author and she acquired some of the materials when researching the history of the Brantford community.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of material created and collected by Sadie Stren related to the Brantford Jewish community, as both a member of the community and an author researching its history. Among the records are newspaper and article clippings, correspondence, research notes, records of the Brantford Hebrew Association, miscellaneous printed and published material, Hadassah minutes, records related to Congregation Beth David and its Hebrew school and photographs.

The Brantford Hebrew Association records include 3 ledger books which span the years between 1909 to 1952, legal documents for the Association including the original letters patent incorporating the Brantford Hebrew Association in 1911.

Notes

Some of the photographs are modern copies of older photographs.

Some early accessions contained photocopies of orginal documents that were eventually donated in later transfers. These photocopies were culled.

Many photographs were described at the item level at the time they were accessioned, but there are quite a few photographs in the fonds which have not yet been described in detail.

Name Access

Stren, Sadie, 1915-2014

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Volunteers

Related Material

For additional material related to the Brantford Jewish community see also accession #1978-11-4, accession #2009-2-5, oral history #AC91, and accession #2004-5-71.

Creator

Stren, Sadie, 1915-

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-9

1977-5-6

1978-11-3

2005-11-10

2006-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hadassah-WIZO fonds

Toronto Hadassah Reporter series

Level

Series

Fonds

71

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1937-2004

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The first edition of the Toronto Hadassah Reporter was published in September 1937 by the Toronto Hadassah Council. The mandate of this periodical was stated to be “A new venture to present to members the doings of the chapters, the plans of it’s council, and Jewish news of importance all over the world.” In 1991 the editor’s responsibility was described as “Informing membership of current projects and recording past successes.” In 1998 the readership was reminded that the Reporter functions to make them aware of every activity at every level of WIZO

From the early years of publication, from 1937 through to the end of the Second World War, current events reports from countries and cities around the world kept readers informed about Jewish issues and war efforts. The founding of the State of Israel in 1948, and subsequent developments there was a major theme. Subsequent topics of historical significance included Expo 67 in Montreal, Soviet Jewry in the 1970s and 1980s, the American Bicentennial in 1976, and Camp David in 1978.

WIZO’s strong affiliation with other community organizations is well documented. These organizations include the Toronto branches of Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds, Hebrew University, and Young Judaea. Activities of the United Jewish Appeal, Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish Family and Child Service, B’Nai Brith Women, the Jewish Book Fair, and others were also promoted.

The coverage of internal Hadassah activities was very thorough. Conventions, yearly bazaars, fund raising events, financial reports, listings and biographies of officers and executives, chapter histories, and the development of Hadassah’s own archive, as well as reports from members visiting Israel and other countries around the world, are some of the highlights. Cultural topics include book reviews and advertisements for lectures.

A prominent feature is the listing in almost every issue of the Life Members, and since 1972, Male Life Associates, as well as “Specific Gifts” donors to such projects as Youth Aliyah, Hadassim, Asaf Harofe Hospital, Hebrew University Medical Centre, and Project Enrichment.

The Reporter served a financial role by including ads for local businesses in the early editions, and from 1954 on, by promoting the commercial ventures

Scope and Content

The series consists of a collection of periodicals called the Toronto Hadassah Reporter, covering the years 1937 to 2004.

From 1937 to 1955 the Reporter was published monthly. The collection is not complete for these years, with an average of seven to eight issues missing per year. During the years 1956 to 1969 an average of six editions was published. From 1970 to 2000 the number of issues varied from three to five. During 2000 to 2004 the frequency stabilized at four per year, of which half are missing. Due to the frequently changing publication schedule it is not possible to know with certainty which issues are not included.

Files in this series have been arranged in chronological order.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family and Child fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

79

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1933-2011

Physical Description

ca. 4.8 m of texutal records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Jewish Family & Child was established in 1943 from the amalgamation of a variety of different social agencies formed as early as 1868. These included the Ladies Benevolent Fund, the Free Burial Society, Jewish Family Welfare Bureau, Jewish Children’s Bureau, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Ladies Maternal Aid Society. Much of its funding and support after its inception came from the United Jewish Welfare Fund.

