- Accession Number
- 1988-4-8
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1988-4-8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook
- Date
- 1930-1955
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of a scrapbook created by Morris Lofsky. The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings of Zionist and labour materials. Of particular note is a stop-work broadside featuring information about the march and demonstration at Queen's Park from 1933 in protest of the pogroms of German Jews leading up to the Second World War. There are also several strike notices from the furrier, dressmakers, and other unions.
- Administrative History
- Morris Lofsky lived with his family in the downtown Kengsington market area of Toronto. He worked as a fur worker and was an active member of the Jewish community.
- 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
- Demonstrations
- Labor
- Zionism
- Places
- Queen's Park (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1991-1-3
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1991-1-3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 12 cm of mainly textual material
- Date
- 1923-1971
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of materials created by Anshel Wise which document his family and travel business. It consists of genealogical information on his family, two ledgers from his business which document transactions and shipping dates, one scribbler which includes information on steamship sailings, one blank letterhead with his company's logo, and a photograph of his fiftieth wedding anniversary.
- Administrative History
- Anshel Wise emigrated from Poland in 1910 and established his home in Toronto. He opened up a cigar store on Dundas street, which later turned into a travel agency called A. Wise Travel Bureau.
- During the course of his career, Anshel helped bring in hundreds of Jews from Europe, primarily Poland using the shipping lines. He spoke many languages and was able to assist the community by providing advice and services in this area. Later in his career after the establishment of the welfare state, he began helping residents of the St. John's Ward by providing advice, finding the required documents that they needed and helping them apply for retirement benefits.
- Subjects
- Business
- Immigrants--Canada
- Name Access
- Wise, Anshel
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-9-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-9-1
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Date
- [ca. 1939]
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of one black-and-white original photograph depicting Chaim Weizmann speaking at a rally in Toronto at Varsity Stadium on Bloor Street. Pictured from left to right are: Rabbi Samuel Sachs, J. J. Glass, Chaim Weizman, David Dunkelman. The photo was taken by Mel Hundert (the donor), who was present at the rally
- Custodial History
- Photo was kept by donor
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Name Access
- Weizmann, Chaim.
- Glass, J.J.
- Dunkelman, David.
- Sachs, Samuel, Rabbi
- Places
- Bloor Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-5-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-5-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 item
- Date
- 1985
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one Shopsy's Delicatessen menu from March 1985. The deli introduced a new menu on 1 April 1985. It is a laminated, oversized, three-panel menu and is from the deli located at Yonge and Front Streets, across from the former O'Keefe Centre.
- Administrative History
- Harry and Jennie Shopsowitz started the family business, Shopsy's Delicatessen, in 1921. The first location was on Spadina Avenue at Dundas Street and was initially an ice-cream parlour, although they quickly converted it into a delicatessen in 1922. Shopsy's became an institution in the city where the likes of Bob Hope, Al Waxman, Dennis Hull and Scotty Bowman were regular customers. Harry's three sons took over the business in 1947. The brothers, Sam and Israel, expanded the business by packaging and distributing their hotdogs and corned beef to grocery stores. Sam Shopsowitz, the more gregarious of the two brothers, was known as the "Corned Beef King."
- Subjects
- Food
- Business
- Restaurants
- Name Access
- Shopsy's Delicatessen (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-6-36
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-6-36
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs : b&w (jpg)
- 1 textual record
- Date
- 1923-2004
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one issue of the Jewish Standard, from June 2004, two scanned copy photographs of Sid Slepkov during the Second World War, and one scanned copy photograph of Sid's father Morris in front of his clothing store, the Fashion Cloak and Fur Co. in St. Catharines, Ontario.
- The photographs are as follows:
- 1. Sydney Slepkov in decompression chamber, Second World War.
- 2. Morris Slepkov outside his store, 1923.
- 3. Sydney Slepkov, 1944.
- Custodial History
- The original photographs are in the possession of the donor. The OJA was granted permission to scan the photos in June 2007, as part of the Ontario Small Jewish Communities initiative. These copies were then donated to the Archives on 2007-06-04.
- 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
- Business
- Communities
- Name Access
- Slepkov, Sid
- Slepkov, Morris
- Places
- St. Catharines, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-7-10
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2007-7-10
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : b&w
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 books
- 1 CD
- 1 vest
- 1 hat
- Date
- 1938-1986
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of material documenting the donor's family, particularly her father, Nathan Rivelis. The items include a vest and hat worn by her father during the late 1950s as part of the Lion's Club. It also consists of an oral history of her father conducted in 1983; his school primer and English reader; photographs of the business and Hebrew classes; certificates; and, finally, newspaper clippings.
- Administrative History
- The Rivelis family owned a large clothing store in North Bay from 1926 until 1986 called Rivelis. They sold men's and women's mid-range clothing and became famous in town for their annual sale held on 16 November. The business grew from a small family-run store to a large department store with twelve employees.
- In addition to running the business, Nate Rivelis was also involved in the local Lion's Club and was the president of this organization from 1957-1958. He was the only Jewish member at that time. In addition, he also served as the president of the Hebrew school during the 1940s.
- Subjects
- Business
- Communities
- Name Access
- Rosen, Rheta
- Rivelis, Nathan
- Places
- North Bay (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2008-3-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2008-3-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- textual record (electronic)
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 4 photographs : b&w and col. (jpg)
- 6 documents : b&w and col. (jpg)
- Date
- [1915?]-[200-]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of brochures from the Cherney family businesses: their furniture store of fifty years, followed by Cherney Realty, established after 1984. Also included are a pamphlet on the Erica Cherney Inspiration Fund of the Community Counselling and Resource Centre of Peterborough. There is also a memorial card for the death of Harry Cherney in 1984. Electronic records include articles about Cherney's and Erica Cherney, City of Peterborough Awards of Merit for Harry and Erica Cherney, and four photographs.
- Photograhps are as follows:
- 01. Award of Merit, Erica Cherney, 1977.
- 02. Award of Merit, Harry Cherney, 1981.
- 03. Harry Cherney on a sailboat, ca. 1978.
- 04. 40th Anniversary of Cherney Store, 1975. Left to right: Myer and Harry and Lou Cherney.
- 05. Rebecca Cherney, ca. 1915.
- 06. Tree of Life donated in honour of Harry Cherney.
- 07. Cherney business story in Peterborough Industrial Review, 1975.
- 08. Erica Cherney article in Business Advantage February, 1997, page 13.
- 09. Cherney ad, 1975.
- 10. Harry Cherney newspaper article about his death, Peterborough Examiner, December 29 1984, page 1.
- 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
- Business
- Communities
- Name Access
- Cherney, Erica
- Places
- Peterborough (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-3-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-3-1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 5 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20 x 26 cm or smaller
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1941-1963
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of five photographs documenting the Niagara Rug Company of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The photos include a group image of the company's staff and owner Abe Bogomolny standing in front of the original building on Centre Street, an interior shot of the factory on Victoria Street featuring the looms, two photos of Abe and Hymie Bogomolny inspecting raw materials in the factory on Victoria Street, and a portrait of Abe Bogomolny. The accession also includes one copy of a Niagara Rug Co. promotional flyer.
- Subjects
- Business
- Name Access
- Niagara Rug Company
- Enchin, Brenda
- Bogomolny, Abe
- Bogomolny, Hymie
- Places
- Niagara Falls (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-11-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-11-2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 6 photographs : b&w and col. ; 15 x 20 cm and 9 x 15 cm and 11 x 8 cm
- 1 photograph (electronic) : jpg
- Date
- 1930-2007
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of three colour photographs from the reunion of the Baldwin Club, a young men's club from the 1940s based in Kensington Market. The reunion took place in 2006 at the Steeles Deli (the time stamps on these photographs indicate 2007). The photographs feature: Pearl Godfrey with Rose Simon Zand and her husband David Zand (Rose Simon Zand grew up in the market and her family owned a grocery store); Jack Gelman (founder of the Baldwin Club. His parents owned P. Gelman Fruit and Groceries at 174 Baldwin Street). To his right is his wife. Seated are Rose Simon and Pearl Godfrey; Left to right: Solly Raykeff, Jackie Gelman, Mel Lastman.
- Also included are three black and white photographs depicting 1) Three women in front of 172 Baldwin, left to right: Sandy Shabinsky, Katie Lottman Grossman, Ruth Berman; 2) Two girls in front of 172 Baldwin: left to right: Bella Tichberg (Judy Lottman Tichberg's daughter) and her cousin Henry; 3) Jake Lottman and his father Sam Lottman at 181 Baldwin shown cracking eggs for a photo taken for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Toronto.
- Also included is one electronic photo of three women working at Lottman's bakery (Helen Wiseman who worked at the bakery for 50 years, Katie Lottman Grossman's mother in law Brancha Loffman, and Gertie who also worked at the bakery for many years)
- There is also a small amount of textual records including two newspaper articles entitled "From Humble Beginnings in Kensington" (National Post, 2006) and "Demise of Lottman's Bakery mounred by all" (CJN, Thursday, November 29, 1984); a cookbook of recipes by Rose Simon entitled Recipes by Rose (2001); as well as five photocopies of photos of the Baldwin Street Boys (1940s).
- Administrative History
- Pearl Godfrey's father was Sam Lottman, owner of Lottman's Bakery which opened in the 1920s and was originally located at 172 Baldwin Street. It had a brick oven and on Friday nights women would bring their pots to keep the chollent warm for the Sabath. Sam Lottman was born in Poland and arrived in Toronto when he was 12 years old. He arrived with nothing but soon got a job as a baker. Sam's first wife Bella died in the 1920s. They had two children Judy Tichberg and Joe Lottman. There was also another daughter that died. Sam was a founder of the Hebrew Loan Society (Axia), where members donated 25 cents per week.
- Pearl's mother was Emma (Birkin) Lottman. She arrived from Poland with her sister and mother in 1919 and was a wig maker. Emma Lottman mother would go with neighbours to collect household items for new immigrants. She also worked alongside Sam in the bakery. They lived on top of the bakery until Pearl was 12 years old. Emma and Sam had three children: Jake Lottman, Katie Grossman and Pearl Godfrey. Pearl went to Ryerson Public School and then to Harbord Collegiate for a year before transferring to Forest Hill.
- The family lived on top of the store until 1947 when they moved to 50 Ava Road in Forest Hill. They built a new store at 191 Baldwin. It had a traveling oven which was very rare at the time, which allowed for the baked goods to move along a conveyer belt through the heat.
- Jake who had built the business alongside his father moved to California. Joe Lottman took over the business when Sam retired. Joe died at the age of 60 in 1981 and his daughter Bonnie Lottman and son Terry Lottman ran the business.
- The bakery closed in 1984.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Subjects
- Business
- Name Access
- Lottman, Sam
- Lottman, Emma
- Places
- Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-12-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2013-12-5
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Date
- 1920-1965
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one digital image of a Mandel Bros. Produce Pasteurized Special Sour Cream lid.
- Administrative History
- Mandel’s Creamery opened between 1913-1920. It was initially owned by Harry Mandel. After 1944, it was owned by one of his sons William Mandel and, in the 1950s, it was owned by the brothers Saul, Abraham, Ben, and William Mandel. From 1960 to approximately 1965, it was owned by William Mandel (exclusively).
- Mandel's Creamery manufactured cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and butter milk under the labels Mandel Bros. & Silver Brand. They also manufactured for private label brands and other wholesale and retail customers. They sold wholesale butter, eggs, and hard cheese which they did not manufacture. Low salt & low fat cottage cheese was a specialty sold to institutions such as Baycrest Hospital. Their customers included supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, institutions, resorts, and summer camps. There was also retail sales at the store front at 29 Baldwin St.
- The business was sold by the Mandel family around 1965 to Mr. Bricks and Mr. Caplan who then sold it to Western Creamery some years later.
- Subjects
- Creameries
- Business
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-8-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-8-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- object
- Physical Description
- ca. 15 cm of textual records
- 1 leather hide
- Date
- 1974-2009
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of documents related to UJA Federation committees and the Ontario Jewish Archives. Documents include correspondence, reports, meeting minutes and agendas, promotional material, budgets, and newspaper clippings. Accession also includes a shoe leather hide from Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited that was used at a shoe conference.
- Administrative History
- Cyrel's grandfather, Charles Troster, owned the Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited, a shoe factory, in Toronto. Cyrel's father and all of her uncles worked there. Names on the shoes were as follows: Celina, Lady Edna, Avanti, Charles (Studio of Canada), and Edna.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Subjects
- Business
- Fashion and clothing
- Meetings
- Name Access
- Troster, Charles
- Troster, Cyrel
- Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited (Toronto, Ont.)
- Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
- Places
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-8-8
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-8-8
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Physical Description
- 2 folders of textual records
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm
- 1 pair of shoes
- Date
- 1958-1994
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the activities of Cyrel Troster and the Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited. Included are lists of elected officers and members for B'nai Brith Women (1970-1971), an invitation to a B'nai Brith Women Covenant Breakfast (1958), an issue of the Zionist student publication "masada" (1977), a schedule for High Holiday services at Darchei Noam (1994), an issue of the bulletin "The Window" of B'nai Israel Beth David Congregation (1977), and an issue of the newsletter "Shirayim" of the Canadian Union of Jewish Studies (1972). Also included are a pair of Edna shoes, a sketch of a shoe, a photograph of shoes, and two templates of shoes documenting the work of the Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited.
- Custodial History
- Cyrel found the shoes at a secondhand store and purchased them.
- Administrative History
- Cyrel's grandfather, Charles Troster, owned the Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited, a shoe factory, in Toronto. Cyrel's father and all of her uncles worked there.
- Subjects
- Business
- Fashion and clothing
- Occupations
- Name Access
- Troster, Cyrel
- Troster, Charles
- Edna Shoe Manufacturing Company Limited (Toronto, Ont.)
- Places
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-9-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-9-12
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual material
- Date
- 1973-1974
- Scope and Content
- Accession file consists of letters, posters, press releases, minutes of meeting and policy statements regarding Israeli prisoners of war in Syria. The documents are from many organizations such as the Labor Zionist Alliance, National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, Toronto Jewish Youth Council, and the Canada-Israel Committee.
- Custodial History
- There is no information on the acquisition of this material.
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Israel--Armed Forces
- Name Access
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region (Toronto, Ont.)
- Places
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-10-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-10-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- ca. 250 photographs (3 albums) : b&w and col. ; 53 x 43 cm and smaller
- 9 cm of textual records
- Date
- [191-]-[197-], 1992
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records related to the Title, Samuels and Fishman families. Included are family photographs, and photos related to involvement with philanthropy and industry, materials related to Reliable Toy Company, Forest Hill Collegiate "Forester" year books, a land deed for the Ansheir Yoisher Misrachi Synagogue in Welland, news clippings relating to Alex Samuels death, a Holy Blossom "Tempelite" year book, a Crown Bakery Bread promotional item, a wedding menu from the marriage of Molly Fishman and Harry Title, Molly Fishman's high school diplomas and JNF certificates. There are a number of photos of the Fishman and Title families in Welland and the United States, photos of the Crowland Volunteer Fire Department with Sam and Frank Fishman, Turk family albums with Moishe Turk and Eva Fishman, an album of a sefer torah dedication to Baycrest Hospital in memory of Leah Fishman, photos of the Samuels family, their trip to Israel, promotional photos from the Reliable Toy Company, Beth Tzedec founding board photos, and B'nai Brith Women photos.
- Administrative History
- Samuel (ca. 1882-1929, Russia) and Gussie (nee Moscovitz) (b. ca.1884, Romania) Fishman, immigrated to Welland Ontario from Romania. Both arrived to the USA as teenagers sometime around the turn of the century. Samuel and Gussie were married in the USA and by 1920 immigrated with their young family to the historic township of Crowland in Welland County. Here they opened and operated a men's clothing store. Together they had six children, Molly (b. 1909, USA), Abe (b. 1911, USA), Morris (b. 1916, USA), Ruth (b. 1915, USA), Ann (b. 1920, Ontario) and Ethel. Morris married Pauline and lived in St. Catherines, Ruth married Nate Oelbaum and lived in Tucson Arizona, Anne married Alec Rothman and lived in Port Colborne, Ethel married Eddie Matchtinger and lived in Toronto and Abe never married. Yeva Fishman, the niece of Samuel Fishman married Morris Turk. Her father was (Frank Fishman?) and her mother was Sara Leah Fishman. Molly Fishman married Harry Title (Teitelebaum) (b. ca. 1903). They had three children, Greta (nee Title) Greisman, Sandra (nee Title) Samuels and Stephen (m. Carole Hillman, niece of Ben Hillman). Harry Teitelbaum is the son of Israel and Frumeth Teitelbaum. He was born in Gdansk Poland (b. ca., 1903). Harry Title had four younger siblings Lloyd, Birdie (m. Witlin), Arthur and Lorelle (Lieba) the youngest who was born in Toronto. Harry arrived to Canada shortly after the first world war and worked in the garment industry. He and his brother Arthur founded the Title Dress Company in the late 1920s and operated the business out of 355 Adelaide St. West. In the late 1980s, the business moved from this location to Adelaide and Bathurst. Sandra Title (b. Oct 27, 1936, Toronto), the middle daughter of Molly Fishman and Harry Title, married Lawrence Samuels. Together they had five children Joanna, John, Noah, Tom and Caroline. Lawrence was the eldest son of Alex Samuels (d. 1966) and Kate (nee Goldberg) Samuels. He had two younger siblings Herbie and Florence (m. Bill Goodman). Lawrence's father Alex Samuels immigrated to Canada from Dubrovna, White Russia (present day Dubrouna, Belarus). He immigrated to Canada with his parents Samuel and Chana Samuels and his younger siblings Sol, Ben, Riva and Polly. Alex and his brothers Sol and Ben established Reliable Toy Company in (ca. 1929) on Carlaw Ave. They sold the company in 1990.
- Subjects
- Business
- Charities
- Families
- Places
- Welland, Ont.
- Toronto, Ont.
- Israel
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-11-14
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2015-11-14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Date
- [194-]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one photograph of Max Swartz standing in front of his dry goods store at 182 Dundas Street West, circa 1940s. The store closed around 1949.
- Administrative History
- Max Swartz was born in Russia and served in the Russian army. He emigrated to Canada before the First World War. Max is the donor's paternal uncle.
- Subjects
- Business
- Name Access
- Swartz, Max
- Places
- St. John's Ward (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-60
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-60
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- ca. 5 cm of textual records
- 2 photographs : col. & b&w ; 10 x 15 cm and 5 x 4 cm
- Date
- 1972-2010, predominant 1977-1983
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the Robinson family's immigration to Ontario and Morris Robinson's professional history and business activities with Libman and Company.
- Included are family correspondence, the Robinsons' customs paperwork and travel documents, Morris' curriculum vitae, professional records and some documentation of his business activities, and genealogical accounts of the Robinson family (including a history by Lilian Henry). Of note is a letter Morris Robinson sent to Irma when he first arrived in Boston on his way to Toronto and letters Morris' parents hand delivered to Irma just before she left with the children to join Morris in Canada.
- Identified in the photographs are: Morris Robinson and Phoebe Robinson.
- Custodial History
- Material was in possession of Morris Robinson. Morris donated it to the OJA.
- Administrative History
- Morris Robinson was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on 27 May 1948 and grew up in Benoni. He completed his bachelor of commerce degree at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated as a chartered accountant in 1973. On 25 February 1973, Morris married Irma Startz, who was born in Benoni, South Africa, on 10 December 1951. Irma earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Witwatersrand and went on to obtain a post-graduate higher teacher's diploma. The Robinsons have three sons. Their first son, Marc, was born in South Africa on 26 September 1976 (just a few months after the Soweto riots). Their sons Frank (b. 31 December 1980) and Daniel (b. 12 March 1985) were born in Toronto.
- The Robinsons were motivated by political unrest, which manifested in the anti-apartheid Soweto uprising of June 1976, and the desire for a safe future for their family, to seek opportunity abroad and to emigrate. In February 1977, Morris heard through friends about an accounting job opportunity in Canada and was officially appointed to the post of comptroller at Libman and Company, then Canadas’ largest jewellery manufacturer. The Robinsons arrived in Toronto in early 1978 and settled in Thornhill, Ontario. In 1989, Morris became a partner of Libman and Company. During his career in the jewellery industry, Morris was involved with the Canadian Jewellers Association and served as the organization's chair. He was also a founding member and first treasurer of the Diamond Bourse of Canada. Irma pursued a teaching career with the Toronto District School Board, specializing in ESL and eventually becoming the principal at an ESL school for adults. The Robinsons were founding members of Shaar Shalom Synagogue. In 2012, the Robinsons sold the family home in Thornhill and moved into the city to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: Textual records available as PDF files and photographs available as JPEG files.
- Subjects
- Business
- Immigrants--Canada
- Families
- South Africa--Emigration and immigration
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-6-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-6-12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- ca. 60 cm of textual records
- 11 photographs (3 negatives) : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
- Date
- 1976-[ca. 1990]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual and graphic records that trace Natan Sharansky's history as a prisoner of political conscience; the broader Refusenik issue; and the community advocacy efforts of Debby and Stan Solomon from 1976 and into the late 1980s at the local, national and international scales. Included are memos and newsletters from the Committee for Soviet Jewry (Ontario Region and national-level); background information as well as petition templates, speeches and planning documentation produced by the Committee to Release Anatoly Sharansky and the Beth Tikvah Synagogue in conjunction with community organizations, including the CJC and its Soviet Jewry social action committees, to support on-going advocacy efforts; correspondence with Canadian and American political representatives at the provincial/state and national levels; white papers/grey literature from non-governmental organizations about the persecution of the Soviet Jewry; planning documentation from the First Annual Sharansky Lectureship on Human Rights in 1980; correspondence, articles and ephemera associated with the granting of Sharansky's honourary law doctorate from York University in 1982; 1985 Freedom Rally/Weekend in Ottawa planning documentation and correspondence; 1987 National Conference on the Soviet Jewry and Mobilization for Freedom planning documentation; 1987 Community Rally at Massey Hall promotional materials; and promotional materials from Sharansky's autobiographical "Fear No Evil" 1988 book launch. Graphic material includes photographs of Sharansky's release during the February 11, 1986 American-Soviet prisoner exchange on the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin.
- Identified in the photographs are: Debby Solomon; Stan Solomon; Natan Sharansky; Avital Sharansky; U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt;
- Custodial History
- Material was collected and/or created by Debby Solomon, Natan Sharansky's cousin. Debby donated it to the OJA.
- Administrative History
- Debby Solomon is the cousin of Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky, the Soviet born Israeli politician, human activist and author who spent nine years in Soviet prisons. Debby's father Boris Landis (born 1900) and Sharansky's father were first cousins.Their grandfathers were brothers. Debby's father immigrated 1929 to Toronto from Russia as his older brothers were already in Toronto. Debby and her husband Stan Solomon got involved in the community's activism efforts to free Sharansky and other Refuseniks.They were worked for many years on these efforts by planning programs through their synagogue Beth Tikvah and with Sam Filer, a lawyer and volunteer at the CJC who was also a member of Beth Tikvah.
- Subjects
- Antisemitism
- Politics and government
- Human rights
- Demonstrations
- Synagogues
- Committees
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-63
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-3-63
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- [192-?]-1953
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material primarily documenting kosher meat scandals and strikes in Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s as well as the Kehilla (Toronto Rabbinical Board). There are complete pages of some documents and portions of others. The documents are flyers (public notices) in Yiddish (with some Hebrew in religious context and quotations) to do with a scandal or several scandals in which it became clear a number of butchers were operating outside Rabbinical Board supervision and therefore selling (assumed to be) treif meat to Toronto Jews. Secondary scandal with Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart, who allegedly split off from the Rabbinical Board with six butchers to do business outside the union, with wholesalers, and gaining more money than union butchers and the rabbis working with them. Another thread relates to a strike for cheaper meat, including meetings of women picketers, and then for better conditions for local butchers. The flyers mostly fall between 1920-1940. All are from Toronto. Lists of local butchers’ shops with addresses and names are included.
- Additional flyers cover Communist protests and protest meetings against German fascism and pogroms, specifically Hitler's government's prosecution of the Communist Party of Germany related to the Reichstag fire. Also included are a 1953 flyer for the tenth anniversary commemoration of the Latvian-Lithuanian Jews’ annihilation, and an open letter to Rabbi Abraham Aaron Price regarding his title.
- Custodial History
- There is no information on the acquisition of this material. However, retrieved from the original package in which the material was lodged was a note "Kashruth fliers from E. Miller" or Mitler.
- Descriptive Notes
- Language: Yiddish with some Hebrew (phrases and quotations).
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Kosher food
- Rabbis
- Places
- Augusta Avenue (Toronto. Ont.)
- College Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Dundas Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Kensington Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-10-3
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-10-3
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records (1 vol.)
- 1 photograph
- Date
- 1889-1890, [between 1914-1918]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of a ledger book from Henry Sadowski's General Store in Massey, Ontario. The book features entries that document various purchases during 1889 and 1890. Half of the book is written in Yiddish and the other half is in English. The store appears to have operated on credit, allowing purchasers to buy goods and then pay their balance all at once.
- There is also one photograph of an unknown soldier of the First World War. The photograph was tucked between the pages of the book. There is Yiddish writing on the reverse side.
- Administrative History
- Henry Sadowski was married to Rose Sadowski. He was the mayor of Massey, Ontario in 1914 and ran the General Store. Henry and Rose also owned a lumber camp in the area.
- Descriptive Notes
- SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Entries in English are written phonetically. For example, the word "pad" refers to "paid", and the words "to goods" refers to "two goods."
- Subjects
- Communities
- Business
- Name Access
- Sadowski, Henry
- Places
- Massey, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-7-7
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-7-7
- Material Format
- sound recording
- textual record (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 13 audio cassettes
- 1 folder of textual records (PDF)
- Date
- 2001-2007
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of audio cassette tapes containing interviews Lisa Newman conducted regarding the Rotenberg and Pines families. Included are interviews with: Aubey Rotenberg, Moe and Bernice Ceresne, Cyril Rotenberg, Lailla Rapoport, Laya Kurtz, David Rotenberg, Ken Rotenberg, Harvey Rotenberg, and Radha Ahuja (born Bluma Rotenberg).
- Also included are textual records documenting the Rotenberg family's history. These include issues of the Ivansk Project e-newsletters, which contain entries written by Lisa Newman Greenspan (Issue #15 Nov.-Dec. 2005, Issue #23 Mar.-Apr. 2007, Issue #25 July-Aug. 2007).
- Administrative History
- Louis (Elazar / Loozer) Rotenberg (b. 17 Feb. 1863-d. 31 Dec. 1936) immigrated to Toronto in 1893. He was possibly the first Jew to immigrate to Toronto from Ivansk, Poland. He had married Rivka (nee Cukier) (b. 9 Jan. 1864-d. 4 Jun. 1956) in 1883. She followed him to Toronto with their four children in 1895. They had an additional five children in Toronto. Their children were: Harry (b. 31 Oct. 1884-d. 26 May 1937), Max (Mordechai) (b. 25 Dec. 1886-d. 8 May 1958), Louis (Leibish) (b. 14 Dec. 1885-d. 24 Dec. 1961), Meta (b. 12 July 1892-d. 26 July 1954), Meyer (b. 9 Mar. 1894-d. 25 Jun. 1958), Charlie (b. 5 Aug. 1897-d. 21 Sept. 1949), Naftali Hertz (b. Jun. 1899-d. Feb. 1971), Zechariah (b. 1902-d. at age 4 in 1906), and Hilda (b. 16 Jun. 1904-d. 25 Mar. 1999). Louis opened a banking, steamship and insurance office in Toronto with three of his sons (Louis Jr., Harry and Max) in 1916. The business eventually became known as Rotenberg's Ltd. Louis passed away in 1936.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Subjects
- Business
- Interviews
- Families
- Name Access
- Rotenberg, Louis
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-12-45
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-12-45
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs : b&w ; col. ; 8 x 11 cm
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1958-2010
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of family photos of Victor Latchman and textual records about Victor's business Taylors Shoes. Identified in the photos are: Victor Latchman and Rosalie Greenspan, Donald and Annette Latchman and Victor and Rosalie in Miami (1960s). Textual records include a business card for Taylors Shoes and an article about Latchman's retirement published in the Bloor West Town Crier (February 2010).
- Administrative History
- Philip and Sally (Sugarman) Latchman were married in 1932. In November 1933, Sally gave birth to identical triplets Donald, Marvin and Victor. In celebration, they were sent the King's Bounty of 3 British pounds. The boys were interviewed every year on their birthday by Toronto newspapers until they decided to stop the publicity. The family lived in the Bloor-Markham area until the boys were 11. The family then moved to Montclair Avenue where the boys attended Forest Hill Public School. They had their bar-mitzvahs at the Hebrew Men of England Synagogue. The triplets' father, Philip Latchman was a founding members of Beth Sholom Synagogue. Donald Latchman was on the board and Rosalie Latchman was active in the congregation.
- Philip and his younger brother Morris Latchman started Federal Farms Limited in 1948 on 150 acres of Holland March in Brantford, Ontario. They grew vegetables: potatoes, carrots, celery and rutabegas. They also had a potato chip company Mad Hatter Snack Foods which was Kosher for Passover. Federal Farms Ltd. went public in 1961 and Loblaws bought 51% of the shares.
- Donald attended Ryerson business school and founded Latchman Insurance Brokers. He married Annette Bachst, a Holocaust survivor who grew up in New York.
- Marvin attended Ryerson business school then worked for Federal Farms at the Ontario Food Terminal. Later he became a real estate broker. He married Shirley Wolkofsky.
- Victor worked on the family farm and at Federal Fruit Company at the Ontario Food Terminal. Victor took a business course at Shaw's Business School. In 1966 he bought Taylors shoes, a business at 2934 Dundas Street. West started in 1920 by Sid Taylor. Victor helped start the Junction Business Improvement Association and was twice pesident of Junction Gardens BIA. He retired in 2009. Victor and Rosalie Greenspan (d. 2014) were married at Beth Sholom in 1958 by Rabbi David Monson. Their children are Howard, and Faith and Mitchell Sherman. Their grand-children are Matthew, Jennifer and Russell Sherman. Victor and Rosalie were honoured at Beth Sholom Synagogue on 26 October 2013 for their 55th wedding anniversary.
- In 2012 at age 78, the triplets believed themselves to be the oldest male identical triplets alive in Canada.
- Descriptive Notes
- ASSOCIATED MATERIALS NOTE: See accession 2016-7-5 (Victor Latchman) and 2002-10-66 (Morris Latchman). RELATED MATERIALS NOTE: Federal Farms Limited fonds at Simcoe County Archives.
- Subjects
- Business
- Families
- Name Access
- Latchman, Annette
- Latchman, Donald
- Latchman, Rosalie
- Latchman, Victor
- Places
- Miami (Fla.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-4-8
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-4-8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1962-2009
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of textual records that include building permits, letters between Ed's Warehouse and Toronto City Hall regarding air pollution, a letter from Mel Lastman, Business Executives' Dining Award (1985,1986), employee benefits and codes, and Honest Ed's Special flyers (2001-2009). The permits include requests to make alterations to the theater and factory building for a theatre (1971) and alter an art studio for a coffee house (1966).
- Custodial History
- Brought in by Alicia Payne of the Centre for Social Innovation following the Honest Eds' Closing Party.
- Administrative History
- Honest Ed's (1948-2016) was Canada's first discount retail store opened by Ed and Anne Mirvish at the corner of Bloor and Markham Streets. The store closed on December 31, 2016.
- Subjects
- Business
- Name Access
- Mirvish, Ed
- Mirvish, David
- Honest Ed's (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2020-4-6
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2020-4-6
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 69 photographs : col. (jpg)
- Date
- 21 Apr. 2020
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs documenting signage installed in Jewish owned storefront businesses and organizations on Bathurst Street, North of Glencairn and South of Lawrence during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Administrative History
- Collection of photographs taken in response to the OJA's Covid-19 documentation project.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Descriptive Notes
- Use Conditions: Please credit photographer Shane Teper.
- Subjects
- Business
- COVID-19 (Disease)
- Places
- Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
