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19 records – page 1 of 1.
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds [multiple media] – 1980-1993.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 125
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
125
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1980-1993
Physical Description
ca 97 cm of textual records
3 audiocassettes
1 poster
Custodial History
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
Rescue and relief letters [textual record] – 1980-1991.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Rescue and relief letters series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 125; Series 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Rescue and relief letters series
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
Administrative records [textual record] – 1981-1990.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative Reports
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative Reports
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
Correspondence [textual record] – 1983-1990.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Meeting minutes and agendas [textual record] – 1981-1982.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Memorandum [textual record] – 1981.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Notebook [textual record] – 1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Office manual [textual record] – 1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Plenary assemblies [textual record] – 1983.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records
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
Plenary assemblies [textual record] – 1988-1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records series
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
Reports [textual record] – 1 Mar. 1982.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 2; File 8
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Administrative records series
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
Audiocassettes [sound recording] – 1982-1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 125; Series 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
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
Avi Bitew interview [sound recording] – 1 Jan. 1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 125; Series 3; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
Level
Item
Fonds
125
Series
3
Item
1
Material Format
sound recording
Date
1 Jan. 1989
Physical Description
1 audio cassette (ca. 13 min.)
Custodial History
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
Avi Bitew talk [sound recording] – 1 Jan. 1989.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 125; Series 3; Item 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Audiocassettes series
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
Clippings and reference materials [textual record] – 1980-1991.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 125; Series 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
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
Clippings [textual record] – 1980-1991.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 4; File 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
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
Reference materials [textual record] – 1985-1990.
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 125; Series 4; File 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Clippings and reference materials series
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
Posters – [1981 or 1987].
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Posters
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 125; Series 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Posters
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
Finally the facts: "immediate annihilation" [textual record, graphic material] – [1981 or 1987].
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Poster series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 125; Series 5; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews fonds
Poster series
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
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