The first executive director of the agency was Dora Wilensky. She was a trained social worker who served for twenty-eight years, until her untimely death from cancer in 1959. Jerome Diamond took over in 1960 and Gordon Wolfe succeeded him in 1981. Ron Levin briefly replaced Wolfe after his retirement in 2003, and was succeeded in 2006 by Dr. Richard Cummings who then retired in 2015. As of 2017, Brian Prousky is the organization’s current executive director.

During the early years, fees were established, but the agency never refused to assist clients because of their inability to pay. JF&CS became one of the first agencies to rely on trained social workers. It was also the first social agency in Canada to become unionized.

Over the years the agency’s role has changed and it has expanded significantly, in terms of its staff and services. After the Second World War it played a pivotal role supporting the Holocaust orphans who came to Canada as refugees, particularly in the area of locating foster parents for these children. By 1957, the agency hired its first counsellor and became a member of the United Community Fund of Greater Toronto. The year 1968 marked the start of JF&CS’ new program involving the use of a mobile treatment centre to reach out to Jewish street kids and in 1974 they established the Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre.

In 1981, JF&CS was mandated by the Province of Ontario as a Jewish children’s aid society responsible for the care and protection of all Jewish youth in the GTA. In 1983 they established the Just-A-Second Shop at 3101 Bathurst Street, which took in used goods from the community to pass on to needy families. Two years later they established the Henry G. Goodman Home for developmentally challenged children on Wilmington Avenue. The following year marked the opening of the Elm Ridge Group Living Residence for elderly people. In 1988, they opened a special shelter for abused women and children, and in 1994, they introduced their Homework Club for kids.

The current mission of Jewish Family & Child is to support the healthy development of individuals, children, families, and communities through prevention, protection, counselling, education, and advocacy services, within the context of Jewish values. Their services include counselling, rehabilitation and support, foster care, family services, and community services. These services are offered in a host of different languages including Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, French, and English.

JF&CS is an independent organization that receives its funding from a variety of different sources such as UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, United Way Toronto and York Region, the Government of Ontario, and individual donations.

As of 2017, JF&CS has nearly 130 staff providing more than thirty community services with a budget of almost $20 million. Their main office is located in the Lipa Green Centre for Community Services at 4600 Bathurst Street. They also maintain offices and run services out of their downtown branch at 35 Madison Avenue, their York Region branch inside UJA’s 1 Open Door at the Lebovic JCC, and their Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre in midtown Toronto.

Name Access

Jewish Family and Child

Wilensky, Dora, 1902-1959

Wolfe, Gordon

Diamond, Jerome D.

Subjects

Charities

Children

Families

Nonprofit organizations

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.

Related Material

See also: Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds (fonds 86); Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds (fonds 87); Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds (fonds 66); and, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds (fonds 67).

Creator

Jewish Family and Child (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

2004-5-101

2004-1-8

2002-10-38

2006-6-7 (Shelf 03-6,Orphan index cards)

2009-12-9

2010-4-1 (Shelf 34-1)

2010-10-5

2015-8/11

2015-9/1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sammy Luftspring fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

82

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1922-2000

Physical Description

2 scrapbooks ; 65 x 48 cm and 34 x 30 cm

Admin History/Bio

Sammy Luftspring was born on 14 May 1916 in Toronto's Ward neighbourhood. His parents were working-class Jews who emigrated from eastern Europe. Sammy began training as a youth at the Brunswick YMHA. He lived in Kensington Market and attended B'nai Brith summer camp as a youngster. In 1932 he started entering boxing matches. He competed in 105 fights and only lost five bouts, capturing the Golden Glove tournaments in weight classes ranging from bantamweight to welterweight. Sammy became famous for his fighting prowess and Jewish pride, always sporting a Star of David on his boxing shorts.

By 1933, he became the Ontario lightweight champion, representing the Elm Grove Athletic Club. That same year, he took part in the Christie Pits riot. Because of his accomplishments in the ring and his contribution to his community, he became a highly respected athlete within the Jewish community.

In 1936, he was selected for the Canadian team to take part in the Berlin Olympics that year. Although he was eager to compete, his parents and the community pressured him to boycott the games in protest over the Nazis' treatment of Jews in Germany. Luftspring and "Baby Yak," another famous local Jewish boxer, decided to participate instead in the alternate games in Barcelona, Spain, called the People's Olympics. After making the trip to Europe by ship, the two faced the disappointment of having the event cancelled after the Spanish Civil War broke out on the eve of the opening ceremonies.

After his return to Toronto, Luftspring began to box professionally. In 1938, he won the Canadian welterweight championship after a fifteen-round fight where he defeated Frank Genovese. He held the title for two years. During a fight in New York against Steve Belloise, Luftspring was poked in the eye, resulting in a detached retina. This injury left him blind in one eye, ending his boxing career.

By 1948, he began a new career as a boxing referee. He refereed for several decades, overseeing some of the most celebrated fights of that time. He also ran a nightclub in Toronto called the Mercury Club with three partners. It attracted famous entertainers such as Henry Youngman, Vic Damone, and Tony Bennett. He subsequently ran other nightclubs such as the Tropicana.

In addition to his boxing career, Sammy was also a devoted family man. He married his wife, Elsie, in 1938 at the McCaul Street synagogue. Three hundred and fifty people attended and hundreds waited outside of the synagogue to wish them well. They had two children: Brian and Orian.

His biography, Call Me Sammy, was published in 1975. Luftspring was given the great honour in 1985 of being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away on 27 September 2000.

Custodial History

The scrapbooks were created by Sammy Luftspring. He kept them at his house and when he passed away they were safeguarded by his son Brian.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of two scrapbooks that reflect Sammy Luftspring's personal life and various careers as a boxer, referee, author, and nightclub manager/owner. Scrapbooks contain correspondence, ephemera, newspaper clippings, brochures, autographs, coins, and approximately seven hundred photographs.

Personal records include photographs of Sammy and his family during his childhood, family weddings, trips and vacations, and other family events, such as birthday parties and his son's bar mitzvah. There are also letters and cards from Sammy's wife, children, grandchildren and friends, and other ephemeral items Sammy collected, such as ticket stubs from baseball games.

Professional records include images of Sammy training for upcoming boxing matches, portraits of Sammy posing in his boxing attire, images from the grand opening of the Mercury Club, photographs of Sammy as a referee, as well as photographs of Sammy at various celebrity boxing matches. There is also correspondence and a brochure documenting Sammy's incorporation into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and some correspondence regarding the publication and promotion of his book. Finally, there are numerous newspaper clippings relating to all of Sammy's professional endeavours.

Name Access

Luftspring, Sammy, 1916-2000

Subjects

Boxers (Sports)

Physical Condition

The scrapbooks are in poor condition. Many of the photographs, documents and clippings were glued to the pages and the pages have almost all fallen out of the bindings.

Related Material

1981-1-7

Arrangement

The scrapbooks have been kept intact and no arrangement has been done. However, some of the key images have been scanned and item level descriptions have been completed for them.

Creator

Luftspring, Sammy, 1916-2000

Accession Number

2009-10-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ladovsky family fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

83

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Date

[ca. 1890]-2012

Physical Description

3.5 cm of textual records

185 photographs : b&w and col. and sepia toned ( 10 negatives, 4 slides, 3 contact prints) ; 26 x 20 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Aaron Ladovsky (1888-1960) was born in 1888 in Kielce, Poland. He immigrated to Toronto in 1906 at the age of 18. Soon after arriving, Aaron Ladovsky worked to help form a Jewish bakers’ union to advocate for collective rights among Jewish Bakers. In 1911 he married Sarah Eichler who was from his home town of Kielce, Poland. In 1912 he opened the United Bakers Dairy Restaurant at Dundas and Bay Streets (known then as Agnes and Terauley Streets respectively) in the heart of the Ward. That same year, the couple had twin sons, Herman and Samuel, who were born on September 23, 1912.

Only a short time later, in 1920, Aaron moved the location of his restaurant to 338 Spadina Avenue, just north of Dundas. He and his family lived in an apartment upstairs. Herman and Samuel attended Hester How Elementary School until 1919, Lord Lansdowne Public School once the family moved to Spadina, and later Central Commerce. The twins worked in the family business in the 1920s delivering fresh breads and buns by horse cart.

Aaron Ladovsky was involved in a number of community organizations. He was instrumental in founding the Kieltzer Society of Toronto in 1913, a community based immigrant-aid association extending aid to Kielcers in Poland and around the world. Ladovsky remained an active member of the organization until his death on April 5, 1960. His restaurant provided a welcome gathering place for the Jewish community, serving traditional dishes and maintaining a friendly open-door policy. Aaron Ladovsky was known for his generosity and claimed that no one, whether they had money or not, left his restaurant hungry. The United Bakers' menu was mainly based on Sarah’s original recipes, and continues to be so to this day.

During the Second World War, Herman served overseas as an electrician in the Canadian army show with comics Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. After returning from the war, he married Dora Macklin in 1947, a registered nurse from Regina. He also began to take over management of the family business. Later, his son Philip and daughter Ruth would follow in his footsteps, helping to run the restaurant with him and later taking over managment. United Bakers remained on Spadina Avenue for 66 years, until 1986 when it moved to its current location at 506 Lawrence Avenue West, off of Bathurst Street. Herman was an active fixture in restaurant until his death on January 6, 2002. He also supported and was involved in the work of the Ontario Jewish Archives over the years. Today, Philip and Ruth carry on the family tradition of running United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. In May 2012 the restaurant celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Custodial History

The records were donated in multiple small accessions by Herman Ladovsky from 1977 until 2004.

It appears as though previous archivists integrated some materials into a manuscript group relating to Aaron Ladovsky and then later deconstructed a portion of this group into original accessions. Also, a number of periodicals and textual materials from these accessions were integrated into various other manuscript groups and remain there.

One item, a Lord Lansdowne School anniversary booklet which contains a photocopy of Herman's student record, remained in the Aaron Ladovsky manuscript group. This item could not be identified as part of a previous accession, but has been integrated into the fonds as it appears to have been donated by Herman.

Photo #3050 was not associated with an accession number, but documents United Bakers Dairy Restaurant and was likely donated by Herman Ladovsky.

Recent accruals have been donated by Ruth Ladovsky.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of records documenting the Ladovsky family in Kielce, Poland and Toronto. It is primarily made up of photographs of Ladovsky family members in Kielce and Toronto, and of various organizations that Aaron and Herman were involved in. There are also a few textual records that document the Ladovsky family and their involvement in the Kieltzer Society.

Notes

Newspaper clippings were photocopied and placed in the Aaron Ladovsky vertical file.

Many photographs were originally cited with diifferent numbers. These numbers are mentioned below photo descriptions.

Name Access

Kieltzer Sick Benefit Society (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)

Ladovsky, Aaron, 1888-1960 (creator)

Ladovsky (family)

Ladovsky, Herman, 1912-2002 (creator)

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant (subject)

Related Material

Se MG 2B-1R

See vertical file on Aaron Ladovsky

Arrangement

Records have been organized by media and chronology due to low volume and disparate subject matter. Textual records have been arranged in 17 files. Photographs have been arranged chronologically and are largely described at the item level.

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1977-7-5

1978-12-7

1981-1-2

1983-11-6

1988-4-12

1993-10-1

1994-1-3

1999-11-4

2000-4-4

2004-5-21

2004-5-82

2008-4-9

MG 6 E6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dr. Rolf Lederer fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

84

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Date

1970-2008

Physical Description

1 m of textual records

54 photographs : col. (37 negatives)

Admin History/Bio

Dr. Rolf Lederer was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1934. His family immigrated to South Africa in 1936 and Rolf remained there until 1961, earning his medical degree from Cape Town University. After completing his psychiatric training in Edinburgh and Boston, Rolf settled in Toronto in 1968. There he set up private practice as a general psychiatrist.

After moving to Toronto, Rolf became actively involved in the Jewish community and served on a number of committees. He was on both the local and national board of directors of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) as well as a number of JIAS sub-committees, including the South African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC), the Local Case File Committee, and the Management Committee.

From 1985 to 1988 Rolf was chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’s (CJC) Chaplaincy Services Committee. He was also a member of other CJC committees including the Jewish Cultural Council and the Joint Adult Education Committee. In addition, Rolf co-founded the Jewish Genealogical Society (JGS) in 1985 and served as the society’s president from 1987 to 1991. Finally, he was an active member of the B’nai Torah Congregation, serving as secretary and first vice-president in the early 1980s.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records that Dr. Lederer gathered as a board member of various Jewish organizations including JIAS, the South African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC), B'nai Torah Congregation, the Canadian Jewish Congress Chaplaincy Services Committee and the Jewish Genalogical Society (JGS).

Records include meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, committee membership lists, directories, reports, budgets, newsletters, brochures, and newspaper clippings. Also included are publications of the SAJAC journal, SAJAC News, and B'Nai Torah Congregation bulletins. Photographs document the JGS's cemetery projects at Roselawn Cemetery and Pape Avenue Cemetery.

Notes

Physical extent note: records that did not pertain to OJA's mandate and that were either duplicates or already in OJA's holdings were culled. In addition, publications that came with this accession were either added to OJA's library or removed if they were unrelated to Ontario's Jewish community or already a part of the library's holdings. National JIAS records were removed and offered to CJC's National Archives. The National Archives passed on the records as they receive the same records as regular donations directly from JIAS.

Name Access

Lederer, Rolf, 1934-

Physical Condition

Good.

Related Material

For additional material donated by Dr. Lederer, please see accession #2010-11/16, 2011-1/2, and 2011-6/4.

Arrangement

Fonds may need to be arranged into series at a later date.

Creator

Lederer, Dr. Rolf, 1934-

Accession Number

2010-6-10

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Toronto Hebrew Free Loan Association fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

85

Material Format

textual record

Date

1922-1999

Physical Description

6.6 m of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The original Toronto Hebrew Free Loan agency was formed in 1911 under the Associated Hebrew Charities. Its Hebrew name was G'milath Chasodim, which means to do good deeds. Initially all of the loans that it gave out were guaranteed by individuals from the community. This body went into debt in 1917. In 1922, with the administrative support of the Toronto Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and the financial support of B'nai Brith, a new free loan society was established.

The first president was Sam Kronick, the vice president was Nathan Phillips, and the treasurer was Elias Pullan—three extremely high profile citizens within the community and Toronto. The first meeting was held at the Zionist Institute on Beverley Street. By 1923 they had hired a secretary and executive secretary, Moses Oelbaum. The society was incorporated on 12 July 1924. Their mandate was to prevent pauperism and preserve the self respect of individuals. Many of the early loans that came in during that period were through referrals from other Jewish organizations. In 1925, they reviewed 625 applications and approved 510 loans which ranged from $25 to $200, allocating $9307.92 in total. They did not charge interest and had the borrower repay the loan at a rate of $2 to $10 a week.

In 1942 the Moses Oelbaum fund was established with capital of $10,000. Historically, B'nai Brith and the National Council of Women provided the funds for student loans. In 1957, the Scholarship Aid program began to operate under the auspices of the United Jewish Welfare Fund. By 1974, the THLA had given out over 5 million dollars in loans to over 20,000 families. In 1985, through a merger of Toronto's business, personal and educational loan agencies, the Toronto Jewish Free Loan Cassa was formed.

Today, the Loan Cassa has over 700 active clients and gives out over $1,500,000 in loans each year to the needy as well as in the form of scholarships and business start up loans. The rate of defaults has been extremely low, less than one percent. As a result, this program has helped strengthen the community by sustaining and investing in its members. The name was formally changed to Jewish Free Loan Toronto in 2012.

Scope and Content

The records consist of minutes of meetings, correspondence, financial statements, loan ledger books, loan guarantee cards, case files, cash books and receipts, court records relating to trusts and wills and other material.

