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Joseph and Annie Levine and family and Manny Pullan photographs [graphic material] – [ca. 1912]-[ca.1945].

Accession Number: 1990-12-8

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1990-12-8

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 10 x 8 cm and 2 x 4 cm

Date: [ca. 1912]-[ca.1945]

Scope and Content: This accession consists of a copy negative of Joseph and Annie Levine and Family, Toronto, ca. 1912 and one mounted photograph of Manny Pullan in RCAF uniform, early 1940s.

Source: Archival Accessions

Sarah Levine [object, textual record] – 1966-1976.

Accession Number: 1982-8-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1982-8-3

Material Format: object; textual record

Physical Description: 4 plaques; 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1966-1976

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a four plaques awarded to Sarah Levine including a 94th birthday plaque from the Government of Ontario (1970); a 100th birthday plaque from the Government of Ontario (1976); a 90th birthday plaque from Baycrest (1966); a life membership plaque from Baycrest (1973); and 3 congratulatory telegrams honouring the occasion of her 94th birthday in 1970.

Name Access: Levine, Sarah

Source: Archival Accessions

Louis Levine [graphic material] – 1916-1988.

Accession Number: 1997-4-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1997-4-2

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 50 photographs : b&w and col. (24 negatives)

Date: 1916-1988

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs and newspaper clippings documenting the life of the Levine Family. Photographs include class pictures from Port Whitby's Brock School, Purim celebrations at Oshawa's Beth Zion Synagogue, Camp Ogama staff and camper photos, Camp Winnibagoe cabin photos and Royal Winter Fair prize winning photos.

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

Subjects: Camp counselors; Camps; Farms; Farm tractors; Purim

Name Access: Camp Winnebagoe

Places: Oshawa (Ont.); Whitby (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Children of Jewish orphanage, Otwoc, Poland [textual record] – 1945-1949.

Accession Number: 2004-5-39

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2004-5-39

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1945-1949

Scope and Content: The records include 23 case files documenting orphans who survived the Holocaust. They were all inmates of the orphanage in Otwoc, Poland. The case files were likely sent to a Jewish organization in Toronto who found local sponsors to support the individual orphans. At the bottom of each case file includes the name of the Toronto sponsors, which ranged from individuals to labour unions and women's auxiliaries. The file also includes English translations for each file (since the information is all in Polish), along with thank you letters from the children to their sponsors written in Yiddish. Photographs of the children are attached to the case files.

Custodial History: The case files had been in the custody of Estelle Tambak, a Harlem, New York teacher and activist who had travelled to Poland to volunteer at the orphanage in the late 1940s. All translation work was done by Ann Szedlecki (1925-2005), a Holocaust survivor from Lodz who had herself been orphaned after the war. This custodial history has been confirmed by Miriam Borden, the granddaughter of Ann Szedlecki, who has a photograph depicting Ann and Estelle viewing the records within this file.

Use Conditions: Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.

Source: Archival Accessions

Eastern Children of Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.) [object] – 1921.

Accession Number: 1982-2-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 1982-2-3

Material Format: object

Physical Description: 1 key

Date: 1921

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a gold key presented on 18 September 1921 to Fred and Sophie Torno at the opening of the Eastern Children of Israel Congregation, popularly known as the Berkeley Street Synagogue.

Descriptive Notes: B'nai Israel Hamizrachim.

MG_RG: MG 3 A 43

Subjects: Synagogues

Name Access: Eastern Children of Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Berkeley Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Garber's sixtieth birthday party photograph [graphic material] – Jun. 1952.

Accession Number: 2008-8-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2008-8-6

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 41 x 51 cm

Date: Jun. 1952

Scope and Content: This accession consists of one oversized photograph taken at the sixtieth birthday party for Michael Garber. The party was at a club in Montreal. Pictured in the photo are (left to right): Samuel Bronfman, Michael Garber and Edward Gelber.

Subjects: Birthdays; Parties

Places: Montréal (Québec)

Source: Archival Accessions

Emery Michael Kestenbaum - 10 Jun. 2010

Name: Emery Michael Kestenbaum

Material Format: moving images

Interview Date: 10 Jun. 2010

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Emery Michael Kestenbaum

Number: OH 387

Subject: Great Britain--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Interview Date: 10 Jun. 2010

Quantity: 1 reference DVD (WAV file); 1 archival DVD (WAV file)

Interviewer: Stephanie Markowitz

Total Running Time: 32:03

Notes: Michael was interviewed as part of the Memory Project event held at Lipa Green on 13 May 2010 in partnership with the Historica Dominion Institute.

Biography: Michael served in the British Army from 1941 to 1946 performing general and front line transport. He was stationed in Palestine, Egypt, and Italy (Europe).

Material Format: moving images

Geographic Access: Egypt; Italy; Palestine

Original Format: DVD

Source: Oral Histories

Abe Levine - 16 Jun. 2010

Name: Abe Levine

Material Format: sound recording

Interview Date: 16 Jun. 2010

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Abe Levine

Number: OH 396

Subject: Canada--Armed Forces; World War, 1939-1945

Interview Date: 16 Jun. 2010

Quantity: 1 reference DVD (WAV file); 1 archival DVD (WAV file)

Interviewer: Historica-Dominion Institute

Total Running Time: 30:28

Use Restrictions: OJA does not hold rights to this interview. For permission to use contact the Historica-Dominion Institute.

Biography: Abe Levine was a member of the Austin crew 214 Squadron (Bomber group Squadron), in Outlon, England, in 1945. He was a special-duty operator, even though he trained as a bomb aimer. He worked in countermeasures with the the BBC in England who listened to the different frequencies the Germans were using to direct their night fighters, and once they got hold of one of these frequencies, they wired Abe's aircraft to tell them which frequency to jam. Once the German night fighter took off, he was highly dependent on the night fighter controller on the ground to lead him onto the bomber stream (towards the target) and the noise from the jamming by Abe's crew meant that he could not hear anything and had to return to base.

Material Format: sound recording

Original Format: DVD

Source: Oral Histories

Elfreda Levine and Alec Levine - 9 Feb. 2017

Name: Elfreda Levine and Alec Levine

Material Format: moving images

Interview Date: 9 Feb. 2017

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Elfreda Levine and Alec Levine

Number: OH 442

Subject: Canada--Emigration and immigration; Jews--South Africa; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Interview Date: 9 Feb. 2017

Interviewer: Miriam Borden

Total Running Time: OH 422 part 1: 37 min.; OH 422 part 2: 9 min.

Biography: Alec and Elfreda met when they were young teenagers. Elfreda was friends with Alec’s sister, and the two would play tennis together. Despite meeting at a young age, Alec and Elfreda did not begin dating until they were in their early twenties. They married in 1958 and subsequently had three children. It was largely on account of their two eldest children that they emigrated. Their eldest son had emigrated first, initially settling in Saskatchewan, while their daughter emigrated shortly thereafter, making a home in the United Kingdom. Their youngest son chose to remain in South Africa.; Following the birth of their granddaughter in Saskatoon, Alec and Elfreda began making regular trips to Canada. As time went on and crime continued to rise in South Africa, Alec and Elfreda’s children started to encourage their parents to move to Canada. This they did in 1999, arriving in Toronto in the cold month of October. While the ice and snow initially made for a new and exciting experience, they quickly got over it.; Arriving in their sixties, Alec and Elfreda initially struggled in their new country, but they soon found work and made friends. Making this process somewhat easier was the fact that the two enjoyed exploring the different areas of the city via subway, an activity they keep up to this day. Alec and Elfreda also continue to follow developments in South Africa—in part because one of their sons lives there—but now think of themselves as Canadians.

Material Format: moving images

Language: English

Name Access: Levine, Alec; Levine, Elfreda

Geographic Access: Cape Town (South Africa); Johannesburg (South Africa); Saskatchewan; Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format: Digital file

Copy Format: Digital file

Transcript: 00:40 Elfreda discusses her family's immigration to South Africa. Her maternal grandparents came to Cape Town from Riga, Latvia via London. Her paternal grandfather came to South Africa in his teens and settled in ?Aliwal North.; 02:14 Alec discusses his family's immigration to South Africa. His parents were married in Riga, Latvia. His maternal grandfather came to South Africa. During the period of 1930-1936, he brought his five daughters and their husbands to South Africa.; 03:30 Elfreda describes Jewish life in Aliwal North. She explains why the Jewish population declined over time.; 05:08 Elfreda recalls travelling by train to cities for holidays and how she and Alec met during holiday.; 06:41 Alec describes his Jewish life growing up in Johannesburg.; 07:48 Elfreda continues to discuss Jewish life while growing up in a small community.; 09:13 Alec and Elfreda discuss Jewish youth groups and camps.; 10:35 Elfreda discusses her academic path: two years of nursing in Cape Town and commercial bookkeeping in Johannesburg.; 12:13 Alec discusses his career path: architecture for two years then joining the family plumbing business.; 13:00 Alec and Elfreda married in 1958.; 13:24 Alec describes his limited involvement in politics in South Africa. Their daughter became involved with the African National Congress (ANC) while she attended university.; 14:55 Elfreda shares her memories from her childhood. She recalls the impact of apartheid following the rise of the nationalists in 1948.; 16:13 Alec and Elfreda discuss having household staff in their homes while growing up and after they were married.; 19:50 Elfreda describes a party she held for her family's maid when she retired.; 21:17 Alec and Elfreda explain when and why their two older children emigrated from South Africa. Their youngest son remained in South Africa.; 22:49 Alec and Elfreda discuss the factors that contributed to their decision to immigrate to Canada.; 25:13 Alec describes some incidents of violence he personally experienced in Johannesburg.; 25:58 Alec and Elfreda describe their feeling about leaving South Africa and the challenges of immigrating at a later stage of life (e.g. upgrading their work skills, finding work, making new friends).; 28:33 Alec and Elfreda share some of their earliest memories of moving to Canada.; 30:35 Alec discusses his early efforts to find work in Canada.; 33:52 Elfreda discusses her involvement with the Jewish community, notably the South African Jewish community since their arrival in Canada.; 35:49 Elfreda discusses how their willingness to explore Toronto has helped with their integration.; Part 2:; 00:34 Alec and Elfreda describe the response from family and friends in South Africa to their decision to leave.; 02:25 Alec and Elfreda came to Canada in October 1999. Their son, Mark, came in 1986.; 02:50 Alec and Elfreda discuss the easier experience of integration by their son's family compared to their own.; 03:49 Elfreda relates a family story. Mark settled in a small town in Saskatchewan when he arrived in Canada. He discovered that relatives of Elfreda had settled in a small neighbouring community in 1906.; 5:00 Elfreda discusses their identity as Canadians.; Elfreda discusses their ongoing connections with South Africa.; 07:30 Elfreda notes that they did not experience culture shock as they settled in Canada.

Source: Oral Histories

Not the Way to Live

Afrikaners Dominated Politics

Leaving your Heart in South Africa

Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine - 18 Oct. 2019

Name: Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine

Material Format: moving images

Interview Date: 18 Oct. 2019

Source: Oral Histories

Name: Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine

Number: OH 451

Subject: AIDS (Disease); Homophobia; Judaism--Relations--Christianity; Same-sex marriage; Sexual minorities; Social movements; Synagogues

Interview Date: 18 Oct. 2019

Interviewer: Michael Friesen

Total Running Time: 1 hr. 18 min.

Notes: Associated material: Records of Chutzpah are located in the ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives.; General note: The OJA has a copy of Harvey Brownstone's article "I Now Pronounce You Wife and Wife," which was originally published in the fall 2014 edition of Reform Judaism Magazine. The article mentions Chutzpah and may be of interest to researchers.

Use Restrictions: See administrative notes.

Biography: Harvey Brownstone was born on 24 July 1956 in Paris, France and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. His father was a social worker who worked at the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre for thirty-five years and was director for twenty-one years (from 1967–1988). Brownstone obtained his LLB degree from Queen's University and was appointed a provincial judge with the Ontario Court of Justice in 1995. He was the first openly gay judge appointed in Canada. He resides in Toronto.; Howard Levine was born in Toronto on 29 June 1947. He earned his bachelor of arts (political science with urban planning) from the University of Waterloo and his master in environmental studies (urban planning and public transportation) from York University. From 1973 to 1975, he worked as a consultant with Peat, Marwick and Partners. From 1976 to 1982, he worked as an area and general planner with the City of Toronto's Planning and Development Department. From 1982 to 1988, he was sole proprietor of HJL Consulting. From 1988 to 1994, he served as councillor for Ward 14. After serving his second term as city councillor, Levine returned to HJL Consulting.

Material Format: moving images

Language: English

Name Access: Bolton, Elizabeth; Brownstone, Harvey, 1956-; Canadian Jewish Congress; Canadian Jewish News; Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives; Casey House (Toronto, Ont.); Cecil Community Centre (Toronto, Ont.); Church of the Holy Trinity (Toronto, Ont.); Chutzpah (Toronto, Ont.); Congregation B'nai Kehillah of Toronto; Eggleton, Art, 1943-; Farber, Bernie; Hamilton JCC; Hawkes, Brent, 1950-; Hudson, Rock, 1925-1985; Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.); Keshet Shalom (Toronto, Ont.); Levine, Howard, 1947-; Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto; Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre; Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.); Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.); Robinson, Svend, 1952-; Royal Ontario Museum; Slater, Ruth; Temple Emanu-El (Toronto, Ont.); World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations; York University (Toronto, Ont.)

Geographic Access: Amsterdam (Netherlands); Hamilton (Ont.); Kingston (Ont.); Toronto (Ont.); Waterloo (Ont.)

Original Format: Digital file

Transcript: 0:00.20 Harvey Brownstone and Howard Levine introduce themselves.; 0:00:27 Harvey discusses what it was like coming of age as a gay Jewish man in Ontario. Harvey grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where his father was the director of the Hamilton JCC. His mother had a French-imported ladies' wear store. After coming out to his parents in the 1970s, he moved to Kingston, Ontario, where he attended Queen's University.; 0:03:13 Howard discusses how his experience was different. He was born and raised in downtown Toronto. His father died when he was a teenager; his mother got sick soon after. As a result, Harvey was largely on his own. He went off to Waterloo for university and then York for graduate school. It's around that time he came to terms with who he was.; 0:05:05 Howard discusses a gay Jewish group, B'nai Kehillah, that existed before Chutzpah. It met at the Church of the Holy Trinity, an Anglican church in Toronto.; 0:06:19 Harvey and Howard discuss what Chutzpah was, when it started, and how they became involved.; 0:09:40 Harvey discusses a trip Chutzpah took to the Royal Ontario Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were being exhibited. It was on this trip that Harvey "really met" Howard.; 0:10:10 Harvey discusses how he and Howard came to the conclusion that Chutzpah could be more than "just a place to meet."; 0:11:11 Harvey discusses the impact the AIDS epidemic had on Chutzpah's focus. Harvey explains that after American Actor Rock Hudson's death, AIDS was front page news in big cities like Toronto.; 0:12:03 Harvey discusses the decision to have Friday night Oneg Shabbats in the late 1980s. Initially, these were held at the Cecil Community Centre on Cecil Street in Toronto. Howard used his position as city councillor to make this happen.; 0:13:14 Harvey discusses why the Cecil Community Centre was not an ideal location for the group's services. Howard, therefore, approached the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre and got the group a room for Friday nights.; 0:14:52 Harvey discusses Chutzpah’s decision to join the World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organization (today, World Congress of GLBT Jews).; 0:15:40 Harvey discusses the group's decision to attend a World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations conference in Amsterdam.; 0:17:40 Harvey relates an event hosted by the then mayor of Amsterdam, in which the mayor laid a wreath with a pink triangle to honour gay victims of the Holocaust. Harvey and Howard discuss being moved by this.; 0:18:50 Harvey mentions some of the things that came out of the Amsterdam conference.; 0:20:05 Harvey and Howard discuss Chutzpah's decision to host a conference in Toronto. The conference, which took place in 1990, was held at the Primrose Hotel.; 0:23:16 Harvey and Howard discuss the decision to invite Svend Robinson, Canada's first openly-gay member of parliament, to speak at the conference.; 0:23:38 Howard interjects to explain that he was never "out" while on city council. Despite this, he "did a number of things," including getting benefits for same-sex couples and proclaiming Pride Day in Toronto. Howard notes that Art Eggleton, Toronto's mayor at the time, was opposed to proclaiming Pride Day.; 0:24:37 Harvey and Howard discuss the Toronto conference some more. Harvey discusses a group of five women cantors who performed at the banquet. The group included Elizabeth Bolton, a cantor at Temple Emanu-El, and Ruth Slater, a cantor at Temple Anshe Sholom.; 0:26:50 Harvey and Howard discuss the lack of press coverage for the conference. An exception was the Canadian Jewish News.; 0:28:30 Harvey and Howard discuss some of Chutzpah's other initiatives: having a booth at Pride, selling corned beef sandwiches to raise money, and selling rainbow yarmulkes. The group also marched in Pride with a banner.; 0:28:56 Harvey discusses Chutzpah's support for Pflag (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). He notes that many gay Jews found the most traumatic part of coming out to be the issue of the parents.; 0:29:48 Harvey and Howard discuss the mainstream Jewish community's response to the AIDS crisis. Howard says it was in denial. He also discusses his involvement with the Canadian Jewish Congress' Community Relations Committee and Bernie Farber inviting him to join the committee.; 0:31:15 Howard discusses how things have changed. He says Chutzpah dissolved because it wasn't needed anymore.; 0:32:55 Harvey expands on Howard's point that there was no more need for Chutzpah.; 0:33:30 Harvey and Howard clarify Chutzpah's timeline: Harvey joined the group in the mid-1980s. It lasted until the mid-1990s. At that point, it transformed into Keshet Shalom. That group became defunct in the early 2000s. That's when Howard donated his records to the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (now the ArQuives).; 0:34:14 Harvey and Howard discuss how they never agreed that Chutzpah should have become Keshet Shalom (a congregation). They discuss their reasons for not wanting to be a congregation.; 0:35:43 Harvey and Howard discuss how many members Chutzpah had at its peak.; 0:36:11 Harvey and Howard discuss Chutzpah's relationship with the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and Brent Hawkes, one of the church's pastors. They also discuss an unnamed member of the church, a reverend, who identified as both Jewish and Christian and who attended several of Chutzpah's Friday night services.; 0:39:28 Harvey and Howard discuss the lack of antisemitism they encountered in non-Jewish gay and lesbian communities.; 0:40:28 Harvey and Howard discuss the presence (or lack thereof) of Chutzpah ads in the Jewish press. They note that the Canadian Jewish News did cover the Toronto conference.; 0:41:59 Harvey and Howard discuss issues facing the Jewish LGBT community in 2019. Harvey mentions the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community as one area of concern. He also discusses elevated rates of suicide among gay youth.; 0:45:56 Howard discusses the isolation of gay and lesbian Hasids.; 0:46:22 Howard discusses the viewpoint of Toronto's established Jewish community today.; 0:47:34 Harvey and Howard share their final thoughts.

Source: Oral Histories

Michael Bernstein [graphic material] – 1925-[194-].

Accession Number: 2010-6-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-6-5

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm and 13 x 21 cm

Date: 1925-[194-]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two photographs of Bernstein family members. One documents a women's meeting at a home on 678 Crawford Street. Second from left is Esther (Ettie) Bernstein and beside her is Eva Norris. The other photograph is labelled: Organization Meeting of the United Jewish Farmers of Ontario, Holy Blossom Synagogue, March 25, 1925. This photograph has a number of individuals identified on it, including: Dr. Brickner, Hon. Pres.; S. Samuels, Vice Pres.; H. Shackman, Treas.; M. Berman, Executive; S. Levine, Secty; M. Borinsky, Executive; J. Smith, Executive; M. Borenstein, Executive. A member of the donor's family started to identify individuals by marking the photograph with pen. These include Moishe Yukel Bernstein (the donor's great-grandfather), Isadore Bernstein (his grandfather), Tom White, Alta Crystal, Mr. Samuels, Mr. Krupinsky & Saul Crystal.

Subjects: Farmers

Places: Crawford Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Sam Levine [textual record] – 1909-1939.

Accession Number: 2010-7-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2010-7-7

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1909-1939

Scope and Content: Accession consists of textual records that document Sam's involvement in the Russian army and his immigration to Canada. Included is a copy of his naturalization certificate (1919), a JIAS shipping receipt for a package sent to Russia (1939), Russian army documents, and a temporary Russian passport (1914).

Administrative History: Sam Levine was born in Postov, Vilna, Russia on April 10th, 1885 to Mr. and Mrs. Eliahu Levine. Prior to immigrating to Canada, he received training as a blacksmith in the Russian army and had two daughters with his wife Sarah (d. 1968): Bessie (b. 1909) and Betty (b. 1913). His wife and daughters joined him in Canada around 1921; a year after he became a naturalized Canadian. After their arrival, Sam and his wife had two more daughters: Ethel (b. 1922) and Sylvia (b. 1924).; The Levine family resided at 11 Euclid and owned a stable at 22 Euclid, which Sam used as a place to shoe horses for profit. Throughout his career, Sam took on various metal work jobs, including building gates for residences and cemeteries, such as Roselawn Lambton. He often did the metal work at home and soldered the completed pieces together on site. During the Second World War, Sam had a contract with Lincoln Electric to build casings for motors.; Sam was part of the Grand Order of Israel and Sarah was a member of Folks Farein. Sam taught himself how to read English, and regularly frequented horse races. Sam passed away in 1976.

Descriptive Notes: Language note: some documents are in Russian and Yiddish; Related material note: see also accession #1988-11-12.

Source: Archival Accessions

Eastern Children of Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.) [graphic material] – [between 1960 and 1962].

Accession Number: 2011-9-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2011-9-2

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm

Date: [between 1960 and 1962]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of one photograph of the sign from the Eastern Children of Israel Congregation, located on Parliament Street, just north of Shuter Street, in Toronto. The sign is in the shape of an arc and was situated on the second floor of a brick building between two windows. It was written in Hebrew and mentions both the synagogue and a Talmud Torah.

Custodial History: The photograph was in the possession of Dr. Dorothy Pullan. She mailed it to the OJA in September 2011.

Administrative History: The Eastern Children of Israel Synagogue (Bnai Israel Hamizrachim or Eastern Children's Congregation) was founded in a house on Berkeley Street before the First World War. Its first synagogue was built at 177-179 Berkeley Street and officially opened in 1918. A Talmud Torah was later added onto the back. The synagogue was bulldozed in 1960 to make way for the Moss Park housing project, although the land sat vacant until 1962. The synagogue subsequently moved to 270 Parliament street until 1962, just north of Shuter Street, but is no longer in existence.

Descriptive Notes: Availability of other formats: Also available as a JPEG file.

Subjects: Signs and signboards; Synagogues

Name Access: Eastern Children of Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places: Parliament Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Hillel Children's Workshop [textual record, graphic material] – [1979?]-[ca. 2007], predominant 1992-2007.

Accession Number: 2012-11-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2012-11-3

Material Format: textual record; graphic material

Physical Description: ca. 30 cm of textual and graphic material

Date: [1979?]-[ca. 2007], predominant 1992-2007

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records documenting the governance, operation, and programs of the Hillel Children's Workshop. Included are meeting minutes, correspondence, policy documents, programming records, newsletters, mission statements, financial records, course outlines, class lists, and teacher handbooks. Also included are photographs of special events, such as Hanukkah, Purim, and Sukkot parties.

Administrative History: Established in 1974, the Hillel Children's Workshop was a cooperative Jewish Sunday school that ran programs for both parents and children. The curriculum was focused on Jewish humanist principles and based on biblical and secular sources. As a cooperative group, parents were actively involved in the organization. In 2012, the school closed due to decreased enrolment.

Use Conditions: Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Cohen [moving images, textual record, textual record (electronic)] – 1988-2001.

Accession Number: 2014-1-16

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2014-1-16

Material Format: moving images; textual record; textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 1 document (electronic); 4 DVDs; 1 scrapbook

Date: 1988-2001

Scope and Content: Accession consists of material relating to the Maccabees Royal Canadian Legion branch 343, including a 1998 membership register, poppy sale information, correspondence and notes regarding Ben Sussman's application for a lifetime membership, information about the ticket sales and a copy of the certificate from 1997 JNF tribute dinner that honoured Albert and Pearl Cohen, and planning notes for the 50th anniversary banquet of the Maccabees in 1995. The accession also contains the draft of Albert Cohen's speech that he presented at the 50th anniversary dinner, as well as newspaper clippings from the Hamilton Jewish News and the Canadian Jewish News relating to the Maccabees, two certificates from the Grand Order of Israel Benefit Society recognizing Albert Cohen's 40 years of membership and an award of merit, and a eulogy in Yiddish, with some translation, written by a father about the son he lost, Balinson, in the line of duty. The DVDs contain footage from the 1997 JNF dinner honouring the Cohens, including Pearl Cohen speaking about early Hamilton, one clip from 1994 of Albert Cohen telling the history of the Maccabees, and video from the 50th anniversary dinner of the Maccabees where there were various speakers including an address by the guest speaker, Commander Sam Pasternack, who spoke about the contribution of Jewish soldiers in WWII (DVD, Maccabees dinner part 3).

Custodial History: Michael Cohen is the son of Albert and Pearl Cohen, and was in possession of the records prior to donating them.

Administrative History: Albert Cohen (1918-2006) who also went by the nickname "Boomie," was born on November 12, 1918 in Hamilton, Ontario. Pearl Cohen (nee Chaunce) (1919-2008) was born in Hamilton on September 2, 1919. Albert and Pearl married in 1941. In the same year, Albert volunteered to serve in the army as a staff sargeant stationed in Hamilton. He was later discharged in May 1946 after the war. Albert then joined Hamilton's Maccabees, Branch 343 of the Royal Canadian Legion. The branch was founded in 1947 and had a membership of 150 people. The Maccabees' membership was made up of Jewish veterans of WWII, and some veterans of WWI. The branch held meetings in Hamilton's Jewish centre. Albert served as president of the branch for almost 20 years, from 1975 to around 2000. The Maccabees were quite active, and helped raise money by selling poppies for Remembrance Day. The money raised would be sent to general hospitals, veterans hospitals, and families of needy veterans. Albert passed away on August 7, 2006, and Pearl passed away April 18, 2008.

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

Name Access: Cohen, Albert, 1918-2006; Cohen, Pearl, 1919-2008

Places: Hamilton, Ont.

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Maister [textual record, textual record (electronic)] – 9 Feb. 2001.

Accession Number: 2014-9-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2014-9-1

Material Format: textual record; textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 1 folder of textual records (PDF, Word)

Date: 9 Feb. 2001

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a eulogy for Michael Maister written by his son Jonathan Maister.

Name Access: Maister, Jonathan; Maister, Michael

Source: Archival Accessions

Levine family [graphic material (electronic)] – [between 1914 and 1916?], 1986-1998.

Accession Number: 2015-3-3

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-3-3

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 34 photographs (tiff)

Date: [between 1914 and 1916?], 1986-1998

Scope and Content: Accssion consists of photographs documenting the Levine family's immigration to Canada and activities in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Included are images of Mark and Bev during their first few years in Melford, Saskatchewan; family holiday celebrations (Hanukkah and Passover dinners); Shabbat dinners; the Edenbridge synagogue; trips to Niagara Falls; and images taken during trips Elfreda and Alec made to Canada from South Africa to visit Mark. Of note are images taken of Mark and Bev with other South African immigrants at a ski hill in Saskatchewan and at Shabbat dinners in Melford. Also included is a Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa in the early 1900s.; Photo Captions: 001: Romi’s birthday party at Green Lane school, [1993?]. 002: Isaac (Mark’s father-in-law), Mark and Romi in Toronto, [1991?] 003: Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa, [between 1914 and 1916?]. Back row (left to right) Dora, Israel. Front row (left to right): Fanny, Becky, and Harry. 004: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. At a Shabbat dinner with six other South African doctors who were in Melford. 005: Pesach dinner in Toronto at the Levine’s, [1993?]. Man on right is Robert Kahn (pharmacist), woman is Ruth Falkstein. Man on left is Sydney Flax (optometrist). Romi is seated at table. 006: First Friday after the birth of Jade, McKee Ave., Toronto, 1998. 007: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford. 008: Mark at a local ski hill, [1986 or 1987]. Inscription on back of photo reads “Mark in his ski-ing regalia proving he does know how to ski” 009: Mark and Bev standing on the middle of a frozen lake in Melford, Saskatchewan, [1986 or 1987] 010-011: Seder at the Silberbergs 012: Mark and Bev’s flat in Melford (bottom-right apartment), [1987?] 013-014: Group of South African doctors and their wives at a South African party at the local ski hill in Melford, [between 1986-1988]. 015: Mark in Niagara Falls, [ca. 1987]. 016: Mark and Bev at Saskatchewan hospital with newborn daughter Romi, 1987. 017: Mark, Bev, Romi, 1987. 018-023: Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 024: Jewish cemetery in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 025-026: Interior of Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 027:First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford.

Administrative History: Leible and Esther Sweiden moved from Lithuania to Capetown in 1890. Leible's brother, Jacob followed him to Capetown around 1902. In 1906, Jacob and his wife Fanny (nee Vickers) immigrated with a small group of other Jewish South Africans to Edenbridge, Saskatchewan. Leible remained in South Africa. Leible's son Israel married Edith (Eadie) in 1934. Israel and Edith's daughter Elfreda (b. 1936) married Alec Levine in 1958. Elfreda was a bookkeeper for various companies and Alec worked for his family's plumbing business. They had three children together: Mark (b. 1959), Carol (b. 1962), and Adrian ( b. 1966).; Mark Levine married Beverley in 1983. They immigrated to Melford, Saskatchewan in 1986. Mark did not know at the time that his great grandfather's brother had immigrated to a nearby area decades earlier and only learned of his story and the Edenbridge Jewish community soon after arriving there. Mark worked as a physician at a local hospital. Beverley had been a pharmacist in South Africa, however, her qualifications were not recognized in Canada and she focused on raising her family. Mark and Bev's daughter, Romi, was born in August 1987. After 18 months in Melford, they moved to Toronto after Mark found work as a pediatric anesiologist at Sick Kids Hospital. In 1998, thier second daughter, Jade, was born. Mark's parents, Elfreda and Alec, immigrated to Toronto in 1999. Mark and other relatives encouraged them to immigrate due to the increasingly dangerous political situation in South Africa. Mark is also an assoicate professor at the University of Toronto. Alec and Elfreda's daughter Carol lives in England and their son Adrian remains in South Africa.

Use Conditions: Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects: Families; Immigrants--Canada; South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access: Levine, Mark

Source: Archival Accessions

Irving Levine [graphic material (electronic), textual record (electronic)] – [195-?]-1979.

Accession Number: 2015-6-9

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-6-9

Material Format: graphic material (electronic); textual record (electronic)

Physical Description: 6 photographs : b&w (jpg); 4 documents (jpg)

Date: [195-?]-1979

Scope and Content: Accession consists of six electronic copies of photographs of Irving Levine and the Levine family and electronic copies of three invitations to Irving Levine's birthday party, and one newspaper clipping. Included is Irving and Ruth's wedding portrait and wedding photo with their parents (Sept. 6, 1952), two photographs of Irving with his mother Anne at Crystal Beach, a photograph of the Irving brothers in Grimsby, and a photo of Irving with business partner Lionel Robins (ca. 1978). Identified individuals in the photographs include: Irving Levine, Lionel Robins, Harry Levine, David Levine, Anne Levine, Ruth Levine, Sam Levine, Abraham Feldman, and Jennie Feldman.

Administrative History: Irving Levine was born in 1929 to Sam and Anne Levine. He was born in Grimsby, Ontario, where his father owned a junior department store. They were members of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Hamilton. Irving moved to Toronto in 1953, he married Ruth Fern in 1952 and they had three children: Alan, born in 1953, Suzy, born in 1956 and Michael, born in 1961. He has six grandchildren. He purchased Braemar clothing store in the early 1960s, with the first location in Cloverdale Mall. He became the top vice-president of Dylex, Ltd.,one of Canada's largest retail clothing companies, and general manager of Fairweather's division. Lionel Robins became his business partner in 1964.

Use Conditions: Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Descriptive Notes: Further identification can be found with the accession record.

Subjects: Families

Name Access: Levine, Irving, 1929-

Places: Crystal Beach (Fort Erie, Ont.); Grimsby (Ont.); Hamilton (Ont.); Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Alex Levin [textual record, graphic material (electronic), moving images (electronic)] – 1944-2015 (predominent 2008-2015).

Accession Number: 2015-8-10

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-8-10

Material Format: textual record; graphic material (electronic); moving images (electronic)

Physical Description: 10 cm of textual records; 2240 photographs (jpg and gif); 8 moving images

Date: 1944-2015 (predominent 2008-2015)

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records related to the activities of Alex Levin, a Jewish war veteran and Holocaust survivor. Records include letters written to Levin from school children following various speaking engagements; interviews with Crestwood School, CHAT, and Netivot Hatorah; a recording of the Saluting Our Italian Heroes commemorative event; recordings of Remembrance Day ceremonies hosted by the Canadian Jewish War Veterans (Toronto Post); and photographs documenting events attended by Levin including Holocaust remembrance events, Yom Hashoah, Remembrance Day ceremonies, March of the Living, Miracle Dinners and Proms, Azrieli Foundation events including the launch of Levin's book "Under the Yellow and Red Stars", school visits, JWV programs with Sunnybrook veterans, portraits of Levin through the years and various scanned images of Levin's family.

Administrative History: Alex Levin (1932-2016) was born in 1932 in Rokitno, Poland. In 1941, the Germans invaded Rokitno and established a ghetto and formed a Judenrat to carry out their orders. In 1942, the Ghetto was evacuated and the Jews were brought to the town's marketplace to be transported by train to be killed. Levin was ten years old when he escaped into the nearby forest with his brother Samuel where he lived for 18 months in a hole in the ground. He was twelve when he emerged from hiding to find that his parents and youngest brother Moishe had been murdered. In 1944, he joined the Soviet forces as a messenger boy. After the war, he was sent to the USSR and enrolled in cadet school, remaining in the Soviet army until forced out for being Jewish in the 1970s. An engineer by training, Alex came to Canada in 1975 via Austria and Italy, and now lives in Toronto where he regularly speaks about his experiences in the Holocaust.

Subjects: Education; Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945); World War, 1939-1945

Name Access: Levin, Alex, 1932-2016

Source: Archival Accessions

Alex Levin [textual record] – [2010?]-[2015?].

Accession Number: 2015-7-6

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2015-7-6

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: [2010?]-[2015?]

Scope and Content: Accession consists of thank you cards from schools where Alex was a speaker, sharing his story of Holocaust survival.

Administrative History: Alex Levin (1932-2016) was born Joshua Levin in 1932 in Rokitno, Poland. (He was also known as Yehoshua and Shike.) Rokitno was occupied in 1941 by Nazi Germany and Alex escaped the Rokitno ghetto with his brother in 1942, hiding in the woods for eighteen months. Soviet troops found him in January of 1944 and invited him to join the 13th Army as a field hospital unit helper. Because his Yiddish nickname was unfamiliar (Shike, from his Hebrew name, Yehoshua), they called him Shura or Shurik, diminutive forms of Alexander, which became his formal name. He became an officer in the USSR and an engineer. He immigrated to Canada in 1975 and brought his family to join him in 1980.

Subjects: Education; Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945); World War, 1939-1945; Antisemitism

Name Access: Levin, Alex, 1932-

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Shulman [textual record] – 1941-1956.

Accession Number: 2016-7-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2016-7-1

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records; 1 photograph

Date: 1941-1956

Scope and Content: Accession consists of records pertaining to Michael Shulman's father, John Shulman, a chartered accountant and active member of Holy Blossom Synagogue. His office was at 21 Dundas Square. Included in the accession are: the naturalization certificate of his maternal grandfather, Louis Bolasny, a founder of the Kiever Synagogue; John Shulman's ketubah for his marriage with Rose Bolasny (scanned and returned the original to the donor); one black and white photo of John Shulman; three Holy Blossom Brotherhood Bulletins including an announcement of the First Dinner Meeting of the Council of Jewish Brotherhoods of Toronto held at Beth Tzedec Synagogue on November 15, 1956; and photocopied class pictures of Michael Shulman's Kindergarten class at Forest Hill (1945).

Administrative History: Michael Shulman is an active member of the Jewish community. His wife is Jackie Shulman who sits on the board of the Ontario Jewish Archives.

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Bernstein [graphic material, graphic material (electronic), textual record] – 1880-1967.

Accession Number: 2016-8-7

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2016-8-7

Material Format: graphic material; graphic material (electronic); textual record

Physical Description: 39 photographs : b&w and col ; 42 x 52 cm or smaller; 5 photographs : b&w (TIF); 1 folder of textual records; 1 book

Date: 1880-1967

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs of the Bernstein, Seskin and Norris families. Among the photos is a photo album belonging to Eva & Srulik Norris, six painted photographic portraits (oval mounted on card with crayon embellishments); one painting, a worn copy of Readings from the Holy Scriptures issued to Sid Bernstein, while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces, Camp Borden, ca. 1943. This bible is an example of those issued to Jewish Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, published in the United States by Jewish Welfare Board in 1943. This copy was distributed by the Mount Royal Lodge No. 729, B’nai B’rith, and the War Efforts Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, March 1943. In addition there is a Balmoral Hotel business card and a presonal Shana Tova greeting card of the donor's Great Aunt Hinde Bernstein.; The individuals identified in the photographs include: Moshe Yukel Bernstein, Isadore Bernstein, Ettie Bernstein, Avram Hersh Bernstein, Brothers Hymie, Izzie, Nathan and Saul Bernstein, Moishe Bernstein, Eva Norris, Srulick Norris, Mattel Sluzewska, Michal Sluzewski, Dave Gruber, Hinda Bernstein, William (Wilhelm) Seskin, Jack Seskin, Sofie Seskin, Anny Kofman, Jennie Seskin, Adolf Seskin, andLeah Bernstein (née Zuber). Locations of the photographs include: Mr. Bernstein's gas station in Haliburton, Ontario; Chez Ami, Buffalo, New York; Shepatovka, Russia; Pontypool, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario.

Custodial History: Michael Bernstein inherited the collection that was formerly in the possession of his grandmother Ettie Bernstein. He also acquired the photogaph album belonging to Eva and Srulick Norris, friends of Ettie.

Use Conditions: Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Descriptive Notes: Related material:

Source: Archival Accessions

Children's Aid and Infant's Home [textual record] – 1953.

Accession Number: 2018-1-10

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2018-1-10

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records

Date: 1953

Scope and Content: Accession consists of correspondence from the acting director of the Children's Aid and Infants' Homes of Toronto located at 32 Isabella Street to the executive director of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society located at 145 Beverly Street. The subject of the correspondence concerns a reference for an applicant for the position of investigator in the Protection Department of the Children's Aid and Infants' Homes.

Custodial History: Item was discovered while processing CJC Fonds 17 holdings.

Use Conditions: Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.

Subjects: Orphanages

Name Access: Children's Aid and Infants' Homes of Toronto

Places: Beverley Street (Toronto, Ont.); Isabella Street(Toronto, Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Givens [graphic material, moving images, object, textual record] – 1932-2011.

Accession Number: 2020-3-4

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2020-3-4

Material Format: graphic material; moving images; object; textual record

Physical Description: ca. 300 photographs : b&w and col. (30 negatives) ; 36 x 26 cm or smaller; 8 cm of textual records and other material

Date: 1932-2011

Scope and Content: Accession consists of textual records, graphic materials, videocassettes, a scrapbook, and a small number of artifacts, which are related to the Givens and Rubin families and Phil Given's political, Jewish communal, and public service activities. Textual records consist of the Givens family record from Beth Tzedec Congregation; certificates (1932 and 1946); Phil’s campaign material; a birthday greeting to Phil’s mother, Mary Gevertz, from the Government of Ontario (1971); newspaper clippings documenting Phil’s music career in his early years as well as his political, Jewish communal, and public service activities (1932-2011); booklets of B’nai Brith documenting Phil Givens involvement with B’nai Brith Upper Canada Lodge (1949 and 1996); the Phil Givens Negev Dinner programme book (1968); a centennial schoolbook of Harbord Collegiate Institute which Phil Givens attended (1992); and magazines with articles related to Phil Givens’ communal and political activities (1967-1990). Textual records also include invitation and birthday cards (1968-1978), a personal letter and an appreciation message to Phil, and a bulletin of Hebrew Men of England Congregation dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rubin (1966). Graphic materials are comprised mainly of photographs ([194-?]-[199-?]), which include Phil Givens’ professional portraits; Michael Givens’ camping photographs; passport photographs of Phil, Min, and Michael Givens; photographs depicting the Givens family, various social events that Phil and Min attended, Phil’s 1968 political campaign (from the campaign scrapbook), as well as Phil and Min’s trip to Egypt, Russia, and Israel. Graphic materials also include several negatives and over 150 stereo slides featuring the Givens family and events that Phil and Min attended ([195-]1978). Accession also includes fifteen Betamax videocassettes, six passports of the Givens and Rubin families (1965-1983), a SIN card of Mary Gevertz, a scrapbook of Phil’s 1968 campaign, and two metal award and honour panels granted to Phil by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and the Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto (1969 and 1991).

Administrative History: Philip Gerard Givens (1922-1995) was a municipal, provincial and federal politician, a judge, a police commissioner and an active Jewish communal leader. He is largely remembered as the 54th Mayor of Toronto. Phil Givens was born in Toronto on April 24th, 1922, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945 and from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949. In 1947, he married Minnie "Min" Rubin (born February 7th, 1924) and together they had two children, Eleanor and Michael. Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall; however, shortly thereafter he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951 he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a city Controller. Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962. Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the Mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against the former mayor, Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals. Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture “the Archer” for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike. Although ultimately purchased with private solicited donations, the controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. In 1967 Givens entered national politics for the second time, the first being a failed 1957 bid in Toronto’s Spadina riding, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971 he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Provincial Legislature. Again running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill and after the elimination of this riding in 1975, was re-elected in the new riding of Armourdale. In 1977 he retired from politics. He also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM. In 1977, Givens was appointed as a provincial court judge and chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retiring from public life in 1988. An ardent Zionist, Givens was also a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chairman of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985 he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation and in the 1990s was the national chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’ Committee for Yiddish. Givens was honoured by Jewish community organizations, including the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Award in 1968 and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews’ Human Relations Award in 1969. As well, in 1972, he received the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith. Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto. He died on November 30th, 1995 at the age of 73.

Descriptive Notes: Physical Description Note: Apart from photographs and textual records, this accession also includes 156 stereo slides, 15 Betamax videocassettes, 1 scrapbook, 2 metal award and honour panels, 6 passports, and 1 SIN card.; The content and duration of the Betamax videocassettes need further identification.

Subjects: Families; Politicians

Name Access: Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Jewish Children's Home

Address: 336 Annette Street

Source: Landmarks

The Jewish Orphanage was established in 1909 in a rented house in the Ward, later moving to 218 Simcoe St. In 1921 the name was changed to Jewish Childrens' Home, and in 1922 a stately house at 336 Annette St. was purchased, called "Oakland". It had been designed by James Ellis. The house could accommodate 35 children.

Address: 336 Annette Street

Time Period: 1922-1935

Scope Note: The Jewish Orphanage was established in 1909 in a rented house in the Ward, later moving to 218 Simcoe St. In 1921 the name was changed to Jewish Childrens' Home, and in 1922 a stately house at 336 Annette St. was purchased, called "Oakland". It had been designed by James Ellis. The house could accommodate 35 children.

History: The children went to local schools and attended Jewish Sunday School, as well as having Bar Mitzvah training. They were provided with clothing and meals, and had the opportunity to enjoy activities taking place within the home, such as cooking and drama. The Home was closed in 1935 due to disagreements between the newly established Jewish Children's Bureau's (JCB) and the Jewish Childrens' Home (JCH) around child welfare policies, as well as a need for the Federation to cut costs.

Category: Social Service

Source: Landmarks

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Michael Friesen [textual record] – Sep. 2022.

Accession Number: 2022-10-1

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2022-10-1

Material Format: textual record

Physical Description: 1 textual record

Date: Sep. 2022

Scope and Content: Accession consists of a publication authored by Joanna Krongold and published in September 2022 titled "In Their Own Words: Jewish Doctors, Antisemitism, and the Restrictive Quota System at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine." The publication was made available at no cost to those attending the event Reflecting on Historic Jewish Student Quotas in Toronto Medical Education, which was held at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, on 29 September 2022; Dr. Joanna Krongold is a 2022–2023 joint postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto's Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's Office of Inclusion and Diversity. She received her PhD from the Department of English at the University of Toronto in 2020.

Custodial History: The donor acquired the item at the event Reflecting on Historic Jewish Student Quotas in Toronto Medical Education.

Use Conditions: Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects: Antisemitism; Discrimination in higher education; Physicians

Name Access: Krongold, Joanna; University of Toronto. Faculty of Medicine

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Michael Friesen [graphic material (electronic)] – Nov. 2023.

Accession Number: 2023-11-2

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2023-11-2

Material Format: graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description: 12 photographs (jpg) : col.

Date: Nov. 2023

Scope and Content: Accession consists of twelve photographs of posters taken by the donor in Midtown, Toronto, and near Bathurst and Sheppard Streets in North York. The photographs were taken between 6 and 8 November 2023, approximately one month after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the start of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. Many of the photographs depict Israeli citizens taken hostage by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.; Six of the photographs are of posters disseminated by the #KidnappedFromIsrael campaign (https://www.kidnappedfromisrael.com). Of the seven Kidnapped from Israel posters photographed—one photograph depicts two posters—three of which were vandalized. The vandalism on the first Kidnapped from Israel poster reads, "IDF soldier." The vandalism on the second Kidnapped from Israel poster reads, "Israeli terrorism is not OK!" The vandalism on the fifth Kidnapped from Israel poster reads, "3000 dead Palestinians."; Two of the photographs are of posters disseminated by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto's #NoRoomForTerror campaign (https://www.instagram.com/noroomforterror). Neither of the #NoRoomForTerror posters appear to have been vandalized, although one is torn in half. It is unclear if this was done intentionally.; Two of the photographs are of posters with the message "HAMASISIS" and the hashtag #BringThemHomeNOW. Of the two HAMASISISIS posters photographed, both were vandalized. The vandalism on the first HAMASISIS poster appears to read, "10k dead Palestinians." The vandalism on the second HAMASISISIS poster appears to read, "Israel is terroris[m/t]."; Lastly, there is a photograph of a small poster tied to the Forgotten Echo Instagram page. The latter's message reads, "It costs Canadian taxpayers $33,000 to kill one baby in Gaza. Take action." On this poster is a QR code that links to a petition to the prime minister of Canada calling upon the prime minister "to take the necessary measures to address the Israel-Palestine conflict."

Use Conditions: Conditional Use. Researchers must receive permission from the donor prior to publication. 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.