- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 93
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-2000, predominant 1929-1947
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- 3 albums (ca. 210 photographs)
- 2 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- Heinz Kassel (1912-2009) (later changed to Henry Cassel) was a German refugee during the Second World War who was classified as an enemy alien by the British government. He spent two years in an internment camp for prisoners of war (POWs) in Quebec. He later became a naturalized Canadian citizen and enlisted in the Canadian military.
- Heinz was born on October 25, 1912 in Aschaffenburg, Germany to Adolf and Olga Kassel. Adolf owned a successful banking business which he had inherited from his father. The family resided above the bank and lived a comfortable life during these early years. They moved to Frankfurt around 1920 after Adolf sold his business to buy a partnership in a bank there.
- Heinz’s parents had hoped that he would one day become a corporate lawyer. In 1931, in preparation for his future career, he began studying law and economics at Frankfurt University. He enjoyed his initial university years. However, after Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, he became alarmed when his non-Jewish university friends began ignoring him and when the German government passed laws forbidding Jews from practicing law in court. Determined to leave Germany and seek out a better life elsewhere, he begged his parents to immigrate with him to the United States. They refused to go, unwilling to leave behind the life they had worked so hard to build. In accordance with his parents’ wishes, Heinz relocated to nearby Italy instead of the US in 1934. He learned Italian and eventually secured a job with an engineering firm.
- Sensing that the political climate in Italy was becoming dangerous for Jewish people, Heinz applied for immigration to the US in early 1939. Eager to leave Italy, he relocated to London to await the approval of his US visa. He left just in time: Britain declared war on Germany less than a week after his arrival. His parents, in turn, managed to escape to Holland. Soon after Britain’s declaration, all immigrants from enemy countries were considered enemy aliens and suspected of being spies.
- On May 12, 1940, the British military arrested Heinz and interned him with other German immigrants and POWs. He believed his detainment was only a precautionary measure and that he would be cleared within a few days. However, the British shipped him to the Isle of Man where he remained for several months. Fearing an invasion, the British shipped 3,000 of the POWs, including Kassel, to Quebec, where he was briefly interned at a POW camp set up at the Plains of Abraham. In October 1940, he was moved with 736 other refugees to an abandoned railway yard (later known as “Camp N”) in Newington, near Sherbrooke, Quebec. While there, he confronted a great deal of antisemitism from the guards.
- While he was interned in Quebec, the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) interviewed him and other Jewish prisoners in order to lobby for their release. Realizing that the internees were not POWs, the Canadian government declared the camp a refugee camp in 1941. By October 1942, the CJC was successful in helping Heinz secure employment with Benjamin Pape & Company in Toronto.
- Heinz met Reta Freeman in Toronto and they were married in November 1944. Reta was born and raised in Toronto. After their nuptials, they were both briefly classified as enemy aliens and had to report to the RCMP on a regular basis. Shortly thereafter, Heinz enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army and was sent to basic training in Manitoba. On January 21, 1946 he was granted landed immigrant status, and in April of that year, he became a citizen.
- After the war, Heinz learned that his parents as well as other relatives had been transported to concentration camps and had not survived. He was certainly one of the few fortunate ones to leave the country, despite the circumstances of his removal. He resented being interned for so long, but did not blame the British for rounding him up with other Germans based on their initial fears regarding enemy aliens. His feelings about Canada's treatment of him during that time, however, were not as sympathetic.
- The couple lived their lives in Toronto. They first resided at 2346 Yonge Street. Heinz legally changed his name to Henry Cassel. He worked as an accountant and later was a controller for the United Jewish Welfare Fund. The couple had two children: Andrew (b. 1947) and Richard (b. 1951). Reta passed away in August 1962 and Henry later remarried Esther Cassel. He passed away at the age of 96 on February 15, 2009.
- Custodial History
- Records were created and accumulated by Henry Cassel. His sons donated them to the OJA after his death.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the life of Henry Cassel, particularly his attempt to emigrate from Europe prior to the Second World War and his internment in Canada as a German prisoner of war (POW). Included is personal correspondence between Cassel and his parents; correspondence written by Cassel to potential employers and Canadian Jewish agencies; legal documents and certificates, such as Cassel's birth certificate and passport; family photo albums documenting the family and lives of Henry Cassel and his wife Reta; Cassel's autobiography; a journal and notebook written by Cassel during his internment; and, other internment records, such as government forms and poems and songs written by internees. Also included are newspaper clippings, articles, financial statements, genealogical research, and antisemitic ephemera collected by Cassel. Of particular note are newsletters that were produced during the 1990s by ex-internees who had kept in touch over the years. Records are arranged into 16 files.
- Notes
- Textual records in the fonds were reduced from ca. 20 cm to 8 cm. Please see accession record for further details about the culled material.
- Associated material notes: for related records at other archives, please see: the UJRA case files at the National CJC Archive in Montreal and the holdings at Library and Archives Canada (such as, the Directorate of Internment Operations series in the Department of National Defense fonds R112-0-2-E)
- Name Access
- Cassel, Henry, 1912-2009
- Subjects
- Europe--Emigration and immigration
- Prisoners of war
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- See: Canadian Jewish Congress case files in RG 282 and accession #2005-10-1.
- Creator
- Cassel, Henry, 1912-2009
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1931-1933
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting Heinz Kassel's university education in Germany. The bulk of the records are textual and include study books and academic certificates. Also included is one photograph of Heinz with friends at the Berlin University in 1932. Identified in the photograph are (left to right): Heinz Kassel, Horst Wolf, Tamara (?), Fritz (?), and Franz Oppenheimer.
- Related Material
- A similar photograph of Heinz with his university friends can be found in the Kassel family photo album (fonds 93, file 2).
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1921-2000, predominant 1935-1939
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and legal records documenting Henry Cassel's emigration from Germany and attempt to immigrate to the United States of America. Included is Henry's passport, nationality identification card, birth certificates, driving certificates, USA immigration sponsorship application, correspondence regarding his application to enter the USA, criminal background checks, a citizenship visa for Italy, and a registration card indicating Henry's place of employment. Also included are newspaper clippings that were collected by Henry regarding the Jewish community of Ferrara, Italy (a region that Henry had travelled through).
- Notes
- Photocopies of some Italian and German records with translated titles are attached to the accession record.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1940]-1947, 1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Henry Cassel's personal and legal correspondence. The bulk of the correspondence is between Henry and his parents during his internment in Canada. Also included is correspondence between Henry and his cousin just after the war in which he learns of his parents' death, and legal correspondence regarding his parents' possessions. Finally, file contains correspondence regarding Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1940-1942
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting Henry Cassel's internment in England and Canada. Cassel originally maintained these records together in a binder. Included is a journal documenting Cassel's first few months in the camps, correspondence between Cassel and Jewish agencies, instruction sheets and correspondence regarding camp functions and regulations, blank copies of government forms that were filled in by internees in Canada, poems and/or songs written by internees about their experience, newspaper clippings, a copy of the standing orders for the camp, correspondence between the camp committee and the commanding officer, a financial statement, a program for a play put on in the camp by internees, and correspondence regarding Cassel's activities as canteen steward.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 9
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1969, 1996-2000
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and issues of the Ex-Internees Newsletter, which was produced by men who had been interned with Cassel in Canada.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 14
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [193-?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual record
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a newspaper clipping and a circular cut-out of a German anti-Semitic Jewish caricature. These records are of unknown origins.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research records sub-series
- Hate crimes and hate literature sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 17; Series 5-4-6; File 56
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- Community Relations Committee series
- Research records sub-series
- Hate crimes and hate literature sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 17
- Series
- 5-4-6
- File
- 56
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1968
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, a submission to the Special Senate Committee on the Criminal Code (Hate Propaganda), the script for a pamphlet, and newspaper clippings regarding the passage of legislation against hate propaganda.
- Notes
- General: Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- ID
- Fonds 14
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 14
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- 1917-2011
- Physical Description
- 2.82 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- As early as 1916 the Ezras Noshem Society (a mutual benefit society for Jewish women) started to raise funds to purchase and renovate what would become The Toronto Jewish Old Folks' Home (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care’s forerunner) after its members recognized the need for a home in Toronto where the Jewish elderly could receive kosher meals and communicate with staff in their own language. Property at 31 Cecil Street was purchased in 1917 and sometime between September 1918 and January 1920 the Home officially opened there. The Home was run by a small staff and the women of Ezras Noshem who volunteered their time to make beds, cook kosher meals, do laundry and sponsor fundraising events. By 1938 the Home had expanded into its neighboring houses at 29, 33, and 35 Cecil Street and was caring for 115 residents. It provided residents with synagogue services, a hospital ward and social activities. At this time the Home also became a member of the United Jewish Welfare Fund.
- In 1946, the need for a larger and more modern building prompted a fundraising campaign, which was headed by Abe Posluns, to purchase and build a new facility. In December 1954, the new building opened at 3650 Bathurst Street and consisted of two new institutions: The Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital. This location continued to expand over the years, including a new building for residents in 1968, an apartment building for seniors called the Baycrest Terrace in 1976, and a community centre known as The Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre in 1977. These additions enabled Baycrest to expand its programs to include a day care program, recreational programs, and a Sheltered Workshop which was run in cooperation with the Jewish Vocational Service and provided residents with employment. In 1986 a new Baycrest Hospital was erected, and in 1989, the Rotman Research Institute, which is also affiliated with the University of Toronto, opened to create a research facility where top researchers could study and find new treatment methods for the elderly.
- In recent years, Baycrest’s services and programs have continued to expand. In 2000, the Apotex Centre, the Jewish Home for the Aged and the Louis and Leah Posluns Centre for Stroke and Cognition opened to help residents with progressive dementia caused by vascular disorders. In 2001 a condominium building opened at 2 Neptune Drive for seniors, and in 2003 the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic was established to provide out-patient services for seniors with memory disorders. Baycrest Centre also provides numerous cultural and religious programs for the inhabitants and the greater community, including a heritage museum, art exhibits and a Holocaust program.
- Custodial History
- Records were donated to the OJA in a series of accessions from a variety of sources, including the Baycrest Women's Auxiliary and the Multicultural Historical Society of Ontario.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the history, governance, and activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, reports, speeches, photographs, artifacts, constitutions, publications, press releases, financial records, event invitations, programs, a scrapbook, a poster, lists, theatrical scripts, newspaper clippings, brochures and booklets, flyers, a land deed, certificates, schedules, annual calendars, cards, questionnaires, and lists.
- Fonds is arranged into eleven series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports; 3. Committees and meetings; 4. Women's Auxiliary; 5. Men's Service Group; 6. Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home; 7. Programs and services; 8. Religious services; 9. Fundraising; 10. Publications and publicity; and, 11. Events. Records are described to the file level with some item level descriptions.
- Notes
- Physical description note: Includes 1102 photographs, 4 coins, 2 posters, 1 badge, 1 pin, 1 key chain, 1 postcard, and 1 pen.
- Associated material note: related material at Library and Archives Canada includes a small Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds, and the Eric Exton fonds. For architectural records see the Irving D. Boigon fonds 243 at the City of Toronto Archives (Boigon was an architect who designed many of Baycrest's buildings between the 1970s and 1990s). Contact Baycrest Centre's Heritage Museum for committee records from the 1930s, and consult Baycrest's website to access electronic copies of current issues of Baycrest's publications.
- Name Access
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
- Baycrest Hospital
- Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)
- Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)
- Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Hospitals
- Old age homes
- Related Material
- See Gordon Mendly Fonds 18, series 3-4; Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds 75; United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds 67; accession # 2009-6-2; Dora Till Fonds 52; J. Irving Oelbaum Fonds 24; Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds 61, series 1-1; Gilbert Studios fonds 37; Ben Kayfetz fonds 62, series 3, file 3; JFWB fonds 87, series 6, files 5 and 6; JIAS fonds 9, series 7, file 1; Harold S. Kaplan fonds 27, series 1-4, and Morris Norman fonds 22.
- Creator
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 1917-
- Accession Number
- 1982-11-1
- 1983-11-2
- 1988-2-7
- 1979-9-17
- 1979-9-23
- 1987-9-7
- 2004-5-50
- MG 2 O 1A
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- ID
- Fonds 17
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 17
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1936-1992
- Physical Description
- 47 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- By 1919 the plight of post-war eastern European Jewry and the need for a united community voice for Canadian Jewry led to the creation of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Its founding meeting was held on March 16, 1919 in Montreal. Though it briefly maintained a tiny regional office in Toronto, the CJC remained inactive until 1933, when it fully reconvened by opening offices in Winnipeg, Montreal, and Toronto. Egmont L. Frankel was the first president of the new central division in Toronto. While the national office in Montreal focused on the overarching issues of the social and economic rights of European Jewry, assistance for Jewish immigrants, and combating prejudice in Canada, the Toronto office dealt with local, violent anti-Jewish demonstrations as well as continuing discrimination both in employment and in access to public recreational facilities. The structure was based on regular national biennial plenary conferences, at which policies were delineated and national and regional executives were elected. Between plenary sessions, national and regional councils were in charge. These were augmented by the following standing committees: administrative, officers, personnel, financial, publications, and educational and cultural. Special committees were created to deal with issues such as: youth, community loans, kashruth, fundraising, Israel, Russian Jewry, and various emergency issues such as refugees, immigration, and housing.
- During the 1930s the central division office moved several times and occupied offices in the following locations: Yonge Street, the Bond Street Synagogue, Scheuer House, the Zionist Building, and its long-term home at 150-152 Beverley Street, where it remained until its July 1983 move to the Lipa Green Building in North York.
- The CJC's activities expanded to include taking responsibility for Jewish educational standards, but by 1941 its main efforts shifted to support for Canada’s war effort. Immediately after the end of the war, the focus again shifted to Jewish immigration projects and the maintenance of Jewish identity in small communities. By 1950, the CJC’s use of the title “division” was changed to “region” to accommodate internal operational divisions within each region. Also, by then, the central region was busy expanding its programs for all Ontario Jewish communities, creating a province-wide council of youth groups, and working with the newly-created Bureau of Jewish Education (later Board of Jewish Education, now Mercaz). Standardization of kashruth rules in Ontario was implemented. As well, regular educational conferences and cultural events were held throughout the province, while province-wide fundraising efforts in support of Moess Chittin for relief projects in Israel and for local Congress activities were expanded. Many of its educational and cultural responsibilities necessitated working with other Jewish organizations such as the United Jewish Welfare Fund, Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS), Hadassah, the Canadian Legion, B’nai Brith, the World Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Congress, and the many landsmenshaften (Jewish mutual benefit societies, each formed by immigrants originating from the same Eastern European community).
- During the 1960s, the central region began sending Moess Chittin relief shipments to Cuban Jews unable to acquire kosher foods for Passover. Its lobbying efforts included participation in the Royal Commissions on Hate Propaganda, and its greatest success came with the introduction and implementation of Ontario’s fair employment and fair accommodation practices legislation, an achievement in which Congress played a pivotal role.
- From 1971 to 1989 the major focus became international and national lobbying for, and providing support to, Soviet Jewry. Virtually all local and Canadian efforts to assist the Soviet Jewish “refusniks” were organized and coordinated in Toronto by the Ontario region office, which provided staff and funding for the many lobbying activities and public demonstrations that characterized this successful effort.
- As of November 1975, the central region’s responsibilities in Toronto were radically altered. To improve cost efficiency in Toronto, CJC educational and social service program activities were merged with similar programs already provided by Toronto’s United Jewish Appeal. The UJA assumed sole responsibility for these amalgamated programs in Toronto and was renamed Toronto Jewish Congress. The central region still retained province-wide responsibilities for Ontario’s smaller Jewish communities, and its office remained in Toronto. Also, following this reorganization, its name was changed to Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region. Although CJC no longer provided direct social and educational programs to Toronto, the TJC’s senior executive was, at the time, still obliged to continue to keep it notified about developments concerning previous Congress responsibilities.
- From 1983, the Ontario Region's offices were located in the Lipa Green Building at 4600 Bathurst Street. It continued its work of financially supporting various Israeli institutions and fostering Canada-Israel relations. It also spearheaded the movement to support and protect Jews in Arab lands, especially in Syria. Funding for the CJC came from the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, which restributed a portion of the funds raised by the local Jewish federations across Canada.
- The CJC dissolved in 2011. Today, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) acts as the Jewish community's primary lobby group.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of the records of the Ontario Region office of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Of primary importance in documenting this organization’s history are its minutes of the Executive and Administrative Committees and the various standing, and short-term committees such as Community Organization, Finance, Fund Raising, Educational and Cultural, Research, Immigration, War Efforts, and Jewish Education. Most of these records are still managed all together within Fonds 17, Series 1. Fonds 17, Series 2 contains the general subject and correspondence files of these committees. Records in both series require further processing.
- Records now found in Series 3 document the efforts of the Committee for Soviet Jewry in coordinating the activities of the many Toronto and Ontario organizations involved in assisting Soviet Jewry during the 1971 to 1989 period.
- Series 4 consists of administrative and committee records of the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies in Toronto from 1938 through 1967. These document its work rescuing the survivors of European Jewish communities, settling as many as possible in Ontario, and providing assistance to those attempting to obtain restitution payments.
- Series 5 consists of the records of the Community Relations Committee (1938-1976). Responding to depression-era anti-Semitism in Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress and B’nai Brith together established in 1938 a new joint committee. Since then this Committee has documented racist threats in Canada; initiated advocacy activities to work for improved civil rights; promoted legislation combating hate; worked to ensure equality of access to employment, education and accommodation; and investigated specific incidents of discrimination. The Committee, for example, played a key role in achieving the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1944, and the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1951, key steps leading to Canada’s current Human Rights Code. Although originally named Joint Public Relations Committee in 1938, a series of name changes later occurred; s follows: Joint Community Relations Committee, Central Region (1962-1978), Joint Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1978-ca. 1991) Community Relations Committee, CJC, Ontario Region (ca. 1991-present) Records in this series were reorganized into 5 sub-series and a further 9 sub-sub-series during the 2009 to 2011 period. For further details please view the database records for Fonds 17, Series 5. Although this series will eventually hold all CRC records up to 1992, only those prior to 1979 are currently fully processed.
- Notes
- Physical description note: Includes 1839 photographs, 89 audio cassettes, 11 videocassettes, 4 drawings, and 6 microfilm reels (16 mm).
- Processing note: Processing of this fonds is ongoing. Additional descriptive entries will be added in future.
- Name Access
- Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region
- Subjects
- Pressure groups
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the Archivist prior to accessing some of the records
- Arrangement
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the Archivist prior to accessing some of the records.
- Creator
- Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region (1919-2011)
- Places
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Name
- Fanny Gertzbein
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 2 Oct. 1984
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Fanny Gertzbein
- Number
- OH 33
- Subject
- Charities
- Immigrants--Canada
- Interview Date
- 2 Oct. 1984
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Morris Silbert
- Total Running Time
- OH 033: 27:34 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003.
- Notes
- Language: Fanny often speaks Yiddish with Morris Silbert providing a translation.
- Related group of records external to the unit being described: accession 2019-7/2 includes comments by Gella Rothstein on this oral history.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Fanny Gurtzbein (née Goldhar) immigrated from Poland to Toronto in 1903. Fanny lived with her parents and siblings in Toronto's Ward district. Although raised in poverty, Barney, Fanny's brother, went on to become a successful furrier; Fanny's mother, Tzyerl Goldhar, became the organizer of the Mothers and Babes Summer Rest Home.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- Yiddish
- English
- Name Access
- Goldhar, Myer
- Goldhar, Tzeryl
- Goldhar, Barney
- Gurtzbein, Fanny
- Geographic Access
- St. John's Ward (Toronto, Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 33 - Gertzbein\OH33_001_Log.docx
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Morris Fishman
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 12 Jul. 1977
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Morris Fishman
- Number
- OH 36
- Subject
- Antisemitism
- Communities
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 12 Jul. 1977
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Richard Menkis
- Total Running Time
- Side 1 46 minutes Side 2 17 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Morris Fishman was born on 29 September 1916 in New Jersey. His family moved to Welland, Ontario when he was an infant. He attended elementary and high school in Welland and completed two years at the University of Toronto. He worked in a family menswear business in Welland. Morris was actively involved in the Jewish community including participation in the Anshe Yosher Congregation, the Jewish Cultural Society, and the Jacob Goldblatt B'nai Brith Lodge. He was married and had two daughters.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Fishman, Morris
- Geographic Access
- Welland (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 36 - Fishman\OH36_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 36 - Fishman\OH36_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Morris Fishman praises the efforts of the non-Jewish community in Welland, Ontario to support the building of a new synagogue following a fire that destroyed the old synagogue in 1954.
In this clip, Morris Fishman discusses the Jacob Goldblatt B’nai Brith Lodge in Welland, Ontario.
- Name
- Joe and Minna Loewith
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 3 Jun. 1984
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Joe and Minna Loewith
- Number
- OH 37
- OH 38
- Subject
- Agriculture
- Immigrants--Canada
- Interview Date
- 3 Jun. 1984
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Morris Silbert
- Total Running Time
- OH 037_001: 31 minutes OH 037_002: 31 minutes OH 038_001 8 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
- Joe and Minna Loewith immigrated to Canada in November 1938 from the Sudetenland. After arriving in Canada, they settled on the Wren Farm outside of Hamilton, Ontario, along with their family and other members of the immigration group. They got married in 1942. Afterwards, they bought a farm from their brother-in-law and then lived with their three sons on the farm.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Loewith, Joe
- Loewith, Mina
- Silbert, Morris
- Geographic Access
- Hamilton (Ont.)
- Sudetenland (Czech Republic)
- Burlington (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 37, OH 38 - Loewith\OH37_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 37, OH 38 - Loewith\OH37_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 37, OH 38 - Loewith\OH38_001_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Minna Loewith recalls the events beginning in the summer through the fall of 1938 that led her family to emigrate from Czechoslovakia to Canada.
In this clip, Minna shares some of her earliest recollections of when she and her family arrived in Canada in November 1938.
In this clip, Joe Loewith explains the conditions for Czech immigration to Canada set by the CPR and how they were met.
- Name
- Dr. Meyers Stitt
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 10 Oct. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Dr. Meyers Stitt
- Number
- OH 39
- Subject
- Port Arthur and Fort. William (Thunder Bay)
- Family history
- Interview Date
- 10 Oct. 1985
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Morris Silbert
- Total Running Time
- 001: 31.20 minutes 002: 10.09 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied to cassette in August 2003
- Copied to digital file on 9 Dec. 2014.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Dr. Meyers Lawson Stitt graduated in dentistry from the University of Toronto in 1927. A scholarship in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto was established in honour of his memory by his son, Mr. Bert Stitt, and his family. These awards are to be given to the students with the highest overall academic achievement in the work of first-year dentistry and were first awarded in 1998.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Fort William (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 39 - Stitt\OH39_001_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Dr. Coleman Solursh
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 3 Jan. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Dr. Coleman Solursh
- Number
- OH 40
- OH 41
- Subject
- Physicians
- Societies
- Occupations
- Medical care
- Interview Date
- 3 Jan. 1985
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Morris Silbert
- Total Running Time
- 040A: 34 minutes 040B: 31 minutes 041A: 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
- Coleman Solursh was born in Toronto in 1906. He graduated as a physician in 1932. He worked as a lodge doctor. He was involved in the Toronto Jewish Lodge Doctors Association. He worked in the field of family medicine and was appointed chief of the Department of Family Practice at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was appointed associate chief of medicine at Baycrest, Jewish Home for the Aged. He married Zelda Singer, a third-generation Canadian. Zelda's maternal grandfather was appointed colonization chairman in 1897 for Baron de Hirsch settlement for Jewish immigrants. Zelda's father, Manny Singer, was the first Jewish pharmacist in Toronto. Zelda's uncle, Fred Singer, was the first Jewish member of parliament for Ontario.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Solursh, Coleman
- Silbert, Morris
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- Singer, Zelda
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 40, OH 41 - Solursh\OH40_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 40, OH 41 - Solursh\OH40_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 40, OH 41 - Solursh\OH41_001_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Dr. Coleman Solursh describes a meeting between executives from the Toronto Jewish Lodge Doctors' Association and representatives from various Jewish Lodges. The meeting resulted in significant changes to the way medical services and payment were provided to the physicians.
In this clip, Dr. Coleman Solursh describes his role as Chief of the Department of Family Practice in the new Mount Sinai Hospital in 1953. He explains how this department pioneered the model for family practice within a hospital setting across Canada.
- 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
- Harry Abramsky
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 6 Jul. 1982
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Harry Abramsky
- Number
- OH 49
- OH 50
- Subject
- Kingston
- Interview Date
- 6 Jul. 1982
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Stephen Speisman and Marjorie Feldman
- Total Running Time
- OH49_001: 31.04 minutes
- OH49_002: 31.00 minutes
- OH50_001: 30.59 minutes
- OH50_002: 1:09 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- Poor audio quality in many sections. OH50_002 started in the middle of the story; cut at 1:09.
- 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
- Harry Abramsky was born in Kingston on 29 September 1897. He and his wife, Ethel, were highly respected by citizens and business owners in Kingston. They were also loyal friends of Queen's University. Over the years, they have made many gifts to the university, including funds for the construction of a building that was completed in 1957. In 1974, the building was renamed as Abramsky Hall in their honour. (There is also Abramsky Laboratory in Botterell Hall.) An area within the Agnes Etherington Art Centre is dedicated to the memory of the Abramsky family. The Harry Abramsky Scholarship in the School of Business at Queen's University was also given by Harry Abramsky. Harry Abramsky was a life member of the Royal Kingston Curling Club. He died in February 1988, aged ninety.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Kingston (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- CD
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 49, OH 50 - Abramsky\OH49_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 49, OH 50 - Abramsky\OH49_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 49, OH 50 - Abramsky\OH50_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 49, OH 50 - Abramsky\OH50_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Samuel Rothschild
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 1980
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Samuel Rothschild
- Number
- OH 52
- OH 53
- OH 54
- Subject
- Hockey
- Interview Date
- 1980
- Quantity
- 3 cassette tapes ; 2 reference CDs (# 053 and 054)
- Interviewer
- Darral Field
- Total Running Time
- OH52: 30.13 minutes OH53: 1.00.44 hour OH54: 33.54 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- There is a lot of white noise interference on the first two tapes, the voices are hard to make out. The third tape is fine. Originals are fine. There is a lot of white noise in OH52 (audio file). The sound in OH53 and OH 54 (audio files) is clear.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Samuel "Sam" Rothschild was born on 16 October 1899 in Sudbury to Daniel and Annie Rothschild, the city's first Jewish settlers. Daniel Rothschild was a merchant in the city, whose retail and office property is listed on the city's register of historic properties.
- Samuel was the first Jewish player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and played a total of 102 games. He played for the Montreal Maroons, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Americans. He was the last surviving member of the 1926 Stanley Cup champion Maroons.
- Following his retirement from the NHL, Rothschild took up coaching and coached the junior Sudbury Wolves to the 1932 Memorial Cup championship. He married Eva Yackman in 1933. He was also a prominent supporter of curling in the city, was president of the Northern Ontario Curling Association and the Canadian Curling Association from 1957 to 1958, and secured the city's status as host city of the 1953 Brier. He was later inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame. He also served for two years on Sudbury's city council. He died on 15 April 1987, aged eighty-seven years.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Rothschild, Samuel, 1899-1987
- Geographic Access
- Sudbury (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- CD
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Cyrus Coppel
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 21 Jul. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Cyrus Coppel
- Number
- OH 61
- OH 62
- Subject
- Communities
- Families
- Interview Date
- 21 Jul. 1976
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- 061A: 46:22 minuets 061B: 45:27 minuets 062A: 45:55 minuets 062B: 28:58 minuets
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Cassette tapes were digitized in 2012
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Cyrus Coppel, son of Aaron Coppel and Chaya (Gertrude) Seigel, was born in 1911 in Galt, Ontario. Cyrus remained in Galt throughout his life and became a central figure within its Jewish community. Cyrus initially worked as a mechanic and later worked in the office of an auto shop trading in auto parts. Cyrus also traded in livestock as a hobby. Cyrus Coppel was one of the founders of the B'nai Israel Synagogue in Galt.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Coppel, Cyrus
- Troster, Larry
- B'nai Israel Synagogue (Galt, Ont.)
- Geographic Access
- Galt (Cambridge, Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 61, OH 62 - Coppel\OH61_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 61, OH 62 - Coppel\OH61_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 61, OH 62 - Coppel\OH62_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 61, OH 62 - Coppel\OH62_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Cyrus Coppel discusses the growth of Galt's Jewish community following the Second World War and the need to purchase a new and larger synagogue to accommodate the growing population.
In this clip, Cyrus Coppel discusses the difficulties of raising Jewish children in a small town.
- 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 Reuben Slonim
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 23 Jul. 1982
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Rabbi Reuben Slonim
- Number
- OH 65
- OH 66
- Subject
- Development of Toronto Jewish community from 1930s
- Rabbis
- Interview Date
- 23 Jul. 1982
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Jack Lipinsky
- Total Running Time
- OH65_001: 26.25 minutes
- OH65_002: 15.07 minutes
- OH66: 32.48 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- Poor sound quality
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.
- Biography
- Reuben Slonim was born on in Winnipeg in 1914 and ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 1937. That year, he became Canada’s first Canadian-born rabbi when he was hired by the McCaul Street Synagogue in downtown Toronto. After it merged with Goel Tzedec to become the Beth Tzedec Congregation, Rabbi Slonim served at the new Beth Tzedec for one year. He then served for twenty-three years as rabbi of Beth Habonim on Glen Park Avenue.
- Slonim also worked as a jounalist and associate editor of the Toronto Telegram and was known for his outspoken views on the Arab-Israeli conflict and Zionism.
- He married Rita Short, and they had a daughter named Rena. Rabbi Reuben Slonim died on 20 January 2000 at the age of eight-five.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- McCaul Street Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Geographic Access
- Winnipeg (Man.)
- New York (N.Y.).
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Lappin
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 14 May 1981
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Lappin
- Number
- OH 69
- Subject
- A.M. Klein and S.Bronfman
- Interview Date
- 14 May 1981
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Adam Fuerstenberg
- Total Running Time
- OH69_001: 31.36 minutes
- OH69_002: 11.28 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Notes
- Very poor sound quality; difficult to make out the content of this oral history.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.
- Biography
- Ben Lappin was bom in Kielce, Poland, in 1915, the son of Leibish and Sarah Lapidus. Ben moved with his family to Canada in 1924. He married Adah Auerbach, and they had four children: Shalom, David, Naomi, and Daniel.
- Ben received his undergraduate degree from McMaster University and his master's and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Toronto. He spent several years at the Training Bureau for Jewish Communal Service in New York and returned to the University of Toronto in 1958, where he was a professor in the School of Social Work until 1970. He then accepted an appointment at the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University in Israel, later becoming its director.
- In 1963, he published "The Redeemed Children: The Story of the Rescue of the War Orphans by the Jewish Community of Canada." He later wrote a number of other books, several humorous pieces for the CBC and Macleans Magazine, and served as editor of the Toronto Yiddisher Zhurnal’s English-language page.
- From 1948 to 1958, he was the executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region and was involved with the national executive committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress; the Canadian Association of Social Workers; and the Farband Labour Zionist Organization of Canada.
- He died in January 2001 at the age of eighty-four.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- University of Toronto
- Canadian Jewish Congress. Central Region
- Geographic Access
- Kielce (Poland)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Hamilton (Ont.)
- Israel
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Source
- Oral Histories
- 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
- J. B. Salsberg
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- Sep. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- J. B. Salsberg
- Number
- OH 71
- Subject
- Labor movement
- Labor unions
- Women
- Demonstrations
- Interview Date
- Sep. 1985
- Quantity
- 1
- Total Running Time
- OH71_001: 44:50 minuets OH71_002: 35:55 minuets
- 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
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg (1902–1998) was a labour leader, political activist, politician, newspaper columnist, and a man who dedicated his life to Yiddishkeit and the advancement of social justice. He was active in various Jewish organizations, including the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, and the New Fraternal Jewish Association. In 1938, he was elected as alderman on Toronto’s City Council; in 1948, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is well remembered by contemporaries, such as Sam Lipshitz, as a "champion of the people," committed to social justice, the plight of the working-class, and the preservation of Jewish culture.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
- Salsberg, J. B.,1902-1998
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 71 - Salsberg\OH71_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 71 - Salsberg\OH71_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Joseph Salsberg discusses the events that led to the birth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) in America and the ILGWU's influence on the Canadian garment industry.
In this clip, Joseph Salsberg discusses the first sit down strike by tailors in Canada in recognition of women
- Name
- David Cohen
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 22 Jun. 1977
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- David Cohen
- Number
- OH 73
- Subject
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 22 Jun. 1977
- Quantity
- 2 cassettes (1 copy)
- 1 WAV file
- Interviewer
- Mark Verman
- Total Running Time
- 39.45 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied to cassette in August 2003
- Copied to digital file in January 2015
- Sound inaudible
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- David's parents, Sam and Clara Cohen, were amongst the first Jewish settlers of Port Colborne. David's father was born in Lithuania and came to Port Colborne via England and South Africa. After his arrival in Port Colborne in 1914, Sam opened a scrap business. David was born in Port Colborne and likely had his bar mitzvah in the late 1920s at the Agudath Achim Synagogue. David recalls Jewish settlers of Port Colborne including the Sam Kassirer family, the Dwors, and his in-laws who arrived in 1918. At its peak thirty-two Jewish families lived in Port Colborne.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Port Colborne (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 73 - Cohen\OH73_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Fay Gardner
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 19 Nov. 1974
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Fay Gardner
- Number
- OH 3
- Subject
- Families
- Interview Date
- 19 Nov. 1974
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Sophie Milgram
- Total Running Time
- Side one: 30 minutes Side two: 2 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
- Fay Gardner (née Haber) was born in Toronto in December 1896. Her parents came from Austria. They met and married in New York and moved to Toronto in about 1894. As a child, Fay's family lived on King Street, LaPlante Avenue, and Walton Street. She attended Elizabeth Street School (later Hester How Public School) and Wellesley Public School. At the age of sixteen, Fay and her family moved to Margueretta Street. She got married at age eighteen.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Gardner, Fay
- Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto
- Geographic Access
- King Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- LaPlante Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Margueretta Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- New York (N.Y.).
- Walton Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 3 - Gardner\OH3_001_Log.docx
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 3 - Gardner\OH3_002_Log.docx
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Sarah Green
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 7 Jan. 1975
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Sarah Green
- Number
- OH 4
- Subject
- Families
- Immigrants--Canada
- Neighborhoods
- Interview Date
- 7 Jan. 1975
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Sophie Milgram
- Total Running Time
- 38 minutes 44 seconds
- 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
- Sarah Green (née Patlik) grew up living in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood. The family home and scrap yard business were both located on Maria Street, which served as the centre for Jewish life in the Junction during the early 1900s. Sarah Patlik was involved with numerous charitable organizations including the Ontario Hospital School of Orilla and the Rubinoff and Naftolin Mishpocha.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Green, Sarah
- Geographic Access
- Kingston (Ont.)
- Maria Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Portland Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Stanley Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- West Toronto Junction (Toronto, Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 4 - Green\OH4_Log.docx
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Toba Fluxgold
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 1975
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Toba Fluxgold
- Number
- OH 8
- Subject
- Bakeries
- Immigrants--Canada
- Interview Date
- 1975
- Quantity
- 1 cassette (1 copy) 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Sheldon Steinberg
- Total Running Time
- 1:02 min.
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized December 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.
- Biography
- Toba Fluxgold was born in Warsaw, Poland and immigrated to Toronto with her father, older brother, and sister. Toba's father ventured into the bakery business and, in the early 1920s, opened his own kosher bakery in Toronto. Following her father's death in 1929, Toba’s brother Morris expanded and modernized the bakery and later sold it to Carmel Bakery. After her marriage in 1925, Toba moved to Arthur, Ontario, and returned to Toronto after the birth of her first child.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Yiddish
- Geographic Access
- Arthur (Ont.)
- Elizabeth Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- St. John's Ward (Toronto, Ont.)
- Warsaw (Poland)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- Transcript exists for this oral history.
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- John Furedi
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 29 Jul. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- John Furedi
- Number
- OH 78
- OH 79
- Subject
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
- Immigrants--Canada
- Farmers
- Communities
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 29 Jul. 1976
- Quantity
- 4 cassettes (2 copies)
- 3 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- OH78_001: 45.20 minutes OH78_002: 45.30 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied to cassette in August 2003
- Copied to digital file in December 2013
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- John Furedi was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1925. During the Second World War, John was drafted into the Hungarian Labour Service System (Munkaszolgalat). After the Nazi occupation of Hungary in March 1944, John was deported to the Kistarcsa transit camp. Between 1945 and 1948, John travelled throughout Europe and returned to Budapest during the takeover of Hungary by the Communists. The revolution and anti-Jewish sentiment forced many Jews, including John and his wife Stephanie, to flee Hungary. In 1956, they immigrated to Canada and lived in Montreal for one year. In 1958, with the aid of a six-thousand-dollar loan provided by the Jewish Colonization Association, John became the first Jewish chicken farmer to settle in Beamsville, Ontario. John went on to become an active member of Beamsville's Jewish community and participated in the establishment of the community’s first congregation in 1966.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Furedi, John
- Jewish Colonization Association
- Geographic Access
- Beamsville (Ont.)
- Hungary
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 78 - Furedi\OH78_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 78 - Furedi\OH78_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Paul Szasz
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 29 Jul. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Paul Szasz
- Number
- OH 80
- OH 81
- Subject
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
- Concentration camps
- Communism
- Farmers
- Communities
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 29 Jul. 1976
- Quantity
- 4 cassettes (2 copies)
- 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- OH80_001: 45.29 minutes OH80_002: 44.23 minutes OH81: 44.20 minutes
- Conservation
- OH 080 and 081 were both damaged (tape snapped). They were sent out and were repaired and digitized in 2014.
- Copied to cassette in August 2003
- Digitzed in June 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Paul Szasz was born in 1926 in Tiszakeszi, Hungary, and was a Holocaust survivor. He came from a family of traditonal farmers. During the Second World War, he was drafted into the Hungarian Labor Service System (Munkaszolgalat) and was liberated from Auschwitz in 1945. Paul escaped Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and immigrated to Canada. With the aid of a loan from the Jewish Colonization Association, Paul purchased a farm in Beamsville, Ontario. Paul went on to become an active member of Beamsville's Jewish community and particpated in the establishment of the community's first congregation in 1966.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Beamsville (Ont.)
- Hungary
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH80_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH80_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH81_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Paul Abeles
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 14 Jun. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Paul Abeles
- Number
- OH 87
- Subject
- Farmers
- Immigrants--Canada
- Interview Date
- 14 Jun. 1976
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- 45.05 minutes
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Paul Abeles was born on 15 November 1906 in Czechoslovakia. He was a successful businessman and part of a group of four local businesspeople, with Leon Rotberg, Jack Rotberg, and Jack Brown, who bought and rented business properties in the city. The group were also referred to as the “Brantford Companies,” set up to own and manage warehouse properties in the City of Brantford.
- Paul was active in the Brantford Jewish community and represented Brantford at the Second Regional Leadership Conference in London, Ontario on 27 March 1960, where over seventy-five representatives of regional Jewish communities gathered. At this conference, Paul was presented with an award of recognition for his volunteer endeavours.
- Paul was one of thirty-nine families who immigrated to Canada in 1939 from Czechoslovakia and placed on farms. He was married to Rita Abeles (née (Glaser). He passed away in March 1989.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Brantford (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 87 - Abeles\OH87_Transcript.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Sadie Stren
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 14 Jun. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Sadie Stren
- Number
- OH 91
- Subject
- Communities
- Education
- Interview Date
- 14 Jun. 1976
- Quantity
- 2 cassettes (1 copy) 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- OH91_001:44.37 minutes OH91_002:37.34 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied November 2006
- Digitized 2010
- Sound distorted on side 1 and side 2
- Notes
- Significant sound distortion.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.
- Biography
- Sadie Stren was born 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. Stren graduated from Wayne State University and worked as a social studies teacher. Following her marriage to Maurice Strenkovsky in 1947, she moved to Brantford, Ontario. In Brantford, Sadie was actively involved in both Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations including Haddassah, the Family Service Bureau, and the University Women’s Club. She was also a board member of the YM-YWCA. In Toronto, Sadie was a member of the Baycrest Women's Auxillary and also authored the History of the Brantford community.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada
- B’nai Brith Youth Organization. Lake Ontario Region
- Hadassah
- Geographic Access
- Brantford (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 91 - Stren\OH91_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 91 - Stren\OH91_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Pauline Burns
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 6 Jun. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Pauline Burns
- Number
- OH 92
- Subject
- Kosher food
- Jewish youth--Religious life
- Jewelry stores
- Fasts and feasts--Judaism
- Berit milah
- Jewish day schools
- Interview Date
- 6 Jun. 1976
- Quantity
- 1 audio cassette (1 copy) 1 WAV file
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- 31.54 minute
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Pauline Burns was born in Oshawa, Ontario on 3 July 1935. She attended North Simcoe Public School and O’Neill High School (formerly OCVI) in Oshawa and studied dental nursing at the University of Toronto. Pauline married Sidney Burns in 1956 and had two children. She worked in the family business, Burns Jewellers. In her youth, Pauline was involved in Young Judaeans and BBYO. Once married, she became a member of Hadassah.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- BBYO
- University of Toronto
- Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada
- Geographic Access
- Oshawa (Ont.)
- Brantford (Ont.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 92 - Burns\OH92_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Collis
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 1 Jun. 1976
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Collis
- Number
- OH 93
- Subject
- Musicians
- Cemeteries
- Synagogues
- Antisemitism
- Farmers
- Yiddish language
- Interview Date
- 1 Jun. 1976
- Quantity
- 2 audio cassettes (1 copy)
- 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster and Elaine Kahn
- Total Running Time
- OH93_001:43.50 minutes OH93_002:18.45 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized 2014
- Notes
- poor sound quality in some sections
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Ben Collis, the son of Russian immigrants, was born in 1911. He grew up in Oshawa, Ontario. In 1944, he moved to Peterborough, Ontario. Ben's interest in music led him to form his own dance band and play gigs throughout Ontario.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Oshawa (Ont.)
- Peterborough (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 93 - Collis\OH93_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 93 - Collis\OH93_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Max Enkin
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 24 Mar. 1982
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Max Enkin
- Number
- OH 132
- Subject
- Tailor project
- Clothing trade
- Clothing workers
- Refugee camps
- Legislators--Canada
- Labor unions
- Interview Date
- 24 Mar. 1982
- Quantity
- 1 audio cassette (1 copy)
- 1 WAV file
- Interviewer
- Jack Lipinsky
- Total Running Time
- 43.19 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Recopied March 2009 as the original copy done was inaudible.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Max Enkin was a founder and a leading member of the Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto. In 1947, as associate administrator and representative for the men's clothing sector in Ontario, Max Enkin became involved in the Tailor Project, which was designed to identify and select skilled tailors from the displaced persons camps of Europe and help to settle them in Canada. Max Enkin was awarded the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to Wartime Prices and Trade Council.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Europe
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 132 - Enkin\OH132_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Himel
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 24 Jan. 1983
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ben Himel
- Number
- OH 135
- Subject
- Communism
- Education
- Fraternal organizations
- Labor unions
- Zionism
- Interview Date
- 24 Jan. 1983
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Stephen Speisman
- Total Running Time
- OH135_001: 26.40 minutes OH135_002: 29.20 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
- Ben Himel was vice president and founder of the Borochov School and Kindergarten. Himel was affliated with the Poale Zion Jewish National Workers Alliance (Farband), the Independent Workers Circle, and the Board of Jewish Education.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Himel, Ben
- Speisman, Stephen
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 135 - Himel\OH135_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 135 - Himel\OH135_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Benjamin Himel discusses the ideologies of Canada's labour Movements during the 1930s and 1940s.
In this clip, Benjamin Himel discusses the Zionist movement within the Toronto Jewish community during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Name
- Helen Weinzweig
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Helen Weinzweig
- Number
- OH 106
- Subject
- Feminists
- Award winners
- Authors
- Quantity
- 2 cassettes (1 copy)
- Interviewer
- Miriam Beckerman
- Total Running Time
- OH106_001: 30.07 minutes OH106_002: 07.06 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003 Digitized 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Helen Weinzweig was born in Poland in 1915. She married John Weinzweig, a well-known Canadian composer, and had two sons, Paul and Daniel. While she only completed four years at high school, she was an avid reader and self-educated. Weinzweig authored short stories and novels, won the Toronto Book Award in 1981, and was a shortlisted nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction in 1989. She was regarded as one of Canada's first important feminist writers, and her style was marked by experimental forms with some aspects of metafiction. Helen also wrote and produced a one-act play, and several of her short stories were adapted for stage and CBC Radio. Weinzweig died in 2010, aged ninety-four.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Weinzweig, John, 1913-2006
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 106 - Weinzweig\OH106_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 106 - Weinzweig\OH106_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Morris Shankman
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 2 Jan. 1978
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Morris Shankman
- Number
- OH 107
- Subject
- Immigrants
- Businessmen
- Interview Date
- 2 Jan. 1978
- Quantity
- 2 cassettes (1 copy)
- 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Miriam Beckerman
- Total Running Time
- 31.08 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003 Digitized 2014
- Notes
- Most of the interview is inaudible due to the nature of Mr. Shankman's voice. Morris is aged ninety-three at the time of interview.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Morris Shankman was born in a small village near Minsk, Belarus. He immigrated to New York in 1904 and later to Toronto, where he got married and started his own business.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Russia
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Belarus
- New York (N.Y.).
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 107 - Shankman\OH107_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Kalmen Kaplansky
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 20 Sep. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Kalmen Kaplansky
- Number
- OH 109
- Subject
- Antisemitism
- Human rights
- Immigrants--Canada
- Labor
- Labor unions
- Refugees--Canada
- Interview Date
- 20 Sep. 1985
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Phyllis Platnick
- Total Running Time
- 109A: 60 minutes 109B: 6 minutes
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Kalmen was born on 5 January 1912 in Poland. He worked in Montreal as a typesetter and linotype operator. He was active in the labour and human rights movements in Canada. Kalmen served as the director of the Jewish Labour Committee in 1945. In collaboration with the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian government, and trade unions, the Jewish Labour Committee helped Jewish displaced persons immigrate to Canada by securing them employment. Kalman sat on the Refugee Status Advisory Committee for the federal government.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Kaplansky, Kalmen
- Platnick, Phyllis
- Jewish Labour Committee
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 109 - Kaplansky\OH109_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 109 - Kaplansky\OH109_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Kalmen Kaplansky discusses some of the obstacles to the relocation of displaced Jews to Canada after the Second World War. He describes a tripartite proposal involving consultation and cooperation among trade unions, management, and government, which enabled the immigration project.
In this clip, Kalmen Kaplansky explains that bribery, corruption, and perjury were a way of life after the Second World War. He relates anecdotes as an example.
- Name
- Al Hershkovitz
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 19 Nov. 1985
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Al Hershkovitz
- Number
- OH 111
- Subject
- Immigrants--Canada
- Labor
- Labor unions
- Refugees--Canada
- Zionists
- Interview Date
- 19 Nov. 1985
- Quantity
- 1 cassette (1 copy)
- 1 WAV file
- Interviewer
- Phyllis Platnick
- Total Running Time
- 40.30 minutes
- Conservation
- November 2006
- Digitized in 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Al Hershkovitz was a fur union representative who helped organize the project that brought furriers from the displaced persons camps of Europe to Canada in the late 1940s. As a union representative, Al was granted temporary military rank in order to enter the displaced persons camps in Europe. He became part of the selection committee responsible for determining which displaced persons could come to Canada.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Hershkovitz, Al
- Federman, Max
- Kerbel, Joe
- Silver, Harris
- Jewish Labor Committee
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- Jewish Immigrant Aid Society
- International Fur and Leather Workers Union
- American Federation of Labor
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Europe
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 111 - Hershkovitz\OH111_Log.wav
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Claire and Al Roebuck
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 9 Feb. 1986
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Claire and Al Roebuck
- Number
- OH 115
- Subject
- Tailors
- Refugee camps
- Immigrants--Canada
- Interview Date
- 9 Feb. 1986
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Phyllis Platnick
- Total Running Time
- 30.05 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
- Claire and Al Roebuck were involved in the Tailor Project to bring skilled trade workers from the displaced persons camps of Europe to Canada after the Second World War. Claire worked for the Canadian Overseas Garment Worker's Commission with Thomas Aplin.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Europe
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Alex Enchin
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- Jul. 1977
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Alex Enchin
- Number
- OH 118
- Subject
- Businessmen
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- Jul. 1977
- Quantity
- 1 cassette (1 copy)
- 1 WAV file
- Interviewer
- David Enchin
- Total Running Time
- 31.20 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized in June 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Alex Enchin emigrated from Russia to Guelph, Ontario, in 1912. Enchin was one of Guelph's earliest Jewish settlers and an active member of the Jewish community. His son, David, ran two businesses, the Arcade and the House of David, both located in downtown Guelph.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Guelph (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 118 - Enchin\OH118_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Myer Pinsky
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 31 Jul. 1978
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Myer Pinsky
- Number
- OH 119
- OH 120
- Interview Date
- 31 Jul. 1978
- Quantity
- 4 cassettes (2 copies)
- 4 WAV file
- Interviewer
- Larry Troster
- Total Running Time
- OH119_001: 46.25 minutes OH119_002: 44.23 minutes OH120_001: 44.13 minutes OH120_002: 46.20 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.
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Lillian Gollom
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 8 Dec. 1986
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Lillian Gollom
- Number
- OH 122
- Subject
- Families
- Women
- Occupations
- Antisemitism
- Hospitals
- Interview Date
- 8 Dec. 1986
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Morris Silbert and Nancy Draper
- Total Running Time
- OH122_001: 31.05 minutes
- OH122_002: 17.07 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
- Lillian Gollom (née Slovens) was born in Russia in 1903. She came to Toronto around 1907. She attended Ogness Public School and Canada Business College. She married Nat Gollom in 1924. They had a son and a daughter. Lillian was actively involved with the "Sinai's" and served as president of the organization in 1939. The fund-raising efforts of the the "Sinai's", Ezrat Nashim and "Twigs" assisted with the establishment of the first Mount Sinai Hospital on Yorkville Avenue. Lillian was a volunteer at the hospital. She remained active with the Sinais and involved with the establishment of the second Mount Sinai Hospital on University Avenue. Afterwards, the organization's focus shifted to fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- Dworkin, Dorothy
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Singer, E.F.
- Gollom, Lillian
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 122 - Gollom\OH122_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 122 - Gollom\OH122_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Lillian Gollom discusses the establishment and early days of the first Mount Sinai Hospital. She describes the fundraising efforts of Ezrat Nashim, the Sinais, and the Twigs.
In this clip, Lillian Gollom relates anecdotes pertaining to the impact of the Great Depression on Jewish families in the early 1930s.
- Name
- Morris Silbert
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 1986
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Morris Silbert
- Number
- OH 123
- OH 124
- Subject
- Agriculture
- Immigrants--Canada
- Nonprofit organizations
- Communities
- Interview Date
- 1986
- Quantity
- 2
- Interviewer
- Brooky Robins
- Total Running Time
- OH123_001: 30 minutes OH123_002: 31 minutes OH124_001: 46 minutes OH124_002: 44 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Morris Silbert was born in 1912 on a farm outside of Hamilton. His parents came from Lithuania. His father arrived in Canada in 1905, and his mother and three older siblings joined him in 1906. Morris spent his youth growing up on farms. At the age of sixteen in 1928, he and his family moved to Hamilton. In his youth, Morris was involved in several Jewish organizations, including Young Judaea, AZA, and Hashomer Hatzair. He was married in 1938. He served in the army in 1943 during the Second World War. Morris was the second vice president of the Council of Jewish Organizations. He also served on the executive board as chair of the nursery school board and participated in several committees.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Silbert, Morris
- Robins, Brooky
- Geographic Access
- Hamilton
- Wentworth
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH123_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH123_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH124_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 123, OH 124 - Silbert\OH124_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Morris Silbert shares memories about Jewish peddlers who were welcomed on his family's farm in southern Ontario. He includes names of peddlers with descriptions of their wares and their carts.
In this clip, Morris Silbert shares memories about Jewish peddlers who were welcomed on his family
In this clip, Morris Silbert describes the restructuring of the Hamilton Jewish community as a result of the Depression in the 1930s. He explains how the Council of Jewish Organizations was formed to replace United Hebrew Association.
- Name
- Edna Jacobs
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- Dec. 1985, Mar. 1986
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Edna Jacobs
- Number
- OH 125
- Subject
- Families
- Travel
- Education
- Occupations
- Antisemitism
- Girl Guides
- Religion
- Volunteers
- Interview Date
- Dec. 1985, Mar. 1986
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- Nancy Draper
- Total Running Time
- Side 1: 36 minutes Side 2: 46 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Edna Jacobs (née Frankel) was born on 20 March 1904 in Toronto. Her parents, Sigmund and Paula Frankel, were early immigrants from Germany. Edna attended Havergal from kindergarten through high school. She studied general arts for two years at the University of Toronto. She married Arthur Jacobs, the son of Rabbi Solomon Jacobs, in 1936. Together, they had one daughter, Patsy, and a baby who died during infancy. Edna was involved with the Girls Club and the Junior Council of Jewish Women.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Toronto Girl's Club
- Toronto Council of Jewish Women
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Germany
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 125 - Jacobs\OH125_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 125 - Jacobs\OH125_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
In this clip, Edna Jacobs shares memories from a trip she and her family took to Biblis, Germany to celebrate her grandparents’ golden anniversary.
In this clip, Edna Jacobs reminisces about several prominent Toronto Jewish families.
- Name
- Joseph Addison
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 12 May 1982
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Joseph Addison
- Number
- OH 128
- Subject
- Athletes
- Sports
- Associations, institutions, etc
- Interview Date
- 12 May 1982
- Quantity
- 1 cassette (1 copy)
- 1 WAV file
- Total Running Time
- 31:21 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized in November 2014 ceases to be audible at 14:03 minutes
- Recording fades and is not audible at 14:03 minutes
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Joseph Addison was an active member of the Brunswick Street YMHA and its executive committee member. He also held the position of vice president and chair of the board. Addison was a handball enthusiast and was the first chair of the Canadian Handball Association. Joseph Addison was a judge.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Young Men's Hebrew Association (Toronto, Ont.)
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 128 - Addison\OH128_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ralph Weber
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 3 Feb. 1987
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Ralph Weber
- Number
- OH 190
- OH 191
- Subject
- Cemeteries
- Hevra kaddisha
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 3 Feb. 1987
- Quantity
- 3 cassettes (2 copies)
- 3 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Stephen Spiesman
- AccessionNumber
- 1987-2-8
- Total Running Time
- OH190_001: 31.04 minutes OH190_002: 31.05 minutes OH191_001: 25 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied August 2003
- Digitized November 2013
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Samuel Weber was born 1875 in Vilna, Russia and immigrated to Toronto in 1899. He began his career working in real estate and clothing manufacturing. Sam became the largest real-estate owner of rental housing in Toronto and was one of first builders of roads in the city. He organized and was president of the Toronto Hebrew Burial Society (Chesed Shel Emes). In 1906, he purchased the property today known as the Roselawn Cemetery. Sam was a member of Goel Tzedec Synagogue's building committee.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Roselawn Cemetery
- Weber, Ralph
- Weber, Sam
- Geographic Access
- Toronto
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 190, OH 191 - Weber\OH190_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 190, OH 191 - Weber\OH190_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 190, OH 191 - Weber\OH191_001_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Edith Shields
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 21 Jan. 1988
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Edith Shields
- Number
- OH 192
- OH 193
- Subject
- Printing plants
- Rabbis
- Synagogues
- Interview Date
- 21 Jan. 1988
- Quantity
- 4 cassettes (2 copies)
- 4 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Stephen Speisman
- Total Running Time
- OH192_001: 31.00 minutes OH192_002: 31.01 minutes OH193_001: 31.05 minutes OH193_002: 31.02 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied to cassestte tape in August 2003
- Digitized July 2014
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Edtih Shields was born in Poland in 1906. She immigrated to Toronto in 1925. During the 1920s, her father, Rabbi Tzvi Silverstein, served as rabbi for both the Keltzer and Slipia Synagogues. Edith married Labish Shields, who was the owner of the Shield’s Printing Company and a construction company and also the financier of properties north of St. Clair Street.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Geographic Access
- Palestine
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 192, OH 193 - Shields\OH192_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 192, OH 193 - Shields\OH192_002_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 192, OH 193 - Shields\OH193_001_Log.pdf
- G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 192, OH 193 - Shields\OH193_002_Log.pdf
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Abe Posluns
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Interview Date
- 16 Feb. 1988
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Abe Posluns
- Number
- OH 214
- Subject
- Baycrest
- Interview Date
- 16 Feb. 1988
- Quantity
- 1
- Interviewer
- N. Sherman
- 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
- Abe Posluns was born in 1908 to Sheindel and Abraham Isaac Posluns. Abe married Elsie Posluns and they had three children. Abe was a financier and was actively involved in the Toronto Jewish community. In 1946, he headed the fundraising campaign to purchase land and build a new facility to accommodate the Toronto Jewish Old Folks' Home (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care’s forerunner). Throughout the course of his career, he was president of the United Community Fund of Greater Toronto, president of the Jewish Home for the Aged, president of Baycrest Hospital, honorary vice-president for the United Jewish Welfare Fund, director and executive of the new Mount Sinai Hospital, director of YW-YMHA, and director of Canadian Welfare Council, as well as a member of B'nai B'rith, the Primrose Club, and the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Language
- English
- Name Access
- Posluns, Abe
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Source
- Oral Histories