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University Avenue Synagogue - Nazi Vandalism [textual record] – 1938.

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; Community Relations Committee series; Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 17; Series 5-3; File 245

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; Community Relations Committee series; Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 17

Series: 5-3

File: 245

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1938

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content: File consists of correspondence regarding vandalism at the University Avenue Synagogue.

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

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Synagogues--Vandalism

Places: University Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Goel Tzedec Synagogue [text, textual record, graphic material] – 1889-1917.

Accession Number: 1979-11-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1979-11-1

Material Format: text; textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 1 book; 8 microfiche sheets; 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Date: 1889-1917

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records created by Goel Tzedec Congregation. Included are microfiche of minutes and ledgers, a copy of a Seder T'filas Yisroel donated to Goel Tzedec by Chaim Smith in 1917, and a class photograph for the Farband Shule taken in the late 1930s.; Included in the photograph are Hershel Fogle, Rivkah G, Fayge Weingarten, Sarah Gingold, Aaron Hermaub, Shangle Atkin, Lil Newman, Etle Brody, Rochel Blumenshtein, Chava Smith, Sora Zweig, Yaacov Drexler, Malka, Yaacov Rosenzweig, Aaron Shnipper, Klumann, Shore, Aaron Folk and the teachers Fogle, Leah Lander, Shopsai Rappaport, Moishe Rigelhaupt, and Dr. Isaiah Rabinowich

Custodial History: Records were kept by Goel Tzedec and later Beth Tzedec and were donated by the museum on behalf of Dr. Fred Weinberg

Administrative History: Goel Tzedec was established in 1883. It was originally an orthodox congregation founded by a group of recent immigrants from Lithuania. The first synagogue was situated in a room on Richmond and York Streets. Three years later they purchased and remodelled a building on University Avenue at Elm Street that was owned by the Methodist Church. Finally, in 1904 they hired an architect to construct a large building that was perfectly suited to their needs. In February of 1907, the building on University Avenue was dedicated and became the largest synagogue in Toronto, accommodating 1200 congregants.; During the early decades of the twentieth century, Goel Tzedec became more ethnically mixed and established a religious school and women's auxiliary to help raise money and run special events. In 1925, the Congregation joined the Conservative Synagogue Movement and introduced changes to its services.; After the Second World War, Goel Tzedec and its sister synagogue, Beth Hamidrash Hagadol amalgamated in September 1952 to form Beth Tzedec. The two congregations worked together to build a synagogue which was built in the North end of the city on Bathurst and was dedicated 9 December 1955. Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg served as Beth Tzedec's first Rabbi and J. Benjamin Friedberg as its Assistant Rabbi. The Chazzan at the time was Cantor Joseph Cooper. The synagogue adhered to the principles of the Conservative Movement and represents the largest synagogue in Toronto

Subjects: Synagogues

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Harris Yanover [textual record] – 1907.

Accession Number: 2005-8-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2005-8-4

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1907

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a Goel Tzedec Synagogue seat deed for Harris Yanover, purchased in 1907.

Administrative History: Goel Tzedec was established in 1883. It was originally an orthodox congregation founded by a group of recent immigrants from Lithuania and was first situated in a room at Richmond and York Streets. Three years later a former Methodist church at University Avenue at Elm Street was purchased and remodelled. In 1904 the congregation hired an architect to construct a new building and in February of 1907, the synagogue on University Avenue was dedicated. It became the largest synagogue in Toronto, accommodating 1200 congregants.; During the early decades of the twentieth century, Goel Tzedec became more ethnically mixed and established a religious school and women's auxiliary to help raise money and run special events. In 1925, the congregation joined the Conservative Synagogue Movement and introduced changes to its services.; In September of 1952, Goel Tzedec and its sister synagogue Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, amalgamated to form Beth Tzedec.; Harris Yanover was the grandfather of Rayna Rabin.

Subjects: Synagogues; Religion

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Harold Kaplan [textual record, graphic material] – 1923, 1932, 1960.

Accession Number: 2009-6-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2009-6-1

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 1 photograph: b&w ; 25 x 20 cm

Date: 1923, 1932, 1960

Scope and Content: Accession consists of the naturalization certificate of Harold Kaplan, a souvenir program from his stag party, and an original photograph of New Year's Eve 1959–1960 at the Primrose Club.

Administrative History: Harold Solomon Kaplan (1895–1973) was a Toronto-based architect who, in partnership with Abraham Sprachman in the firm Kaplan & Sprachman, was well-known for the design of art deco and art moderne movie theatres in the 1930s and 1940s and for designing buildings for Jewish communities across Canada from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Descriptive Notes: Photograph #6561 is a copy of this original.; Related records may be found in the Harold S. Kaplan fonds 27.

Name Access: Kaplan, Harold, 1895-1973; Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Wagman family [graphic material] – 1903-[ca.1960].

Accession Number: 2009-11-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2009-11-1

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 13 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Date: 1903-[ca.1960]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of thirteen photographs documenting the Wagman family as well as wedding photographs of Charlotte Wagman and Martin Levene at the Goel Tzedec Synagogue. There is also a programme for the Goel Tzedec Religious School graduation exercises of 1944, with Charlotte Wagman as a graduate.; The photographs are as follows:; 1. Goel Tzedec Religious School graduation exercise program, 1944.; 2. Tel Aviv Hadassah Chapter in Garden, ca. 1957.; 3. State of Israel Bond Information Service reception in honour of the Toronto Israel Bond Oheh Regel Tour, at the home of the Canadian Ambassador, Margaret Meagher, in Ramat Gan, ca. 1960; 4. Goel Tzedec Sunday School class, 1941.; 5. El Al flight in Israel, ca.1961. The image features Mayor Nathan Phillips and his wife.; 6. Portrait of the Wagman family, 1903. Includes from bottom row, left to right: Charles, Joseph, Zelic, Etta, Ceril (seated). Top row includes: Myer (nephew), Peter, Isadore and William.; 7. Paskowitz family, ca. 1940. Includes Mary, Sadie, Hilda and Fanny.; 8. Wedding photograph of Charlotte Wagman and Martin Levene taken in Goel Tzedec, 14 June 1947.; 9. Martin and Charlotte under the chuppah at their wedding at Goel Tzedec, 14 June 1947.; 10. Goel Tzedec graduation class in robes with Rabbi Sachs (centre), 1944. Front row (left to right): [unidentified], [unidentified], Selma Green, Selma Stone, [unidentified], Hoodis Sidonsky, Charlotte Wagman, Estelle Yolles, Rhea Tishler. Back row (left to right): [unidentified], Murray Mendelson, David Buckstein, Richard Greisman, Sheldon Kert, [unidentified], [unidentified], Austin Cooper, [unidentified].; 11. Israel trip with David Ben-Gurion (centre), ca. 1952.; 12. Trip to Israel with Nathan Philips at far right and Ambassador Meagher, taken in desert, ca. 1960.; 13. Ladies Auxiliary from the Henry Street Synagogue, ca. 1908.

Custodial History: The photographs were donated by Charlotte Levine (née Wagman). She is the daughter of Charles Wagman.

Administrative History: The family patriarch, Zelick (also known as Zelig) Wagman, emigrated from Lodz, Poland to Canada around 1903. The following year, his wife Ceril and six children joined him. They included: Charles, Joseph, Etta, Peter, Isadore, and WIlliam. He arrived penniless and earned a living as a peddler. The family lived in the east end of Toronto at 34 Gerard Street.; Zelick founded Z. Wagman & Sons and Toronto Cadmium Plating. Joseph took over his father's business. Charles became a supplier of electrical products, establishing Revere Electric. William and Isadore in turn ran Industrial Wire & Cable and owned the Fashion Building on Spadina Avenue. Finally, Peter owned his own business called P. Wagman & Sons and later Junior Maid Garment Company.; The family became extremely successful over the years. They also were very active in the Jewish community. Zelick was one of the founders of the Henry Street Synagogue, Beth Jacob. William was the co-founder of the YMHA and the Talmud Torah. His brother Joseph was also involved in many Jewish organizations such as Mount Sinai Hospital, Baycrest and the Primrose Club. Joseph and his wife Minnie were also major philanthropists, funding the Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre at Baycrest.

Descriptive Notes: ASSOCIATED MATERIALS: Other records relating to the Wagman family can be found in Accessions 2017-7-6 and 2017-8-13.

Subjects: Families; Weddings

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Israel; Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Dr. Mattie Rotenberg - 26 Feb. 1976

Name: Dr. Mattie Rotenberg

Material Format: sound recording

Interview Date: 26 Feb. 1976

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Dr. Mattie Rotenberg

Number: OH 63

Subject: Antisemitism; Rabbis; Charities; Influenza; Balfour Declaration; Immigrants--Canada; Women's clothing; Women; Department stores

Interview Date: 26 Feb. 1976

Quantity: 2 cassettes (1 copy); 2 WAV files

Total Running Time: 62:52 sec.

Conservation: Copied to cassette in August 2003.; Copied to digital file in June 2014.; Side 2 of the original cassette is damaged. The tape continually speeds up and slows down.

Use Restrictions: Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography: Mattie Rotenberg was the daughter of Russian immigrants. She grew up in Toronto's Ward district and received her degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Toronto. In 1920, she became the first secretary of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society in Toronto.

Material Format: sound recording

Name Access: Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto; Hillcrest Progressive School; Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.); University of Toronto; T. Eaton Co

Geographic Access: Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format: Audio cassette

Copy Format: Audio cassette; Digital file

Transcript: Introduction of Dr. Mattie Rotenberg to the audience 0:00-:49 Family History 0:50-4:00: Rotenberg, daughter of Russian immigrants, recounts the story of her parents’ immigration and arrival in Toronto during the early 1890s. 4:01-7:35: Rotenberg recalls her childhood memories of life growing up in Toronto’s Ward district during the era of “great” Jewish immigration. 7:40-11:10: Rotenberg recalls happy childhood memories living on Regent Street, then a primarily non-Jewish neighbourhood. 11:11-13:40: Rotenberg recalls the Great Fire of Toronto of 1904 that destroyed a large section of downtown Toronto. 13:45-15:19: Rotenberg recalls the open-air streetcar that ran along Toronto’s beltline, the City Dairy, and Riverdale Park. 15.20-18.02: Rotenberg recalls Rabbi Jacob Gordon of Goel Tzedec Synagogue and Rabbi Julius Price, the synagogue’s first English-speaking rabbi. 18:03-21:00: Rotenberg discusses her education at the Dufferin Elementary School and Jarvis Collegiate, her family’s first telephone, riding in a motor car, Massey Hall and Jarvis and Sherbourne Streets considered to be the choice residential district of the time. 21:01-22.00: Rotenberg recalls Dr. Sandler, Toronto’s first Jewish doctor to practice in Toronto’s non-Jewish community. 22:01-22:59: Rotenberg recalls the Queen Street shopping district, the Willinsky’s department store, and Hadassah’s first bazaar held at Toronto Armory. 23:00-23:47: Rotenberg recalls antisemitic incidents that occurred in Toronto during the late 1920s. 23:48-24.33: Rotenberg discusses the Orange Lodges’ influence on civic politics, prejudice towards the Jewish and Catholic communities, and the anti-French-language campaign Rotenberg discusses life in Toronto then and now 24.34-25.30: Rotenberg recalls the changes to Gerrard Sreet East, from a tree-lined street to concrete sidewalks. 25.31-26.48: Rotenberg recalls being the only Jewish student at Jarvis Collegiate. 26.49-27.20: Rotenberg discusses her Jewish education. 27.22-28.06: Rotenberg provides an anecdote about local Jewish news and gossip. 28.07-29.18: Rotenberg discusses the hardships of housekeeping. 29.20-30.25: Rotenberg discusses women’s fashion during the early 1900s. 30.26-31.05: Rotenberg discusses Eatons and Simpsons before the introduction of the cash register. 31:26-33.23: Rotenberg discusses life in Toronto during the early years of the First World War. Rotenberg recalls recruitment meetings held at the Armoury and the crowds that gathered to view war bulletins posted in the window the Telegram’s office on Bay Street. 33.24-36.28: In this portion of the interview, Rotenberg describes the University of Toronto as being an extremely “WASPish” place run by professors with chauvinistic attitudes 36.29-37.23: Rotenberg discusses the problem faced by Jewish women looking for a teaching position. 37:24-39:12: Rotenberg recalls Dr. (Canon) Cody, president of U of T, and his witch hunts for students believed to have Communist leanings. 39:13-40:05: Rotenberg recalls Toronto’s flu epidemic following the First World War. 40:06-41:07: Rotenberg recalls the announcement of the Balfour Declaration in 1918 and the city’s commemoration parade to honour the declaration. Side 2 0:00-:46 : Commemoration of the Balfour Declaration continued. 0:47-4.09: Rotenberg discusses her job as secretary to JIAS during the 1920s. She describes JIAS as an “embryo” started by a few dozen men working to provide aid for Jewish immigrants. *Speech garbled in some sections* 4:10-6:24: Rotenberg discusses the founding in 1929 of the Hillcrest Progressive Day School, whose main motive was to provide a comprehensive Jewish education. 6.25-6.36: Rotenberg discusses the making of liquid hydrogen at the University of Toronto’s physics building during the early 1920s. 6.36-10.00: Here the sound quality becomes poor and Rotenberg’s voice is garbled. 10:00- 21.45: Question period. Sound quality poor and garbled. END

Source: Oral Histories

Lawrence Kert - 6 Oct. 1975

Name: Lawrence Kert

Material Format: sound recording

Interview Date: 6 Oct. 1975

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Lawrence Kert

Number: OH 5, OH 6

Subject: Gold miners; Lawyers; Politicians; Prisoners of war; World War, 1914-1918

Interview Date: 6 Oct. 1975

Quantity: 3 WAV files; 4 cassettes (2 copies)

Interviewer: Stephen Speisman

Total Running Time: 1:30 min.

Conservation: Copied to cassette in August 2003; Digitized between December 2014 and February 2015

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

Biography: Lawrence Kert was born in 1896 and graduated as a lawyer in 1920 from the University of Toronto's Osgoode Hall. Kert served as a lieutenant in the Canadian Army during the First World War and became a prisoner of war when his plane was shot down in Germany. After his return to Toronto, Kert became a member of the J. Singer & Company law firm. Kert was instrumental in organizing the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto and the Oakdale Golf and Country Club; he also sat on the board of the Goel Tzedec Synagogue. Kert passed away in 1976.

Material Format: sound recording

Name Access: Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto; Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Geographic Access: Englehart (Ont.); Mattawa (Ont.); Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format: Audio cassette

Copy Format: Audio cassette; Digital file

Transcript: OH 005 Side 1: 00:24: Lawrence discusses his family’s arrival to Canada. His parents were born in Vilna and came to Montreal in the early 1880s. His parents met in Canada and were married in Sherbrook. 1:45: Lawrence explains how his father settled in Mattawa, Ontario, near North Bay. 3:15: Lawrence discusses the large Kert family, which settled in Canada and the United States. All the Kerts were related. He mentions one branch in Ottawa, Abram Kert, and shares an anecdote about a cousin, Big Isaac, who lived in Montreal. 6:23: Lawrence’s parents were Henry Isaac and Rachel Isaac (née Vineberg). 6:43: Lawrence chronicles his father’s start in Canada. Initially, his father peddled around Cornwall, Ontario. Then wet to the Klondike. By 1890, he had generals stores set up in Mattawa and Peterborough. He later returned to the Klondike for a short time. He remained in Mattawa for fifteen years. The family moved to Montreal in 1903. 8:34: Lawrence recalls one other Jewish family in Mattawa, the Stern family. 10:31: Lawrence explains why his father returned to Montreal. His father was invited to supply produce to the contractors who were constructing the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway in northern Ontario from 1903 to 1905. 13:10:Lawrence explains how his father was able to earn the contract with the railway. 13:49: Lawrence’s father opened a store in Leskeard. 14:29: Lawrence shares an anecdote about the initial discovery of silver in Cobalt by Fred LaRose, a blacksmith. 15:40: Lawrence explains how his father agreed to build a hotel in the new town site of Englehart in 1904. 17:07: Lawrence’s father sold the produce business to a cousin, Charlie ?Bernstein, who maintained the business in Cochrane for about fifty years. 17:54: The hotel burned down in 1918. Lawrence’s family lived in Englehart from 1905 to 1921/22. 18:22: Lawrence discusses his father’s participation in communal activities in Mattawa and Englehart. He was elected to serve on the school board. He was a supporter of the Conservative Party. Lawrence describes both his parents as socially involved and well-liked. 21:18: Lawrence’s mother was active in the Daughters of the Empire. 21:36: Lawrence discusses the Jewish communities of Englehart and neighbouring Krugersdorf. The synagogue was burned down by a bush fire in 1906. Lawrence had his bar mitzvah in Englehart. After the synagogue burned down, services were held in private homes, including the hotel. 25:38: Lawrence discusses other Jews who lived in Englehart. He lists names and describes their businesses. 27:51: Lawrence discusses Jewish life, practice and education in Englehart in the time period of 1905/06 to 1911. OH 005 Side 2: 00:33: Lawrence recounts a story involving a cousin who was staying with his family at the hotel. 3:24: Lawrence explains that his father built a hotel in Englehart in 1904 and stayed until 1920. The hotel was destroyed by a fire. Lawrence explains why his father did not rebuild the hotel. 4:18: Lawrence’s father started to work in the fur business. He sold the raw furs to St. Louis or to Montreal. 5:16: In 1922, Lawrence’s family moved to Montreal. 5:41: Lawrence was born in 1896. He moved to Englehart at age nine. 6:00: Lawrence discusses his Jewish education. His family belonged to Shaarei Shomayim in Montreal. When they moved to Englehart, they had a teacher. 7:10: Lawrence mentions a warm relationship between his father and Rabbi Jacobs, the head of Holy Blossom on Bond Street in Toronto. 9:13: Lawrence attended the Bond Street synagogue. 9:50: Lawrence became a member of Goel Tzedek. 10:00: Lawrence and his sibling attended high school in Hillbury. He reports not experiencing of antisemitism. 11:39: Lawrence explains how he moved from Englehart to study law at the University of Toronto in the summer of 1914. 12:55: At the outbreak of the war, Lawrence participated in the officers’ training corps at the University. He explains his training and describes how, in 1915, at age eighteen, he qualified as an officer with the Algonquin Rifles. While overseas, he trained as a pilot. 15:42: Before going overseas, Lawrence was the officer in charge of a scout troop in his battalion. 16:20: Lawrence describes the accommodations made for veterans who returned to University of Toronto in 1919. He explains how he was able to complete three years of law school and graduate in the summer of 1920. 18:28: Lawrence lists some of the prominent graduates from his year. 19:01: Lawrence explains that was shot down over Germany in 1917, where he spent the remainder of the war. 20:15: Lawrence explains where he resided while going to university. 21:43: Lawrence describes his involvement with the Jewish community in Toronto. He attended Goel Tzedek and had Jewish friends. 22:42: Lawrence discusses how he got involved at Goel Tzedek and lists some of the families who were members. He explains how he got know Toronto relatives of his oldest brother’s wife. 26:29: Lawrence suggests that university students were welcomed by both clergy (he cites Rabbi Price) and the lay community (he cites the Coopers). 27:22: Lawrence became a charter member of the first B’nai Brith Lodge in 1920. 28:32: Lawrence articled with a non-Jewish firm: Faskin-Robinson. After graduation, Lawrence started a small law firm with Joe Singer. They stayed together for forty-five years.

Source: Oral Histories

Mary Soskin - 15 Nov. 1974

Name: Mary Soskin

Material Format: sound recording

Interview Date: 15 Nov. 1974

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Mary Soskin

Number: OH 1

Subject: Neighborhoods; Schools; Synagogues

Interview Date: 15 Nov. 1974

Interviewer: Sophie Milgram

Total Running Time: 001: 30.41 minutes 002: 20.58 minutes

Conservation: Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions: Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.; Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Biography: Mary Soskin (née Levine), the eldest child of Moses Levine and Sarah Levine (née Cass), was born in 1896 in Midland, Ontario. Her father, Moses Joseph Levine (1864–1919), immigrated to Toronto from Minsk in 1887. Moses first worked as a peddler and later became a grocer. Mary’s mother, Sara Levine (b. 1876), emigrated from Russia to Toronto around 1892 and worked as a seamstress. Mary had six siblings: Fanny (1898–1923), Anne Thuna (1899–1964), Abraham (“Abe”) (b. 1901–1984), Harry (b. 1903), Rita (1905–1975), and Dorothy Bliss (1909–1992).; Mary’s parents, Moses Levine and Sarah Cass, met in Toronto. Following their marriage in 1895, they moved to Midland, Ontario, where they opened a store. After several years in Midland, they returned to Toronto. The family lived in several locations in Toronto including Chestnut Street, Centre Avenue, Spadina Avenue, near Dundas, and 224 Beverley Street, near College. The Levine family belonged to the Goel Tzedec Synagogue, which was located in a former church on University Avenue at Elm Street.; Mary attended both the McCaul Street School and Phoebe Street School, one of the oldest schools in Toronto. She completed her studies at the Shaw School of Business. Mary first worked as a bookkeeper for several years before joining her father in his wholesale grocery business, located at 25 Jarvis Street. Tragically, Moses died in 1919 at the age of fifty-four after accidentally falling down an elevator shaft. The family closed the business shortly thereafter and continued to live on Beverley Street.; Mary Levine married Saul Soskin (d. 1953) around 1920. They lived in Toronto and later moved to Los Angeles. They had three children: Estelle (1922–2010), Morton (“Bud”) (d. 2001), and Fred (1929–2000). In 1945, during a family visit to Toronto, Estelle met Irving Liss, the son of Morris Liss, Mary’s long-time friend. Estelle and Irving were married at the Beth Am Synagogue in Los Angeles in 1946 and settled in Toronto.; Mary Soskin returned to Toronto in 1964 and passed away in 1990.

Material Format: sound recording

Language: English

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.); Levine, Moses; Levine, Sarah; Soskin, Mary

Geographic Access: Los Angeles (Calif.); Midland (Ont.); St. John's Ward (Toronto, Ont.)