Name Access

Toronto Jewish Free Loan Association

Access Restriction

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

Creator

Toronto Jewish Free Loan Association

Accession Number

1986-11/4; MG 201D; 1989-12/2, 1999-7/1; 2004-5/122.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Annual Campaign series

General Campaign records sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

67

Series

17-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1941-1990

Physical Description

30 cm textual records

13 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25 x 20 cm and 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

Sub-series consists of a variety of files concerning various aspects of campaign. These are frequently all the textual records that survive from the 1940s through the mid-1970s and offer just glimpses of the activities that were involved in raising funds for the UJWF and its agencies. Included are brochures, event invitations, reports, and worker kits. Also included are a few file of various campaign events photographs.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

88

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[ca. 1916]-1996, predominant 1940-1996

Physical Description

38 cm of textual records (9v.) and other material

Admin History/Bio

The Brantford Hebrew Association, Congregation Beth David’s precursor, was founded in 1907 when Rabbi Backer officiated Brantford’s first public Jewish religious service in an upper hall on George Street. Services had previously taken place in the homes of Jewish families, who had begun settling in the area around the turn of the century. By 1911, services had moved to the old Conservative Hall at Dalhousie and King Street. In 1915, the congregation purchased a building at 33 Palace Street and remodeled it into a synagogue. This building was also used as a community centre and for the Congregation’s Hebrew school.

On October 13th, 1911 the congregation was incorporated, and the following year it purchased land for a cemetery in the northeast corner of Mount Hope Cemetery. Due to increasing membership, a new synagogue was built at 50 Waterloo Street in 1948. In January 1950, the congregation changed its name to Beth David in honour of member David Axler, who died during the Second World War while training as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The congregation was at its peak in the 1960s with 150 member families. However, membership drastically fell after the children of this generation moved to larger cities and their parents followed after retirement. By 1999, only 28 families remained as members and services were reduced to being held on the High Holidays and special occasions, such as, b'nai mitzvah. Dwindling resources and membership forced the congregation to close around 2001. Throughout its existence, over 30 rabbis served the congregation, including Rabbi Saul Wolfe Gringorten (ca. 1910-1923). Its cemetery continues to be looked after by Allan Norris, a past president of the congregation.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the acitivities, religious programs and services, membership, and finances of Congregation Beth David, as well as the recognition and honours awarded by and to Brantford's Jewish community. Included are meeting minutes, photographs, plaques, a key, a marriage register, general ledgers, ledgers and lists of membership dues and receipts, audited financial statements, budgets, correspondece, bulletins, office stationary, newsclippings, certificates, library book cards, bookplates, rabbi contracts, and surveys.

Fonds has been arranged into the following six series: 1. Meetings ; 2. Religious programs and services; 3. Finances & accounting ; 4. Administrative functions ; 5. Bulletins ; and, 6. Events.

Notes

Includes 10 microfiches of textual records, 5 architectural drawings, 11 photographs (4 negatives), 3 plaques, 1 mounted letter and 1 key.

Fonds was reduced from ca. 1 metre to ca. 45 cm. See accession 2001-10-3 for further information about the culled material.

Name Access

Congregation Beth David (Brantford, Ont.)

Subjects

Architecture

Communities

Synagogues

Physical Condition

The binding on some of the general ledgers is fragile and coming apart. They have been stored flat to reduce any strain.

The architectural drawings have some tears and should be flattened.

Related Material

Please see the Sadie Stren fonds 78 for other records documenting Brantford's Jewish community and the Beth David Congregation, including the synagogue's original letters of incorporation.

For other photographs documenting Congregation Beth David, see: accesssion 1976-6-5 (photo # 1133); accession 1976-6-6 (photos # 1138, 1137, 1136); accession 1976-6-13; accession 1986-2-2 (photos #3593-3595, 3856, 3889-3894), photo #918; and, photo #578.

For records related to Beth David's namesake, David Axler, and photographs of its cemetery, please see accession #2004-5-71.

For records of Rabbi Gringorten, see accession #2009-2-5 and 2008-11-3

For additional records related to Brantford families and other Jewish organizations, such as the Hadassah chapter and B'nai Brith lodge, please see accession #2001-10-3; MG 2J29a, #2009-7-1, 1978-11-4, 1977-8-16, 1992-8-3, 1980-1-14, 1978-1-2, 2008-7-1, photo# 109, photo# 755, and photo #758.

Arrangement

Fonds is arranged to the file-level, but only described to the series-level. Three file-level descriptions exist for files attached directly to the fonds. Photographs with existing item-level descriptions were also attached to the fonds.

Creator

Congregation Beth David (Brantford, Ont.)

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

2001-10-3

1978-11-4

1981-12-2 / MG3 B16

1976-6-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Meetings series

Level

Series

Fonds

88

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1940-1994

Physical Description

10 microfiches of textual records ; 10.5 x 14.5 cm

4 cm of textual records (3 v.)

Custodial History

Meeting minutes were likely microfiched in the 1980s by the Ontario Jewish Archives. The source and current location of the originals is unknown.

Scope and Content

Series consists of notebooks and minute books documenting the various meetings of Congregation Beth David. Each book documents multiple types of meetings, including; general, special, regular, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors meetings. Also included are the minutes of an open forum and the Congregation's 60th anniversary dinner celebration. The minute books for the period from April 1952 to October 1972 are on microfiche. One minute book contains loose copies of memos and financial statements.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Religious programs and services series

Level

Series

Fonds

88

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1916]-1994

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records (1 v.)

3 photographs (1 negative) : b&w ; 15 x 18 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs and textual records documenting Congregation Beth David's marriage, Bas Torah and conversion services, and its affiliated programs; the Beth David Hebrew School, Beth David Sisterhood, and Beth David Cemetery. Included are certificates; correspondence; a marriage register for the period from November 1952 to June 1963; one photograph of an early Hebrew School class; one photograph and program of the Congregation's first Bas Torah service for Elaine Abeles, Sherry Rotberg and Susan Rotberg; and, a report on the school's classrooms. Series also contains records documenting the Sisterhood's library, including; library book cards, an income and expenses notebook, bookplates and a memo.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Finances and accounting series

Level

Series

Fonds

88

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1930-1996, predominant 1958-1992

Physical Description

16 cm of textual records (5 v.)

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records documenting Congregation Beth David's financial activities. Included are general ledgers, audited financial statements, a budget, ledgers and lists of membership dues and receipts, a provincial annual return, and correspondence regarding donations both received and given by Beth David. Also included are certificates received by Beth David for various donations and lists of donations made to the Congregation during a crisis fund drive in May 1988. Of note is one certificate for the Congregation's donation of a sefer Torah for the synagogue of a new settlement in Israel.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Administrative functions series

Level

Series

Fonds

88

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956-1996

Physical Description

11 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records documenting Congregation Beth David's administrative functions. Included are Rabbi and Cantor job contracts and correspondence; Rabbi certificates; correspondence regarding membership applications and terminations, dues, and assessment appeals; general correspondence with individuals and organizations, such as the Canadian Jewish Congress; a general survey conducted by Beth David in 1981 of its congregation; a list of the members of Brantford's Jewish community in 1972; and blank office stationary.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Level

File

Fonds

88

File

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

[after Jan. 1950]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of two copies of Congregation Beth David's constitution and by-laws.

Accession Number

2001-10-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Meeting agendas, minutes, and notices sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-1

File

51

Material Format

textual record

Date

15 Jan. 1991 - 31 Dec. 1991

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of minutes of committee meetings

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Meeting agendas, minutes, and notices sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-1

File

52

Material Format

textual record

Date

10 Feb. 1992 - 4 Mar. 1992

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of minutes of committee meetings

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Meeting agendas, minutes, and notices sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-1

File

53

Material Format

textual record

Date

27 Jan. 1993 - 25 Oct. 1993

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of minutes of committee meetings

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Meeting agendas, minutes, and notices sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-1

File

54

Material Format

textual record

Date

10 Jan. 1994 - 5 Aug. 1994

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of minutes of committee meetings

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Meeting agendas, minutes, and notices sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-1

File

55

Material Format

textual record

Date

30 Mar. 1995

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of lists of Committees and Chairs

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions