Accession consists of various meeting minutes of the Masada Chapter, Farband of Lithuanian Jews. The minutes are written in Yiddish and document different meetings, such as, Chanukah meetings, closing meetings, luncheons, and teas. Also included is one Borochov School Nurseries brochure. Jennie Kernkraut is the teacher in the classroom pictured on the cover of the brochure.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Jennie Kernkraut's daughter, Judy Kasman, unitl their donation to the OJA.
Administrative History
Jennie Kernkraut (nee Golomb) was born in 1916 in Vilno. She came to Canada in 1948 and worked as a nursery school and Yiddish teacher at the Borochov school in Toronto. She was an active member of the Masada Chapter, Farband of Lithuanian Jews and served on its executive for many years as Secretary.
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Harry Fidler was born in 1900 in Ostrovtze. He came to Toronto at age ten in 1910. He married in 1922. Harry was very active with the Ostrovtzer Synagogue and served on the executive since 1922.
14 photographs : b&w (7 negatives) ; 19 x 36 cm or smaller
Date
1918-1956
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a letter from the Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel and the following photographs:
1 copy photograph and negative of the executive board, manager, chairman, business agents and standing committee of Local 117, International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), 1942.
1 copy photograph and negative of the graduating class of the Jewish Folk School (later Bialik), 18 June 1961. This photograph is on the centre page of the program for the graduation exercises.
1 original photograph (oversized), 1 copy photograph and 1 negative of a group at a Farband event held at 24 Cecil Street, [193-]. Identified individuals include: A. B. and Sophie Bennett, Ida and Charles Krakower, Avrom Green, Shifra Brik Wassor, Sarah and Abraham Freeman, Dora Israelson, Florence Manson, Leah Langer, Leibel Bograd, Mr. Abella, Mr. Levinson, Mrs. Drutz, Shirley Kreitzer, Manny Kreitzer, Harry Shore, Zlate Straff, Nachman Levinsky, Irving Weinrot, Chaike Levinsky, Hymie Langer, Abie and Bailke White, Elsie Freeman and Ruth Freeman.
1 original photograph (oversized), 1 copy photograph and 1 negative of a Farband group at Queen's Park, ca. 1918. Identified individuals include: Harry Hyde, Kramer, Sigmund Socol, Mrs. Socol, Nellie Hyde, Rubinoff, Florence Manson, Leah Gold, Harry Freeman, Abe Freeman, Sarah Freeman, Yisroel Freeman, Joe Brody, Abe White, Leibel Bogrod and Fishel Wolestein.
1 original photograph of the 10th anniversary of the Farband Folk Shul, 1935. Identified individuals include: Louis Straf, Ralph Goldman, Willie Solkin, Bernie Berger, Mike Kirshenbaum, Ethel Raicus, Anne Sokoloff, Isaiah Rabinovitch, Elsie Freeman, Meltzer, Rita Steinhouse, Ruth Freeman, Bernice Najer, Bobby Zweig, Dorothy Zelitsky, Yitte Starkman, Ethel Fleishman, Lami Frankel, Pearl Freeman, Margaret Gottlib, Anne Sorotsky, Shirley Frimer, Shirley Goldhar, Chavi Abella, Gert Greene, Myrtle Kachuk, Mottle Sachs, Laible Manson, Helen Jacobs, Molly Fruitman, Raizle Cohen, Helen Wynne, Ann Goldman, Pearl Goodman, Hy Kirshenbaum, Helen Brodsky, Pearl Klebanoff, Esther Frankel, Lil Weinberg, Frances Rubinoff, Goldie Green and Sara Steinman.
1 original photograph, 1 copy photograph and 1 negative of the Ontario District Convention of Y.N.A.F. (Yiddish National Arbeiter Farband), July 13-14, 1918. Identified individuals include: Shloime Heller, Abie White, Zalman Cohen, Diamond, Hy Kirshenbaum, Abe Freeman, Shatz, Manson and Rose Diamond.
1 original photograph and 1 negative of a Farband convention, [193-]. Identified individuals include: Samuel Hurwich, I. Weinrot, Kalman Wagner, Yisroel Meriminsky, Abraham Freeman, Abraham Rhinewine and Hersh Meyer (Hy) Kirshenbaum.
1 original photograph and 1 negative of the (executive?) of the Farband, [193-]. Identified individuals include: Israel Freeman, Abraham Rhinewine, Yisroel Mariminsky, Sonia Marin, Joseph Marin, Shloime Heller, Nachman Lovinsky, Sam Hurwich, Hersh Meyer Kirshenbaum, Abraham Freeman, Max Manson, Irving Weinrot and Louis Coldofsky.
Accession includes a photostat of Sprachman's Polish birth certificate, a letter in Polish dating from 1893, Sprachman's public school diploma and school attendance certificate, a letter from Sprachman's public school principal attesting to his good character, membership certificates from architects' professional associations, a programme for a Beth Tzedec reception (3 Oct. 1961) honouring Sprachman and Abraham Ginsburg, a signed copy of the 1962 partnership agreement between Harold Kaplan and Abraham Sprachman, Kaplan & Sprachman business cards, and a photograph of Kaplan and Sprachman taken at their office at 46 Yorkville Ave. in Toronto. In addition there is a photographic printing plate of a portrait of Abraham Sprachman.
Accession consists of a Russian passport document (1907), Abraham Layefsky's permit to leave Canada with photograph (1917), his United States non-resident alien border crossing identification card (1943), and a blueprint of the Mozirer section of Roselawn Cemetery in Toronto.
Administrative History
Layefsky was a contractor who built a chapel on the grounds of the Roselawn Avenue cemetery.
10 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 21 x 26 or smaller
Date
1912-1945
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records and graphic material related to Abraham Freiman and his family. Included are photocopies of JIAS correspondence, Canadian government correspondence and Abraham's wedding invitation. There are three original certificates for the Jewish National Workers Alliance and the Young Men's Hebrew Association Mutual Benefit Society and a Yiddish newsclipping depicting the "Managers, chairmen, executive board members and business agents for local 117 ILGWU for the term 1935-36." There are also several photographs of Freiman family members, Abraham Freiman's marriage to Sarah Lerner and Abe Freiman at the Brunswick Avenue YMHA.
Administrative History
Abraham Freiman was born in Russia in 1893, the son of Schmuel and Baila Freiman. On 18 September 1910, he arrived at Halifax on the S. S. Volturno, destined for Toronto. In 1914, he married Sarah Lerner (b. 1892) in Toronto at the Anshei England Congregation. In 1918 he entered into work with Freeman's Dress Exchange, the family business now known as Freeman Formalwear.
Accession consists of two items pertaining to the history of the Jewish community of Radom Poland including a book entitled The Book of Radom: The Story of a Jewish Community in Poland Destroyed by the Nazis, edited and complied by Alfred Lipson and published in 1963 by the United Radomer Relief of the United States and Canada Inc. In addition, there is a fifty-fifth anniversary booklet published in celebration of the establishment of the Radomer Mutual Benefit Society of Toronto.
Administrative History
Abraham Najahaus (1910-2007) was born in Radom Poland on 14 July 1910. He emigrated to Toronto in 1948 with his wife Genya Najahaus (née Goldstein, 1910-1987) and infant daughter Helen Najahaus. Genya Goldstein was born on 14 December 1916 in Otwok, Poland. She met and married Abraham in Russia during the Second World War and had their first child Helen in 1947 while living in a DP camp in Stuttgart, Germany. After emigrating to Toronto in 1948, they had a second child Morrey Najahaus. Abraham worked as a tailor and was employed by Wilson Garments at 119 Spadina Avenue.
38 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20 x 30 cm or smaller
Date
[1939?]-2021
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting Abraham Feinstein's law career and early life. Included are biographical documents such as Abe's CV, personal history, eulogy and obituary; letters of condolence; speech notes written by Abe while serving as Hillel Ottawa oresident; telegrams sent on the occasion of Abe's bar mitzvah; a copy of a speech presented by Abe honouring his parents' diamond anniversary; information concerning CCOC (Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation); correspondence pertaining to his appointment as Queen's Counsel; information concerning the official opening of the Ottawa Courthouse and Registry Offices; a copy of a speech presented by Abe to YMCA-YWCA; article in "Ontario Lawyer's Gazette" featuring Abe; an article in "National" journal featuring Abe; a candidate letter written by Abe in "Law Society of Upper Canada Guide for Voters"; newsclippings announcing Abe as president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada; a copy of a speech presented by Abe to LibraryCo; a copy of "Focus", the LibraryCo newsletter; a copy of "County of Carleton Law Association Bulletin" and a newsclipping from the "Ottawa Jewish Bulletin" honouring Abe as the recipient of the Carleton Medal; letters of nomination of Abe for County of Carleton Law Association's Legal Innovator Award; copies of three speeches presented to the County of Carleton Law Association by Abe as recipient of the Carleton Medal in 1999, recipient of The Solicitor Award in 2011 and recipient of The Legal Innovator Award in 2020; copy of a letter to the editor of "Law Times" written by Abe; two letters of congratulations on election as a Bencher of the Law Society; a copy of "Communiqu-ate"; copies of three speeches presented by Abe to the County and District Law President's Association in 1993, to Prescott and Russell Law Association in 1994 and to County and District Law Presidents Association in 1995; content pertaining to the receipt of the Order of Ottawa including a copy of the program, an invitation to the ceremonies, letters of congratulations, three nomination letters and an announcement by Soloway Wright; a certificate of recognition for distinguished achievements; a copy of a speech presented by Abe at the Shirley Berman Memorial Lecture Series, 2019 and a copy of the program; content pertaining to The Law Society Medal including a brochure , newsclipping announcing Abe as the recipient of the Law Society Medal in 2008, letters of congratulations, a hand-out describing the walk-through for the ceremony, a copy of Abe's speech, a copy of the program, letters of nomination, an announcement in the CJN and a mention in the "Law Society Gazette". Also included are photographs documenting early family life and honours.
Administrative History
Abraham "Abe" Feinstein was born 19 December 1936 in Ottawa, Ontario to Benjamin and Freda (née Dickstein) Feinstein. Benjamin (1898-2001) was born in Teplik, Russia. Following pogroms and a term of imprisonment, Benjamin fled to Romania for four years and then made his way to Canada in 1924. While living in Winkler, Manitoba he married Freda (1900?-1986), and they had two daughters Miriam (m. Levitin) and Ruth (m. Aaron). Around 1930, the family moved to Ottawa, Ontario where two more children were born, Pearl (m. Moskovic) and Abraham.
Abe attended Kent Street public school and graduated from Lisgar Collegiate. He attended and worked at Camp B'nai Brith and worked at Camp Wooden Acres and Camp White Pine. While completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at Carleton University, he was president of the Ottawa Hillel. Abe received his LLB from the University of Ottawa in 1963 and was called to the Bar in 1965 at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. Abe practiced law with Soloway Wright LLP in Ottawa for 55 years.
Abe married Beverley Kavanat on 23 August 1964 and had three daughters Susan, Harriet and Shawna.
Abe was recognized for his community and professional service to a number of organizations over his lifetime. He was a founding director of Centretown Citizens of Ottawa Corporation in 1975 and was named an honorary life member. In 1982, he was the founding director of the County and District Law Presidents Association of Ontario and the chair of the Committee of Adjustment of the City of Ottawa. Abe was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983. He served as chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee East Region. He served as president of the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA). The CCLA awarded Abe with the Carleton medal in 1998, the Solicitors' Award in 2011 and the Legal Innovator Award in 2020. Abe became a bencher at the Law Society of Upper Canada (now called the Law Society of Ontario) in 1991, and was awarded the Law Society Medal in 1998. He also served as director and president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He also acted as a consultant during the building of Ottawa's new courthouse, ensuring that the needs of attorneys were included in the design. Abe was a director on the board of the Ottawa Food Bank and was made honorary president of the Ottawa YMCA-YWCA. He served as chair of the Investment Committee of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation. From 2018-2020, Abe was the chair of the Governance Committee of Kehillat Beth Israel Congregation in Ottawa. The Order of Ottawa was bestowed upon Abe in 2016.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Associated Material Note: Abraham Feinstein's Order of Ottawa and Law Society medals are held at his former law firm, Soloway Wright LLP. A video of Abe as part of the Shirley Berman Lecture Series is held at the Ottawa Jewish Archives.