Original Format: Audio cassette

Copy Format: Audio cassette; Digital file

Transcript: G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 1 - Soskin\OH1_001_Log.docx; G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 1 - Soskin\OH1_002_Log.docx

Source: Oral Histories

Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine - 18 Oct. 2019

Name: Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine

Material Format: moving images

Interview Date: 18 Oct. 2019

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine

Number: OH 451

Subject: AIDS (Disease); Homophobia; Judaism--Relations--Christianity; Same-sex marriage; Sexual minorities; Social movements; Synagogues

Interview Date: 18 Oct. 2019

Interviewer: Michael Friesen

Total Running Time: 1 hr. 18 min.

Notes: Associated material: Records of Chutzpah are located in the ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives.; General note: The OJA has a copy of Harvey Brownstone's article "I Now Pronounce You Wife and Wife," which was originally published in the fall 2014 edition of Reform Judaism Magazine. The article mentions Chutzpah and may be of interest to researchers.

Use Restrictions: See administrative notes.

Biography: Harvey Brownstone was born on 24 July 1956 in Paris, France and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. His father was a social worker who worked at the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre for thirty-five years and was director for twenty-one years (from 1967–1988). Brownstone obtained his LLB degree from Queen's University and was appointed a provincial judge with the Ontario Court of Justice in 1995. He was the first openly gay judge appointed in Canada. He resides in Toronto.; Howard Levine was born in Toronto on 29 June 1947. He earned his bachelor of arts (political science with urban planning) from the University of Waterloo and his master in environmental studies (urban planning and public transportation) from York University. From 1973 to 1975, he worked as a consultant with Peat, Marwick and Partners. From 1976 to 1982, he worked as an area and general planner with the City of Toronto's Planning and Development Department. From 1982 to 1988, he was sole proprietor of HJL Consulting. From 1988 to 1994, he served as councillor for Ward 14. After serving his second term as city councillor, Levine returned to HJL Consulting.

Material Format: moving images

Language: English

Name Access: Bolton, Elizabeth; Brownstone, Harvey, 1956-; Canadian Jewish Congress; Canadian Jewish News; Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives; Casey House (Toronto, Ont.); Cecil Community Centre (Toronto, Ont.); Church of the Holy Trinity (Toronto, Ont.); Chutzpah (Toronto, Ont.); Congregation B'nai Kehillah of Toronto; Eggleton, Art, 1943-; Farber, Bernie; Hamilton JCC; Hawkes, Brent, 1950-; Hudson, Rock, 1925-1985; Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.); Keshet Shalom (Toronto, Ont.); Levine, Howard, 1947-; Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto; Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre; Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.); Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.); Robinson, Svend, 1952-; Royal Ontario Museum; Slater, Ruth; Temple Emanu-El (Toronto, Ont.); World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations; York University (Toronto, Ont.)

Geographic Access: Amsterdam (Netherlands); Hamilton (Ont.); Kingston (Ont.); Toronto (Ont.); Waterloo (Ont.)

Original Format: Digital file

Transcript: 0:00.20 Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine introduce themselves.; 0:00:27 Harvey discusses what it was like coming of age as a gay Jewish man in Ontario. Harvey grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where his father was the director of the Hamilton JCC. His mother had a French-imported ladies' wear store. After coming out to his parents in the 1970s, he moved to Kingston, Ontario, where he attended Queen's University.; 0:03:13 Howard discusses how his experience was different. He was born and raised in downtown Toronto. His father died when he was a teenager; his mother got sick soon after. As a result, Harvey was largely on his own. He went off to Waterloo for university and then York for graduate school. It's around that time he came to terms with who he was.; 0:05:05 Howard discusses a gay Jewish group, B'nai Kehillah, that existed before Chutzpah. It met at the Church of the Holy Trinity, an Anglican church in Toronto.; 0:06:19 Harvey and Howard discuss what Chutzpah was, when it started, and how they became involved.; 0:09:40 Harvey discusses a trip Chutzpah took to the Royal Ontario Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were being exhibited. It was on this trip that Harvey "really met" Howard.; 0:10:10 Harvey discusses how he and Howard came to the conclusion that Chutzpah could be more than "just a place to meet."; 0:11:11 Harvey discusses the impact the AIDS epidemic had on Chutzpah's focus. Harvey explains that after American Actor Rock Hudson's death, AIDS was front page news in big cities like Toronto.; 0:12:03 Harvey discusses the decision to have Friday night Oneg Shabbats in the late 1980s. Initially, these were held at the Cecil Community Centre on Cecil Street in Toronto. Howard used his position as city councillor to make this happen.; 0:13:14 Harvey discusses why the Cecil Community Centre was not an ideal location for the group's services. Howard, therefore, approached the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre and got the group a room for Friday nights.; 0:14:52 Harvey discusses Chutzpah’s decision to join the World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organization (today, World Congress of GLBT Jews).; 0:15:40 Harvey discusses the group's decision to attend a World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations conference in Amsterdam.; 0:17:40 Harvey relates an event hosted by the then mayor of Amsterdam, in which the mayor laid a wreath with a pink triangle to honour gay victims of the Holocaust. Harvey and Howard discuss being moved by this.; 0:18:50 Harvey mentions some of the things that came out of the Amsterdam conference.; 0:20:05 Harvey and Howard discuss Chutzpah's decision to host a conference in Toronto. The conference, which took place in 1990, was held at the Primrose Hotel.; 0:23:16 Harvey and Howard discuss the decision to invite Svend Robinson, Canada's first openly-gay member of parliament, to speak at the conference.; 0:23:38 Howard interjects to explain that he was never "out" while on city council. Despite this, he "did a number of things," including getting benefits for same-sex couples and proclaiming Pride Day in Toronto. Howard notes that Art Eggleton, Toronto's mayor at the time, was opposed to proclaiming Pride Day.; 0:24:37 Harvey and Howard discuss the Toronto conference some more. Harvey discusses a group of five women cantors who performed at the banquet. The group included Elizabeth Bolton, a cantor at Temple Emanu-El, and Ruth Slater, a cantor at Temple Anshe Sholom.; 0:26:50 Harvey and Howard discuss the lack of press coverage for the conference. An exception was the Canadian Jewish News.; 0:28:30 Harvey and Howard discuss some of Chutzpah's other initiatives: having a booth at Pride, selling corned beef sandwiches to raise money, and selling rainbow yarmulkes. The group also marched in Pride with a banner.; 0:28:56 Harvey discusses Chutzpah's support for Pflag (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). He notes that many gay Jews found the most traumatic part of coming out to be the issue of the parents.; 0:29:48 Harvey and Howard discuss the mainstream Jewish community's response to the AIDS crisis. Howard says it was in denial. He also discusses his involvement with the Canadian Jewish Congress' Community Relations Committee and Bernie Farber inviting him to join the committee.; 0:31:15 Howard discusses how things have changed. He says Chutzpah dissolved because it wasn't needed anymore.; 0:32:55 Harvey expands on Howard's point that there was no more need for Chutzpah.; 0:33:30 Harvey and Howard clarify Chutzpah's timeline: Harvey joined the group in the mid-1980s. It lasted until the mid-1990s. At that point, it transformed into Keshet Shalom. That group became defunct in the early 2000s. That's when Howard donated his records to the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (now the ArQuives).; 0:34:14 Harvey and Howard discuss how they never agreed that Chutzpah should have become Keshet Shalom (a congregation). They discuss their reasons for not wanting to be a congregation.; 0:35:43 Harvey and Howard discuss how many members Chutzpah had at its peak.; 0:36:11 Harvey and Howard discuss Chutzpah's relationship with the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and Brent Hawkes, one of the church's pastors. They also discuss an unnamed member of the church, a reverend, who identified as both Jewish and Christian and who attended several of Chutzpah's Friday night services.; 0:39:28 Harvey and Howard discuss the lack of antisemitism they encountered in non-Jewish gay and lesbian communities.; 0:40:28 Harvey and Howard discuss the presence (or lack thereof) of Chutzpah ads in the Jewish press. They note that the Canadian Jewish News did cover the Toronto conference.; 0:41:59 Harvey and Howard discuss issues facing the Jewish LGBT community in 2019. Harvey mentions the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community as one area of concern. He also discusses elevated rates of suicide among gay youth.; 0:45:56 Howard discusses the isolation of gay and lesbian Hasids.; 0:46:22 Howard discusses the viewpoint of Toronto's established Jewish community today.; 0:47:34 Harvey and Howard share their final thoughts.

Source: Oral Histories

Beth Tzedec Hebrew School (part 1 of 2) [textual record] – 1950-1953.

Part Of: Board of Jewish Education fonds; School files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 48; Series 5; File 214

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Board of Jewish Education fonds; School files series

Level: File

Fonds: 48

Series: 5

File: 214

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1950-1953

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Beth Tzedec Hebrew School (part 2 of 2) [textual record] – 1950-1953.

Part Of: Board of Jewish Education fonds; School files series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 48; Series 5; File 215

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Board of Jewish Education fonds; School files series

Level: File

Fonds: 48

Series: 5

File: 215

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1950-1953

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Joseph Marin [graphic material (electronic)] – [ca. 1940].

Part Of: Mimi Wise fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 16; Item 4

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Mimi Wise fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 16

Item: 4

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Date: [ca. 1940]

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w (jpg)

Admin History/Bio: Joseph Marin was a founder of the Beach Hebrew Institute and was involved in the Toronto Hebrew Free Loan and Farband.

Scope and Content: This item is an electronic copy photograph of a portrait of Joseph Marin.

Name Access: Beach Hebrew Institute (Toronto, Ont.); Farband; Toronto Hebrew Free Loan

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: Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number: 2006-9-7

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Canada Israel Development Corporation [graphic material] – 20 June 1963.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3; File 9

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3

File: 9

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 20 June 1963

Physical Description: 3 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images taken at a meeting of the Canada Israel Development Corporation at the Primrose Club. The images depict several men seated at a table, speaking into a microphone, including Mark Levy.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Meetings; Speeches, addresses, etc

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

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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State of Israel Bonds meeting [graphic material] – 21 May 1963.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3; File 48

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3

File: 48

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 21 May 1963

Physical Description: 2 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of two images taken at a State of Israel Bonds meeting at the Primrose Club. The images depict several people seated at a meeting table, as well as a group photograph of three individuals holding State of Israel Bonds certificates.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.); State of Israel Bonds Organization

Subjects: Meetings

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

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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State of Israel Bonds meeting [graphic material] – 21 Jun. 1966.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3; File 50

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3

File: 50

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 21 Jun. 1966

Physical Description: 3 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images taken at a State of Israel Bonds meeting held at the Primrose Club. The images depict speakers at the podium, and an image of the head table. The banner behind the head table reads: celebrate the year of Chai - buy Israel bonds.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

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

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Zionist Organization of Canada, Central Region, hosts Mr. Leon Dultzin [graphic material] – 8 Dec. 1965.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Zionist Organization of Canada sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3-5; File 16

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Zionist Organization of Canada sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3-5

File: 16

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 8 Dec. 1965

Physical Description: 3 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images taken at a Zionist Organization of Canada, Central Region meeting held at the Primrose Club. The guest speaker was Leon Dultzin, executive member of the World Zionist Organization. The images depict members of ZOC sitting and standing with Leon Dultzin.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

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

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Beth Tikvah Synagogue High Holy Day services [textual record] – 1995.

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

ID: Fonds 22; File 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

Fonds: 22

File: 1

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1995

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: High Holidays

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Beth Tikvah Synagogue twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations [textual record] – 1991-1992.

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

ID: Fonds 22; File 2

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

Fonds: 22

File: 2

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1991-1992

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Anniversaries; Synagogues

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Primrose Club dues receipts [textual record] – 1932.

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

ID: Fonds 22; File 15

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Morris Norman collection

Level: File

Fonds: 22

File: 15

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1932

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Drawing of the Primrose Club at 41 Willcocks St. [architectural drawing] – [ca.1921].

Part Of: Benjamin Brown fonds; Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 49; Series 1; File 9

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Benjamin Brown fonds; Jewish community building plans and drawings series

Level: File

Fonds: 49

Series: 1

File: 9

Material Format: architectural drawing

Date: [ca.1921]

Physical Description: 1 architectural drawing : pencil and hand col. pencil crayon on cardboard ; 42 x 54 cm

Admin History/Bio: Originally named the Cosmopolitan Club, the Primrose Club was as an elite Jewish men's club (women were allowed to join in later years) that was founded in 1909 by prominent members of the Jewish Community. The building housing the club was located at 41 Willcocks Street, and was originally built in the 1880s as the residence of the Campbell family. In 1921, the home was redesigned by Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell as the new home of the Primrose Club. In 1959, it was appropriated by the University of Toronto and is currently the home of the University of Toronto Faculty Club. It was designated as a heritage building in 1980.

Scope and Content: File consists of an elevation drawing of the Primrose Club at 41 Willcocks Street.

Notes: See - http://magazine.utoronto.ca/feature/history-of-faculty-club-u-of-t/ - for a more detailed history of the building.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Clubs

Places: Willcocks Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Primrose Club exterior [graphic material] – [194-].

Part Of: Dora Till fonds; Other organizations series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 52; Series 7; Item 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Dora Till fonds; Other organizations series

Level: Item

Fonds: 52

Series: 7

Item: 1

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [194-]

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 18 cm on matte 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content: This item is a photograph of the exterior of the Primrose Club on Willcocks Street in Toronto.

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Clubs

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: Willcocks Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Primrose Club award [textual record] – 1980-1981.

Part Of: Dora Till fonds; Personal series; Personal awards and tributes sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 52; Series 8-1; File 9

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Dora Till fonds; Personal series; Personal awards and tributes sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 52

Series: 8-1

File: 9

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1980-1981

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Name Access: Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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69th Toronto Company Girl Guide Troop on steps of Goel Tzedec [graphic material] – [ca. 1924].

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 37; Series 8; Item 2

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

Fonds: 37

Series: 8

Item: 2

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1924]

Physical Description: 1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio: The Girl Scouts were officially founded in 1910 with the establishment of Girl Guides Association in the United Kingdom. They orginated in Britain, but within that same year groups were sprouting up all over the world, including in Canada. The Ontario Council was inaugurated in 1921.; The 69th division was founded on 3 July 1922. The name was changed several times to: Highland Glen, Humber Highlands, Westwinds, and then Smithfield. The director in 1922 was Lillian Smith. The 69th Toronto Co. met at 254 McCaul St. at the Church of the Redeemer, at Smithfield Public School, and at Clairville Public School. The company shut down on 6 June 1930 and reopened 17 May 1932.

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Girl Guides; Portraits, Group

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.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Girl Guides and Brownies, 69th Toronto Company, on the steps of Goel Tzedec [graphic material] – [ca. 1924].

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 37; Series 8; Item 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

Fonds: 37

Series: 8

Item: 1

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1924]

Physical Description: 1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio: The Girl Guides were officially founded in 1910 with the establishment of Girl Guides Association in the United Kingdom. They orginated in Britain, but within that same year groups were sprouting up all over the world, including in Canada. The Ontario Council was inaugurated in 1921.; The 69th division was founded on 3 July 1922. The name was changed several times to: Highland Glen, Humber Highlands, Westwinds, and then Smithfield. The director in 1922 was Lillian Smith. The 69th Toronto Co. met at 254 McCaul St. at the Church of the Redeemer, at Smithfield Public School, and at Clairville Public School. The company shut down on 6 June 1930 and reopened 17 May 1932.

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Girl Guides; Portraits, Group

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.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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69th Toronto Company Girl Guide Troop on steps of Goel Tzedec [graphic material] – [ca. 1924].

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 37; Series 8; Item 3

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gilbert Studios fonds; Jewish clubs, businesses and organizations series

Level: Item

Fonds: 37

Series: 8

Item: 3

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1924]

Physical Description: 1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio: The Girl Scouts were officially founded in 1910 with the establishment of Girl Guides Association in the United Kingdom. They orginated in Britain, but within that same year groups were sprouting up all over the world, including in Canada. The Ontario Council was inaugurated in 1921.; The 69th division was founded on 3 July 1922. The name was changed several times to: Highland Glen, Humber Highlands, Westwinds, and then Smithfield. The director in 1922 was Lillian Smith. The 69th Toronto Co. met at 254 McCaul St. at the Church of the Redeemer, at Smithfield Public School, and at Clairville Public School. The company shut down on 6 June 1930 and reopened 17 May 1932.

Name Access: Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Girl Guides; Portraits, Group

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.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Elliot Lerner [graphic material (electronic), moving images] – 1946-1949, 1980-2009.

Accession Number: 2010-2-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-2-2

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); moving images

Physical Description: 87 photographs : col. (jpg); 1 DVD (approx. 10 mins.)

Date: 1946-1949, 1980-2009

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs of synagogue exteriors, cornerstones, and doorways around Ontario, as well as in the cities of Moncton, Rouyn-Noranda, Saint John, St. John's, Victoria, and Winnipeg. There is one interior shot of the sanctuary of Beth-El Synagogue in St. John's, Newfoundland. The accession also contains a DVD with three home movies dated 1946 to 1949. The movies are of a wedding in Goel Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto, a bar mitzvah, and cottage scenes in Beaverton.

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

Descriptive Notes: Some jpg files contain two or three images scanned together.

Subjects: Amateur films; Judaism--Customs and practices; Synagogue architecture

Name Access: Beth El Synagogue (St. John's, N.L.); Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Beaverton (Ont.); Moncton (N.B.); Rouyn-Noranda (Québec); Saint John (N.B.); St. John's (N.L.); Victoria (B.C.); Winnipeg (Man.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Pearl Freedhoff [textual record, graphic material] – 1912-2015.

Accession Number: 2016-9-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2016-9-3

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: 13 cm of textual records; 5 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 or smaller

Date: 1912-2015

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the life of Pearl Freedhoff. The bulk of the material are speeches and other writings related to Pearl's position as president of the Goel Tzedec Sisterhood around 1949-1950, as well as material related to her role with the Eastern Canadian Branch of the Women's League of the United Synagogue. Also included is Pearl's hand-written memoir and the final bound copy edited by her daughter Judith Golden. The remaining records relate to Pearl's work as a travel guide and organizer of trips to Israel, East Asia, and the Lido Spa in Florida; dance cards from the 1920s; a small amount of personal correspondence with a friend living in England; Pearl and Samuel's wedding invitation; a letter to Pearl and her sister Hilda from their mother, Esther; newsclippings; photographs; and a book won as a second place prize by Pearl at Edmund Scheuer's Zionist girls' school.

Administrative History: Pearl Freedhoff (née Narrol) was born on 17 September 1906 to Harry Narrol and Esther Narroll (née Newman). She had four siblings: She had four siblings: Albert, Gertie, Hilda (m. Spivak), and Mendell (died as infant). Pearl married Dr. Samuel Osias Freedhoff (1903–1973) in 1927 and had two children: Stephen and Judith. Samuel was the son of Harry Freedhoff and Molli Freedhoff (née Bohnen). Pearl graduated from the University of Toronto, School of Social Work, and Samuel graduated from the School of Dentistry. Both were members of Goel Tzedec Synagogue, with Pearl serving as sisterhood president from 1949–1950 and Samuel as president of the men's club in 1952. Pearl passed away on 18 December 1997.

Subjects: Manuscripts; Speeches, addresses, etc; Synagogues; Travel

Name Access: Freedhoff, Pearl, 1906-1997; Freedhoff, Samuel, 1903-1973; Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Beth Tikvah Synagogue [textual record] – 2011-2012.

Accession Number: 2017-1-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2017-1-7

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 2011-2012

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two editions of Hakol bulletin published by Beth Tikvah and dated September/October 2011 and November/December 2011. Contents of the bulletins are messages from the rabbi and president, Sisterhood and Men's Club, activities, programs, donations, bereavements, as well as paid advertisements. Inserted in the November/December edition is a letter from Maurice Kulik, president, addressed to the members, informing them of proposed amendments to their constitution for consideration at the AGM. Also included is a flyer promoting their Pre-Hanukkah Choral concert on December 11, 2011.

Subjects: Synagogue bulletins

Name Access: Beth Tikvah Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Pearl Freedhoff [textual record] – 1945-1955.

Accession Number: 2017-8-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2017-8-2

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 7 cm of textual records

Date: 1945-1955

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to Pearl Freedhoff's volunteer work with the Goel Tzedec Sisterhood as well as general records of Goel Tzedec and Beth Tzedec Synagogues. Included are Goel Tzedec Sisterhood bulletins (1945-1950), Sisterhood Annual Torah Tea invitations (1946-1951), Sisterhood Luncheon and Dinner Meeting invitations (1945-1952), Sisterhood Sabbath service invitaions (194-?), a Sisterhood finanical statement (1950), general Goel Tzedec Sisterhood correspondence (1950-1952), a script for a Goel Tzedec Sisterhood play (194-?), a speech given by Pearl Freedhoff (195-?), Beth Tzedec Sisterhood meeting invitations (1955), records related to the binennial convention of the National Women's League of the United Synagogue of America (1950), Goel Tzedec graduation and confirmation programs (1950-1951), a program book for the consecration of the Goel Tzedec Memorial Park (1949), Goel Tzedec Weekly Bulletins (1950-1951), and records documenting the Beth Tzedec Syangogue Dedication (1955).

Administrative History: Pearl Freedhoff (née Narrol) was born on 17 September 1906 to Harry Narrol and Esther Narroll (née Newman). She had four siblings: She had four siblings: Albert, Gertie, Hilda (m. Spivak), and Mendell (died as infant). Pearl married Dr. Samuel Osias Freedhoff (1903–1973) in 1927 and had two children: Stephen and Judith. Samuel was the son of Harry Freedhoff and Molli Freedhoff (née Bohnen). Pearl graduated from the University of Toronto, School of Social Work, and Samuel graduated from the School of Dentistry. Both were members of Goel Tzedec Synagogue, with Pearl serving as sisterhood president from 1949–1950 and Samuel as president of the men's club in 1952. Pearl passed away on 18 December 1997.

Subjects: Women; Synagogues

Name Access: Freedhoff, Pearl, 1906-1997; Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Beth Tzedec Congregation [textual record] – 1919-[195-?].

Accession Number: 2018-1-11

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-1-11

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 6 cm of textual records (2 vol. and 1 folder)

Date: 1919-[195-?]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a bound volume of cantorial music used by Cantor Akiva Bernstein of Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto) from the 1930s to the 1950s; and a published book of synagogue music Synagogen-Gesange: fur kantor und gemischten chor by Cantor Joshua S. Weisser (Pilderwasser) and Cantor Samuel Kavetzky (Bedrokowetzky) from 1919. The accession also includes handwritten drafts of music scores by an unknown author, possibly Elie Spivak.