Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Pamphlets series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 51; File 312
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Pamphlets series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
51
File
312
Material Format
textual record
Date
1947
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of pamphlets published by Canadian Jewish War Veterans containing articles related to the world war and to Palestine.
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945
Palestine--History--Partition, 1947
Places
Palestine
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 6032
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
6032
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[193-]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Scope and Content
For identification, see accession record.
Perhaps Geverkshaften.
Includes: Abe Freeman, Max Manson, Nachman Lovinsky, A. Rhinewine; H.M.Kirshenbaum; Dr. Sam Hurwich; Israel Freeman; I.J. Weinrob; Louis Coldoff; Yisroel Meriminski of Israel; Sonya and Joseph Marin.
Notes
Photo by M. Schlachter, Modern Studio, Toronto.
Name Access
Coldoff, Louis
Freeman, Israel
Kirshenbaum, H.M.
Rhinewine, A.
Weinrob, I.J.
Subjects
Committees
Labor Zionism
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.)
Accession Number
1992-2-8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1617
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1617
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[1939 or 1940]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Notes
Photo by Modern Studio
Name Access
Farband
Independent Workers' Circle Joint Committee
Leivick, H.
Jewish Organizations
Subjects
Committees
Lectures and lecturing
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 Islands (Ont.)
Accession Number
1978-11-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4152
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4152
Material Format
graphic material
Date
21 Oct. 1943
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Notes
No location is specified.
Name Access
Grosbein, Ben
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
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
1986-10-10
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 684
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
684
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1942
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of Irving Ungerman in uniform during the Second World War.
Name Access
Ungerman, Irv
Ungerman, Irving
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
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
1976-12-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 946
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
946
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1927
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
Scope and Content
Copy photograph of Borochov Young Poale Zion Executive Committee, taken in New York, 1927. Left front, Morris Lofsky, Toronto.
Name Access
Borochow Young Poale Zion Executive Committee
Lofsky, Morris
Subjects
Committees
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
New York (N.Y.).
Accession Number
1975-12-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 537
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
537
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1943
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative); 13 x 18 cm and 4 x 5 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a copy photograph of Kiwa Torem at Camp Borden, Military W.W. II, 1943.
Name Access
Canadian Forces Base Borden (Ont.)
Torem, Kiwa
Subjects
Military bases
World War, 1939-1945
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
Ontario
Accession Number
Acquired June 22, 1975.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 538
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
538
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1943
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 4 x 5 cm)
Scope and Content
Item is a copy photograph of Kiwa Torem at Camp Borden, prior to going overseas, 1943.
Name Access
Canadian Forces Base Borden (Ont.)
Torem, Kiwa
Subjects
Military bases
World War, 1939-1945
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
Ontario
Accession Number
Acquired June 22, 1975.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 499
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
499
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[195-?]
Physical Description
1 photograph
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of the CJC Committee for Jewish Music Month in Kitchener, Ontario
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Music
Repro Restriction
Credit Kitchener-Waterloo Record
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
Kitchener (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2452
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2452
Material Format
graphic material
Date
Oct. 1962
Physical Description
2 photographs : (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Simchas Torah, 1962.
Right to left: Ben Kayfetz, Nissan Yoeli (Mapam shaliach and principal in Albert Einstein School), Israeli ambassador and wife (Prato), Moises Baldas (chairman of Co-ordinating Committee), Elizer Anonowski, [unknown], Jaime Terner.
Name Access
Anonowski, Elizer
Baldas, Moises
Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002
Terner, Jaime
Yoeli, Nissan
Subjects
Committees
Places
Havana (Cuba)
Accession Number
1980-12-13
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 424
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
424
Material Format
graphic material
Date
16 Jun. 1974
Physical Description
1 photograph
Name Access
Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
Committees
Places
Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1794
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1794
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[1975?]
Physical Description
1 photograph
Scope and Content
Sol Edell is on left.
Notes
Photograph was taken by the archives.
Name Access
Edell, Sol, 1919-2000
Mendelow, Martin
Subjects
Architects
Committees
Synagogues
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3728
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3728
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1948
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Subjects
Committees
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
Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
1985-1-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4278
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4278
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1941
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a group portrait.
Notes
For identification, see accession record.
Subjects
Portraits, Group
Women
World War, 1939-1945
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
1987-11-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4993
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4993
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1939 and 1945]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Left to right: David Hart; Alfred Hart.
Name Access
Hart, David
Hart, Alfred
Bathurst St.
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Accession Number
1989-12-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
Level
Series
Fonds
17
Series
5
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1938-1978, 1991
Physical Description
6.5 m of textual records
15 photographs
Admin History/Bio
The Joint Community Relations Committee was created in 1938 by the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region and the Toronto Lodge B’nai Brith. It was originally named the Joint Public Relations Committee and was responsible for combating antisemitism in Ontario. Public statements, by agreement, were made only by the Canadian Jewish Congress as B’nai Brith recognized the uniqueness of its national constitution. The committee was led by lay leaders from the community and a staff representative from the CJC. Shortly thereafter, similar committees were set up in Montreal and in Western Canada, and soon a National Joint Community Relations Committee was established.
The committee played a key role in achieving the early anti-discrimination act of 1944, and the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1951, leading to the Human Rights Code of today. It was prominent in the action against the spread of sectarian religious teachings in the public schools and took the lead in pressing for legislation against the dissemination of racial hatred. It acted for the preservation of religious and human rights and worked with numerous religious, fraternal and ethnic organizations in the wider community. The committee also investigated and acted upon all complaints of discrimination, antisemitism and other such incidents. They supplied Jewish and secular schools with educational materials including pamphlets and books, and conducted intercultural and inter-religious work in the community through organized lectures, seminars, institutes, and plenary sessions.
The committee was composed of equal representation from both the Canadian Jewish Congress, and the B’nai Brith. The money for the operation of the Committee was first provided by both organizations, however, in a 1947 agreement between the National CJC and B’nai Brith Canada, the parties stated that the finances for the committee would be raised in the name of the CJC, with B’nai Brith agreeing to make “token” contributions and co-operate with Congress’ fundraising campaign. As well, the professional staff and support persons for the committee, along with their salaries, came solely from the Central Region CJC.
The executive director (also referred to as the executive secretary) was the primary staff person responsible for carrying out the policy and activities of the JPRC, which included preparing press releases, liaisoning with affiliated groups, organizations, individuals, journalists, government representatives and any others wanting or needing information on issues relating to the JPRC’s work. The executive director acted as the recording secretary at all committee meetings and was the keeper of all official documents.
Around 1978, due in part to the earlier creation of the B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights in 1970, the Canadian Jewish Congress and the B’nai Brith terminated their joint relationship with the committee. At the time, the CJC felt that B’nai Brith was playing a dual role in advocacy through the League and through the JPRC. B’nai Brith, in turn, felt that the CJC was shutting out the B’nai Brith’s voice. Nevertheless, the “Joint” was not dropped from the name until around 1991.
In 2011 the Community Relations Committee ceased to exist when the CJC Ontario office was closed and the functions of the CJC were folded into the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).
Committee name changes were: Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1991-2011) Joint Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1978-ca. 1991) Joint Community Relations Committee, Central Region (1962-1978) Joint Community Relations Committee, (1938-1962)
Scope and Content
Series consists of five sub-series. Sub-series 1 contains the agendas, minutes and associated documentation supporting meetings of the Community Relations Committee. Sub-series 2 contains speeches , publications, press releases and reports presented and/or distributed by the Committee. Sub-series 3 consists of case files documenting the Committee's activities of combating specific antisemitism and Holocaust-denying activities in Canada. Extensive documentation about Ernst Zundel is included Sub-series 4 contains 9 sub-sub-series documenting various categories of research files accumulated by the Committee. Sub-series 5 contains the general office records of the Committee and includes correspondence and memos of the Executive Director and records providing insight to the internal organization and management of the Committee's internal functions.
For more details see descriptions within the scope and contents notes at the sub-series and sub-sub-series levels.
Notes
Previously processed and cited a MG8 S
Physical extent note: when originally listed in 1988, this series contained about 20.5 metres of textual records. When partial processing and reorganization had been completed in 2013, 14 metres had been culled because those documents were duplicates, newspaper clippings, created by outside agencies or maintained in other agencies.
Associated material note:Library and Archives of Canada holds the records for the National B’nai Brith which does contain 30cm of material on the National Joint Community Relations Committee. The Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives in Montreal holds the records for the National Joint Community Relations Committee, which contains some files on the Ontario Region, as they reported to the National office. The whereabouts of the B’nai Brith records pertaining to the Central Region activities are currently unknown.
Subjects
Committees
Arrangement
Because records in this series had been previously organized in a manner that proved difficult for use by archivists and researchers, the records, during 2010 and 2011, were totally rearranged and described to comply with RAD standards, to provide ease of access by researchers, and to fully reflect the activities and organizational history of the Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress during and after the period when it was a joint committee with the B'Nai Brith.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
Anti-Semitism cases sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 5-3; File 119
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
119
Material Format
textual record
Date
1940
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of a series of correspondence with Mr. C. Johnson, who questions Jewish participation in the military in the Second World War.
Notes
Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 92; Series 4; File 6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
Fonds
92
Series
4
File
6
Material Format
textual record
Date
1967-1973
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
In 1970 many Jewish groups in Ontario organized to help refusniks who were being persecuted in the Soviet Union and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. In early 1971, the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, these various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Ontario.
The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the steering committee reporting to the action committee. By 1977, the action committee and the steering committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee). J. B. Salsberg was the first SCSJ Chairman, serving in this capacity until 1976.
Scope and Content
File consists of records documenting J. B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry. Included are booklets, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, articles, correspondence, meeting minutes of the National Committee on Soviet Jewry and the Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, reports, newsletters, conference booklets, and a brochure.
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Soviet Union
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 92; Series 4; File 7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
Fonds
92
Series
4
File
7
Material Format
textual record
Date
1975
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
In 1970 many Jewish groups in Ontario organized to help refusniks who were being persecuted in the Soviet Union and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. In early 1971, the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, these various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Ontario.
The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the steering committee reporting to the action committee. By 1977, the action committee and the steering committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee). J. B. Salsberg was the first SCSJ Chairman, serving in this capacity until 1976.
Scope and Content
File consists of records documenting J. B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry. Included are newspaper clippings, bulletins, executive committee meeting minutes of the Committee for Soviet Jewry, a booklet, and a programme for the 23rd anniversary of the execution of Soviet Jewish poets, novelists and artists at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue.
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Soviet Union
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 92; Series 4; File 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
Jewish community involvement series
Level
File
Fonds
92
Series
4
File
8
Material Format
textual record
Date
1986-1991
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Admin History/Bio
In 1970 many Jewish groups in Ontario organized to help Refusniks who were being persecuted in the Soviet Union and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. In early 1971, the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, these various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Ontario.
The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the steering committee reporting to the action committee. By 1977, the action committee and the steering committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee). J. B. Salsberg was the first SCSJ Chairman, serving in this capacity until 1976.
Scope and Content
File consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry. Included are booklets, reports, agendas, correspondence, meeting minutes, conference material for the Regional Conference on Israel and Soviet Jewry, and newspaper clippings.
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Soviet Union
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
2
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1898, [192-?]-1997
Physical Description
80 cm of textual records and other material
Admin History/Bio
Benjamin Dunkelman (1913–1997) was a successful businessman and president of Tip Top Tailors. He had a distinguished military career in both the Canadian Army during the Second World War and in the Haganah during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Benjamin was born in Toronto to David Dunkelman (1883–1978) and Rose (née Miller, 1889–1949). He had three sisters and two brothers: Joseph, a movie executive; Ernest, a manufacturer; Zelda; Veronica; and Theodora. His father, David, was a successful entrepreneur who established Tip Top Tailors in 1910. Both David and his wife Rose were fervent Zionists.
Benjamin attended Upper Canada College and, at the age of eighteen, visited Palestine for the first time. While in Palestine, he worked for a year on a kibbutz, mostly as a guard. During the Second World War, he served as a major in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada; as major, he gained respect for his knowledge of mortars. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1945 for his role in the final Allied assault on Germany. Two years later, Benjamin returned to Palestine to join the Haganah in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. As a commander, he captured Nazareth and brought northern Galilee under Jewish control. Near the end of the war, he met and married Yael Lifshitz (m. Dunkelman), a corporal in the Israeli army. Benjamin was elected national commander of the Jewish War Veterans of Canada in 1977.
In addition to his work as a soldier, Benjamin was a successful businessman. He served as president of Tip Top Tailors after his father stepped down; he was also director of Colonial Finance Corporation, president of Cloverdale Shopping Centre, and president of Renforth Developments. Besides operating the Dunkelman Gallery, Benjamin and his wife, Yael, ran the Constellation Hotel and Dunkelman’s Restaurant.
Dunkelman later wrote of his experiences in both wars in his autobiography "Dual Allegiance" (published by MacMIllan). As well as the DSO, Dunkelman was awarded the Fighter’s Decoration of the State of Israel (1970), and an Israel Bonds Award Dinner in Tribute to Ben Dunkelman (1977). He was a guest of honour both at a reception hosted by the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science and the veterans of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (1976) and at a 7th Brigade Reunion in Israel (1991).
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records documenting Benjamin Dunkelman's personal, business, and military activities. Included is personal and business correspondence and other records, maps, photographs, news clippings, and scrapbooks assembled by Dunkelman. The bulk of the records relate both to Dunkelman’s autobiography Dual allegiance and to his military career in the Second World War and in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Other records relate to his business work with Tip Top Tailors, the Constellation Hotel, Dunkelman’s Restaurant, and the Dunkelman Gallery, as well as to his Zionist actvities, his writing and public speeches, and his personal life.
The fonds is organized into the following series: Personal records and correspondence, Zionist materials, Businesses, Second World War, Arab-Israeli War, Dual Allegiance, and Speeches.
Notes
Physical description note: Includes 218 photographs, 60 maps, 7 postcards, 5 architectural drawings, and 3 albums.
Associated material note: see the Ben Dunkelman fonds at Library and Archives Canada.
Name Access
Dunkelman, Benjamin, 1913-1997
Subjects
Authors
Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949
World War, 1939-1945
Related Material
See fonds #39 (Rose Dunkelman fonds).
Creator
Dunkelman, Benjamin, 1913-1997
Accession Number
2000-3-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Second World War series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 2; Series 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Second World War series
Level
Series
Fonds
2
Series
4
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
cartographic material
Date
1942-1995
Physical Description
6 cm of textual records and other material
Admin History/Bio
During the Second World War, Dunkelman served as a major in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. After enlisting in 1940, he became a platoon commander. Dunkelman took part in the second wave of D-Day landings in 1944 and later assisted in the final Allied assault on Germany, earning the Distinguished Service Order. He left the army in 1945 after the war had ended. The Queen's Own Rifles Association and the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science organized a reception in 1976 to honour the publication of Dunkelman's autobiography, Dual Allegiance.
Scope and Content
Series consists of records documenting Ben Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War. Included are newspaper clippings, maps, photographs, and correspondence. Some files deal with Dunkelman's experiences during the war; others relate to Dunkelman's relationship with veterans after the war and, in one case, with his memories of the war. The files cover such subjects as The Queen's Own Rifles, Veterans, the liberation of The Netherlands, Aubrey Cosens (a soldier under Dunkelman’s command who was killed in battle but later honoured with the Victoria Cross), and the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.
Notes
Physical description: Includes 85 photographs, 1 album, and 10 maps.
Name Access
Cosens, Aubrey, 1921-1945 (subject)
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Related Material
See fonds 2, series 6 for more information on Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 12
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
12
Material Format
graphic material
Date
12 Jun. 1942
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of members of the Office[rs] Committee of the Jewish National Workers Alliance, taken at their annual conference in Toronto. The members are identified on the front of the photograph.
Notes
General: Photograph was acquired on 21 June 1974.
Name Access
Jewish National Workers Alliance
Subjects
Committees
Congresses and conventions
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
Part Of
Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 8; Item 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
8
Item
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1936
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph taken of the 25th Jubilee Arrangement Committee in 1936. Included in the photograph are the following people: A. Kirzner; Mrs. Lovich; A. Weingarten; A. Maggerman, CHMN; B. Havelock,sec.;H. Smith, treas.; A. Weinstock; M. Greenberg;L. Ginsberg; M. Wagman; S. Weiss; H. Newmark; H. Wise; D. Kirshenbaum; N. Neslin; O. Isenberg; H. Wagner; N. Cohen; M. Drillick; Z. Finkelstein; S. Langer; Ch. Blumenstein; H. Gluskin; Ch. Schatz; J. Tureck; S. Kraisman; J. Rodinsky; M. Saunders
Name Access
Blumenstein, Ch
Cohen, N
Drillick, M
Finkelstein, Z
Ginsberg, L
Gluskin, H
Greenberg, M
Havelock, B
Isenberg, O
Kirshenbaum, D
Kirzner, A
Kraisman, S
Langer, S
Lovich, Mrs
Magerman, A
Newmark, H
Neslin, N
Rodinsky, J
Saunders, M.
Schatz, Ch
Smith, H
Tureck, J
Wagman, M
Wagner, H
Weingarten, A
Weinstock, A
Weiss, S
Wise, H
Subjects
Anniversaries
Committees
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.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 70
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
70
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1974
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
Item consists of a photograph taken of the CJC Central Region Archives Exhibition Committee at the Kiever Synagogue in 1974. Committee members include from left to right: Stephen Speisman, Susan Cohen, Cyrel Troster, Bess Shockett, Susan Geller, and Martin Mendelow.
Name Access
Canadian Jewish Congress. Central Region
Subjects
Archives
Committees
Synagogues
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
Part Of
Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 8; Item 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Toronto Cloakmakers Union fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
8
Item
5
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1919
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of a the General Strike Committee for the Toronto Cloakmakers' Union, which was the Toronto local for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Subjects
Committees
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.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 23
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
23
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1934
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Admin History/Bio
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was founded in the United States in 1900 by amalgamating seven local unions. The ILGWU was dominated by the Jewish and Italian immigrants who worked in the garment industries. The union was formed to protect their interests. In the early years it was troubled by politics, but still continued to grow. In Canada, the Toronto Cloakmakers Union became affilitated with the ILGWU in 1911, which was two years after their official formation.
Scope and Content
Item is a black-and-white photograph of the General Strike Committee of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union in 1934.
Name Access
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Magerman, A
Subjects
Committees
Labor unions
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.
Physical Condition
Good.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 61
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
61
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1945
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of the Minegarten house decorated for their son's homecoming from the Second World War in 1945. The house has a banner on the front porch that says "Welcome Home Hymie."
Notes
There is a corresponding negative for this photograph.
Name Access
Minegarten, Hymie
Nisker, Mollye
Subjects
Brick houses
Homecoming
World War, 1939-1945
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
Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
Oxford Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3694
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3694
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1936
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm on matte 30 x 36 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of members of the Labour League's Camp Naivelt Committee. Pictured are:
Back row, left to right: Harry Levin, Mr. Boxenbaum, Sam Lipshitz, [unidentified], Fishel Rose.
Middle row, left to right: P. Hoffman, Harry Goldstein, Rose Freedman, Morris Starkman, Mrs. Nobleman, Mr. Sniderman, Philip Larger.
Front row, left to right: I. Milton, Harry Holtzman, I. Strasuner, Becky Lapides, Jack Cowan, Sam Speisman.
Name Access
Labor League (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
Committees
Camps
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Accession Number
1983-6-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4819
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4819
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1942]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy photograph and corresponding negative of a Passover seder at the Fort Brady base in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The photo features a large group of servicemen and women from the communities of Sault Ste. Marie in the United States and Canada, seated at several seder tables.
Subjects
Passover
Seder
World War, 1939-1945
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Accession Number
1984-5-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1546
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1546
Material Format
graphic material
Date
May 1944
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy photograph of members of the Jewish Bielski partisan group in Poland. They are pictured assembled in the Naliboki forest.
Name Access
Bielski partisans (Resistance group)
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945
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
Poland
Accession Number
1978-5-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Level
Series
Fonds
17
Series
3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1967-1992
Physical Description
4.5 m of textual records
1822 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
The earliest impetus for the creation of a Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) committee to focus on the issue of Soviet Jews was in response to the infamous “Leningrad trials” of thirty-one dissident Soviet Jews in the winter of 1970. Concurrently, the Soviet government began to systematically persecute almost all Jews who applied for permission to emigrate. The issuing of exit visas was refused (the genesis of the term “refusenik”), usually on exaggerated claims of national security, after which the applicants were often dismissed from their jobs, recalled to military service, or similarly persecuted by state authorities. Those who publicly protested such treatment were subsequently arrested, detained for long periods, or tried as examples to others and sent to Siberian labour camps.
When information about the plight of Soviet Jews reached Canada, Toronto’s Jews responded immediately and decisively. Synagogue congregations, student groups, women’s organizations, professional organizations and community groups all established independent committees to aid Soviet Jews directly and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. Very quickly these committees began organizing mass rallies, letter writing campaigns, petitions, targeted protests and direct aid involving large numbers of people and considerable fundraising efforts. From 1971 to the late 1980s the cause of Soviet Jewry remained, along with support for The State of Israel, the most significant issue to the Jewish community.
The Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC in early 1971 in order to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, the various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Toronto and the rest of Ontario. Organizations coordinated by the Action Committee included university student groups, the Group of 35, Women for Soviet Jewry (WSJ), B’nai B’rith, and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the Steering Committee reporting to the Action Committee. By 1977, the Action Committee and the Steering Committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee).
The first Chairman of the SCSJ was the prominent Toronto politician and activist Joseph B. Salsberg. Later chairs, including Sam Filer, Phyllis Sugar, Reg Adelman, author Jeanette Goldman, Joyce Eklove, and Judge Ted Matlow were also involved with affiliated local groups whose activities were coordinated by the SCSJ. Sam Filer, its first permanent Secretary, became in 1976 its second Chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Toronto Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and was an original co-founder of Lawyers and Jurists for Soviet Jewry. Similarly, Phyllis Sugar was a Co-chair of the ACSJ with Reg Adelman in the early to mid-1970s, while simultaneously serving as the Chair of WSJ. Genya Intrator, the first Chair of WSJ in the early 1970s, later served as first Chair of the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry. Despite having its first meeting in Winnipeg, the Canadian Committee had most of its leadership and activities in Toronto. Toronto residents Sydney Harris (later Judge Harris), David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski all chaired this committee as it developed a national agenda through contacts with affiliated organizations across the country, while coordinating internationally with groups such as the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews based in New York.
Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the restrictions regarding exit visas for refusniks were removed and increasingly Russian Jews began to immigrate to Israel, the United States and Canada. A large percentage of the latter settled in Toronto. By 1991, in response to the changes in Russia and the former Soviet republics, the CJC’s local and national Soviet Jewry Committees were wound up and their leadership began to focus on new issues, such as the integration of Soviet Jewish immigrants into Canada and the continuing struggle to fight antisemitism in the successor states of the former Soviet Union. To this end, the CJC formed a Political Liaison Committee in the early 1990s. Internationally, however, many Russian Jewish advocacy groups continued to operate on the foundation of activism and community organization established during the decades of solidarity built around the Soviet Jewry cause.
Custodial History
The records in this series were accumulated and maintained in the offices of the CJC under the jurisdiction of Samuel Resnick, in his role as the Director of the Community Action for Israel Committee, and as the main CJC staff employee for overseeing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, which eventually coalesced as simply the Committee for Soviet Jewry circa 1977. By 1980, Resnick’s title was Director of the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Central Region, making him the primary full-time staffer of the CJC involved in the Soviet Jewry cause.
Scope and Content
Series consists of extensive planning, administrative and operational records including meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets and membership lists. Records pertaining to activities include numerous event and protest photographs, articles, petitions, posters and other press materials. Records related to the gathering of information regarding Soviet Jewry include transcripts of telegrams and telephone conversations, background fact sheets and many individual case files.
This series has been arranged into six sub-series. Sub-series 1 consists of Ontario Region committee meeting agendas and minutes. Sub-series 2 consists of the correspondence files documenting various activities of that committee. Sub-series 3 consists of the agendas, minutes and general correspondence of the National Committee for Soviet Jewry. Sub-series 4 consists of records documenting affiliated Jewish organizations that collaborated with the CJC in protesting the persecution of Soviet Jews. Sub-series 5 consists of records documenting the various protest activities such as lobbying, letter writing, public rallies, marches and demonstrations. Sub-series 6 , Rufusnik Cases, consists of 3 sub-sub-series, containing individual case files, large published lists, and reference publications about Soviet Jews who were refused permission to emigrate (refusniks).
Notes
Physical extent note: although over 28 m of Soviet Jewry records were originally transferred to the OJA, more than 23 m of those records have been culled due to their origin (non-Canadian sources), format (outside periodicals and publications), because they were merely externally-created reference materials, or because they were part of the very large volumes of duplicates that made up the majority of the box contents. Records documenting the activities of other CJC Committees have also been removed for future processing within more appropriately-titled series within Fonds 17.
Subjects
Committees
Jews--Soviet Union
Arrangement
Because the Soviet Jewry records donated by the Canadian Jewish Congress had not been maintained in a discernable original order, they had to be reorganized into their current arrangement by the processing archivist.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Cemetery Committee series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 17; Series 22
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Cemetery Committee series
Level
Series
Fonds
17
Series
22
Material Format
textual record
Date
1951-1959
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
The Ontario government was putting pressure on the Jewish cemeteries spread around Toronto to clear up the disorder in the burial grounds to ensure a system of perpetual care. The cemeteries were approached with this in view. In the end, through the efforts of Al Ginsburg of Beth Tzedec, the Dawes Rd. and Jones Avenue properties were reorganized, a permanent fulltime groundskeeper was engaged (A.M. Levy) and adminstration was improved. The other cemeteries remained outside of this new organization which was named the Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees. Some of these made their own arrangements. Canadian Jewish Congress lent its administrative help to the Amalgamated Dawes Rd. Trustees, hence this committee.
Scope and Content
Series consists of general files of the Cemetery Commitee.
Notes
Series formerly described and cited as RG254.
Subjects
Committees
Cemeteries
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2021-10-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-10-4
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 letter
Date
19 Jun. 1945
Scope and Content
Accession consists of one letter to Nathan "Sonny" Isaacs from Rabbi Jacob Eisen. The letter is dated 19 June 1945. In it, Jacob congratulates Nathan on getting engaged and expresses his regret he could not have been in Toronto when Nathan was welcomed home. He also mentions that Nathan's best friend, Percy, was sad to learn that Nathan had departed Europe just as he arrived.
Administrative History
Nathan Isaacs (né Isaacovitch) was born on 20 November 1922. He enlisted on 5 August 1942. After training, Nathan worked in the kitchen at a Royal Canadian Air Force base in Aylmer, Ontario, while awaiting deployment to Europe. After being flown to Yorkshire, England, Nathan went on to fly thirty-five missions. He was twenty-one when he flew his first.
Following the war, bombers like Nathan received little in the way of recognition on account of the heavy civilian casualties caused by bombing. In 2013, Julian Fantino, minister of veterans affairs, gave out the Bomber Command bar to recognize Second World Bombers, including Nathan. That same year, thanks to a photograph that accompanied a Toronto Star article about Second World War bombers, Nathan was reunited with John Mulholland, the pilot with whom he flew his final mission.
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
Related groups of records in different fonds external to the unit being described: A photograph of Rabbi Jacob Eisen in uniform can be found in the Military photographs series of the William Stern fonds. A photograph of Rabbi Eisen alongside other Jewish chaplains can be found in the Harry Moscoe fonds.
Subjects
Letters
Rabbis
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
Isaacs, Nathan, 1922-
Places
Europe
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-11-21
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-11-21
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
13 cm of textual records
Date
1927-1984, predominant 1927-1947
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the Posluns family. Included are letters to Sam Posluns written in 1927, when Sam was in New York; letters to Sam Poslun written in 1947, when he was in Europe with the Tailor Project; miscellaneous newspaper articles; and a 1984 Negev Dinner book. Of note is a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Posluns from Abby Fuhrman, whose son, David Fuhrman, went to live with the Posluns during the Second World War.
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
Families
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
Posluns (family)
Posluns, Samuel, 1910-1994
Places
Europe
New York (N.Y.).
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-2-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-2-3
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Date
[1939?]-2020, predominant 1939-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the immigration of Daniel Zultek from Poland to Canada under a Sugihara Visa in 1941 and documents pertaining to Sugihara visas and Chiune Sugihara (also known as Sempo Sugihara), a Japanese diplomat who served as vice-consul for the Japanese Empire in Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania. Included are Daniel’s travelling documents dating from 1939 to 1941—an identification document, an immigration identification card, a quarantine/medical examination card issued by Nippon Yusen (also known as NYK Line), and a ship manifest; correspondence between Daniel and Polish consulates in Toronto and Montreal (1941-1943)—one of the letters (28 May 1942) was obtained by Daniel for the purpose of bringing his brother, who was still in Warsaw at that time, over to Canada; a memorandum from the Jewish Community of Kobe to Daniel (1941); records documenting Daniel's experience in serving in the Polish Armed Units in Canada (1941); work documents pertaining to Daniel’s career at Canada Motor Products (1941-1942); and a brief memoir written by Daniel with notations by his daughter Irene. Also included are newspaper clippings and book chapters documenting Daniel’s immigration to Canada via Japan under a Sugihara visa (1993-2020), a programme book of the Sempo Sugihara Tribute Dinner (1993), and a pamphlet of the Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall in Japan.
Custodial History
The records were in the possession of Daniel’s daughter, Irene Henry, before being gifted to the Ontario Jewish Archives on Feb. 9, 2022.
Administrative History
Daniel Zultek (1910-1995) was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 1 September 1910, to Leon and Helena Zultek. Leon owned a large freight shipping company on the Vistula River, between Danzig and Gdynia harbours. Leon was a successful businessman, a community leader, a philanthropist, and a life member of the Jewish Kehilla Congress in Warsaw, which was allegedly the largest Jewish institution in Europe voted by the Jewish public. Daniel had been running the family business since 1932 until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. He was nominated to the board of directors of the company in 1938. In January 1939, Leon died of a heart attack. Daniel's mother Helena, sister Natalia, and most family members were murdered by Nazi Germany in concentration camps. The only survivors were Daniel, his elder brother Rafael, Irene (Rafael's first wife, who lived in Argentina), and four cousins name Daniel (surname unspecified), Rita (surname unspecified), Adam Zultek, and Dorka Zultek. On 6 September 1939, Daniel fled Warsaw, where was heavily bombarded by German troops, and headed for Pinsk, a city near the Soviet border. Half a month later, because Soviet troops invaded Pinsk, Daniel escaped to Vilnius in the neighbouring country Lithuania. In June 1940, the Soviet Union entered Lithuania. During that time, Daniel heard that the Japanese consulate in Kaunas was issuing transit visas. Fortunately, on 1 August 1940, Daniel received his visa from Vice-consul Chiune Sugihara. In the same month, he managed to escape Kaunas and headed for Moscow. With a Russian transit visa, he took the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok; from there, he took a ship for Tsuruga Port, Japan. During his stay in Japan, he learned that the British Embassy in Tokyo was recruiting volunteers to join the Polish Armed Forces in Australia, the United States, and Canada. Daniel volunteered and chose Canada as his destination. On 5 June 1941, he embarked on the ship, Hikawa Maru, in Yokohama and arrived in Vancouver on the 17th of the same month. From there, he headed for the Polish military base in Owen Sound, Ontario. Daniel received eight months of military training in Owen Sound but was honourably discharged owing to a cataract in his right eye. Fortunately, he was allowed to remain in Canada. After being discharged, Daniel worked various jobs to make a living. In 1941, he had jobs with Canada Motor Products and Frankel Engineering; from 1942 to 1945, he served de Havilland Aircraft as an inspector; from 1945 to 1948, he worked as a sales representative of an American milkshake and ice cream company named Mr. Gordon. While working at Frankel Engineering in 1941, Daniel met Mr. Epstein who introduced him to farming. In 1948, Daniel bought a one-hundred-acre farm in Brampton, Ontario. In the same year, he attended an agriculture college in Guelph, Ontario. While running the farm, he also opened Caledon Sand and Gravel, a company located in Caledon, Ontario, supplying sand and gravel for construction. His career also involved business in real estate. Daniel married Molly Mandel in 1943 and had three daughters Helen, Leona, and Irene. Molly (nee Mandel) Zultek (1915-1989) was a Torontonian of Russian descent. Her father, Albert Mandel, was one of the founders of the Congregation Knesseth Israel (also known as the Junction Shul) located on Maria Street in the Junction. Molly grew up in the Junction neighbourhood. In 1957, Daniel sold the farm and moved to Forest Hill Village a neighbourhood and former village in Midtown Toronto with his family. Daniel retired in 1988. In addition to business, Daniel also devoted his time to charity and social work. Daniel was an ardent Zionist and visited Israel twenty-seven times. He was director and a member of the board of governors of the Jewish National Fund. He was also a generous contributor to Jewish organizations and sponsored the Hebrew University and its students.
Descriptive Notes
LANGUAGE NOTE: some of the material is in Japanese and has been translated into English. Translated documents are available at S:\Collections\2022-2-3.
Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for most documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.
Subjects
Immigrants
World War, 1939-1945
Places
Warsaw (Poland)
Lithuania
Japan
Toronto (Ont.)
Owen Sound (Ont.)
Brampton (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-11-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-11-2
Material Format
moving images (electronic)
Physical Description
10 videos (mp4)
Date
2010, 2014
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Eva Muller and Louis Muller. Included are multi-part interviews with both, in which they discuss their lives as children during the Holocaust, their memories of the Hungarian Revolution, their coming to Canada, and their lives in Ontario as Jewish immigrants. Louis's interview was recorded in December of 2010; Eva's interview was recorded in the spring of 2014. Each of them was seventy-six years old at the time of the interview. The person interviewing them is their son Robert Tom Muller.
Administrative History
Eva Muller (née Berger) was born 22 October 1937 in Budapest, Hungary, to Aranka Berger (née Flohr) and Oscar Berger. She had two siblings: an older sister named Edith and a younger sister named Marika. From 1937–1956, Eva resided in Budapest. While hiding in Budapest during the Second World War, Eva used the name Eva Kadet (she had false papers issued under this name). After the war, she attended the Vegyipari Gimnázium, graduating in 1955. Along with Louis Muller, she escaped from Hungary in December 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution. From 1956–1957, she resided in Linz, Austria. It was there that she married Louis Muller in a civil ceremony on 29 December 1956; two days later, on 31 December 1956, she married Louis in a Jewish ceremony that took place in Vienna. From 1957, Eva has resided in Toronto. She and Louis had three children: William Muller (born 4 January 1958), Robert Tom Muller (born 5 April 1964), and Steven Muller (born 29 March 1969). In 1976 and 1979, Eva won a bronze medal at the YMHA (Jewish Community Centre)'s yearly swim-a-thon. Around the same time, she studied property management at Seneca College, graduating circa 1979. Starting in 1980, she began working as a property manager. She also did some work as a court interpreter translating Hungarian to English from 1987–1990. In 2011, Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto) issued a certificate of appreciate for Eva's service to the synagogue. As a hobbyist, Eva was an avid amateur artist (painter).
Louis Muller was born Lajos Müller 12 April 1934 in Bratislava, Slovakia, to Anna Müller (née Kovacs) and Vilmos Müller. Louis had one sibling: a younger sister named Hermina (Mimi). From 1934–1939, Louis resided in Bratislava. From 1939–1956, he resided in Budapest. During the Second World War, he used the name Louis Pap while in hiding (he had false papers issued under this name). After the war, he trained and apprenticed as a master upholster, becoming a Kárpitos Szakmunkás, completing his training in 1950. He then completed an intensive one-year high school program, graduating circa 1952. He also studied at the University of Physical Education, Testnevelési Foiskola, but did not graduate, as he was expelled for political reasons and immediately drafted into the army. Along with Eva Berger, he escaped from Hungary in December of 1956, during the failed Hungarian revolution. From 1956–1957, Louis resided in Linz. It was there that he married Eva Berger in a civil ceremony on 29 December 1956; two days later, on 31 December 1956, he married Eva in a Jewish ceremony that took place in Vienna. From 1957–2022, he resided in Toronto. There, he ran Louis Interiors, a fine furniture-manufacturing business, which he established in 1961. He and Eva had three children: William Muller (born 4 January 1958), Robert Tom Muller (born 5 April 1964), and Steven Muller (born 29 March 1969). In 2015, Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto) issued a certificate of appreciation for Louis's service to the synagogue. He has been listed as an Honored Member in the Who’s Who Among Top Executives. He passed away 8 May 2022.
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
Hungary--History--Revolution, 1956--Biography
Immigrants--Canada
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
Muller, Eva
Muller, Louis, 1934-2022
Muller, Robert T.
Places
Budapest (Hungary)
Linz (Austria)
Toronto (Ont.)
Vienna (Austria)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-12-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-12-1
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
2 letters
Date
May 1945
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Shelly Grimson. Included are two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) letters written by Shelly's uncle Harry Fistell to Shelly's grandmother/Harry's mother. The first letter, written May 1945, describes Harry's impressions after visiting the recently liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The second letter, also written May 1945, describes Harry's feelings upon the Second World War ending and recounts trips to Holland, Antwerp, and Hamburg.
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
Concentration camps
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
Grimson (family)
Grimson, Shelly
Places
Germany
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Committees and meetings series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 14; Series 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Committees and meetings series
Level
Series
Fonds
14
Series
3
Material Format
textual record
Date
1953-1985
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Series consists of records documenting the various committees and ad hoc meetings of Baycrest Centre as well as its participation on joint committees with other agencies. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, reports, correspondence and lists.
Subjects
Committees
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2009-2-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-2-1
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
42 photographs : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm
Date
[ca. 1945]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of photographs taken by an unknown individual—likely someone in the government or military—during the Second World War. The photographs feature broken-down army equipment, soldiers, prison scenes, the German and Austrian countryside, destroyed buildings, and deceased and emaciated prisoners of concentration camps.
Custodial History
These photographs were given to Maxwell London following the end of the Second World War by a British officer. They were kept in his house until his death in 2003, at which point they came into the possession of his daughter Sandra London-Rakita. They were given to Susan Jackson of UJA Federation in November 2008, who passed them on to the Archives.
Administrative History
Pte. Maxwell London (1917-2003) was born in Toronto on 15 April 1917 to Morris and Jennie London from Russia. He married Marielle (nee McCall) London in 1957 in Montreal and had 2 daughters: Lynda and Sandra and 4 grandchildren Zachary Elkaim, Justin Elkaim, Ryan Rakita and Brianna Rakita. London was in the Royal Regiment of Canada during the Second World War. He was captured in 1942 at Dieppe and held as a POW in Stalags 8B and 2D. He was liberated at the end of the war and went to England before returning to Canada. He died on 13 December 2003.
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
World War, 1939-1945
Name Access
London, Maxwell, 1917-2003
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2009-6-5
Material Format
graphic material
sound recording
moving images
textual record
object
Physical Description
187 photographs : b&w and col. ; 24 x 20 cm or smaller
20 audiocassettes
10 videocassettes
1 folder of textual records
1 object
Date
[193-]-2006
Scope and Content
Accession consists predominantly of records collected by Bess Shockett in her work with UJA Federation's Committee for Yiddish and Friends of Yiddish. The accession also contains some personal family records. The photographs document programmes of the Committee for Yiddish in the late 1980s and 1990s, including an outdoor Yiddish concert, several International Conferences of Yiddish Clubs (1995, 1998, 1999), Sunday morning Yiddish classes, and a 1993 Hanukah concert. There are also three photographs of the New Fraternal Jewish Association and its celebration of J. B. Salsberg's eightieth birthday in 1980. The videocassettes contain recordings of other events including a storytelling workshop, Purim Mystery Night, a farewell for Miriam Waddington and several Sof Vokh (weekend retreat) programmes of 1993.
The twenty cassette tapes feature panel discussions, lectures and interviews, including "Yiddish education," "Yiddish and the Media," "Yiddish and the Younger Generation," "Yiddish and the Performing Arts," and "Yiddish Language and Translation." There are several interviews with Yiddish poet Avrom Sutzkever, as well as two Toronto Yiddish concerts. Other tapes contain radio interviews with [Aaron?] Lansky; "Chava Rosenfarb--Book Fair", 1988; "Plenary reports and presentations"; and an episode of the program The Forward Hour on Peretz Miransky, an influential Polish writer in the inter-war years.
Personal records in the accession consist of family snapshots dating from the 1930s and 1940s. These were taken in Israel and include images of farming, landscapes, travel, a canal, groups of people, city buildings, and processions. These photos all have Yiddish writing on the back. There is one formal portrait, ca. 1890s, of an elderly Jewish man. As well, there is a folder of original and photocopied poetry (in Yiddish) written by a Jack Shockett.
Accession also includes a Yiddish typewriter, in case, that Bess used in the late 1960s/early 1970s when the Committee for Yiddish was under Congress.
Custodial History
Records were entrusted to the estate of Bess Shockett after her death, and given to her Committee for Yiddish colleague Ethel Cooper, who brought them to the archives.
Administrative History
Bess Shockett was born in the Ukraine in 1919. Her father, Solomon Maltin, was the mayor of the town and helped establish a number of Jewish community institutions. He and his wife had two sons along with Bess: Sam and Ben. In 1925, the family moved to Montreal. As an adolescent, Bess became very active in the Jewish community and joined the United Jewish People's Order. She helped organize a union for workers in the knitting industry and later did the same for fur workers. She also travelled to Winnipeg to organize a laundry workers union. She met her husband, Barry Shockett, in Toronto and they married in 1952 and had three children: Michael, Elka and Eric. Bess eventually became very active in the Toronto Jewish community, particularly in regards to supporting and launching several innovative Yiddish programs. She staffed the office of CJC's Committee for Yiddish in its early years, and was Director from 1974 to 1989. She helped found the Friends of Yiddish in 1985 and served as executive vice-president until her death on August 27, 2007.
Descriptive Notes
There is little written material; what there is (captions and poetry) is mostly in Yiddish; some captions are in English.
Subjects
Committees
Yiddish language
Name Access
Committee for Yiddish (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 78; File 3; Item 27
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
Fonds
78
File
3
Item
27
Material Format
graphic material
Date
Oct. 1945
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy photograph and corresponding negative of Sergeant Sam Rapoport of Brantford, Ontario, taken in Copenhagen during the Second World War.
Subjects
Portraits
Soldiers--Canada
World War, 1939-1945
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
Denmark
Accession Number
1978-11-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 78; File 3; Item 32
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
Fonds
78
File
3
Item
32
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1939 and 1945]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Admin History/Bio
Sgt. Kanter was with the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Sergeant Ben Kanter of Brantford, Ontario, in his military uniform, taken during the Second World War.
Name Access
Canada. Canadian Army
Subjects
Portraits
World War, 1939-1945
Accession Number
1978-11-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 78; File 3; Item 31
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Sadie Stren fonds
Photographs file
Level
Item
Fonds
78
File
3
Item
31
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1939 and 1945]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Max Rapoport of Brantford, Ontario in his military uniform, taken during the Second World War.
Subjects
Portraits
World War, 1939-1945
Accession Number
1978-11-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Ethel Abramsky
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
8 Nov. 1981
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Ethel Abramsky
Number
OH 42
Subject
World War, 1939-1945
Women
International Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE)
Interview Date
8 Nov. 1981
Quantity
2 cassettes (1 copy)
1 CD
4 WAV files
Interviewer
M. Feldman
Total Running Time
001: 30.53 minutes 002: 30.50 minutes 003: 31.25 minutes 004: 30.42 minutes
Conservation
Copied to cassette in August 2003.
Digitized in January 2015.
Notes
Sound quality poor in many sections.
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
Ethel Abramsky (née Levin) came to live in Kingston after her marriage to Harry Abramsky in 1927. Ethel remained an active member of the Queen Esther Chapter of Hadassah throughout her life. Harry, an industrialist and business man, was a generous benefactor of Queens University and was instrumental in establishing Hillel House at Queens. Ethel and Harry had three children and eight grandchildren.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Abramsky, Ethel
Abramsky, Harry
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO
International Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE)
Geographic Access
Kingston (Ont.)
Florida
Poland
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Digital file
Audio cassette
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 42 - Abramsky\OH42_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 42 - Abramsky\OH42_002_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 42 - Abramsky\OH42_003_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 42 - Abramsky\OH42_004_Log.pdf
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
Frank Schleifer
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
29 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Frank Schleifer
Number
OH 84
Subject
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Recreation
Families
Interview Date
29 Jun. 1976
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
OH84_001: 45.20 minutes OH84_002: 11.00 minutes
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Frank was born on 4 January 1916 in Toronto. His parents were Charles Schleifer and Mary Schleifer (née Noble). At the age of three, his family moved to Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. In 1922, the family moved to Brantford, Ontario, where his mother's family lived. Frank left school at age sixteen to work at the family Cigar and Soda Fountain store when his father became ill. He opened Frank’s Billiard Parlour from 1941 to 1946. He was drafted into the army in 1943, where he served in the artillery and infantry. He started to work in Unemployment Insurance with the federal government. Frank married Bertha (née Moldaver) in 1937. They had one son, Charles, born in 1947. As a youth, Frank was involved with AZA (B'nai Brith youth organization). He was a member of B'nai Brith and served on the executive of the synagogue in Brantford.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Schleifer, Frank
Troster, Larry
Geographic Access
Brantford
Sturgeon Falls
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 84 - Schleifer\OH84_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 84 - Schleifer\OH84_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Frank Schleifer shares some early memories of growing up in Brantford, Ontario. He mentions some of the original Jewish families who settled in Brantford.

In this clip, Frank Schleifer describes his involvement in a variety of Jewish activities and groups during his youth, including AZA, summer camp and baseball.

Name
Dr. H. Fenigstein
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
24 Feb. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Dr. H. Fenigstein
Number
OH 244
Subject
Warsaw (Poland)--History--Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, 1943
Jewish ghettos
World War, 1939-1945
United States--Armed Forces
Concentration camps
Interview Date
24 Feb. 1976
Quantity
2 cassettes (1 copy)
2 WAV files
Total Running Time
58 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Digitized in 2014
Biography
Dr. H. Fenigstein was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1913. He was raised in an affluent, assimilated neighbourhood. He entered the study of medicine at the University of Warsaw in 1931. He served three years with the Military Academy for Sanitary Officers (i.e., for medical and paramedical graduates) in the Polish army. At the outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939, Dr. Fenigstein worked at a military hospital. In April 1940, he was sent to the Warsaw Ghetto and started to work as the head of the pathology department at the Jewish Hospital. In 1948, Dr. Feningstein published "The History of the Jewish Hospital in Ghetto Warsaw." Some of his research was published in "The Hunger Disease," a collection of research papers that were hidden during the war. With the final liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto, Dr. Fenigstein was transported to several labour camps and was liberated by the Americans on 30 April 1945. After the war, he moved to Munich, where he worked for UNRA and the University of Munich. Dr. Feningstein immigrated to Canada in September 1948. Dr. Feningstein died in 1993.
Material Format
sound recording
Geographic Access
Canada
Munich (Germany)
Warsaw (Poland)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
Side 1 00:00: Dr. Fenigstein graduated from high school in 1931 in Warsaw, Poland and studied medicine at the University of Warsaw. 00:26: Dr. Fenigstein recounts some of his earliest childhood memories relating to Russian occupation of Warsaw. For example, he recalls seeing horse-drawn streetcars carrying wounded Russian soldiers, German soldiers coming to Warsaw in 1916, German soldiers confiscating valuables from his home, bad food, etc. 2:18: Dr. Fenigstein’s family lived in an assimilated part of Warsaw, not with the majority of Jews. 3:00: Dr. Fenigstein’s father was a professional electrical engineer, who graduated from university in France in 1909. 3:30: Dr. Fenigstein lists his education history. 4:48: Dr. Fenigstein recalls a military coup in Warsaw in 1926 by Józef Pilsudski. 6:07: Dr. Fenigstein notes that his personal life was not affected until 1939. In 1939, he had been practicing medicine for three years and had served three years with the Military Academy for Sanitary Officers (i.e., for medical and paramedical graduates) in the Polish army. 6:55: Dr. Fenigstein was mobilized to serve in a military hospital when Germans attacked Poland on 1 September 1939. 7:12: Dr. Fenigstein describes his experiences at the outbreak of the war. 8:00: Dr. Fenigstein was wounded on 25 September 1939. He remained hospitalized as a wounded prisoner of war until April 1940. 8:41: Following his discharge, Dr. Fenigstein started to work in the Department of Pathology at the Jewish Hospital in Warsaw. Dr. Fenigstein explains how the hospital functioned. Over time (i.e., by 1941/42 until liquidation in April 1943), the hospital was fully staffed by Jews, and all the patients were Jews under supervision of German military officers. 10:52: Dr. Fenigstein published a book in Yiddish in 1948, “The History of the Jewish Hospital in Ghetto Warsaw.” Copies are available in Yad Vashem. 11:44: Dr. Fenigstein describes the restrictions placed on activities of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. 12:43: Dr. Fenigstein explains his role in the hospital. He was the head of the Department of Pathology until the first liquidation in the summer of 1942. The chief of the hospital was Dr. Josef Stein. Dr. Fenigstein did teaching and research. Some of his work was published in a book, “The Hunger Disease,” a collection of research papers that were hidden during the war. 14:30: Dr. Fenigstein recounts the events that led up to the first liquidation in the summer of 1942. He mentions that, although they were told that the transports were evacuation from the ghetto, there evidence that came to light to support that the transports led to liquidation. 17:03: Dr. Fenigstein explains that, despite hearing stories about liquidation at the time, he did not want to believe the reports could be true. 18:53: Dr. Fenigstein describes the evolvement of the underground clandestine Jewish resistance. The group was able to resist attempts by the Germans to liquidate the ghetto in January 1943 and on 19 April 1943. 21:05: Dr. Fenigstein gives an account of the Jewish population in Warsaw at the outbreak of the war, at the peak of the Warsaw Ghetto, and after the first two liquidations. He suggests that, of those remaining in the ghetto, several hundred put up a brave, strong resistance against the Germans in April 1943. 24:40: Dr. Fenigstein describes his work in the hospital after the second liquidation. Additionally, he worked in conjunction with the underground military force by stockpiling medical supplies in order to look after the wounded. 26:20: Dr. Fenigstein relates what happened to him after the April 1943 liquidation. He was transported first from Warsaw to Budzyn, a camp near Lublin, and later to another camp, where he worked from 30 April 1943 to 23 May 1944. Side 2 00:43: Dr. Fenigstein continues to recount his personal history. He was transported to a camp in Radom on 25 May 1944, where he worked in a factory building small weapons. Moved by foot 29 July 1944 to a moved-in freight cars arrived 5 August 1944 in Auschwitz. The women and weak were removed from the group. The remainder got back on freight cars. Arrived in a camp in Vaihiengen 9 August 1944. 4:43: Dr. Fenigstein describes the harsh conditions of the camp in Vaihiengen. 6:28: Dr. Fenigstein was selected to be a physician on a transport on 14 October 1944. He became the chief physician at Hessental near Schwabish Hall. 8:30: Dr. Fenigstein describes an outbreak of a typhus epidemic. 10:20: Left Camp Hessental on 5 April 1945 by foot and horse-drawn wagon. Arrived on 11 Aplril 1945 in Allach, near Dachau. 25 April 1945 shipped in open freight cars. Liberated by the Americans on 30 April 1945. 13:23: Dr. Fenigstein recounts that one of the Americans approached them speaking Yiddish. 13:52: Dr. Fenigstein explains that he was able to maintain good relationships with some SS officers due to the fact that he was a physician with some military training who spoke German. As a result, he was allowed to keep a few personal belongings (e.g., a photo, pencil, paper) and have some special privileges. 16:00: Dr. Fenigstein’s first wife was killed by Nazis in Majdanek in November 1943. 16:35: Dr. Josef Stein was killed during the final liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. 18:05: Adam Czerniakow, head of the Jewish council in the Warsaw Ghetto, committed suicide when he found out that the German were going to liquidate the Jewish population. 18:53: Dr. Fenigstein was thirty years old in 1943. 19:15: Dr. Fenigstein attributes his survival to good luck. He provides some examples. 21:50: Dr. Fenigstein recounts a few examples of how he was able to send messages to his sister amd wife with the help of a few sympathetic Poles. 25:05: Dr. Fenigstein discusses the time of liberation and immediately following liberation. The liberated inmates were transported to SS barracks initially and later sent to stay in SS garrisons in Munich. Then were placed in DP camps. Dr. Fenigstein worked as a physician for UNRA. Worked at the University of Munich. Married his second wife in Munich. Came to Canada in September 1948.
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Bess Maltinsky Shockett
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
8 Nov. 2004, 7 Dec. 2004
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Bess Maltinsky Shockett
Number
OH 288
Subject
Committees
Labor
Labor unions
Interview Date
8 Nov. 2004, 7 Dec. 2004
Quantity
4
Interviewer
Jillian Gould
Total Running Time
OH 288A: 31 minutes
OH 288B: 31 minutes
Conservation
Copies made for Bess' son Michael on four ninety-minute tapes
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Bess was born in the Ukraine in 1920. She immigrated to Montreal in 1925 with her parents and two brothers. She married Barry Shockett in 1952 and had three children. As an adolescent, Bess became very active in the Jewish community and joined the United Jewish People's Order. She helped organize a union for workers in the knitting industry and later did the same for fur workers. She also travelled to Winnipeg to organize a laundry workers union. She helped found the New Fraternal Jewish Association in 1960 and was actively involved in the organization. She became very active in the Toronto Jewish community, particularly in regards to supporting and launching several innovative Yiddish programs. She staffed the office of the Canadian Jewish Congress' Committee for Yiddish in its early years and was director from 1974 to 1989.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
United Jewish People's Order
New Fraternal Jewish Association
Committee for Yiddish
Geographic Access
Montreal
Toronto
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Digital file
Source
Oral Histories

Bess became president of the Youth Division of the United Jewish People’s Order in Montreal in 1946. In this clip, Bess shares some of her memories and experiences as a representative to the First International Conference of Youth held in Prague in 1947.

In this clip, Bess discusses the events that led up to the formation of a new left-leaning organization, the New Fraternal Jewish Association, which broke away from the United Jewish People’s Order in 1960.