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Lawrence Kert [textual record] – 1917-1919.

Accession Number: 1993-3-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1993-3-1

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1917-1919

Scope and Content: Accession consists of original and copies of documents and newspaper clippings pertaining to Lawrence Kert's service as a pilot during the First World War. Included are his graduation certificate from the Royal Flying Corps, his flight log, documents, and press clippings concerning his capture by the Germans.

Administrative History: Lawrence Kert left the University of Toronto to enlist in the 228th Battalion in 1915, and was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1917. He was listed as missing, but was actually a prisoner of war. He survived and returned to Canada.

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; World War, 1914-1918

Name Access: Kert, Lawrence

Source: Archival Accessions

First World War photographs (Jack Aarons) and Murray House (Catering), Toronto [graphic material] – 1915-[ca. 1966].

Accession Number: 2004-5-54

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2004-5-54

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 23 photographs : b&w (11 negatives) 13 x 18 cm or smaller

Date: 1915-[ca. 1966]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of copy photographs documenting the military career of Jack Aarons in England, Egypt, and Palestine during the First World War and at military parades in Toronto after the Second World War. There is also a photograph of the inerior of the Murray House catering kitchen on Steeles Avenue about 1966.

Subjects: World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1939-1945

Places: Egypt; England; Palestine

Source: Archival Accessions

Alexander Dorenman [textual record] – 1977.

Accession Number: 1979-9-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1979-9-4

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1977

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one invitation to a YMHA youth Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony, one Lubavitch Youth Organization flyer, and one Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry worldwide solidarity flyer.

Subjects: Habad; Hanukkah; Human rights; Youth

Name Access: Dorenman, Alexander; Young Men's Hebrew Association (Toronto, Ont.); Toronto Committee for Soviet Jewry; Lubavitch Youth Organization

Source: Archival Accessions

David Hart [graphic material (electronic)] – [ca. 1914]-1942.

Accession Number: 2008-1-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2008-1-7

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 5 photographs : b&w and sepia (tiff)

Date: [ca. 1914]-1942

Scope and Content: This accession consists of five scanned photographs of David Hart and his father Alfred E. Hart in military dress. Three of the photographs feature Alfred during the First World War in an army uniform and one photograph features Alfred in his uniform standing with David in a naval dress on the street in Toronto. The final photograph is of a victory parade on Yonge Street after the First World War (original source: the City of Toronto Archives, fonds 1568, Item 314). The photograph features Brodey Draimin Fur Co. in the background and was originally published in the Toronto Star.

Administrative History: Alfred E. Hart was in the Canadian infantry during the First World War and fought in four major battles. He was the owner of the Brodey Draimin Fur Company, located on Yonge Street in Toronto. His son, David, was in the Naval Home Guard, Royal Regiment, during the Second World War.

Use Conditions: Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Descriptive Notes: Related material note: see oral history 375 for David Hart's account of his wartime experiences.

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1939-1945

Name Access: Hart, David; Hart, Alfred E.

Source: Archival Accessions

Cheder Hanukkah party (Brantford, ON) [graphic material] – [ca. 1959].

Level: Item

ID: Item 1133

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 1133

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1959]

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a group of cheder students from Beth David Synagogue in Brantford, Ontario, lighting the Hanukkah candles, while their rabbi looks on.; Pictured in rear are Rabbi Jerry Pruzansky and Mrs. Sybil Pruzansky. Pictured left to right are Neil Spiegal, Ian Gotlieb, Howard Rotberg, Marlene Cohen, Bobby Willinsky, Helene Raimer, Jeffrey Kanter, Andy Brown and Martin Abeles.

Notes: Acquired on June 28, 1976.

Name Access: Beth David Synagogue (Brantford, Ont.)

Subjects: Hanukkah; Heder; Parties

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

Places: Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number: 1976-6-5

Source: Archival Descriptions

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

Beth Jacob High School during Chanukah at Murray House [graphic material] – [ca. 1966].

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3; File 3

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3

File: 3

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1966]

Physical Description: 6 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images of Beth Jacob High School staff, teachers, and students during Hanukkah celebrations at Murray House.

Subjects: Hanukkah

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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Jewish Home for the Aged, Women's Auxiliary Chanukah banquet [graphic material] – 11 Dec. 1969.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Jewish Home for the Aged sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3-4; File 37

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Jewish Home for the Aged sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3-4

File: 37

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 11 Dec. 1969

Physical Description: 11 negatives : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images of the Jewish Home for the Aged Women's Auxiliary at a Hanukkah banquet. The images depict women speaking at the podium, crowd shots, the musical entertainment, and several images of craft and sale tables.

Subjects: Dinners and dining; Hanukkah

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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Israel Histadrut Chanukah dinner [graphic material] – 17 Dec. 1960.

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Israel Histadrut of Toronto sub-series

Level: File

ID: Fonds 18; Series 3-2; File 5

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Gordon Mendly fonds; Events and organizations series; Israel Histadrut of Toronto sub-series

Level: File

Fonds: 18

Series: 3-2

File: 5

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 17 Dec. 1960

Physical Description: 5 negatives : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: File consists of images taken at an Israel Histadrut Hanukkah dinner, held at 14 Viewmount Avenue in Toronto. The images depict images of invited guests and the executive seated at banquet tables, speakers at the podium, and an image of the Bill Berle Orchestra and Floor Show, which was the evening's musical entertainment.

Subjects: Dinners and dining; Hanukkah

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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Hanukkah party, Kirkland Lake, Ontario [graphic material] – [195-].

Level: Item

ID: Item 814

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 814

Material Format: graphic material

Responsibility: Duke Studio

Date: [195-]

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 12 cm

Admin History/Bio: Mervyn Ross was the son of the station agent in Swastika, Ontario.

Scope and Content: This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a Hanukkah celebration at the Adath Israel Synagogue in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Pictured is a group of children standing around Mervyn Ross who is lighting the menorah.

Name Access: Adath Israel Synagogue (Kirkland Lake, Ont.); Ross, Mervyn

Subjects: Children; Hanukkah; Parties

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

Dora Till lighting the menorah at the Women's Auxiliary's Chanukah meeting [graphic material] – [ca. 1968].

Part Of: Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds; Women's Auxiliary series; Annual meetings sub-series; Chanukah meeting file

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 14; Series 4-2; File 54; Item 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds; Women's Auxiliary series; Annual meetings sub-series; Chanukah meeting file

Level: Item

Fonds: 14

Series: 4-2

File: 54

Item: 1

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [ca. 1968]

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm

Notes: Photograph is by Gordon Mendly Famous Studio.

Name Access: Till, Dora, 1896-1987

Subjects: Candles and lights (Judaism); Hanukkah

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

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Volunteer Sam Cohen reciting prayers over Hanukkah candles [graphic material] – 1972.

Part Of: Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds; Women's Auxiliary series; Festival Committee sub-series; Chanukah luncheon, photographs file

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 14; Series 4-5; File 13; Item 2

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds; Women's Auxiliary series; Festival Committee sub-series; Chanukah luncheon, photographs file

Level: Item

Fonds: 14

Series: 4-5

File: 13

Item: 2

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1972

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content: Also identified is Sam Cohen's daughter, Gertrude Zack.

Notes: Photographer unknown.

Subjects: Hanukkah

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

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Chanukah [textual record] – 1983-1990.

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

Level: File

ID: Fonds 48; Series 4; File 67

Source: Archival Descriptions

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

Level: File

Fonds: 48

Series: 4

File: 67

Material Format: textual record

Date: 1983-1990

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Subjects: Hanukkah

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Canadian Jewish War Memorial Book of Remembrance (2004) [textual record]

Accession Number: 2012-12-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2012-12-1

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 2 v : 36 x 29 x 5 cm and 36 x 29 x 1.5 cm

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two volumes of the Canadian Jewish War Memorial Book of Remembrance. The first of these two volumes contains lists of Jewish soldiers who served in the Canadian military during the South African war, the First and Second World Wars and Korea. It also lists current day Jewish peacekeepers. There are photos and lists of Jewish chaplains who served in the military. For each war, it lists awards, casualties, soldiers' positions and identification numbers. The second volume contains lists of American soldiers who served in the Canadian military.

Custodial History: This book was presented by the Canadian Jewish War Memorial Association to the US Consulate who subsequently donated it to the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Subjects: Korean War, 1950-1953; South African War, 1899-1902; World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1939-1945

Source: Archival Accessions

Rosenthal family [graphic material] – [ca. 1952].

Accession Number: 2013-9-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2013-9-3

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 3 photographs : b&w ; 10 x 10 cm or smaller

Date: [ca. 1952]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs documenting the Rosenthal family's activities in the Sudbury Jewish community and at Camp Biluim. Included is a copy photo of a Hanukkah celebration and an original photo of an unidentified celebration at the Cedar Street shul in Sudbury. Also included is a photograph of Rosenthal family members relaxing on a beach at the original Camp Biluim at Clear Lake.

Custodial History: Photographs were donated by Lilian Rosenthal.

Subjects: Hanukkah; Camps; Families; Outdoor recreation; Synagogues

Name Access: Camp Biluim; Rosenthal family

Places: Sudbury, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions

Samuel Berger [textual record] – 1917-1964.

Accession Number: 2015-1-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-1-1

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1917-1964

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting Samuel Berger and his family. Included is Sam's marriage certificate, wedding invitation, naturalization certificates, and pay book and discharge papers from the First World War. Also included is a copy of the birth certificate for Sam's wife, Rebecca (nee Rotenberg) and a newsclipping of the obituary for Rebecca's father, Lazar Rotenberg.

Custodial History: The records were in the possession of Goldie Berger, the daughter-in-law of Samuel Berger and wife of Leonard Berger.

Administrative History: Samuel Berger enlisted in the Canadian army in Oct. 1918. He was discharged in Dec. 1918. He married Rebecca Rotenberg in 1917.

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; World War, 1914-1918

Source: Archival Accessions

Benjamin Family [multiple media] – [ca.1890]-[ca. 1940].

Accession Number: 2015-3-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-3-6

Material Format: multiple media

Physical Description: 5 cm textual records and other material

Date: [ca.1890]-[ca. 1940]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of personal records of Hyman (Ben) Benjamin, and records documenting Arthur Benjamin's military service. Records include ca. 30 photographs of three generations of the Benjamin family, Rosh Hashanah greeting cards, Hyman Benjamin's birth certificate and first aid certificate. Records also include correspondence between several branches of the Canadian government and Arthur's mother, Annie, regarding the circumstances of Arthur's death; his grave site and his army pension.

Custodial History: The records were donated to the Archives by Nancy Rose, daughter of the great-nephew of Hyman (Ben) Benjamin.

Administrative History: Hyman "Ben" Benjamin (ca. 1884-1969) was born in Leeds, England to Lazuras and Annie Benjamin. He married Hilda (Holds) Benjamin, and they immigrated to Canada in 1911. He worked as a car mechanic. They had two daughters, Laura (b. 1911) and Florence (b. 1912).; Arthur "Abraham" Benjamin (ca. 1882-1917) was Hyman Benjamin's brother. He immigrated to Toronto from Leeds some time after 1911 and worked with Hyman as a car cleaner. He joined the 198th Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1916, and was killed in the First World War.

Use Conditions: Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Subjects: Canada--Armed Forces; World War, 1914-1918

Name Access: Benjamin, Arthur, 1882-1917; Benjamin, Hyman, 1884-1969

Source: Archival Accessions

Marsha Slavens [graphic material (electronic)] – 2000.

Accession Number: 2017-4-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2017-4-3

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. (tiff)

Date: 2000

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one digital scan of Marsha Slavens standing next to the grave of her relative, fallen soldier Private Archie Walter in Pas de Calais, France.; Photo Caption: Marsha Slavens at the graveside of her great uncle Private Archie Walters of Hamilton, Ontario, Bois-Carre British Cemetery, (Pas de Calais, France), 2000.

Administrative History: Archie Walters (1892-1917) was a Private in the Canadian Infantry, Royal Canadian Regiment and volunteered to serve in the First World War. He died on the first day of the battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917 and is buried at the Bois-Care British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, Plot V1.B.3. Born in Volkovitisc, Russia, at the time of his death he was 24 years of age. His father, Max Walter, is noted as his next of kin and lived at 68 Wellington St. Hamilton, Ontario.