Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Zionist Centre cornerstone ceremony series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

3

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1962

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Name Access

Gilbert, Al, 1922-

Subjects

Building

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

162

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Oct. 1975

Physical Description

15 photographs : b&w (14 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm and 28 x 28 mm

Scope and Content

File consists of one photograph and fourteen negatives depicting the ground breaking ceremony at the Pardes Shalom Cemetery.

Notes

Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Subjects

Cemeteries

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

General photographs sub-series

The grounds, campers and staff at Tollandale file

Level

Item

Fonds

52

Series

1-7

File

6

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1948]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph and corresponding negative of the grounds at the Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home in Tollandale, Ontario.

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

Level

Item

Item

589

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1975

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 13 cm

Notes

Acquired Dec. 1975.

35 mm negative location: 8:1:18.

Name Access

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Stained glass windows

Synagogues

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

Building operations and grounds maintenance sub-series

Level

Sub-series

Fonds

52

Series

1-4

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1930-1968

Physical Description

14 cm of textual records

9 architectural drawings

Scope and Content

This sub-series consists of records documenting the facilities and grounds of the Mothers' and Babes' Rest Homes in Bronte and Tollandale. The records include correspondence, reports, inventory lists and architectural drawings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

General photographs sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

52

Series

1-7

File

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941]

Physical Description

14 photographs (7 negatives) : b&w ; 10 x 7 cm and 6 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

This file consists of seven prints and seven corresponding negatives detailing the grounds and buildings of the Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home in Tollandale, taken shortly after it was purchased.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

General photographs sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

52

Series

1-7

File

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941]

Physical Description

7 photographs : b&w ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

This file consists of photographs of the grounds of the Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home as well as some of the campers disembarking from a bus and a general meeting or possibly a visitor's day gathering being addressed by Dora Till.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

General photographs sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

52

Series

1-7

File

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1948]

Physical Description

8 photographs : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

This file consists of photographs depicting the grounds of the Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home in Tollandale, Ontario including interior shots of the cabins and kitchen. Also included are a few photographs of campers and staff.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

European Visits and Events series

World Festival of Youth and Students file

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

6

File

2

Item

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Jul. 1959

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 13 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

This item consists of a view the fountains within the World Festival of Youth and Students grounds.

Notes

This item has no proofs. This item shares a negative with F80_s6-2_f2_i4.

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1077

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1976

Physical Description

2 photographs : col. (1 negative) ; 19 x 13 cm and 35 mm

Scope and Content

This item is an original print and negative of a small building located on the grounds of the Jewish cemetery in Krugerdorf, Ontario.

Notes

Location of negative is 13:1:27.

Subjects

Architecture

Cemeteries

Places

Chamberlain (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1087

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1976

Physical Description

2 photographs : col. (1 negative) ; 19 x 13 cm and 35 mm

Scope and Content

This item is an original print and negative of a building on the grounds of the Jewish cemetery in Krugerdorf, Ontario.

Notes

Location of negative is 13:3:36A.

Subjects

Architecture

Cemeteries

Places

Chamberlain (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home Association series

General photographs sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

52

Series

1-7

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1933

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 8 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Dora Till leading a summer meeting on the grounds of the Mothers' and Babes' Summer Rest Home in Bronte.

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

Philip Givens fonds

Personal series

Phil Givens and friends file

Level

Item

Fonds

51

Series

1

File

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1937

Physical Description

1 photograph : sepia toned ; 7 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a group photograph of Givens with friends during track and field day at the CNE stadium. Identified in the CNE photograph are (left to right): Max Rosenfeld (holding the megaphone), Morris Gay (?), [unidentified], [unidentified], [unidentified], Phil Givens (on the bike), and Markus (?). The photograph is signed by Max Rosenfeld.

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

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

European Visits and Events series

World Festival of Youth and Students file

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

6

File

2

Item

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Jul. 1959

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w (negative) ; 13 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

This item consists of a view of an unidentifed woman sitting on some steps by a vending trolley while people walk by near the The World Festival of Youth and Students grounds.

Notes

This item has no proofs. This item shares a negative with F80_s6-2_f2_i6.

Repro Restriction

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2018-7-4

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

ca. 550 photographs : b&w & col.

1 folder of textual records

Date

1939-1971, predominant 1965-1971

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material created and accumulated by Stephen Speisman during the course of his research into Jewish communities in Toronto. Included are photographs of Toronto synagogues and reproductions of photographs of St. John’s Ward and Kensington Market c. 1890s-1920s, as well as individual and group portraits. The photographs are accompanied by copies of excerpts of Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto and periodicals. There is also a photograph of the Trades Labour Congress in London, Ontario (1939).

Custodial History

Bill Gladstone acquired the materials contained in this accession from Stephen Speisman.

Use Conditions

Conditional Use. Researchers must receive permission from the donor prior to publication. Please contact the OJA for more information.

Subjects

Synagogue architecture

Synagogues

Name Access

Speisman, Stephen A., 1943-2008

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

St. John's Ward (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

The Shuls Project fonds

Reference series

Level

File

Fonds

64

Series

5

File

78

Material Format

textual record

Date

1979-1980

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains four editions of the Clanton Park Synagogue Bulletin, December 1979 - April 1980.

Name Access

Clanton Park Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Synagogue bulletins

Synagogues

Repro Restriction

Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2021-4-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

3.6 m of textual records and graphic material

Date

[195-]-2020

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting Temple Anshe Sholom of Hamilton, Ontario.

Administrative History

In the early 1850s, a small group of German Jewish families settled in the city of Hamilton. In 1853, they banded together to form the Hebrew Benevolent Society Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton. Religious services began in 1856 and in the next year, a half-acre plot was purchased as a cemetery site. On May 5, 1863, a “Body Corporate and Politic under the name of the Jewish Congregation Anshe-Sholom of Hamilton” was formed listing 19 founding members. Early meetings were held in members’ homes, with religious services, at first, largely restricted to the High Holy days. In 1866, a room was rented above a leather goods shop in downtown Hamilton; this was the first formal synagogue location for Temple Anshe Sholom.

Less than 20 years later, a site was chosen and the necessary funds were raised to construct a synagogue. Often referred to as the Hughson Street Temple, this building was dedicated in 1882. It served as the congregation’s home for almost 70 years. Edmund Scheuer, who arrived in Hamilton in 1871, served as president of Anshe Sholom for thirteen years from 1873 to 1886. Scheuer was the founder and first teacher of the religious school. He was an early proponent of interfaith understanding, a value and tradition that Anshe Sholom carries forward to the present day. The congregation pioneered in introducing English into the service, both in prayer and in the sermons, which had previously been given in German. Women no longer sat in a separate gallery; families sat together in pews. Music was introduced, both instrumental and vocal.

In 1870, the Deborah Ladies’ Aid Society (later Deborah Sisterhood) was founded, being the first group of Jewish women organized for charitable purposes in all of Canada. Sisterhood has always been a vital part of Temple Anshe Sholom, involved in numerous humanitarian, educational, charitable and social projects.

The great wave of immigration that swept into Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many families, mainly Orthodox, to the community. During this period, men and women from Anshe Sholom were instrumental in founding such vital Jewish organizations as the B’nai Brith, Council of Jewish Organizations, Jewish Social Services and the Council of Jewish Women.

After the Second World War, Temple Anshe Sholom became the first synagogue in Hamilton to make the post-war move westward. On April 15, 1951, the sod was turned for the new building and in June of 1952, a dedication weekend saw the scrolls ceremoniously installed in the Ark. Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath was on hand to preach the Dedication Sermon. Thirteen years later, the addition that houses the present Reiss-Frank Auditorium, Religious School classrooms, library, youth lounge and offices was erected, more than doubling the size of the building on its present site.

Throughout the years, the following served as spiritual leaders: Wolf Landau, Herman Birkenthal, Joseph Friedlander, Jacob Minkin, Julius Berger, Iser Freund, Arthur A. Feldman, Arthur Lebowitz, Emil Fackenheim, Luitpold Wallach, Bernard Baskin, Irwin Zeplowitz, Phil Cohen and our current rabbi, Jordan D. Cohen (Anshe Sholom’s first Canadian born Rabbi), who began his service to this congregation on January 1, 2007.

At this time, Temple Anshe Sholom is traditional yet innovative in its worship and ritual observance. The congregation is inclusive and embraces diversity. Its core values include education, social justice, egalitarianism, creative expression, congregational participation in prayer and leadership, strong identification with Israel and dynamic, relevant spirituality. The Temple building also serves as home to the Temple Playhouse Multicultural Enrichment School and the Kehila Jewish Community Day School and Les Petites Pommes French School, and hosts many community organizations such as a Storytellers Group, The Shalom Community Teaching Garden, The Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program, The Mahjong Club, The Hamilton & Area Jewish Genealogical Society, various community meetings and gatherings and several youth arts and activities programs and summer camps.

Temple Anshe Sholom celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2020 as Canada’s first Reform Jewish congregation.

(text taken from https://anshesholom.ca/about-us/our-history, 2023-02-24)

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Temple Anshe Sholom (Hamilton, Ont.)

Places

Hamilton (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2021-10-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

5 photographs : b&w & col. ; 30 x 20 cm or smaller

2 metal award certificates : 28 x 21 cm

1 key : framed in a wooden box

Date

1913-2013

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to the Kiever Synagogue or had been stored at the synagogue. Included are certificates (1930-[1961?]); a print of the 1913 Officers and Members of the Grand Order of Israel of Canada; a poster of Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (president of Israel) presented by National Committee for Labour Israel for Israel Histadrut campaign; National Synagogue Directory issued by Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee (2011-2012); The Jewish Magazine (2006); Baycrest Men's Service Group Honour Roll books (1993-1997, 1999); shabbat, wedding, and bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah benchers (1965-2013); newspaper clippings; blessing guides; and administrative material such as receipt books (1933-1934), Synagogue Laws and Customs (1976), and a memorandum of agreement (1920). Also included are photographs featuring David Pinkus, Nate Leipciger, students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936), and the top view of bimah and chuppah of the Kiever Synagogue, which was taken at Samara Kaplan’s wedding (2004); and miscellaneous material such as raffle tickets (1928), invitation tickets from Chevra Kadisha (1928), and record books of Toronto Free Loan Association. This accession also includes the following artifacts: two metal certificates of Recognition of Service Award granted by State of Israel Bond and Canada-Israel Securities Limited (1964 and 1965) and a skeleton key framed in a wooden shadow box, which is possibly the original key to the building. People identified in the photograph of students of Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim (1936) are: Solly Speisman (second row, fourth from left), Myer Orzench (second row, far right), Hymie Reingewietz (second row, sixth from left), Mr. Hoffman (teacher, left-hand side), and Mr. Nobleman (teacher, right-hand side). Myer Orzench was the second vice-president of the Kiever Synagogue; Mr. Nobleman was father of Ben Nobleman, the municipal politician of York Region.

Custodial History

Records deposited by David Moyal of the Kiever Synagogue.

Administrative History

The Kiever synagogue, also known as the Kiever Shul, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Toronto. It was founded in 1912 by a small congregation of Jewish immigrants from the Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) and formally incorporated in 1914 by the granting of the Letters Patent by the Provincial Secretary. The congregation’s formal name is "The First Russian Congregation of Rodfei Sholem Anshei Kiev." According to the earliest congregational records, Max Bossin was president in 1912. At first, services were held in members’ homes and later in a rented house on Centre Avenue in the Ward. Not being able to afford a rabbi, services were led by members, including Cantor Herschel Litvak. In 1917, sufficient funds were raised to mortgage a house at 25 Bellevue Avenue on the outskirts of Kensington Market. The congregation relocated there and the facilities were enlarged in 1921 with the acquisition of a second house. In 1927, a new synagogue, which was built on the site of the two houses and designed by a Jewish architect named Benjamin Swartz in the Byzantine Revival style, was completed to accommodate increasing number of congregants. During the construction from 1924 to 1927, religious services were conducted at the home of Mr. Silverman at 29 Wales Avenue. Equipped with a rabbi and a proper synagogue, the Kiever was able to play a larger role in the Toronto Jewish community. The shul offered Yiddish and bar-mitzvah lessons, a youth minyan led by Fischel Cooper, a credit society, as well as a women’s auxiliary. Several decades later, the Kiever’s membership declined in the 1950s and 1960s due to demographic changes—Jews began leaving the downtown core for the north end of town. The synagogue building deteriorated. In 1973, the Archives Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region decided to help preserve it, and by 1982, sufficient funds had been raised to restore the building. In 1979, the Kiever Synagogue became the first building of Jewish significance to be designated a historical site by the province of Ontario and has been protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since then. Some of the founders included: B. B. Smith, Yehudah Leib "Louis" Bossin, Isaac Mosten, Jake Dubin, Harry Cohen, and Wolf Ganz. The congregation's first and longest-tenured rabbi was Solomon Langner, who served from around 1929 until his death in 1973. Sheldon Steinberg served as rabbi from the time of Langner's death until the mid-1990s. David Pinkus served as president of the Kiever Shul from the late 1970s to 2011. His parents, Molly and Isadore Pinkus, were co-founders of the shul. As of 2022, the synagogue president is Adam S. Cohen.

Descriptive Notes

LANGUAGE NOTE: material is in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English.

Availability of other formats: digital preservation copies for some documents have been created and are available in PDF, JPG, and TIF formats.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2022-2-4

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

13 cm of textual records

Date

[197-]-2008

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Sons of Jacob Congregation of Belleville, Ontario. Included are meeting minutes, handwritten notes, and a copy of the synagogue's constitution, as well as other textual records.

Custodial History

The files belonged to the donor's parents. The latter were active in the Sons of Jacob Congregation (Mike's mother was the secretary for a time).

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: Constitution also available as a PDF file.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Sons of Jacob Congregation (Belleville, Ont.)

Places

Belleville (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1977-5-8

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

36 photographs (1 vol., 10 negatives) : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Date

[192-?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one photo album that belonged to Yankel Jessel. This album was presented to him in 1927 by his friends as a going away gift before he left for Palestine. The album consists of sixteen photographs depicting synagogues from Toronto including: Shomrei Shabbos, Goel Tzedec, the Shaw Street Synagogue, Holy Blossom, the McCaul Street Synagogue, Beth Jacob, the Ostrovtzer Synagogue, the Russian Synagogue on Centre Avenue, and the Hebrew Men of England Congregation. Also included in the album are photographs of the auditorium of the Hebrew Free School Temple Emanuel and Shearith Israel Synagogues in New York City, a synagogue in Brooklyn, New York; and the Englewood Synagogue in New Jersey. There are copy prints and negatives of the photos depicting Toronto institutions as well as an additional print and copy negative of staff standing in front of United Bakers on Spadina Avenue.

Use Conditions

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.

Subjects

Synagogues

Places

New Jersey

New York (N.Y.).

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

1977-8-7

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

60 cm textual records

1 photograph

Date

[194-]-[196-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of materials documenting the National Council of Jewish Women of Welland and the Welland Hebrew Congregation. Materials include certificates, posters, financial documents, blueprints, correspondence, program newsletters, educational docuements, scrapbooks, photographs and executive notebooks

Administrative History

The Welland Jewish Congregation, also referred to as the Welland Hebrew Congregation, originally served the Jewish community of Welland from a synagogue located at Burger and Grove Streets in the mid-1940s. By the mid-1950s, a new shul was under construction on Summit Street which would serve the community from that point onward.

The Congregation participated in many fundraising drives and social events and worked closely with other faiths in their community

Subjects

Synagogues

Places

Welland (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1983-7-1

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1948-1977

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Beth Israel Synagogue in Toronto. Included are a Hebrew prayer book, a plan showing the Beth Israel Synagogue cemetery, correspondence, an inventory, a general by-law (constitution) of the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, a journal listing members and disbursements, a folder of indentures, minutes, and other materials.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Beth Israel Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Shaarei Shomayim (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1976-10-1

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

ca. 13 cm of textual records

Date

1937–1968

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records belonging to two manuscript groups.

The first manuscript group (MG2 B5) consists of material documenting B'nai Brith Lodge 1234 of Timmins, Ontario. Included are a minute book for the years 1962–1968, an attendance register for the years 1947–1951, a fifteenth anniversary souveneer program from September 1950, two copies of a program for an event featuring guest speaker Senator J. Bradette that was held on 10 January 1954, correspondence for the years 1956–1968, minutes from 1950–1968, and a constitution from 18 June 1936.

The second manuscript group (MG3 B22) consists of material documenting Congregation B'nai Israel of Timmins. Included are six membership cards for the years 1939–1940 and 1940–1941, three seat number cards (no date), a membership account ledger for the years 1942–1948 and 1948–1950, a general financial ledger for the years 1941–1949, membership assessment lists for the yeras 1942–1943 and 1946–1947, and financial statements for the years 1937–1954.

MG_RG

MG2B5

MG3B22

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

B'nai Israel Congregation (Timmins, Ont.)

Places

Timmins (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1978-5-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

Date

[ca. 1971]-[ca. 1976]

Scope and Content

This accession consists of newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to the dismissal of Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg by the Beth Tzedec Board and relating to the Rabbi Hollander case; copies of "The Committee of 10 Report" and "Setting the Records Straight: Analysis and refutation of The Committee of 10 report"; Beth Tzedec Board letters and Bulletins; Beth Tzedec Congregational School Education and Youth Committee minutes and newsletters; Beth Tzedec Congregation Constitution and By-Laws; a report on membership dues policy; and records relating to the Board elections.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Rosenberg, Stuart E., 1922-1990

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1979-11-1

Material Format

text

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 book

8 microfiche sheets

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Date

1889-1917

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records created by Goel Tzedec Congregation. Included are microfiche of minutes and ledgers, a copy of a Seder T'filas Yisroel donated to Goel Tzedec by Chaim Smith in 1917, and a class photograph for the Farband Shule taken in the late 1930s.

Included in the photograph are Hershel Fogle, Rivkah G, Fayge Weingarten, Sarah Gingold, Aaron Hermaub, Shangle Atkin, Lil Newman, Etle Brody, Rochel Blumenshtein, Chava Smith, Sora Zweig, Yaacov Drexler, Malka, Yaacov Rosenzweig, Aaron Shnipper, Klumann, Shore, Aaron Folk and the teachers Fogle, Leah Lander, Shopsai Rappaport, Moishe Rigelhaupt, and Dr. Isaiah Rabinowich

Custodial History

Records were kept by Goel Tzedec and later Beth Tzedec and were donated by the museum on behalf of Dr. Fred Weinberg

Administrative History

Goel Tzedec was established in 1883. It was originally an orthodox congregation founded by a group of recent immigrants from Lithuania. The first synagogue was situated in a room on Richmond and York Streets. Three years later they purchased and remodelled a building on University Avenue at Elm Street that was owned by the Methodist Church. Finally, in 1904 they hired an architect to construct a large building that was perfectly suited to their needs. In February of 1907, the building on University Avenue was dedicated and became the largest synagogue in Toronto, accommodating 1200 congregants.

During the early decades of the twentieth century, Goel Tzedec became more ethnically mixed and established a religious school and women's auxiliary to help raise money and run special events. In 1925, the Congregation joined the Conservative Synagogue Movement and introduced changes to its services.

After the Second World War, Goel Tzedec and its sister synagogue, Beth Hamidrash Hagadol amalgamated in September 1952 to form Beth Tzedec. The two congregations worked together to build a synagogue which was built in the North end of the city on Bathurst and was dedicated 9 December 1955. Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg served as Beth Tzedec's first Rabbi and J. Benjamin Friedberg as its Assistant Rabbi. The Chazzan at the time was Cantor Joseph Cooper. The synagogue adhered to the principles of the Conservative Movement and represents the largest synagogue in Toronto

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 

Accession Number

1982-11-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

[between 1940 and 1945]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a flyer from the synagogue urging congregants to make a pledge to a fund to purchase a new building for their Talmud Torah.

Subjects

Synagogues

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1992-8-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

3 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 7 cm

Date

1918-1960

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a ketuba and marriage registration form for Philip Rotman and Jennie Haft, and three exterior photographs of the Berkeley Street Synagogue in Toronto.

Subjects

Synagogues

Places

Berkeley Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1976-9-5

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

2 photographs

Date

[nd], 1966

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two photographs of sketches detailing former Holy Blossom Temple locations. The first is a sketch by an unknown artist of Coombe's Drugstore and the second is a sketch by artist Aba Bayefsky of the Richmond St. building.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.)

Bayefsky, Aba, 1923-2001

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1976-7-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

27 cm of textual records

Date

1942–1968

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two manuscript groups: MG 2 B-16A and MG 3 B 14.

The first manuscript group (MG 3 B 14) consists of material documenting the Adath Israel Congregation of Kirkland Lake. Included are miscellaneous correspondence from 16 September 1952–18 September 1958; accounts from 1949–1954; schedule of services for the years 1955–1956, 1956–1957, 1961–1962, 1962–1963, 1963–1964, and 1965–1966; Board of Education minutes from 25 November 1951–17 June 1955; and a letter to Rabbi B[?] dated 1956.

The second manuscript group (MG 2 B-16A) consists of material documenting B'nai Brith Lodge 1123 of Kirkland Lake. Included are executive meeting minutes from 3 September 1942—3 March 1948; correspondence for the periods 1944–1954, 1947—1949, July 1948–November 1948, and 1960; membership applications for 1947; and a dues book for the years 1944–1946.

MG_RG

MG2B16A

MG3B14

Subjects

Synagogues

Places

Kirkland Lake (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1988-5-5

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1912

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the Constitution of the Beth Israel Men of Minsk (Congregation Anshei Minsk) in the form of a small booklet. Material is in Yiddish and English.

Administrative History

The booklet belonged to Joshua Meslin, the grandfather of the donor. Joshua was a member of the congregation from its inception and its Shames for forty-two years. It was printed by the Royal Printing Company owned by Benjamin Meslin, Joshua's son.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2004-2-6

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records (1 v.)

Date

1958-1984

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the minute book of Congregation Anshe Minsk with entries written in Yiddish.

Descriptive Notes

Language note: Yiddish

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1977-12-4

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

ca. 120 cm of textual records

Date

1904–1969

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the First Narayever Congregation of Toronto. Included are membership books, minute books, insert cards used to record aliyah pledges, correspondence, ledger sheets, contracts, and other material.

Administrative History

In 1914, Jews from eastern Galicia (now in modern Ukraine) established the First Narayever Congregation in Toronto as a landsmanshaf, i.e. a society of Jewish immigrants from the same town or region. The synagogue takes its name from the small market town of Narayev, which is located in eastern Galicia. The synagogue's founders belonged to the working class and many worked in Toronto's garment industry.

Initially, congregation members met in different locations, but by 1923 their numbers and financial means had grown such that they were able to rent a small house at 70 Huron Street at the corner of Huron and Dundas. This house served as the congregation's home for twenty years.

The congregation's first president was Israel Chaim Katz and its first meeting was held at the Katz home at 156 William Street. The congregation's first rabbi was Solomon Langner, who was hired by the congregation in 1923. He retained this affiliation despite serving the Kiever Synagogue as a full-time rabbi from 1929 until he died in 1973.

In 1943, the congregation purchased property at 187-189 Brunswick Avenue from Bethel Church. This is where the the synagogue is located today.

In 1950, Henry Young became president of the congregation. He occupied that position until his death in 1976. Shalom Langner, the son of Rabbi Solomon Langner, succeeded Young as president.

As Toronto's Jewish population began to move north, the First Narayever continued to serve Orthodox Jews living downtown. In the 1980s, the congregation struggled to balance the needs of this older generation with the young generation's desire to make the synagogue more egalitarian with respect to gender. In 1983, the congregation's new leadership team successfully advanced a proposal to allow the full participation of women in traditional services. This innovation led to several long-standing members taking legal action, but their case was dismissed on the grounds that it was not a matter for civil law.

The First Narayever's identity continued to evolve. In 2009, its membership voted to allow its rabbi, Edward Elkin, who began serving the congregation in 2000, to officiate at same-sex marriages.

MG_RG

MG3 A55

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

First Narayever Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2004-5-164

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 17 cm + identification key

Date

1921

Scope and Content

This accession consists of a photograph of the official opening of the Hebrew Men of England Synagogue. The photograph was taken while the group was preparing for the official portrait and thus there is movement and a relaxed air about the subjects of the photo. A document identifying some of the individuals is included.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Hebrew Men of England Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1974-002

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1928

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a certified copy issued in 1928 of the letters patent incorporating Machziki Hadas Congregation in 1909.

MG_RG

MG3A6

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Machziki Hadas Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1975-003

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1926-1971

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records pertaining to the Beach Hebrew Institute (Beth Jacob Synagogue). Included is a land title act documenting the history of the parcel of land at Queen Street and Kenilworth Avenue from 1919 and the congregation's financial arrangements with the Mutual Life Assurance Company and the United Jewish Welfare Fund. There are also letters patent, legal correspondence, and financial reports.

MG_RG

MG3A21

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Beach Hebrew Institute (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Kenilworth Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Queen Street East (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1975-005

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

Date

1928, 1936-1959

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the account books and constitution for the Adath Israel Congregation in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.

MG_RG

MG3B14

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Adath Israel Synagogue (Kirkland Lake, Ont.)

Places

Kirkland Lake, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1975-006

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

Date

1912-1922

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a financial and meeting minute ledger book (1912–1922) and a photocopy of a financial and meeting minute ledger book (1914–1922) of the B'nai Zion Synagogue in Cobalt, Ontario.

MG_RG

MG3B15

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

B'nai Zion Synagogue (Cobalt, Ont.)

Places

Cobalt, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1975-015

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

1 name plaque

1 folder of textual records

Date

1906-[193-?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of an M. Gebirtig name plaque from the Beaches Hebrew Institute of Toronto. The plaque is gold-and-black metal. Also included is a seat deed for the McCaul Street Synagogue and a deed to plots at the McCaul Street Synagogue cemetery.

MG_RG

MG3A3

MG3A21

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Beach Hebrew Institute (Toronto, Ont.)

McCaul Street Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1976-6-4

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

6 photographs : b&w

Date

[ca. 1901]-1952

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs of B'nai Israel Congregation in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario).

Use Conditions

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.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

B'nai Israel Congregation (Galt, Ont.)

Places

Galt (Cambridge, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

1977-6-7

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

8 photographs : col. slide (Kodachrome) ; 35 mm

Date

1977

Scope and Content

Accession consists of colour slides of Ahavas Isaac Synagogue in Sarnia, Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue in Windsor, Beth El Synagogue in Windsor, and Beth El Synagogue in Oakville.

Subjects

Synagogues

Places

Windsor (Ont.)

Oakville (Ont.)

Sarnia (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1979-11-12

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 volume

Date

1979

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a Shaarei Shomayim jubilee book, the First Fifty Years.

MG_RG

MG3 A31

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Shaarei Shomayim Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1981-2-1

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm and 11 x 13 cm

Date

1940-1945

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a photograph of the interior and one of the exterior of the Adath Israel Synagogue in Kirkland Lake with corresponding negatives.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Adath Israel Synagogue (Kirkland Lake, Ont.)

Places

Kirkland Lake (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1982-2-3

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 key

Date

1921

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a gold key presented on 18 September 1921 to Fred and Sophie Torno at the opening of the Eastern Children of Israel Congregation, popularly known as the Berkeley Street Synagogue.

Descriptive Notes

B'nai Israel Hamizrachim.

MG_RG

MG 3 A 43

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Eastern Children of Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Berkeley Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1982-9-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

7 microfilm reels

Date

1856-1969

Scope and Content

Accession consists of seven microfilm reals documenting the early years of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Reels are as follows:

Reel 1: Minutes, 1856-1901; Building Committee, 1894-1897.

Reel 2: Minutes, 1894-1900; Collection Books, 1902-1919; By-laws and Minutes, 1939-1956; By-laws for Holy Blossom Cemeteries; Minutes, 1930-1947; Building Committee, 1937; New Synagogue, 1938.

Reel 3: By-laws and Minutes, 1939-1956.

Reel 4: Register of Toronto Hebrew Congregation; Births, 1857-1868; Marriages, 1851-1894; Burials, 1848 -1900; Large Marriage Register 1858 -1878; By-laws 1876-? (Handwritten), 1894, 1904, 1929, 1949,1955 (printed); By-laws Cemeteries ?-1921; Cash Books, 1900; Monthly Cash Books, 1919; Letterpress copy book and instructions for use; Records and letters from 1891; Letterbooks, 1891-1894; Aliyah Book (which is a small hard cover indexed book containing names of members in English and Hebrew, used for calling members to bless and read the Torah) ca. 1890; January 1921- Ecumenical Service; February 1928- first Canadian exchange of pulpits with Rev. E. Crossley Hunter of Carlton Street United Church and Rabbi Abraham Feinberg participating; Toronto Hebrew Ladies Sick and Benevolent Society Minutes instituted in January 1868, original charter 9 July 1877, later became Toronto Hebrew Benevolent Society; Centennial preparation, committee, service, memorials and interview reports with older members of the congregation.

Reel 5: Collection Books, 1884 -1919.

Reel 6: Officers' Minutes, 1952-1964; Board and Annual Meeting Minutes, 1964-1965; Board Minutes, 1966-1967; Board of Trustees Minutes, 1968-1969; Officers, Trustees & Committee Chairmen; Minutes, 1965-1969.

Reel 7: 11 May 1967 onward

MG_RG

MG 3 A1

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Holy Blossom Temple (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1982-10-3

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

Bulletins

Date

1981-1982

Scope and Content

Accession consists of bulletins from Kehillat Shaarei Torah of Toronto for the years 1981-1982.

MG_RG

MG3 A51

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Kehillat Shaarei Torah of Toronto

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2006-4-3

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

7 watercolours : 11 x 16 cm

Date

1975

Scope and Content

Accession consists of seven watercolour paintings by Hans Plania of Toronto synagogue buildings. These include: The Kiever Synagogue, 25 Bellevue Avenue, Kensington Market, Congregation Knesseth Israel (Maria Street Shul), 1 Shipman Place at the corner of Maria Street; First Narayever Congregation, 189 Brunswick Avenue; Agudath Israel Anshei Sfard Synagogue (Palmerston Shul); the Beach Hebrew Institute, 109 Kenilworth Avenue; Beth David Congregation, 225 Brunswick Avenue; the former Beth Jacob Synagogue (Henry Street Shul), 23 Henry Street.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Agudath Israel Anshei Sfard Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Beach Hebrew Institute (Toronto, Ont.)

Beth Jacob Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

First Narayever Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Knesseth Israel (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2006-12-4

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

0.3 m. of textual records and other material

Date

1973-2005

Scope and Content

The records in this accession consist of early minutes of the Executive Committee, high holiday sermons, sidureem (booklets) that were produced by the synagogue for Shabbat and the holidays, a cassette containing instructions for bar/bat mitzvah children, a CD of music entitled "Solel Sings "Kids" Songs!", and a videotaped recording of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the shul.

Custodial History

The records were donated to the OJA from their archives committee. This committee will be responsible for overseeing future transfers and for helping to establish an information management program within the synagogue.

Administrative History

Solel Congregation was established in1973. It is a reform synagogue, situated in Mississauga, that currently has a membership of 300 families.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Solel Congregation (Mississauga, Ont.)

Places

Mississauga (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2006-12-5

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 12 cm

Date

1921

Scope and Content

This accession consists of one copy photograph and negative taken at the official opening of the Hebrew Men of England Synagogue on Spadina Avenue. The photograph is shows the group dressed in top hats and tails in front of the entrance to the shul. The photograph was taken before the official portrait and thus there is movement and an air of relaxation amongst the subject. The accession record states that this photograph was taken by the donor as he was passing by the shul and saw everyone assembled for the official portrait.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Hebrew Men of England Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2008-2-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

2.7 m of textual records and graphic material

Date

[197-]-2007

Scope and Content

This accession consists of 2.7 m of textual records and graphic material related to the functions and activities of the Solel Congregation in Mississauga. The records include general correspondence, B'nai Mitzvah sermons; board of director, executive, and brotherhood minutes and motions; memorabilia, brochures and pamphlets; leadership manuals; newsletters; photographs; and the synagogue's constitution.

Administrative History

Mississauga 's Solel Congregation was founded in 1973. It currently has a membership of over 300 families and has established itself within the broader Mississauga community and Region of Peel. It is a Reform congregation, led by Rabbi Lawrence Englander. Solel has both a religious school, an adult education program as well as many participatory groups and activities.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Solel Congregation (Mississauga, Ont.)

Places

Mississauga (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2008-7-4

Material Format

graphic material

sound recording

textual record

Physical Description

1 album

1 audio cassette

Date

1988-1997

Scope and Content

This accession consists of one album containing photographs, newsclippings, flyers and invitations related to the Temple Shalom community of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. The photographs depict members of the congregation celebrating various religious holidays and other communal events, as well as photos taken at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Temple Shalom's new building "The Cedars Worship Centre". There are also two photographs of the exterior of the former Church of the Good Shepherd, where the Temple originally held their services.

The audio cassette consists of 21 Shabbat songs recorded in 1998 by the Temple Shalom community and features Neshama, a local folk music group consisting of Mark Pancer, Ruth Shushan, Wendy Weinberg and Laura Wolfson.

Custodial History

The records were in the possession of the donor until they were donated to the Archives on July 22, 2008.

Use Conditions

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Synagogues

Name Access

Temple Shalom (Waterloo, Ont.)

Places

Kitchener (Ont.)

Waterloo (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
•