- Accession Number
- 2010-12-11
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2010-12-11
- Material Format
- textual record
- textual record (electronic)
- sound recording
- Physical Description
- 1 box of textual records
- 1 audio cassette
- 1 CD
- Date
- 1932-2001
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting the personal and professional activities of Ben Kayfetz. Personal records include correspondence with family and friends, Kayfetz's high school examination reports, and speeches, invitations and other material relating to a tribute dinner for Kayfetz. Personal records also include correspondence about the Ben Kayfetz Scholarship Fund at the University of Toronto.
- Professional records include articles, book reviews and newspaper clippings written by Kayfetz, correspondence, lecture notes, speeches and transcripts for Kayfetz's CHIN Radio broadcasts. Professional records also include notes from Kayfetz's interview of Arthur Gelber, obituaries written by Kayfetz for Frank Shuster and Ben Lappin, and early teaching contracts with the Huntsville Board of Education. Finally, professional records include a CD that contains records transferred over from Kayfetz's old computer floppy disks and one audio recording of a CBC Radio broadcast featuring the Yiddish Luncheon Club.
- Administrative History
- Benjamin Gershon Kayfetz was born on December 24, 1916 in Toronto, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a B.A. in modern languages. Between the years 1941 and 1943, he worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville and Niagara Falls. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in Postal Censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British Occupied Germany where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947. Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the National Director of Community Relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), and as the Executive (National) Director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC - B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the Central Region Executive Director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. During his tenure, he worked with various churches, unions and minority groups to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights. Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish Communities worldwide, and made visits to Cuba in 1962 and 1965, and Russia in 1985, to study and report on the state of these Jewish Communities. After his retirement in 1985, he was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress. In recognition of his efforts to promote Human Rights, he was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.
- In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman, and gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues. He was also actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), Canadian Jewish Historical Society and Yiddish Luncheon Circle. Ben Kayfetz died in 2002 and is survived by his wife Eva.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Descriptive Notes
- Language note: some records are in Yiddish.
- Name Access
- Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-69
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-69
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1950-1991
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of interviews with various persons concerning their link with Goel Tzedec and its successor synagogue, Beth Tzedec. The interviews were primarily conducted by Ben Keyfetz and Jack Orenstien, the latter serving as the executive director of Beth Tzedec at that time. Persons interviewed included Carl Keyfetz, N. N. Levine, Meyer Axler, and Bert Godfrey. There is also other information in the file concerning cantors and rabbis who served at Goel Tzedec, including Julius Price, Bernard Wladowsky, Jacob Gordon, and Samuel Sachs. There is a document from Bert Godfrey—undated but with a reference to 1950—titled "Report of Construction Sub-Committee." This presumably preceded the construction of the building housing the Beth Tzedec Synagogue on Bathurst Street. Also included is a 1955 publication of the Ne'ilah Service of Beth Tzedec to take place on 6 February 1955, concluding a half century of worship at the synagogue on University Avenue. Lastly, there are several pages of notes concerning the synagogue and its history.
- Custodial History
- There is no information on the acquisition of this material.
- Subjects
- Committees
- Synagogues
- Rabbis
- Name Access
- Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002
- Places
- Toronto, Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-11-19
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-11-19
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1950-1964
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of the personal records of Ben Kayfetz. Included is an article written under the pseudonym Gershon B. Newman, and one legal document belonging to Eva Silver. Also included are writings on the Jewish community in the year 1913-1914, a fictional account of a trip from Chile to Argentina and a poem written about Eva Kayfetz by her daughter.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-4-13
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-4-13
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1984-1992
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of letters to Ben Kayfetz from Florence Hutner and Bernard Wind, a memoriam for Florence Hutner and general writings.
- Name Access
- Kayfetz, Ben, 1916-2002
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-12-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-12-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 5 photographs : b&w
- Date
- 1944-1984
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of correspondence to Ben Kayfetz from an American friend in Berlin in 1951 and 1952, a 1944 Central Commerce yearbook belonging to Eva Kayfetz (née Silver), five photographs, an armed forces prayer book formerly belonging to Chaplain Rabbi Jacob Eisen, a speech about Soviet Jewry, and Ben Kayfetz's retirement speech.
- Custodial History
- The donor, Zena Tenenbaum, is Ben's daughter.
- Administrative History
- Ben Kayfetz was a well-known leader of the Jewish community and advocate for human rights. He completed a degree in modern languages from the University of Toronto. During the Second World War, he worked for the Wartime Information Board reading prisoners-of-war letters, and from 1945 to 1947, worked with the Canadian Control Commission in the British-controlled sector of Germany.
- He served with the Canadian Jewish Congress from 1947 to 1985 in various positions, including director of public relations and executive director of the Central Region. He was instrumental in the development of government anti-discriminatory policies and legislation in the 1950s and 1960s onward and received the Order of Canada in 1986.
- Ben Kayfetz also founded the Yiddish Luncheon Club, was president of the Toronto Jewish Historical Society, and was a frequent contributor to various periodicals in Canada and abroad, under his own name and his pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman. He was viewed as the local authority on Toronto Jewish history and also had his own radio spot on CHIN.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: correspondence have been scanned and available in PDF format.
- Subjects
- Prayer books
- Yearbooks
- Human rights workers
- Speeches, addresses, etc
- Name Access
- Kayfetz, Ben, 1916-2002
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1990-10-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1990-10-2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : b&w
- Date
- 1943-1947
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of four photographs that document YMHA basketball teams. Ben Atkin was the coach of both the bantam and senior teams. The 1947 team became the Ontario champions
- Administrative History
- Ben Atkin as a young man was very involved in the YMHA. During the late 1930s, he was involved in handball. Then during the 1940s, he acted as coach of the batam and senior boys basketball teams
- Use Conditions
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Subjects
- Sports teams
- Name Access
- YMHA.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1980-9-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1980-9-1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- Textual material
- 26 photographs : b&w (13 negatives)
- Date
- [193-?] - 1979
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of textual and graphic material donated by Ben Himel. The textual material documents family events as well as information pertaining to the Borochov School, Poalei Zion, B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge, the Independent Workers' Circle and B'nai Zion Association of Toronto. Identified in one copy photograph of the officers of the Canadian Headgear Workers Central are J. B. Salsberg, Motel Bergstein, Henry Sigel, and Sam Chaikofsky.
- Descriptive Notes
- Borochov School.
- Poal Zion.
- B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge.
- Independent Workers' Circle.
- B'nai Zion Association.
- Mrs. Menachovsky.
- Zerabouaun.
- Kreitzer.
- Arbeiter Ring.
- King Edward School.
- Picnic.
- Subjects
- Clubs
- Labor unions
- Zionism
- Name Access
- Himel, Ben
- Chaikofsky, Sam
- Bergstein, Motel
- Sigel, Henry
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-4-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-4-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 15 cm of textual records
- Date
- 1989-1991
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting Ben Libman's involvement with the Kielcer Synagogue and the Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees during the early 1990s. The records primarily consist of financial documents and correspondence.
- Custodial History
- Records were in the possession of Dena Libman, the granddaughter of Ben Lipman.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-9-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-9-5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 3 photographs : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm
- Date
- 1943-2001
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs of Ben Grossman's graduation from the University of Toronto in 1943 and a photograph of his parents Etta and Jacob Grossman. Also included is Ben Grossman's 2001 memoir entitled "Toronto to Jerusalem".
- Administrative History
- Ben Grossman (d. 2011) was the son of Etta dn Jacob Grossman. Ben's father was the founder of Billy Bee Honey which started in the Kensington Market neighbourhood in the late 1920s. Ben had his bar mitzvah at Beth Jacob Synagogue on Henry Street. He helped in the family business, especially during the war when his brother Jack was overseas. He went on to law school at the University of Toronto and eventually practiced immigration law. He helped many survivors navigate the Canadian immigration laws.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-4-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-4-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- [2003?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one family memoir written by Elaine Katz regarding the lives of her parents, Ethel and Benjamin Rachlin.
- Administrative History
- Ethel (1904-1992) and Ben Rachlin (1904-1992) lived most of their life in Acton, Ontario where they owned the following stores: Rachlin Ladies' Wear and Rachlin Men's Wear, and Rachlin Jewellers. In 1951 Ben was elected mayor of Acton, the second Jewish mayor to be elected in Ontario.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-86
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-86
- Material Format
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 medal
- Date
- 1967
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of a large circular copper coloured medal enclosed in glass or acrylic. The inscription says that it was presented to Benjamin Schneider by Ben-Gurion on March 20, 1967.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1983-1-7
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1983-1-7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1845-1856
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of five mortgage and indenture documents for the property at Edward and Elizabeth Streets. The principals are John Coulter and George Bilton (1845, 1846); John and Agnes Coulter and Sophia Dalton (1849); George Bilton and John Coulter (1849); and William Crane and John Coulter (1856). This property was eventually owened by Jacob Ben Zion Frimer from approximately 1938-1939.
- Administrative History
- Eventually this land was sold to a dental company and then to the city, and then was used as a parking lot. It is currently located next to the bus station on Elizabeth Street.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-140
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-140
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder textual records
- Date
- 1968-1979
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of meeting minutes and correspondence related to the annual Ben Sadowski Award.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2010-8-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2010-8-1
- Material Format
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 window : glass, wood ; 66 x 66 cm
- Date
- [1955?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one stained glass synagogue window. The wooden-framed window features a blue Star of David on a yellow background. The window was likely created when the building was extensively renovated in 1955. It is possible, however, that it was created for the 1924 building and was retained after the 1955 renovations.
- Custodial History
- Sidney Holtzkener, the donor's husband, was a house chairman and volunteered to take the window. The window was displayed in the donor's home until the couple moved in 2009.
- Administrative History
- The London Jewish community had a single congregation until disagreements led to Moses Leff organizing an alternative minyan. This became Congregation B'nai Moses Ben Judah, named after Moses Pollock. Their first synagogue building, a remodelled wooden church, opened in 1907. This building was supplanted by a new and enlarged structure in 1924. The building was renovated and enlarged again in 1955, but did retain some elements of the old structure. In 1966 B'nai Moses Ben Judah almagamated with B'nai Israel, and consequently Congregation Or Shalom was created. The B'nai Israel building was chosen to house the new congregation and the the B'nai Moses building was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese. Accordingly, its stained glass windows were removed. Edward's Glass Company Limited held on to the windows and later contacted the Holtzkeners to give them one. The Holtzkeners were members of B'nai Moses and later Congregation Or Sholom from at least 1944 until they moved to Toronto in 2009.
- Descriptive Notes
- Related material note: see MG 3 B-7 for further Congregation Or Shalom records
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-5-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-5-2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Date
- [ca. 1942]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one copy print of a photograph taken circa 1942. The photograph depicts the congregation of the B'nai Moses ben Judah Synagogue in London, Ontario, standing in front of the synagogue. Murray Brickman, the late husband of the donor, is pictured as a child in the second row on the far right, wearing a cap.
- Custodial History
- This item was in the possession of Elaine Brickman. It was mailed to Stan Federman who subsequently gave it to the Ontario Jewish Archives.
- Administrative History
- The London Jewish community had a single congregation until disagreements led to Moses Leff organizing an alternative minyan. This became Congregation B'nai Moses Ben Judah, named after Moses Pollock. Their first synagogue building, a remodelled wooden church, opened in 1907. This building was supplanted by a new and enlarged structure in 1924. The building was renovated and enlarged again in 1955 but did retain some elements of the old structure. In 1966, B'nai Moses Ben Judah amalgamated with B'nai Israel, and consequently, Congregation Or Shalom was created. The B'nai Israel building was chosen to house the new congregation and the the B'nai Moses building was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of London.
- Subjects
- Portraits, Group
- Synagogues
- Places
- London (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions