Accession Number
1980-2-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1980-2-2
Material Format
text
graphic material
Physical Description
15 cm of textual records and other material
Date
1935-1962
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the Workmen's Circle (Arbeiter Ring). Included are: three architectural drawings of the summer cottage for Camp Yunvelt (Pickering, Ont.); two group portraits (one with identification and one without); a bound periodical/journal from 1935; a hardcopy of Fertsik yor arbeter-ring: a geshikhte in bilder (English: Forty Years Workmen's Circle: A History in Pictures) put out by the National Executive Committee of the Workmen's Circle in 1940; a bound periodical/journal of Kultur un dertsiung (English: Culture and Education) for the year 1942; a bound periodical/journal of Der freynd (English: The Friend) for the year 1942; a booklet by Rev. Nathan Stolnitz's titled Some of the Numerous Comments and Reviews on Music in Jewish Life (1957?); a newspaper clipping titled "A bukh vom oyngt" (English: A Book That Opens) that was published in 1957; a hardcopy of Workmen's Circle, Pioneers and Builders put out by the Workmen's Circle Pioneers and Builders Committee in 1962; and two other Yiddish-language publications that have not been identified.
Administrative History
The Workmen's Circle (Yiddish: Arbeiter Ring) was founded in the United States by Jewish immigrants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Circle branches were established in Canada in Montreal and Toronto in 1907 and 1908. In 1917, the Toronto branches incorporated as nonprofit organization called the Arbeiter Ring. The organization celebrated its centenery in 2017.
Descriptive Notes
Language: Most of the material in the accession is in Yiddish. The drawings are in English and a few of the publications are in English and Yiddish.
Subjects
Camps
Cottages
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Workmen's Circle (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Pickering (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1983-1-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1983-1-10
Material Format
sound recording
textual record
Physical Description
2 audio cassettes
1 folder of textual records
Date
1977
Scope and Content
Accession consists of an interview and corresponding transcript, with Jack Shindman, past-president of JIAS, on immigration and his family.
Subjects
Immigrants--Canada
Families
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Shindman, Jack
Drutz, Danny
Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Rovno, Ukraine
Toronto, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-6-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-6-2
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
15 m of textual records
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the records of the Council of Jewish Federations of Canada. Also included within the records are those of the National Budgeting Conference (NBC).
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Council of Jewish Federations of Canada
National Budgeting Conference
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-6-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1996-6-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1.5 m of textual records
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records of the North American Jewish Students Network.
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Children
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
North American Jewish Students Network (Canada)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-11-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1986-11-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
4.2 m of textual records
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the operations of the Toronto Hebrew Free Loan Casa.
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Nonprofit organizations
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1976-9-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1976-9-3
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 text
Date
1910, 1928
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two copies of the constitution of Congregation Shaarei Tzedec, printed in 1910 and 1928, and a copy of the book "Fun folks moil = 1000 Yiddish Proverbs."
MG_RG
MG3A36
Subjects
Religion
Name Access
Congregation Shaarei Tzedec (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1979-9-22
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1979-9-22
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1973-1983
Scope and Content
Accession consists of Toronto Secular Jewish Association newsletters from 1980 to 1983 and a photocopy of the SJA constitution and by-laws (1973).
Administrative History
Toronto's Secular Jewish Association (SJA) was founded in the late 1960s by 15 families who felt a strong identification with the humanistic, ethical and cultural roots of Judaism rather than with theistic or political affiliations.
MG_RG
MG2 B1Y
Subjects
Religion
Societies
Name Access
Toronto Secular Jewish Association
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-2-12
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-2-12
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1.8 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records pertaining to the operation of the Kashruth Department of the Toronto Jewish Congress. The department was situated within the Orthodox Division.
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Religion
Food
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Toronto Jewish Congress
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-10-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1988-10-1
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1.2 m of textual records
Date
1986-1987
Scope and Content
Accession consists of the Executive Director files of the CJC, Central Region. The files were created and accumulated by E. Y. Lipsitz.
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-5-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1990-5-3
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
12 m of textual records
Date
[197-]-[199-]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting various activities of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region, including the small communities, regional committees, eduction and culture. The records appear to have originated with E. Y. Lipsitz.
Use Conditions
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Subjects
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
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
Accession Number
2005-9-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2005-9-7
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1939
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a notice in Yiddish from Rabbi Meir Levy announcing to the Jewish community that shochtim Yichiel Wagman and Soloway, Hymie Weisfeld, Lazar Salkovitch, and Moishe Gross are valid, certified kosher butchers. These shochtim, it states, are well known in Toronto, learned in Torah, and they have been certified under the strictest rules of kashrut.
Subjects
Religion
Food
Occupations
Name Access
Levy, Meir Zvi
Wagman, Yichiel
Weisfeld, Hymie
Salkovitch, Lazar
Gross, Moishe
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2005-11-8
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2005-11-8
Material Format
moving images
Physical Description
1 film reel ; 8 mm
Date
[197-?]
Scope and Content
Accession is an 8mm home movie reel of Succah at an unknown religious school.
Subjects
Religion
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-3-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-3-5
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
12.5 m of textual material and 6 boxes of index cards
Date
[195-?]-[198-]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of 43 cubic foot boxes of closed case files as well as six boxes of index cards created by the United Restitution Organization, Toronto Office. The case files document the Article 2 (boxes 1 - 11) and Hardship (boxes 12 - 43) programs. Most of the documentation within the case files are in German.
The index cards document the BEG and Russlandfaille programs and correspond to records that were transferred to the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The files were created during the early years of the URO that were donated by URO to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. in October, 1990. That institution has approximately 100 boxes of closed case files from the Toronto Office. The index cards DO NOT correspond to any case files that we have as part of our holdings.
Custodial History
After the Toronto URO office closed, the one case worker left moved from the second floor of the Lipa Green Building to the same floor as the OJA the end of March, 2007. Before the move, the OJA was asked to take all of the historical files that were there in boxes, listed them and transferred them to the UJA Warehouse. The index cards are in the OJA vault.
Administrative History
In Canada, the United Restitution Organization (URO) was founded in 1953 under the aegis of the Canadian Jewish Congress. The funds advanced by the Claims Conference were administered by the CJC which also gave support by providing the URO with office space and clerical staff. Offices were set up in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. The Winnipeg and Vancouver offices closed in the 1970s and the Montreal office remained open until 2002, after which time the active cases were sent to the Toronto office. The Toronto office officially closed on April 1, 2007. There was one case worker, however, who contintued to tend to any active claims that were left. Her position was transfered to Jewish Family and Child in 2013. The URO dealt with a variety of different types of claims. The first and largest were the BEG cases (Bundesentschaedigungsgesetz), which translates as Federal Indemnification Law for the Compensation of Victims of National Socialist Persecution. This program provided compensation for individuals persecuted for political, racial, religious, or ideological reasons who suffered long-term damage to their health, imprisonment, death of family members, loss of property, reduced income, or reduced professional advancement. The other two major programs or cases covered by the URO were the Hardship Fund and Article 2. The Hardship Fund was established during the 1960s and was open to Jews who emigrated from the former Soviet Union who were not eligible for compensation under the BEG program. The Article 2 program, in turn, arose during the 1990s, after the unification of the German government. It is still operating today and is open to Jewish victims of Nazi persecution who met a certain critiera, and those who are eligible, are provided with a pension paid out in installments every three months each year.
Use Conditions
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
Subjects
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
United Restitution Organization (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1906
Scope and Content
Accession contains one contract between Mr. Abraham Landsberg and the Chevra Tehillim (McCaul Street) Synagogue for the purchase of two seats in the congregational pews. The seats were utilized by Mr. Landsberg from 1906 until 1924, when the seats were transferred to his son Dr. Harry Landsberg.
Administrative History
Abraham Landsberg was an early Jewish immigrant to Toronto. Born in Russia in 1859, Abraham arrived in Canada with wife Rebecca, sister Mary and daughters Edith and Ray in 1892. After settling in Toronto, they had four more children: Jack, Lillian, Maurice and Harold. The family lived at 195 College Street. Abraham's sons took up diverse professions; his oldest, Jack, became a plumbing contractor, his middle son, Maurice, became a mechanic and his youngest son, Harold, became a dentist, setting up a practice with Dr. Benjamin Garfield.
Subjects
Religion
Name Access
Landsberg, Abraham
Beth Medrosh Hagodol Chevra Tehillim (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-16
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-16
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
9 photographs : col ; 15 x 10 cm
Date
1998-1999
Scope and Content
Accession consists of nine photographs of events at the Borochov Centre and the Toronto Heschel School. Seven of the photos are of childern observing Yom Hazikaron, one photo is of a Yom Ha'atz-Maul celebration, and one photo is a Yiddish Cultural Club group photo at the Borochov Centre.
Subjects
Religion
Education
Children
Name Access
Borochov Centre
Toronto Heschel School
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-17
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-17
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
Date
[195-?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two group photographs taken in Stratford, Ontario. The first is a farewell party photograph for Alec and Ann and the second is a photograph of a children's Purim party.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
Religion
Children
Communities
Name Access
Miller, Molly
Places
Stratford, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-26
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-6-26
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph ; b&w ; 26 x 21 cm
Date
[194-?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a photo of the Cecil Street Shul Choir. People in the photo that can be identified are Sam Katzman, Hyman Maker, "Butch" Landsberg, Sam Steinberg, Morris Adams, Lawrence Steinberg, Ben Steinberg, Norman Bellick and Cantor Alexander Steinberg.
Subjects
Religion
Name Access
Gollon, Marvin
Katzman, Sam
Maker, Hyman
Landsberg, "Butch"
Steinberg, Sam
Steinberg, Alexander
Steinberg, Ben
Adams, Morris
Steinberg, Lawrence
Bellick, Norman
Ostrovtzer Synagogue
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-10-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2007-10-5
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1977-2003
Scope and Content
Accession consists of materials documenting Congregation Iyr Hamelich, the Reform synagogue in Kingston. The records include the constitution, Sunday school minutes and policy documents, synagogue bulletins, correspondence and "Welcome to our Congregation" booklets.
Subjects
Religion
Name Access
Congregation Iyr Hamelich
Places
Kingston, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-1-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2008-1-4
Material Format
moving images
graphic material (electronic)
graphic material
Physical Description
4 film reels (57 min., 32 sec.) : 16 mm
1 DVD
8 photographs (jpgs) : b&w
1 photograph : b&w
Date
[195-]-[196-]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of four 16 mm films and one copy DVD, documenting the Moldaver family in Peterborough. The films were taken during the 1950s and 1960s and include images of a Camp Wahanowin family visit featuring people by the lake, boating, playing badminton and softball and waterskiing, as well as other cottage scenes of kids swimming and jumping off the dock, canoeing, and several families sitting by the lake.
The films also document several family and community events, such as a family vacation to Chicago, fancy parties, Hanukkah and Purim celebrations, family dinners, and bar mitzvahs, including the bar mitzvah of the donor Joel Moldaver. There are also several scenes of family life in Peterborough including people skating outdoors, and group shots of people standing outside of their homes and getting into cars.
In addition, the accession contains electronic scans of eight family photographs, including the donor's grandparents and great-parents, his parents' wedding which was the first Jewish wedding in Peterborough, and three images of his own bar mitzvah. There is also one oversize photograph of the 1942 Plenary session of the Canadian Jewish Congress, where the formation of Israel was addressed (photo credit: Federal Photos, Montreal).
Photographs are as follows:
1. Annie and Philip Black in Peterborough, ca. 1939.
2. Bar mitzvah at Reid Street.
3. Bar mitzvah at Reid Street.
4. Bar mitzvah at Reid Street with father Irving Moldaver, Aaron Black, and Rabbi Babb.
5. David and Faigh Florence possibly on Aylmer Street, ca 1939.
6. Irving Moldaver wedding portrait, 1938.
7. Peterborough wedding, Ernie Fine, Annie Black, Ruth and Irving Moldaver, Clara and Oskar Moldaver, 1938.
8. Ruth Moldaver (nee Black) wedding portrait, 1938.
9. CJC fifth plenary session, Jan. 10-12, 1942, Montreal.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
Communities
Families
Religion
Name Access
Moldaver, Joel
Moldaver, Ruth
Moldaver, Irving
Places
Peterborough (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-3-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-3-4
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
12 photographs : col. ; 12 x 10 cm
Date
2002
Scope and Content
Accession consists of images of the Ontario Jewish Archives vault, processing room, research room, and reception area taken by Ellen Scheinberg upon being hired as the OJA's new director in 2002. The photographs illustrate the state of the archives upon her arrival.
Custodial History
The photographs were taken by Ellen Scheinberg, director of the Ontario Jewish Archives. They were kept in her office until she transferred them to the OJA on 4 March 2009.
Subjects
Archives
Nonprofit organizations
Name Access
Ontario Jewish Archives
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-3-7
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-3-7
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records
Date
2005-2007
Scope and Content
This accession consists of records related to the work of Susan Jackson as the Executive Director of the Latner Center for Jewish Knowledge and Heritage. The records include planning documents, summaries and reports, budgets and meeting minutes.
Custodial History
The records were in the possession of Susan Jackson, currently an Executive Philanthropic Officer with the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the former Executive Director of the (Latner) Centre for Jewish Knowledge and Heritage.
Administrative History
The Latner Centre for Jewish Knowledge and Heritage was created in 2005 as an entity of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. It included the Ontario Jewish Archives, the Holocaust Centre, the Latner Library, Jewish Information Service of Greater Toronto, and the Jewish media and pedagogic libraries. The Latner Centre then became the Centre for Jewish Knowledge and Heritage and eventually disbanded in 2008.
Use Conditions
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director (and whomever else) prior to accessing the records.
Descriptive Notes
Use condition note: Records of UJA Federation are closed for 10 years from date of creation.
Subjects
Nonprofit organizations
Philanthropy and fundraising
Name Access
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Jackson, Susan
Source
Archival Accessions
Name
Lillian Beube
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
1972
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Lillian Beube
Number
OH 27
Subject
Nonprofit organizations
Interview Date
1972
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Morris Silbert
AccessionNumber
1978-2-2
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Notes
Second side inaudible
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.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Beube, LIllian
Silbert, Morris
Geographic Access
Hamilton (Ont.)
Toronto (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Montague Raisman
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
11 Jul. 1982
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Montague Raisman
Number
OH 64
Subject
Nonprofit organizations
Human rights
Antisemitism
World War, 1939-1945
Zionism
Interview Date
11 Jul. 1982
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Jack Lipinsky
Total Running Time
39:42 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Notes
Low sound volume
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Montague Raisman came to Canada from England in 1926. He was actively involved in B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge and held positions of office. He served as the commanding officer for the B'nai Brith Air Cadet Squadron in Toronto during the Second World War. He was instrumental in the formation of the Joint Public Relations Committee, a united Jewish voice in response to pro-Nazi activity.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Raisman, Montague
B'nai Brith
Lipinsky, Jack
Canadian Jewish Congress
Geographic Access
Toronto
Calgary (Alta.)
Montréal (Québec)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 64 - Raisman\OH64_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Montague describes the formation of the B'nai Brith Air Cadet Squadron during the Second World War. He discusses the recruitment and training of the officers and cadets. He explains how this squadron was instrumental in changing recruitment qualifications to allow entry of new immigrants and Black cadets.

In this clip, Montague Raisman discusses the events leading up to an association between B

Name
Rabbi Dr. David Monson
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
1 Dec. 1982
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Rabbi Dr. David Monson
Number
OH 70
Subject
World War, 1939-1945
Religion
Interview Date
1 Dec. 1982
Quantity
1
Interviewer
(not stated, likely Jack Lipinsky)
Total Running Time
OH70_001: 27 minutes OH70_002: 11 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Rabbi David Monson came to Toronto from Ottawa in June 1939 to serve as the rabbi of the Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue. He served on the board of the Brusnswick Talmud Torah. He was a member of B'nai Zion and B'nai Brith and was the long-serving rabbi of Beth Shalom.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Monson, David
Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
Lipinsky, Jack
Geographic Access
Toronto
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 70 - Monson\OH70_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 70 - Monson\OH70_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Rabbi Monson discusses his early positive working relationships with rabbis within the Toronto Jewish community and explains how sectionalization became a post-war phenomenon.

In this clip, Rabbi Monson discusses the role and responsibilities of the Canadian Jewish Congress in Toronto from 1939 to 1948.

Name
Barney and Tillie Nosov
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
22 Sep. 1975
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Barney and Tillie Nosov
Number
OH 11
Subject
Families
Religion
Interview Date
22 Sep. 1975
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Fred Schaeffer
Total Running Time
side 1: 43:39 minutes
side 2: 43:36 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Notes
Most of the interview is conducted with Barney Nosov. Wilfred Kideckel is also featured on the tape, and Tillie Nosov is interviewed briefly.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.
Biography
Barney Nosov arrived in Canada in 1916. Nosov lived in Ansonville, Ontario. He was a merchant, owned a store, and was also in politics for many years.
Wilfred Kideckel was born in Kreugerdorf on a farm in 1917. His father was one of the first immigrants to the area. Kideckel had ten people in his family. He moved to Ansonville and got married. Kideckel moved to Toronto in 1942.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Nosov, Barney
Nosov, Tillie
Kideckel, Wilfred
Geographic Access
Ansonville (Ont.)
Cobalt (Ont.)
Cochrane (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 11 - Nosov\OH11_Transcript.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Tobie Taback
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
23 Feb. 1983
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Tobie Taback
Number
OH 136
Subject
Immigrants--Canada
Nonprofit organizations
Interview Date
23 Feb. 1983
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Jack Lipinsky
Total Running Time
34 minutes 58 secons
Conservation
Copied November 2006
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Tobie Taback was the long-time secretary for the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society in Toronto. She retired in 1982.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (Toronto, Ont.)
Taback, Tobie
Lipinsky, Jack
Geographic Access
Toronto
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Tobie Taback discusses the helplessness faced by the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society in bringing immigrants out of Europe during the period of Canada's strict no immigration policy.

In this clip, Tobie Taback discusses the activities of Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) employees during the years 1937–1939, the obstacles they faced vis-à-vis immigrant applications and the "parcels to Russia and Poland" aid program run by JIAS.

Name
Jack Shindman
Material Format
sound recording
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Jack Shindman
Number
OH 138
OH 139
Subject
Immigrants--Canada
Nonprofit organizations
High Holidays
Immigrants--Canada
Quantity
4 audio cassettes (2 copies)
4 WAV files
Interviewer
Danny Drutz
AccessionNumber
1983-1-10
Total Running Time
1:30 minutes
Conservation
OH 139 Copied August 2003
OH 138 digitized in 2016
Notes
Related material note: Accession 1983-1-10 includes typed, unpublished manuscript of Jack Shindman's memoir.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Jack Shindman was born in Rovno, Ukraine and immigrated to Toronto in 1923. Shindman worked in a junkyard and advanced to millinery work, becoming executive of his union. After purchasing property at 150 Avenue Road, he opened a laundry business on the ground floor and lived with his family on the top floor. Shindman formed the Obecz-Valin Farein of Toronto, an association for landsleit of his hometown and worked for HIAS/JIAS helping immigrants procure immigration documents.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Greene, Lorne, 1915-1987
Geographic Access
Rovno, Ukraine
Toronto, Ont.
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
OH138 Side One 00:00: Jack explains the complicated, drawn-out process of arranging immigration to Canada. 00:14: Jack explains that his future father-in-law had a brother, Abe, and his wife, Molly, who could help with immigration. 1:33: Jack explains how steamship tickets were procured from his future mother-in-law and her three daughters but not for him and his three sisters due to insufficient funds. 3:15: Jack explains that he continued to work with HIAS/JIAS to help immigrants procure documents before departure in Rovno. His older sister worked as a dressmaker. 4:38: Jack discusses the proposal and wedding to his wife Raizel. Jack describes how he took his mother-in-law and sisters-in-law to Warsaw before their departure to Canada. Jack returns to Rovno. 7:42: Jack discusses the agreement he made with his mother-in-law about joining them in Canada. The family in Canada sent a letter promising to send four tickets. 9:42: Jack discusses the circumstances surrounding the birth of their son. 10:11: Jack discusses various legal obstacles that prevented them from immigrating to Canada. 13:53: Jack explains how he and his family were able to secure a special permit procured by Mrs. Dworkin, a steamship agent. Jack, his wife, his son, and his three sisters arrived in Toronto in April 1923. OH138 Side Two 00:00: Jack explains that the Polish regulations limited the amount of time Russians were permitted to remain in Poland if they were waiting to travel abroad. He explains how he deceptively was able to obtain Polish passports for himself, his wife, and his sisters to enable them to remain in Poland for a longer time. 3:58: Jack discusses his efforts at finding work. 5:56: Jack relates an incident involving his youngest sister getting burned from boiling water while taking a bath. He discusses the exemplary care provided by a doctor, Dave (?)Perlman. 8:32: Jack discusses how he was able to find work at his uncle’s junk yard in the Junction. He worked with Joe Tenenbaum. 9:51: Jack describes a flat the family lived in on Stephanie Street. 11:01: Jack discusses his struggle trying to find a job. He explains how he was quickly able to advance while working in a millinery job. 14:58: Jack explains how he became an executive of his union. He was advised by Joe Salsberg to request higher wages. OH139 Side One 00:00: Jack explains that his sisters and sister-in-law got married. 1:37: Jack discusses Benny’s bar mitzvah. 2:28: Jack discusses forming the Obecz- Valin Farein, an association for lantsleit (people from his home town) to send parcels to help people back in Russia from 1934–1939. The organization existed until 1968. 4:54: Jack bought a building at 150 Avenue Road. The family lived upstairs with a laundry on the main floor. 5:53: Jack discusses the dissolution of the organization. 7:00: Jack explains how he purchased a building at 150 Avenue Road and the neighbouring building at 152 Avenue Road. 9:42: Jack discusses his son’s service in the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War. 13:19: Jack discusses his attempt to purchase a property on Davenport Road that could be used as a laundry business for his son. OH139 Side Two 00:48: Jack explains that Benny opted to go to university after the war rather than go into his father’s business. 1:57: Jack discusses building a house. 3:02: Jack discusses Jack’s girlfriend who later became his wife. He discusses the wedding at Shaarei Shomayim. 7:16: Jack explains how his son, Benny, and his daughter Adele’s husband, Don, started to work in Jack’s businesses in1952/53. Danny Drutz explains the careers of Don and Benny. 10:34:Danny Drutz discusses Edith’s education and completing a degree at Queen’s University and a course in Lorne Green’s school for acting. 11:10: Danny Drutz discusses Edith’s life course: her work, her engagement and marriage to (?) Lennie Hauser, and her move to London. 13:02: Danny Drutz discusses Lennie’s work with the Department of External Affairs of Canada in diplomatic service. 14:20: Danny Drutz discusses Edith’s work with Information Canada.
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Max Enkin
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
13 Apr. 1986
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Max Enkin
Number
OH 113
OH 114
Subject
Antisemitism
Immigrants--Canada
Labor unions
Nonprofit organizations
Occupations
Refugees--Canada
Interview Date
13 Apr. 1986
Quantity
2
Interviewer
Phyllis Platnick
Total Running Time
OH113: 19:40 minuets
OH114:
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Digitized 11/28/2011
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Max Enkin was founder and a leading member of the Jewish Vocational Service of Toronto. The original purpose of the organization was to help survivors of the Second World War find employment. In 1947, as associate administrator and representative for the men's clothing sector in Ontario, Max Enkin became involved in the Tailor Project. The project was designed to identify and select skilled tailors from the displaced persons camps of Europe and help to settle them in Canada.
Max Enkin was awarded the Order of the British Empire in recognition of services to the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Enkin, Max
Platnick, Phyllis
Geographic Access
Toronto
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 113, OH 114 - Enkin\OH113_001_Log.docx
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Max Enkin discusses the organizations, government departments, and union representatives involved in the development and implementation of the Tailor Project.

In this clip, Max Enkin discusses the Liberal government

Name
Morris Silbert
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
1986
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Morris Silbert
Number
OH 123
OH 124
Subject
Agriculture
Immigrants--Canada
Nonprofit organizations
Communities
Interview Date
1986
Quantity
2
Interviewer
Brooky Robins
Total Running Time
OH123_001: 30 minutes OH123_002: 31 minutes OH124_001: 46 minutes OH124_002: 44 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Morris Silbert was born in 1912 on a farm outside of Hamilton. His parents came from Lithuania. His father arrived in Canada in 1905, and his mother and three older siblings joined him in 1906. Morris spent his youth growing up on farms. At the age of sixteen in 1928, he and his family moved to Hamilton. In his youth, Morris was involved in several Jewish organizations, including Young Judaea, AZA, and Hashomer Hatzair. He was married in 1938. He served in the army in 1943 during the Second World War. Morris was the second vice president of the Council of Jewish Organizations. He also served on the executive board as chair of the nursery school board and participated in several committees.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Silbert, Morris
Robins, Brooky
Geographic Access
Hamilton
Wentworth
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH123_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH123_002_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH124_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH124_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Morris Silbert shares memories about Jewish peddlers who were welcomed on his family's farm in southern Ontario. He includes names of peddlers with descriptions of their wares and their carts.

In this clip, Morris Silbert shares memories about Jewish peddlers who were welcomed on his family

In this clip, Morris Silbert describes the restructuring of the Hamilton Jewish community as a result of the Depression in the 1930s. He explains how the Council of Jewish Organizations was formed to replace United Hebrew Association.

Name
Edna Jacobs
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
Dec. 1985, Mar. 1986
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Edna Jacobs
Number
OH 125
Subject
Families
Travel
Education
Occupations
Antisemitism
Girl Guides
Religion
Volunteers
Interview Date
Dec. 1985, Mar. 1986
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Nancy Draper
Total Running Time
Side 1: 36 minutes Side 2: 46 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Edna Jacobs (née Frankel) was born on 20 March 1904 in Toronto. Her parents, Sigmund and Paula Frankel, were early immigrants from Germany. Edna attended Havergal from kindergarten through high school. She studied general arts for two years at the University of Toronto. She married Arthur Jacobs, the son of Rabbi Solomon Jacobs, in 1936. Together, they had one daughter, Patsy, and a baby who died during infancy. Edna was involved with the Girls Club and the Junior Council of Jewish Women.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Toronto Girl's Club
Toronto Council of Jewish Women
Geographic Access
Toronto
Germany
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 125 - Jacobs\OH125_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 125 - Jacobs\OH125_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Edna Jacobs shares memories from a trip she and her family took to Biblis, Germany to celebrate her grandparents’ golden anniversary.

In this clip, Edna Jacobs reminisces about several prominent Toronto Jewish families.

Name
Dr. Esther Volpe and Ida Siegel
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
4 Jan. 1971
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Dr. Esther Volpe and Ida Siegel
Number
OH 161
OH 162
Subject
Immigrants--Canada
Families
Nonprofit organizations
Interview Date
4 Jan. 1971
Quantity
2
Interviewer
Eva Kayfetz and Stephen Spiesman
Total Running Time
OH161 Side 1: 47 minutes OH161 Side 2: 47 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Notes
Toronto Historical Society lecture
Use Restrictions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Esther Volpe (née Shulman) was born on 24 February circa 1898. As a child, she and her family briefly lived in Romington, Ontario and Havlock, Ontario. Her family later settled in Toronto. In her youth, she participated in the Herzl Girls' Club. She attended University of Toroonto in the Faculty of Arts. She married Dr. Aaron Volpe in 1921. Esther was involved in several Jewish organizations, including the old Mount Sinai Medical Auxillary, Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, UJA Appeal, JIAS and BBYO and non-Jewish organizations, including Toronto Local Council of Women. She represented the Jewish community of Toronto on the Wartime Price and Trade Board and helped organize the Ontario Food Council.
Ida Siegel (née Lewis) (1885–1982) was born on 14 February 1885 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1894, Ida and her family moved to Toronto. On 14 February 1905, Ida married Isidore Hirsch Siegel. They had six children. An extremely active communal leader, Ida helped found Daughters of Zion in 1899, the Herzl Girls Club in 1904 and Hadassah in 1916. In the mid-1920s, Ida established the Mothers' and Babes' Rest Home,a camp for poor women with young children. She helped organize the first free Jewish dispensary in Toronto, which eventually developed into Mount Sinai Hospital. Ida was also very active in womens peace movements, the Toronto Board of Education and the Toronto Bureau (elected to board, 1930-36) of Jewish Education. In 1917, Ida helped to organize Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, which later became the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Volpe, Esther
Siegel, Ida
Kayfetz, Eva
Speisman, Stephen
Hadassah-WIZO
National Council of Jewish Women
Geographic Access
Toronto
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Source
Oral Histories

In 1947, Esther Volpe was elected president of the National Council of Jewish Women. In this clip, Esther discusses how, with the support of the United Welfare Fund, the Canadian Jewish Congress, and JIAS, she helped make arrangements for groups of Jewish refugees who settled in Toronto.

In this clip, Esther Volpe explains her involvement in the creation of the Good Age Club, the first recreational program for Jewish seniors.

In this clip, Ida Siegel relates anecdotes from her childhood growing up in downtown Toronto.

Name
Ben Kayfetz
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
4 Mar. 1984
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Ben Kayfetz
Number
OH 210
Subject
Antisemitism
Human rights
Law
Nonprofit organizations
Interview Date
4 Mar. 1984
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Phyllis Platnick
Total Running Time
46 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Notes
Christie Pits riot at approximately minute 16:00
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Benjamin "Ben" Gershon Kayfetz was born on 24 December 1916 in Toronto. He married Eva Silver and had two children. Ben graduated from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a bachelor of arts in modern languages. He worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville, Ontario and Niagara Falls, Ontario between 1941 and 1943. 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. He worked 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. He was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1985 and 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. He also gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues and was actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), the Canadian Jewish Historical Society, and the Yiddish Luncheon Circle. He died in 2002.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Balmy Beach Swastika Club
Canadian Jewish Congress
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Geographic Access
Toronto
Kew Beach
Christie Pits
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\AC 210, Ben Kayfetz\AC 210 notes.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Ben Kayfetz describes the skirmish between antisemitic and Jewish youths at Kew Beach in July 1933.

In this clip, Ben Kayfetz discusses the laws that restricted “Jews or other objectionable races” from purchasing, owning, or renting properties in Toronto and summer resort areas. He describes the steps taken to change the law.

Name
Mel Lastman
Material Format
moving images
Interview Date
1 Jun. 2006
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Mel Lastman
Number
OH 290
Subject
Religion
Families
Interview Date
1 Jun. 2006
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Ellen Scheinberg
Total Running Time
60 min.
Conservation
Copied November 2006
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Melvin Douglas Lastman was born in Toronto on 9 March 1933, the son of Rose and Louis Lastman. Raised in the Kensington Market area, he attended Ryerson Public School and Central High School of Commerce, where he was president of the school council. Lastman left high school to work at an appliance store and, in 1955, opened his own appliance store. By the late 1960s, he owned a chain of forty stores, Bad Boy Appliances, throughout Ontario. Lastman lived in North York and, in 1969, ran successfully for the North York Board of Control. In the 1972 municipal election, he was elected as mayor of North York, a position he held for twenty-five years until North York became part of the newly created City of Toronto on 1 January 1998. With the provincially-mandated creation of the new City of Toronto by the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto and the six local municipalities, Lastman decided to run for mayor against the other major contender, former City of Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. He won the 1997 election and was sworn in on 1 January 1998. Lastman was easily re-elected in the 2000 mayoralty election; however, in February 2003, Lastman announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the November municipal election.
In 1953, Mel Lastman married Marilyn Bornstein. They have two married sons and six grandchildren.
Material Format
moving images
Name Access
Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Lastman, Mel
Scheinberg, Ellen
Geographic Access
Toronto
Kensington Market
Original Format
Digital videocassette
Copy Format
DVD
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman remembers playing as a child at the Minsk Shul in Kensington Market.

Name
Michele Landsberg
Material Format
moving images
Interview Date
Aug. 2006
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Michele Landsberg
Number
OH 294
Subject
Religion
Families
Buildings
Interview Date
Aug. 2006
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Ellen Scheinberg and Aviva Heller
Total Running Time
60 min.
Conservation
Copied November 2006
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
An award-winning columnist, staunch feminist, and tireless activist for social justice and progressive causes at home and abroad, Michele Landsberg was a well-known and prominent Torontonian during the mid-to-late twentieth century. According to a biography posted by the University of Windsor where Landsberg was a distinguished visitor in women's studies in October 2003, her "zest for wanting to change the world has its roots in her childhood: growing up as a Jewish girl in 1950s Toronto, where sexual stereotyping and objectification were rampant and overt antisemitism was acceptable." As a result, Ms. Landsberg tackled a wide-range of related issues, often grounding her columns in events, places, and issues of particular interest to Torontonians.
Born on 12 July 1939, Ms. Landsberg attended Toronto public schools, spent time on a kibbutz in Israel, and graduated from the University of Toronto with honors in English language and literature in 1962. She was dissuaded from pursuing a master's degree by her male professors and instead became a reporter at the Globe and Mail newspaper and launched a remarkable career as a journalist and writer. In addition to freelance and full-time stints with the Globe and Mail (1962–1965; 1985–1988), Chatelaine magazine (1965–1971), and the Toronto Star (1978–1983; 1989–2003), Ms. Landsberg frequently appeared on television and radio and wrote three best-selling books. She garnered awards, including the first National Newspaper Award for column-writing, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, and the 2002 Governor-General's Award in Commemoration of the 1929 Persons Case, and received honourary degrees from several Canadian universities. She also served on the boards of many community organizations, such as CARAL (Canadian Abortion Rights League) and Opportunity for Advancement.
After her retirement from the Toronto Star in 2003, Ms. Landsberg planned to pursue other writing projects and to spend more time at home in her garden and with her family: husband Stephen Lewis, three grown children, and two grandchildren. In September 2005, she was acclaimed as the new Chair of the Women's College Hospital Board when the Hospital ended its partnership with Sunnybrook Hospital.
Material Format
moving images
Name Access
Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Landsberg, Michele
Scheinberg, Ellen
Heller, Aviva
Geographic Access
Toronto
Original Format
Digital videocassette
Copy Format
DVD
Source
Oral Histories

Canadian author and journalist Michele Landsberg provides recollections of attending the Minsk Synagogue with her grandfather in the 1940s.

Level
Item
ID
Item 892
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
892
Material Format
graphic material
Responsibility
Duke Studios
Date
1976
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
This item is an original print of the former site of the M. & S. Fruit Company, owned by Sam Speigelman, which operated for thirty years on Kirkland Lake.
Name Access
Speigelman, Sam
Subjects
Building
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
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Dora Till fonds
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary series
Events sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 52; Series 2-5; File 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Dora Till fonds
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary series
Events sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
52
Series
2-5
File
8
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
object
Date
30 June 1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
1 object
Subjects
Building
Hospitals
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Dora Till fonds
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary series
Events sub-series
New Baycrest Hospital groundbreaking file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 52; Series 2-5; File 8; Item 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Dora Till fonds
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary series
Events sub-series
New Baycrest Hospital groundbreaking file
Level
Item
Fonds
52
Series
2-5
File
8
Item
2
Material Format
graphic material
Date
30 June 1983
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of Dora Till with Abe Posluns and an unidentified woman at the groundbreaking for the New Baycrest Hospital. All three are holding gold ceremonial shovels in the ground. Pictured on the far left is Sid Cooper.
Subjects
Building
Hospitals
Repro Restriction
Copyright is not 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 Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 61; Series 1-1; File 52
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
61
Series
1-1
File
52
Material Format
textual record
Date
1975
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Admin History/Bio
The cultural and education wing of the northern branch of the YM-YWHA was supposed to be built as part of the original northern branch, opened in 1961. However, lack of funds caused the wing to be put on hold until the 1970 completion program began. The addition of the cultural and educational wing of the northern branch included the Koffler Centre for the Arts, the Leah Posluns Theatre and improved physical education facilities.
Scope and Content
This file contains two groundbreaking ceremony program booklets from 20 April 1975.
Subjects
Building
Accession Number
2004-5-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 61; Series 1-1; File 110
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Subject files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
61
Series
1-1
File
110
Material Format
textual record
Date
1958
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
This file contains textual material documenting the groundbreaking ceremonies of the northern branch YM-YWHA on Bathurst Street. The records include invitations, community and executive correspondence, invite lists and ceremony itineraries.
Subjects
Building
Accession Number
2004-5-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Religious services series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 14; Series 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Religious services series
Level
Series
Fonds
14
Series
8
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1959-1996
Physical Description
3 folders of textual records
45 photographs
Scope and Content
Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the Baycrest Centre's religious services. Included are meeting minutes, a report, bulletins, a service schedule, and photographs.
Subjects
Religion
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Events series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 14; Series 11; File 15
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Events series
Level
File
Fonds
14
Series
11
File
15
Material Format
textual record
Date
30 June 1983
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
file consists of an invitation.
Subjects
Building
Hospitals
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Events series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 14; Series 11; File 17
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Events series
Level
File
Fonds
14
Series
11
File
17
Material Format
textual record
object
Date
28 Aug. 1997
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
1 key chain : blue and gold ; 3 x 8 cm in box 2 x 17 x 2 cm
1 pen : blue and gold ; 14 cm long in box 2 x 17 x 2 cm
Scope and Content
file consists of an invitation, programme, agenda, and a commemorative key chain and pen. The key chain and pen are stored together in the same box.
Subjects
Building
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Heritage series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 10
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Heritage series
Level
Series
Fonds
4
Series
10
Material Format
multiple media
Date
[1967?]-1993
Physical Description
34 cm of textual records and other material
Admin History/Bio
Sol Edell was active in the collection, preservation and exhibition of historical material relating to the history of Canadian Jewry. He was one of the founders and Chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region / Toronto Jewish Congress Archives (later the Ontario Jewish Archives). Among his achievements were the restoration of the Kiever Synagogue and organizing the showing of the exhibit Journey into Our Heritage. In addition, he was a financial supporter of the Baycrest Museum, the Jewish Historical Society of Canada and a member of the Toronto Jewish Historical Society.
Scope and Content
Series consists of records documenting Sol Edell's heritage related activities, particularly his involvement with the Ontario Jewish Archives. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, financial and legal records, photographs, flyers, press releases, brochures, administrative records, reports, lists, notes, sound records, architectural drawings, exhibit material, grant applications, invitations, and programmes.
Notes
Physical description note: includes 10 photographs, 3 audio cassettes, and 5 architectural drawings.
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region / Toronto Jewish Congress Archives
Toronto Jewish Historical Society
Historical Society of Western Canada
Baycrest Heritage Museum
Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Journey into Our Heritage
Subjects
Architecture
Nonprofit organizations
Synagogues
Access Restriction
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
General community activities series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 11
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
General community activities series
Level
Series
Fonds
4
Series
11
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1950-2010
Physical Description
77 cm of textual records and other material
Admin History/Bio
In addition to his ongoing involvement with Clanton Park, the Canadian Jewish Congress Archives, the Aliyah Support Group, Jones Avenue Cemetery, Shomrai Shabbos and Adas Israel, Sol Edell undertook special projects on behalf of a wide array of Jewish organizations. These include cultural (Toronto Cantorial Scholarship Fund), educational (Netivot Hatorah and Yeshivat Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot), religious (Union of Jewish Orthodox Congregations), social welfare (Association of Jewish Seniors and Co-Ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly) and Zionist (Canadian Friends of Yeshivat Hakotel and State of Israel Bonds) organizations.
Scope and Content
Series consists of records documenting Sol Edell's involvement with a wide variety of Jewish educational, social and religious organizations and institutions in Canada, the United States, and Israel. Included are meeting minutes, publications, reports, photographs, correspondence, invitations, programmes, financial records, an architectural drawing, and a sound recording. While many of these organizations such as Eitz Chaim, Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot (educational), Mizrachi Organization of Canada, Emunah Women (Zionist) and Beth Jacob V’Anshe Drildz (synagogue) are orthodox, others such as Associated Hebrew Day Schools (educational), State of Israel Bonds (Zionist) and Co-ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly (social welfare) have no religious affiliation.
Notes
Physical description note: includes 26 photographs, 1 audio cassette, and 1 architectural drawing.
Name Access
Eitz Chaim
Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot
Mizrachi Men’s Organization
Emunah Women
Beth Jacob V'Anshei Drildz (Toronto, Ont.)
Associated Hebrew Day Schools
State of Israel Bonds
Co-ordinated Services to the Jewish Elderly
Camp Moshava
Harbord Collegiate
Netivot Hatorah
Union of Jewish Orthodox Congregations
B'Nei Akiva
Toronto Committee for Bikur Cholim Hospital
Subjects
Charities
Children
Education
Fund raising
Older people
Religion
Zionism
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Hoffman family fonds
Personal series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 6; Series 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Hoffman family fonds
Personal series
Level
Series
Fonds
6
Series
3
Material Format
multiple media
Date
[195-]-1962
Physical Description
5 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Max and Celia Hoffman lived in Hamilton with their 2 children, Stephen and Jay. They were members of Adas Israel synagogue and the Beverley Golf and Country Club. The children attended the Hamilton Talmud Torah.
Scope and Content
Series contains correspondence and blueprints relating to the construction of the Hoffman residence. Also included are the Westlake Secondary School yearbook, the school attended by the Hoffman children and a biography of Meyer Hoffman, a relative of Max Hoffman. In addition, there is correspondence relating to the Hoffman family membership in the Beverly Golf and Country Club.
Subjects
Building
Education
Golf
Recreation
Places
Hamilton (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Charities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 1-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Charities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
4
Series
1-2
Material Format
textual record
Date
1957-1997
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Sol Edell made charitable donations to a large number of Jewish organizations mainly ones located in Canada, Israel and the United States.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of correspondence, receipts and certificates from Canadian, American and Israeli educational, religious and welfare organizations and institutions that received charitable donations from the Edell family.
Subjects
Charities
Education
Israel
Religion
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Community activities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 1-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Community activities sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
4
Series
1-3
Material Format
textual record
object
Date
1968-1995
Physical Description
3 folders of textual records
1 plaque
Admin History/Bio
Sol Edell was involved in a variety of religious, educational and cultural organizations. Not only did he make financial donations to organizations, but he also became personally involved and organized specific projects. As well, representatives of foreign institutions would stay at his home when they came to Toronto on speaking engagements or fundraising missions.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of awards that relate to Sol Edell’s fundraising efforts on behalf of “Yeshiva Hatalmid” and for hosting speakers and fundraisers who were visiting Toronto. Also included is a day book listing community meetings as well as family events. As well, there is correspondence relating to an item loaned to the Baycrest Heritage Museum, and a plaque.
Name Access
Yeshiva Hatalmid
Baycrest Heritage Museum
Subjects
Education
Fund raising
Religion
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Religious sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 1-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Personal series
Religious sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
4
Series
1-6
Material Format
textual record
Date
1962-1997
Physical Description
3 folders of textual records
Admin History/Bio
During his lifetime Sol Edell regularly attended or maintained membership in a number of different synagogues. As a child Sol Edell’s family were members of Shomrai Shabbos. After he married he became a founding member of Clanton Park. His second wife Celia was a member of Adas Israel prior to their marriage. The Edell’s also had a cottage in Belle Ewart and they attended the synagogue which the Jewish cottagers had established for the summer.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of correspondence, receipts and newspaper clippings relating to the religious activities of the Edell family. This includes dues and donations to Adas Israel, Clanton Park and Shomrai Shabbos synagogues. As well there are newspaper clippings about the synagogue in Belle Ewart. Also included are contracts for the sale of chametz for Passover.
Name Access
Shomrai Shabbos
Adas Israel Congregation (Hamilton, Ont.)
Clanton Park Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Ewart, Belle
Subjects
Religion
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Adas Israel Synagogue series
Building sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 4; Series 5-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Solomon Edell fonds
Adas Israel Synagogue series
Building sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
4
Series
5-1
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1958-1961
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records and other material
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of material relating to the construction of Adas Israel synagogue's new building at 125 Cline Ave. South. This includes publicity brochures and financial records about the building campaign and correspondence, programmes, and a film of the turning of the sod. As well there is correspondence, programmes, photographs and audio recordings of the laying of the cornerstone and dedication of the synagogue. There is also a key to the synagogue which was presented at the dedication ceremony.
Notes
Physical description note: includes 27 photographs, 14 architectural drawings, 3 audio reels, 1 film reel, and 1 key.
Name Access
Adas Israel Congregation (Hamilton, Ont.)
Subjects
Building
Synagogues
Source
Archival Descriptions