- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 28
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- moving images
- Date
- 1908-1979, predominant 1955-1976
- Physical Description
- 7.4 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The Zionist Organization of Canada (ZOC) (1921-1978) acted as the official voice of Zionism in Canada, promoting the aims of Zionism in communities across the country. The ZOC adhered to the principles of the Jerusalem Program of the Zionist movement founded by Theodor Herzl in 1898 during the First Zionist Congress held in Basle Switzerland. These principles included: 1) the promotion of immigration to Israel; 2) raising funds to carry out the aims of Zionism; 3) encouraging investment in Israel; 4) fostering Jewish consciousness; and 5) mobilizing public opinion about Israel and the Jewish communities of the Diaspora.
- The Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada (FZSOC) was founded in 1898 as the national collective of groups representing Zionist interests in Canada. In 1921 the organization changed its name and was incorporated as the Zionist Organization of Canada, becoming the primary umbrella organization for Zionist groups in Canada.
- The ZOC was a broad-based organization that embraced an ideology of nationhood which attracted influential national leaders within the Jewish community as well as thousands of members across the country. ZOC's main office was located in Montreal until 1970, when it moved to the Toronto Zionist Centre on Marlee Ave, Toronto. ZOC provided smaller communities, which had few institutional supports, with vital linkages to the metropolitan centres through their programs that were run out of the regional offices and local Zionist councils. The Zionist Organization of Canada operated as an umbrella group that oversaw Zionist funds and administered the budgets of such organizations as Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, the Men's Zionist Organization of Canada and Young Judaea. ZOC programs promoted a stronger Jewish identity amongst Canadian Jews and familiarity with Hebrew through the periodical, Canadian Zionist. These programs included book clubs, lunch clubs, film exhibits, youth camps, travel offices, and two television programs during the 1970s on cable television in Montreal and Toronto.
- In 1967, ZOC became a constituent member of the new Federated Zionist Organization of Canada (FZOC), along with Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, the Labour Zionist Movement of Canada, Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi Organization of Canada, Zionist Revisionist Organization of Canada, Achdut Avoda, and Friends of Pioneering Israel (Mapam). In 1972, FZOC became the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). During the 1970s, ZOC's functions were gradually absorbed by the Canadian Zionist Federation, the CZF Central Region based in Toronto, and by the Toronto Zionist Council. By 1978, the Zionist Organization of Canada had ceased to function as an organization.
- Scope and Content
- The Zionist Organization of Canada (ZOC) records span a 70 year period between 1908, with the formation of the Toronto Zionist Council (and its affiliated corporation, the United Zionists of Toronto) and the creation of the Zionist Organization of Canada in 1921, until 1978. The bulk of the records in the fonds were created after 1950.
- The fonds is organized into two sous-fonds and eight record series. The sous-fonds contain records of the ZOC Central Region and the Toronto Zionist Council, which exercised considerable autonomy in their work under the ZOC umbrella. The record series include records relating to: ZOC's executive bodies, the National Administrative Council and Executive Board, and their predecessor, the Executive Committee of the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada (1919-1976); the National Camps Association, responsible for overseeing the administration of summer camps owned by ZOC (1961-1968); Canadian Young Judaea, the youth wing of ZOC which was also responsible for the operation of ZOC summer camps (1957-1978); the ZOC Department of Education and Culture's cable television programme, Shalom (1971-1977); ZOC national conventions (1946-1975); the Federated Zionist Organization of Canada, of which ZOC became a member organization on its formation in 1967 (1972-1978); and the 28th World Zionist Congress held in 1972. The fonds also includes a series of subject files, the primary recordkeeping system for ZOC's administration, and a series of photographs of prominant persons and events maintained by ZOC for its public relations work.
- Notes
- Physical description note: Includes: ca. 1100 photographs (b&w and col.; some negatives), 24 embossed prints, 3 film reels (col., Super 8 mm), and 1 videocassette (col., VHS).
- Associated material note: Additional records of the Zionist Organization of Canada can be found at the Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives (Montreal), Library & Archives Canada (Ottawa), and the World Zionist Organization's Central Zionist Archives (Jerusalem)
- Name Access
- Zionist Organization of Canada
- Subjects
- Zionism
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Creator
- Zionist Organization of Canada (1921-1978)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- National Administrative Council and Executive Board series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 28
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1919-1977
- Physical Description
- 86 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Administrative Council was the executive and administrative body of the Zionist Organization of Canada. From 1919 to 1921, its predecessor for the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada was known as the Executive Committee for Zionist Affairs in Canada, or the Executive Committee of the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada.
- At its convention in 1921, the Zionist Organization of Canada adopted a constitution which called for the election of a National Administrative Council at each convention, to be responsible for administration of the Organization between conventions. The first meeting of the National Council took place on 7 February 1921, at the Zionist Headquarters in Montreal. The Council was composed of the Organization's executive officers, regional representatives and representatives from Hadassah-Wizo and Canadian Young Judea. An Executive Board was also formed, which included members elected at the conventions, ZOC executive officers and the immediate past-president, the chairs of National Administrative Council standing committees, representatives of Hadassah-Wizo and Young Judea, and other National Administrative Council regional representatives elected from the Council's members. The Board could also appoint additional members at its discretion to assist in its work. The Executive Board was delegated to carry out the decisions and ongoing work of the National Administrative Council and of the Organization generally.
- Scope and Content
- The series is organized into five sub-series, which includes: minutes of meetings of the National Administrative Council and the Executive Board and their predecessor, the Executive Committee for the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada (1919-1970); correspondence of the Council and the ZOC Executive Vice-President (1970-1976); auditor's reports and financial statements maintained by the National Treasurer (1929-1968); records of the Council's Constitution Committee (1952-1975); and, records of the Commission of Enquiry Regarding Canadian Olim (1975-1977).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- National Administrative Council and Executive Board series
- Minutes of meetings sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 28
- Series
- 1-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1919-1970
- Physical Description
- 32 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- The sub-series consists of the minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada (1919-1921) and of the National Administrative Council and Executive Board (1919-1970).
- Prior to 1947, minutes of the National Administrative Council and the Executive Board were interfiled by date. Beginning in 1947 Council and Board minutes were kept in separate binders, and only the minutes of the Executive Board have survived.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- National Administrative Council and Executive Board series
- National Treasurer sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 28
- Series
- 1-3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1929-1968
- Physical Description
- 16 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Treasurer of the Zionist Organization of Canada was a member of the National Administrative Council and the Executive Board. The National Treasurer was responsible for reporting on the financial situation of the Zionist Organization of Canada through the presentation of auditor's reports and financial statements. These documents were presented for review and approval at national conventions.
- Scope and Content
- The sub-series is organized into two sub-sub-series: auditor's reports (1929-1966); and, copies of financial reports submitted by the treasurer to the national conventions (1922-1968).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Publicity photographs of people and events series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 28
- Series
- 6
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- [193-]-[197-]
- Physical Description
- 60 cm of graphic material (ca. 700 photographs and 24 embossed prints)
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- The series consists of photographs taken at public events and portraits of Zionist Organization of Canada officers, prominent members of the Jewish community, and dignitaries from Canada, Israel, and the U.S. These photographs were used for publicity purposes by ZOC and were made available to the press through ZOC press releases.
- Some of the files in the series include press releases, biographical information on the subjects of the photographs, or caption information for the photographs.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Publicity photographs of people and events series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 28
- Series
- 6
- File
- 250
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [193-?]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm
- Scope and Content
- The file consists of one portrait photograph of Ellis Shapiro.
- Subjects
- Portraits
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Central Region sous-fonds
- Level
- Sous-fonds
- Fonds
- 28-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- moving images
- Date
- 1934-1978
- Physical Description
- 4.4 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- From 1921 to 1978, the Zionist Organization of Canada acted as the official voice of Zionism in Canada. The largest of the ZOC regions was the Central Region consisting of Ontario. Virtually all organizations, congregations, societies and ideological groupings having a Jewish heritage in Ontario participated in the activities of the Central Region of ZOC.
- The Central Region administration mirrored the administration at the national level. It functioned through an Executive, a Regional Council, and various volunteer committees. The Ontario Camps Association provided governance for the summer camps in Ontario co-sponsored by the Zionist Organization of Canada, Hadassah-Wizo and Canadian Young Judaea. Programmes such as the Zionist Book Club, art exhibitions, lunch clubs and other activities have served to promote the ideals of Zionism and foster a stronger sense of Jewish identity among Jews throughout Ontario.
- Regional Plenary conferences were held between the National Plenary conventions. This sous-fonds includes records of the 16th to 28th Central Region Conferences held between 1946 and 1968. Representatives from Central Region also participated as delegates to National Conventions and internationally in the World Zionist Congress.
- Scope and Content
- The Central Region sous-fonds documents the activities of the Zionist Organization of Canada at the regional level. While the records cover the period between 1934 to 1978, the bulk of the records date from after 1960. As well as textual records and photographs, the sous-fonds includes films (and a video transfer of the films) of camp activities at Camp Solelim in 1974.
- The sous-fonds is organized into 7 series: records of the Ontario Camps Association (1961-1978); auditor's reports prepared for the Central Region Treasury Board (1944-1970); records relating to the Zionist Book Club (1962-1978); Young Judaea (1955-1968); correspondence with community representatives (1965-1967); Central Region conferences (1946-1968); and, the Central Region administration's subject files (1952-1978).
- Notes
- Physical description note: Includes 353 photographs, 3 film reels (Super 8 mm), and 1 videocassette (VHS).
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Central Region sous-fonds
- Conventions series
- National conventions sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 28-1
- Series
- 5-2
- File
- 26
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1958
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- The file consists of brochures and booklets including: "10 reasons why you should buy Israeli bonds", "Facts about Israel," "Israel 1958 - 10th Israel Summer Institute," "A decade of freedom," and the programme of the national conference of the Canadian Association for Hebrew Education and Culture.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Central Region sous-fonds
- Subject files series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 28-1
- Series
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1934-1978
- Physical Description
- 2.5 m of textual records
- 208 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- The bulk of the Central Region subject files series was created after 1950. The Central Region office relied on this series in order to organize their records that dealt with disperate themes. The files in this series documented internal issues as well as external groups and individuals. There are therefore files on internal budgetary matters as well as files documenting external groups that Central Region liaised with, such as FZOC and the Canadian Jewish Congress. In turn, this series also documented particular themes and events that were of interest to Central Region.
- Scope and Content
- The subject files include such materials as newsletters, correspondence and publications, publicity materials, information on club events, budgets and financial information.
- Arrangement
- The files in this series were arranged alphabetically in chronological order. While some organizations and themes were assigned a file, others were grouped together under a "miscellaneous" heading for each letter
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Level
- Sous-fonds
- Fonds
- 28-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1907-1979
- Physical Description
- 18 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- Formed in 1907 following the 1906 Zionist Congress in Toronto, the Toronto Zionist Council (TZC) was founded by the societies Agudath Zion, B'Nai Zion, Daughters of Zion, B'noth Zion Kadimah, Zion Literary Club, and the Young Men's Zion Club of Toronto. The purpose of the Council was to coordinate the efforts of its member organizations in promoting the aims of Zionism in the Toronto area. The formation of the Council was accompanied by the incorporation of the United Zionists of Toronto as a publicly traded corporation, which purchased property and acquired assets for use in TZC activities and for rental by TZC member organizations.
- In 1912, United Zionist of Toronto purchased a building at 249 Simcoe Street, Toronto, as the first Zionist Institute. The Institute included meeting rooms, a Zionist and Hebrew library, and a small gymnasium. In 1913, the Institute moved to a building at 206 Beverley Street. The Institute subsequently moved to 651 Spadina Avenue in 1924 and was renamed the Zionist Centre. In 1962 the Centre moved to a new building at 188 Marlee Avenue, Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- The sous-fonds includes: records relating to the incorporation of the United Zionists of Toronto (1907), copies of the Toronto Zionist Council constitution and proposals for constitutional ammendments, minutes of meetings of United Zionists of Toronto Board of Directors (ca. 1912) and Toronto Zionist Council and committees (1952-1953, 1962-1977), property management records and correspondence concerning rental arrangements for offices and meeting rooms in the Zionist Institute/Centre. The sous-fonds also includes some administrative records and correspondence with affiliated organizations created by TJC officers and Zionist Centre staff.
- Related Material
- See also Al Gilbert; accession # 1991-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Toronto Zionist Council sous-fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 28-2
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1913-1956
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- The file consists of a handwritten draft of the constitution from 1913 and copy of the constitution as amended in 1956.
- Physical Condition
- Records are in fair condition.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- Toronto Zionist Council sous-fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 28-2
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1924-1955
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- The file consists of the Toronto Zionist Council; nominations committee and executive board minutes of meetings.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions