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Canadian Federation for Polish Jews
- Part Of
- United Ostrowtzer Hilfs Committee fonds
- Letters from organizations series
- Canadian Federation for Polish Jews sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- ID
- Fonds 148; Series 2-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Ostrowtzer Hilfs Committee fonds
- Letters from organizations series
- Canadian Federation for Polish Jews sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 148
- Series
- 2-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1946
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, originally called the Canadian Federation of Polish Jews (CFPJ), was established in 1933 to assist Jews in Poland who were victims of antisemitism as expressed in economic boycotts and political discrimination. The CFPJ provided political action and advocacy on behalf of Polish Jews, as well as social help, moral strength, and material support. It was a constituent member of the World Federation of Polish Jews, established in 1935, which provided relief and economic assistance to Jews in Poland and coordinated the assistance given to Jewish communal organizations in Poland. In addition, the CFPJ assisted Canadian landsmanshaften (mutual benefit societies), which were giving support to those communities from which their members had emigrated.
- In 1939, following the outbreak of the Second World War, the CFPJ was among those Canadian Jewish organizations which founded the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies, the purpose of which was to assist in the war effort and to aid war victims. At the conclusion of the war, the UJRWR was renamed the United Jewish Relief Agencies, with an aim to assist refugees in their effort to settle in Canada.
- The scope and mandate of the CFPJ has changed over time as new challenges and projects have emerged. In January 1950, its activities expanded to include building homes in Israel for Polish Jewish immigrants, providing local relief to newly arrived Polish Jewish immigrants in Canada, locating relatives and providing legal advice on matters related to passports and visas, contributing to and participating in memorials honouring lost Jewish communities, and maintaining contact with its sister farbands across the world.
- In December 1951, the name of the organization was officially changed to Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, and, as of March 1953, its priorities had shifted to focus increasingly on providing support to Israel.
- Custodial History
- Sub-series consists of correspondence and associated documents from Rabbi Nachman Shemen, secretary of the Canadian Federation for Polish Jews in Toronto, to Max Hartstone and United Ostrowtzer Hilfs Committee. The materials relate to a contribution made to the Direct Relief fund for Poland.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions