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- Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds /
- Level
- Fonds
- ID
- Fonds 125
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 125
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1980-1993
- Physical Description
- ca 97 cm of textual records
- 3 audiocassettes
- 1 poster
- Admin History/Bio
- The Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews was a non-profit organization established in 1980 for the sole purpose of assisting Ethiopian Jews. To this end, CAEJ (pronounced "cage") cooperated with other bodies such as the American Association for Ethiopian Jews.
- Initially, CAEJ worked with the Canadian Jewish Congress Sub Committee for Ethiopian Jewry, but the two severed ties early on. The divorce was driven by a difference in strategy: The CJC subcommittee preferred quiet diplomacy while CAEJ wanted to make noise. CAEJ was prepared to criticize Israel in the media, for example, for failing to do enough for Ethiopia's Jews—something that provoked disagreement within the Jewish community.
- Apart from advocating for Ethiopia's Jews, CAEJ's main work consisted of rescue and relief. Rescue took the form of a visa program, in which Jewish students in Ethiopia were issued visas so that they could attend Canadian universities; once out of Ethiopia, they were able to immigrate to Israel. Relief took the form of an Adopt-a-Family program, which delivered monthly stipends to Ethiopians in need. According to Cathy Himelfard, past president of CAEJ, at least five hundred individuals received stipends from the organization.
- In 1980, CAEJ established a Pacific chapter in Vancouver, which undertook education and rescue programs. CAEJ later opened chapters in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Calgary.
- In 1984, CAEJ received a $15,000 Wintario grant to produce a videotape on the black Jews of Ethiopia. Susan Fish, provincial minister of citizenship and culture, awarded CAEJ the grant. CAEJ was one of sixteen that were given that year.
- In 1986, the organization sent a five-person team to Ethiopia's Gondar province, the home of many of Ethiopia's Jews. The team included CAEJ's executive director, Susan Schechtman, and its assistant administrative director, Donna Finkelstein. The team visited five villages, bringing relief and conducting a fact-finding mission, the findings of which were disseminated in the press upon the team's return.
- In 1987, the CAEJ held a benefit concert at the EI Mocambo, a live music venue in Toronto, to aid the Jews stranded in Ethiopia.
- In 1990, 15,000 Jews moved from their villages in the northern regions of Ethiopia to Addis Ababa, under the impression that they would be able to emigrate without delay. With immigration to Israel greatly reduced, these Jews founded themselves living in terrible conditions, with reports of several hundred individuals, mostly children, dying of malnutrition and disease. In response to these developments, the CAEJ redirected its Adopt-a-Family funds to the mass relief. This involved sending doctors and medication as well as launching projects to provide clothing, food supplements, and more medical supplies.
- The association's final project, conducted after Operation Solomon, involved persuading two-hundred-and-fifty Jews in Sudan to return to Addis Ababa. Once there, they were flown to Israel.
- In 1992, after twelve years of operation, CAEJ shut down. Former president Jack Hope told the CJN, "We've fulfilled our mandate."
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of material documenting the Canadian Associate for Ethiopian Jews. Included are letters, artifacts, meeting minutes and agendas, newspaper clippings, reference materials, audio recordings, an office manual, and a poster.
- The fonds is divided into six series: Rescue and relief letters, Administrative records, Clippings and reference materials, Artifacts, Audiovisual materials, and Posters.
- Notes
- Related groups of records external to the unit being described: A CAEJ advertisement that appeared in the Toronto Star can be found in the Larry Becker fonds.
- Name Access
- Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews
- Subjects
- Associations, institutions, etc
- Jews, Ethiopian
- Nonprofit organizations
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Canada
- Ethiopia
- Israel
- United States
- Accession Number
- 1993-1-2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1980-1991
- Physical Description
- ca. 90 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of correspondence documenting the CAEJ's rescue and relief work. Included are lists of rescue and relief results, financial receipts, and newsletters from 1980 to 1991.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Arrangement
- The majority of folders are named after individuals with whom the CAEJ corresponded. These folders have been arranged alphabetically by surname. Folders not named for individuals have been placed at the end of the series and arranged alphabetically by title.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1981-1990
- Physical Description
- ca. 4 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of CAEJ and CJC committtee minutes and agendas, correspondence, an office manual, s list of the CAEJ's executive members, documents from CJC plenary assembles, and a memorandum.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Arrangement
- Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1983-1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of letter to Rose from Steven Bauman dated 28 February 1983; a letter to Stan from Steve Bauman dated 10 March 1983; a letter to Bauman from Alan Rose dated 14 March 1983; a letter to Irwin Cotler from David Bauman dated 24 May 1983; a letter to Milton Harris from David Bauman dated 24 May 1983; a letter to CAEJ Board members from Joan Roth dated 15 January 1988; and an update regarding a new direction for fundraising efforts dated 25 September 1990.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1981-1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a letter to a committee member from Bruce Gottlieb dated 19 March 1981; Canadian Jewish Sub-committee on Ethiopian Jewry minutes dated 4 June 1981; executive minutes dated 19 November 1981; and a CJC agenda dated 29 November 1981.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1981
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a CJC memorandum dated 29 January 1981.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1989
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a notebook containing information about CAEJ members.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1989
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a CAEJ office manual with a list of executive board members.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 6
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1983
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and other material related to a photo exhibition on Ethiopian Jewry. The correspondence is mostly between CAEJ and the Canadian Jewish Congress.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 7
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1988-1989
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of material relating to the CJC plentary.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 2; File 8
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 2
- File
- 8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1 Mar. 1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a report of the International Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Ethiopian Jewry dated 1 March 1982.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 3
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Date
- 1982-1989
- Physical Description
- 2 audio cassettes (ca. 58 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of two audiocassettes, both of which feature Jewish Ethiopian leader Avi Bitew.
- Name Access
- Bitew, Avi
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 3; Item 1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 3
- Item
- 1
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Date
- 1 Jan. 1989
- Physical Description
- 1 audio cassette (ca. 13 min.)
- Admin History/Bio
- Avi Bitew was born in Ethiopia. In the early 1980s, he made a twenty-eight-day journey to Sudan on foot. Bitew eventually made his way to Israel, where he became an employee in the Ministry of Employment.
- Scope and Content
- Item is an interview with Avi Bitew, a leader in the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. The interview took place in Jerusalem on 1 January 1989 and was conducted by Susan Soberman, a CAEJ volunteer.
- In the interview, Bitew discusses perceptions of the Joint Distribution Committee among Ethiopian Jews in Israel. He also discusses the situation of Jews in Ethiopia and the desirability of sending of money to Ethiopia via Israel as opposed to sending it directly to Ethiopia.
- Notes
- Availability of other formats: Also available as WAV file.
- Sources of information: The name of the interviewee is stated in the interview. The date, location, and name of the interviewer are taken from writing on the cassette tape. This data was verified using an article that appeared in the March 30 1989 issue of the Canadian Jewish News titled "Remember Jews Left Behind: CAEJ."
- Places
- Jerusalem
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 3; Item 2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 3
- Item
- 2
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Date
- 1 Jan. 1989
- Physical Description
- 1 audio cassette (ca 45 min.)
- Admin History/Bio
- Avi Bitew was born in Ethiopia. In the early 1980s, he made a twenty-eight-day journey to Sudan on foot. Bitew eventually made his way to Israel, where he became an employee in the Ministry of Employment.
- Scope and Content
- Item is an audio recording of Avi Bitew giving a talk about the situation of Ethiopia's Jews. The talk was probably given at a forum on Ethiopian Jews that was held at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue in Toronto. The forum was sponsored by the Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews, Amichai (the Educational Fund for Ethiopian Jewry), and Shaarei Shomayim youth. After Bitew's talk, there is audio of a documentary about Ethiopia's Jews.
- Bitew is introduced by Debbie Molot-Toker, executive director of CAEJ.
- Notes
- Availability of other formats: Also available as WAV file.
- Sources of information: The date and location of the talk are taken from an article by Ancil Kashetsky that appeared in the 8 June 1989 issue of the Canadian Jewish News titled "Ethiopia's Jews are Seen Facing Slow Extinction."
- Name Access
- Bitew, Avi
- Molot-Toker, Debbie
- Shaarei Shomayim (Toronto, Ont.)
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1980-1991
- Physical Description
- ca. 3 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of CAEJ news clippings and reference materials relating to organization articles, reports, and publications from 1981 and 1990.
- Arrangement
- The folders are arranged alphabetically by title
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 4; File 1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 4
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1980-1991
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of CAEJ newsclippings from 1980 to 1991.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 4; File 2
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 4
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1985-1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of articles, reports, and publications on the Ethiopian Jews dated 1985 to 1987; a letter to Ron from Andrea Krames-Zians dated 7 September 1989; and a CAEJ annual general meeting notice dated 7 August 1990.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 5
- Date
- [1981 or 1987]
- Physical Description
- 1 poster
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of a CAEJ poster.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
- Fonds 125; Series 5; Item 1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 125
- Series
- 5
- Item
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [1981 or 1987]
- Physical Description
- 1 poster : b&w ; 56 x 41 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a CAEJ poster publicizing an "emergency community wide meeting on the deteriorating fate of the Falashas." Set to speak at the event were representatives from the Consulate General of Israel, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Israel Appeal, and several Ethiopian Jews who managed to get out of their country. The event iself was held at the Inn-on-the-Park at 1100 Eglinton Avenue East, Don Mills.
- Name Access
- Canadian Jewish Congress
- United Israel Appeal
- Places
- Eglinton Avenue East (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
Narrow By
- Administration series 613
- Advocacy, General sub-sub-series 165
- Annual Campaign series 424
- Anti-Semitism Cases sub-series 316
- Arrivals series 216
- Art Exhibitions series 175
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds 703
- Ben Kayfetz fonds 115
- Benjamin Brown fonds 168
- Benjamin Dunkelman fonds 287
- B'nai B'rith Sportsmen Lodge dinners series 129
- Board of directors and executive committee series 219
- Board of Jewish Education fonds 2280
- Budget and Finance Committee series 129
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series 184
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds 4092
- Canadian Overseas Garment Commission series 126
- Central Region conventions sub-series 125
- Central Region sous-fonds 748
- City of Toronto Mayor series 155
- Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series 183
- Clanton Park Synagogue series 116
- Commercial building plans and drawings series 107
- Committee for Soviet Jewry series 618
- Committee meeting agendas, minutes, reports and correspondence series 614
- Community Relations Committee series 1343
- Conventions series 195
- Correspondence sub-series 117
- Director of school finances series 193
- Dora Till fonds 246
- Dr. Alexander Brown fonds 157
- Dual Allegiance series 104
- Events and organizations series 272
- Executive Committee series 441
- Executive director series 823
- Executive director sub-series 328
- Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series 310
- Family series 103
- Folks Farein fonds 111
- General community activities series 104
- General correspondence series 103
- General office subject and correspondence files series 1316
- George Morrison fonds 162
- Gilbert Studios fonds 655
- Gordon Mendly fonds 347
- Hate Crimes and Hate Literature sub-sub-series 100
- Henry Rosenbaum fonds 252
- Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series 313
- Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds 147
- Jewish communal series 107
- Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee series 239
- Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds 561
- Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds 166
- Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds 1299
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds 128
- Julius P. Katz fonds 490
- Koffler Centre of the Arts fonds 353
- Levine and Cass family fonds 142
- Meeting minutes sub-series 234
- Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds 267
- Men's Service Group series 139
- Midrasha L'Morim series 143
- Morris Norman collection 325
- National Administrative Council and Executive Board series 167
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds 363
- Negev dinners series 401
- Official engagements sub-series 152
- Ontario synagogues series 117
- Personal series 289
- Philip Givens fonds 442
- Photograph collection sub-series 232
- Photograph series 245
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series 601
- Photographs file 138
- Photographs series 105
- Programs and services sub-series 550
- Protest activities sub-series 165
- Publications, Speeches, Press Releases and Reports sub-series 100
- Publicity photographs of people and events series 353
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds 185
- Reference series 111
- Refusnik cases sub-series 343
- Research Records sub-series 777
- Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre series 250
- School files series 236
- Small Ontario Jewish Communities sub-sub-series 114
- Social Planning Committee series 131
- Solomon Edell fonds 546
- Special events and projects sub-series 105
- Subject files series 1220
- Subject files sub-series 276
- Sylvia Schwartz fonds 311
- Teacher files sub-series 489
- The Shuls Project fonds 365
- Toronto Section series 195
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds 2330
- Walk with Israel sub-series 383
- William Stern fonds 149
- Women's Auxiliary series 378
- Zionist Organization of Canada fonds 1692