Level

Item

Item

1009

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1924

Physical Description

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

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Morris Berg, Anne Collis and Ben Collis standing in front of the Collis Store in Oshawa, Ontario. Anne is also holding a bicycle.

Name Access

Berg, Morris

Collis, Anne

Collis, Ben

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

6 photographs : b&w

Date

[ca. 1912]-1930

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs documenting the Collis family of Oshawa, 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

Families

Name Access

Berg, Helen

Berg, Morris

Collis, Anne

Collis, Ben

Collis, Eva

Collis family

Collis, Mac

Collis, Sam

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Level

Item

Item

1010

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1926

Physical Description

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

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Anne Collis seated on delivery motorcycle with a sidecar. The photo was taken on King Street in Oshawa, Ontario.

Name Access

Collis, Anne

Subjects

Motorcycles

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1012

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1925

Physical Description

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

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Helen Berg (m. Sacks) and Anne Collis (m. PInsky) standing on the street in Oshawa, Ontario.

Notes

.

Name Access

Pinsky, Anne

Sacks, Helen

Subjects

Women

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Passenger Names

Collis, A.

Page Number

429

Date Range

June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915

Photographer

Harvey and Adena Glasner

Source

Rotenberg Ledger

Level

Item

Item

1013

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1912]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Scope and Content

Seated left to right: Sam Collis; Anne Collis (m. Pinsky).

Standing left to right: Eva Collis (m. Einhorn); Mac Collis.

Name Access

Collis, Anne

Collis, Sam

Collis, Eva

Einhorn, Eva

Collis, Mac

Pinsky, Anne

Subjects

Children

Portraits, Group

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.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Central Region sous-fonds

Community correspondence series

Level

File

Fonds

28-1

Series

6

File

17

Material Format

textual record

Date

1965-1967

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

The file consists of lists of campaign contributors and correspondence concerning community events and fundraising.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1145

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Feb. 1947

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 12 x 10 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a hosiery sale at Allan B. Collis' ladies' and children's wear store in Oshawa, Ontario. The pictures depicts a line-up of women waiting to be let into the store.

Subjects

Shopping

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-11

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Small Ontario Jewish Communities sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-8

File

96

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975-1976

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence about Jewish related issues in Oshawa, Ontario.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Small Ontario Jewish Communities sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-8

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

1965

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence and newspaper clippings from Oshawa concerning Jewish related issues

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Small Ontario Jewish Communities sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-8

File

51

Material Format

textual record

Date

1969

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence regarding Jewish related issues in Oshawa.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

The Shuls Project fonds

Ontario synagogues series

Level

File

Fonds

64

Series

2

File

21

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1979

Physical Description

14 photographs : col. slides, (1) b&w print ; 35 mm and 12 x 9 cm

Subjects

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

Oshawa (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Elmdale Investments series

Level

File

Fonds

4

Series

3

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a lease agreement between Oshawa Wholesale Limited and Elmdale Developments, the company which operates Elmhurst Plaza.

Name Access

Elmhurst Plaza

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4102

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1925]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w and sepia (1 negative) ; 10 x 15 cm and 10 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is an original print and copy negative of a cheder class in Oshawa, Ontario. The photograph depicts twelve children standing in front of a bricked building with the rabbi. The building was probably a rented hall where the early services of the synagogue were held, before the move to 45 Albert Street. Pictured are:

Back row, left to right: Simma [Engel?], Rabbi Primack's son, Rabbi Primack's daughter, Anne Dime, Anne Hennick, Sara Rainish.

Front row left to right: Clara Engel (m. Rubin), Maxie Rainish, Irving Oilgissor, Becky Rainish, Sam Dime, [Primack child?], Rabbi Primack.

Notes

This photo is the original of photo #4103.

Subjects

Heder

Portraits, Group

Students

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1978-7-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4103

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1925]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print of a cheder class in Oshawa, Ontario. The photograph depicts twelve children standing in front of a bricked building with the rabbi. The building was probably a rented hall where the early services of the synagogue were held, before the move to 45 Albert Street. Pictured are:

Back row, left to right: Simma [Engel?], Rabbi Primack's son, Rabbi Primack's daughter, Anne Dime, Anne Hennick, Sara Rainish.

Front row left to right: Clara Engel (m. Rubin), Maxie Rainish, Irving Oilgissor, Becky Rainish, Sam Dime, [Primack child?], Rabbi Primack.

Notes

This photograph is an exact copy of photo #4102.

Subjects

Heder

Portraits, Group

Students

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1978-7-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1008

Material Format

graphic material

Date

10 July 1927

Physical Description

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

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Anne Collis (m. Pinsky) standing on the back of a truck in Rouge Hill, Ontario near Oshawa. She is wearing a summer dress and is holding an umbrella.

Name Access

Pinsky, Anne

Subjects

Women

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1141

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1945

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 25 x 20 cm and 12 x 10 cm

Scope and Content

This item is an original print and copy negative of a B'nai Brith dinner in Oshawa, Ontario. The photograph depicts several men and women seated at banquet tables in a hall. Pictured are:

Seated at the back table, back row, left to right: Mrs. Marks, Mr. Marks, Eva Einhorn (née Collis), Max Einhorn, Mac Collis.

Seated at the back table, front row, left to right: Isaac Collis, Ruth Climans, Bea Collis, Ben Collis.

Standing at back, left to right: Essie Collis, Rose Marks (née Marder).

Front table is a group from Peterborough, Ontario.

Name Access

B'nai B'rith

Climans, Ruth

Collis, Bea

Collis, Ben

Collins, Essie

Collis, Eva

Collis, Isaac

Collis, Mac

Einhorn, Eva

Einhorn, Max

Marder, Rose

Marks, Rose

Subjects

Dinners and dining

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.

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-7-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1976-6-14

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records.

Date

1960-1976

Scope and Content

Accession consists of several bulletins (1975–1976), a letter from the Beth Zion Congregation in Oshawa, and material from the Piyah Chapter of Hadassah in Oshawa (1960–1970). Included are flyers of organizational news, events, and announcements of meetings.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1978-7-1

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1 box of textual records

16 photographs

Date

[ca. 1906-1960]

Scope and Content

This accession consists of photographs, Beth Israel Congregation annual almanacs, an account book, scrapbooks, and other material relating to the Florence and Collis families and the history of the Oshawa and Peterborough Jewish communities

Administrative History

Beatrice Collis (nee Florence) was married to Allan B. Collis, who owned a department store in Peterborough, Ontario called Allan B. Collis Limited. It was located on the west side of George Street, just north of Simcoe Street, and sold ladies' wear, mens' wear, and children's wear. Beatrice was active in the Peterborough Chapter of Hadassah. They had three children and later moved to Toronto.

MG_RG

MG 3 B 9

Places

Peterborough (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

594

Material Format

textual record

Date

1962

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

661

Material Format

textual record

Date

1958

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

867

Material Format

textual record

Date

1991 - 1992

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

190

Material Format

textual record

Date

1939

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence regarding "Gentiles Only" signs and ads.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Subjects

Signs and signboards

Places

Oshawa (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1637

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1929]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 6 cm and 10 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph and corresponding negative of Beatrice Collis standing in the doorway of the Florence Shoppe in Peterborough, Ontario.

Name Access

Collis, Beatrice

Florence Shoppe (Peterborough, Ont.)

Subjects

Storefronts

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.

Places

Peterborough (Ont.)

Accession Number

1978-7-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1990-10-2

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w

Date

1943-1947

Scope and Content

This accession consists of four photographs that document YMHA basketball teams. Ben Atkin was the coach of both the bantam and senior teams. The 1947 team became the Ontario champions

Administrative History

Ben Atkin as a young man was very involved in the YMHA. During the late 1930s, he was involved in handball. Then during the 1940s, he acted as coach of the batam and senior boys basketball teams

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

Sports teams

Name Access

YMHA.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1980-9-1

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

Textual material

26 photographs : b&w (13 negatives)

Date

[193-?] - 1979

Scope and Content

This accession consists of textual and graphic material donated by Ben Himel. The textual material documents family events as well as information pertaining to the Borochov School, Poalei Zion, B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge, the Independent Workers' Circle and B'nai Zion Association of Toronto. Identified in one copy photograph of the officers of the Canadian Headgear Workers Central are J. B. Salsberg, Motel Bergstein, Henry Sigel, and Sam Chaikofsky.

Descriptive Notes

Borochov School.

Poal Zion.

B'nai Brith Toronto Lodge.

Independent Workers' Circle.

B'nai Zion Association.

Mrs. Menachovsky.

Zerabouaun.

Kreitzer.

Arbeiter Ring.

King Edward School.

Picnic.

Subjects

Clubs

Labor unions

Zionism

Name Access

Himel, Ben

Chaikofsky, Sam

Bergstein, Motel

Sigel, Henry

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Gordon Mendly fonds

Portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

18

Series

1

Item

20

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1960]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Benjamin Gershon Kayfetz was born in Toronto on 24 December 1916, the son of Max and Leah Kayfetz. He graduated with a B.A. in modern languages from the University of Toronto in 1939, and a B.E.D. from the Ontario College of Education in 1940. In 1955, he married Eva (née Silver) and had three daughters: Zena (Tanenbaum), Tamara (Kingston) and Rebecca (Hamill).

Between the years 1941 and 1943, he worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville and Niagara Falls. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in Postal Censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British-occupied Germany, where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947.

Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the national director of Community Relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), and the national executive director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC - B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the central region executive director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. During his tenure, he worked with various churches, unions and minority groups to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights.

Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish communities worldwide, and made visits to Cuba in 1962 and 1965, and Russia in 1985. After his retirement in 1985, he was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress. In recognition of his efforts to promote human rights, he was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.

In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz was a prolific writer, and wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman, and gave a weekly radio address on various contemporary Jewish issues on CHIN radio. He was also actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society, serving as its president, the Canadian Jewish Historical Society and the Yiddish Luncheon Circle. Ben Kayfetz died on 15 February 2002, at the age of 85.

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of Ben Kayfetz.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gordon Mendly fonds

Portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

18

Series

1

Item

25

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1960]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 13 x 10 cm

Admin History/Bio

Ben Lappin was born in Kielce, Poland, on 1 May 1916. He was the son of Leibish and Sarah Lapidus. Lappin moved with his family to Canada in 1924. He married Adah Auerbach and had four children: Shalom, David, Naomi and Daniel.

Lappin received his undergraduate degree from McMaster University and his master’s and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Toronto. He spent several years at the Training Bureau for Jewish Communal Service in New York and returned to the University of Toronto in 1958, where he was a professor in the School of Social Work until 1970. He then accepted an appointment at the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University in Israel, later becoming its director. In 1963, he published The Redeemed Children: The story of the rescue of the war orphans by the Jewish community of Canada. He later wrote a number of other books, several humorous pieces for the CBC and Macleans Magazine, and served as editor of the Toronto Yiddisher Zhurnal’s English-language page.

From 1948 to 1958, he was the executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region and was involved with the national executive committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress; the Canadian Association of Social Workers; and the Farband Labour Zionist Organization of Canada. Ben Lappin died in January 2001, at the age of 84.

Scope and Content

Item is a portrait of Ben Lappin.

Subjects

Authors

Immigrants--Canada

Social workers

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

William Stern fonds

Toronto Jewish community photographs series

Level

Item

Fonds

33

Series

4

Item

20

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1970]

Physical Description

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

Admin History/Bio

Benjamin Gershon Kayfetz was born on December 24, 1916 in Toronto, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a B.A. in modern languages. Between the years 1941 and 1943, he worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville and Niagara Falls. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in Postal Censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British Occupied Germany where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947.

Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the National Director of Community Relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), and as the Executive (National) Director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC - B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the Central Region Executive Director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. During his tenure, he worked with various churches, unions and minority groups to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights. Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish Communities worldwide, and made visits to Cuba in 1962 and 1965, and Russia in 1985, to study and report on the state of these Jewish Communities. After his retirement in 1985, he was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress. In recognition of his efforts to promote Human Rights, he was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.

In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman, and gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues. He was also actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), Canadian Jewish Historical Society and Yiddish Luncheon Circle. Ben Kayfetz died in 2002 and is survived by his wife Eva.

Scope and Content

This item is a portrait of Ben Kayfetz.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Subjects

Portraits

Repro Restriction

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

Accession Number

2004-5-96

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Advocacy, General sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-9

File

127

Material Format

textual record

Date

1973

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence from and to Ben Kayfetz related to various issues.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2010-11-6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

sound recording

Physical Description

ca. 60 cm of textual records and other material

Date

[ca. 1930] - 2002

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the personal and professional activities of Ben Kayfetz. Personal records include correspondence with family and friends, including letters home while serving overseas, Kayfetz's marriage and high school certificates, Kayfetz's memoirs, tributes and obituaries written about Kayfetz, as well as a portrait of him. Personal records also include audio cassettes of Yiddish music by Toronto musicians Honey Novick and Faye Kellerstein.

Professional records include articles, book reviews and newspaper clippings written by Kayfetz, event invitations, correspondence, lecture notes, and speeches. Professional records also include an Order of Canada membership book and event programme, meeting minutes for various organizations Kayfetz was involved in, such as, the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies, photographs of Kayfetz receiving various awards, and photographs of various Canadian Jewish Congress and B'Nai Zion Club events. Finally, professional records include sound recordings of interviews, lectures given at various events, and the meeting minutes of various organizations, such as, CJC, JCRC and the Yiddish Dialects in Toronto.

Administrative History

Benjamin Gershon Kayfetz was born on December 24, 1916 in Toronto, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a B.A. in modern languages. Between the years 1941 and 1943, he worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville and Niagara Falls. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in Postal Censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British Occupied Germany where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947. Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the National Director of Community Relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), and as the Executive (National) Director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC - B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the Central Region Executive Director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. During his tenure, he worked with various churches, unions and minority groups to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights. Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish Communities worldwide, and made visits to Cuba in 1962 and 1965, and Russia in 1985, to study and report on the state of these Jewish Communities. After his retirement in 1985, he was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress. In recognition of his efforts to promote Human Rights, he was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.

In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman, and gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues. He was also actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), Canadian Jewish Historical Society and Yiddish Luncheon Circle. Ben Kayfetz died in 2002 and is survived by his wife Eva.

Use Conditions

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes ca. 20 audio cassettes, 1 audio reel, and ca. 25 photographs (4 negatives)

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2010-12-11

Material Format

textual record

textual record (electronic)

sound recording

Physical Description

1 box of textual records

1 audio cassette

1 CD

Date

1932-2001

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the personal and professional activities of Ben Kayfetz. Personal records include correspondence with family and friends, Kayfetz's high school examination reports, and speeches, invitations and other material relating to a tribute dinner for Kayfetz. Personal records also include correspondence about the Ben Kayfetz Scholarship Fund at the University of Toronto.

Professional records include articles, book reviews and newspaper clippings written by Kayfetz, correspondence, lecture notes, speeches and transcripts for Kayfetz's CHIN Radio broadcasts. Professional records also include notes from Kayfetz's interview of Arthur Gelber, obituaries written by Kayfetz for Frank Shuster and Ben Lappin, and early teaching contracts with the Huntsville Board of Education. Finally, professional records include a CD that contains records transferred over from Kayfetz's old computer floppy disks and one audio recording of a CBC Radio broadcast featuring the Yiddish Luncheon Club.

Administrative History

Benjamin Gershon Kayfetz was born on December 24, 1916 in Toronto, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1939, with a B.A. in modern languages. Between the years 1941 and 1943, he worked as a high school teacher in Huntsville and Niagara Falls. In 1943, he joined the war effort, working for the Department of National Defense in Postal Censorship and was responsible for reviewing prisoner of war mail. After the war, Kayfetz traveled to British Occupied Germany where he worked as a censor of telecommunications with the Control Commission until 1947. Upon returning to Toronto, he was hired as the National Director of Community Relations by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), and as the Executive (National) Director of the Joint Community Relations Committee (JCRC), a CJC - B'nai B'rith cooperative organization. He also served as the Central Region Executive Director of the CJC between 1973 and 1978. During his tenure, he worked with various churches, unions and minority groups to develop anti-discrimination laws and for the protection of minority and religious rights. Kayfetz was also actively involved in promoting the welfare of Jewish Communities worldwide, and made visits to Cuba in 1962 and 1965, and Russia in 1985, to study and report on the state of these Jewish Communities. After his retirement in 1985, he was awarded the Samuel Bronfman Medal by the Canadian Jewish Congress. In recognition of his efforts to promote Human Rights, he was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.

In addition to his professional activities, Kayfetz wrote articles for various Jewish publications under both his own name and the pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman, and gave a weekly radio address on CHIN radio addressing various contemporary Jewish issues. He was also actively involved in the Toronto Jewish Historical Society (serving as its president), Canadian Jewish Historical Society and Yiddish Luncheon Circle. Ben Kayfetz died in 2002 and is survived by his wife Eva.

Use Conditions

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

Language note: some records are in Yiddish.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2011-4-2

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

Date

1989-1991

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting Ben Libman's involvement with the Kielcer Synagogue and the Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees during the early 1990s. The records primarily consist of financial documents and correspondence.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Dena Libman, the granddaughter of Ben Lipman.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-9-5

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

3 photographs : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm

Date

1943-2001

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs of Ben Grossman's graduation from the University of Toronto in 1943 and a photograph of his parents Etta and Jacob Grossman. Also included is Ben Grossman's 2001 memoir entitled "Toronto to Jerusalem".

Administrative History

Ben Grossman (d. 2011) was the son of Etta dn Jacob Grossman. Ben's father was the founder of Billy Bee Honey which started in the Kensington Market neighbourhood in the late 1920s. Ben had his bar mitzvah at Beth Jacob Synagogue on Henry Street. He helped in the family business, especially during the war when his brother Jack was overseas. He went on to law school at the University of Toronto and eventually practiced immigration law. He helped many survivors navigate the Canadian immigration laws.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-3-69

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1950-1991

Scope and Content

Accession consists of interviews with various persons concerning their link with Goel Tzedec and its successor synagogue, Beth Tzedec. The interviews were primarily conducted by Ben Keyfetz and Jack Orenstien, the latter serving as the executive director of Beth Tzedec at that time. Persons interviewed included Carl Keyfetz, N. N. Levine, Meyer Axler, and Bert Godfrey. There is also other information in the file concerning cantors and rabbis who served at Goel Tzedec, including Julius Price, Bernard Wladowsky, Jacob Gordon, and Samuel Sachs. There is a document from Bert Godfrey—undated but with a reference to 1950—titled "Report of Construction Sub-Committee." This presumably preceded the construction of the building housing the Beth Tzedec Synagogue on Bathurst Street. Also included is a 1955 publication of the Ne'ilah Service of Beth Tzedec to take place on 6 February 1955, concluding a half century of worship at the synagogue on University Avenue. Lastly, there are several pages of notes concerning the synagogue and its history.

Custodial History

There is no information on the acquisition of this material.

Subjects

Committees

Synagogues

Rabbis

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Places

Toronto, Ontario

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-11-19

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1950-1964

Scope and Content

Accession consists of the personal records of Ben Kayfetz. Included is an article written under the pseudonym Gershon B. Newman, and one legal document belonging to Eva Silver. Also included are writings on the Jewish community in the year 1913-1914, a fictional account of a trip from Chile to Argentina and a poem written about Eva Kayfetz by her daughter.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-4-13

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1984-1992

Scope and Content

Accession consists of letters to Ben Kayfetz from Florence Hutner and Bernard Wind, a memoriam for Florence Hutner and general writings.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Ben, 1916-2002

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Portraits of prominent Jewish Torontonians series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

1

Item

32

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1942

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 12 x 8 cm and 13 x 9 cm

Admin History/Bio

Ben Sadowski (1894–1974) was born 5 April 1894 in Massey, Ontario. He was the son of Rose (d. 3 February 1946) and Henry Sadowski (d. 15 July 1950), who immigrated to Canada and settled in Massey, Ontario, in the 1880s. Henry and Rose opened the Sadowski General Store in Massey. Ben eventually moved to Toronto and married Pearl (née Vise). Ben and Pearl had one child, Yvonne, who received her MA in sociology from the University of Toronto and married Dr. L. S. Davis, MD. Ben died on 20 November 1974. Pearl died 30 August 1982.

Ben received a BA in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto in 1918 and spent three years as a fellow in the department of mathematics at the university. He was president of both National Motors Limited and the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association of Canada during his career. During the Second World War, Ben served with the Vehicle Production Committee.

Ben was one of the founders and the first president of the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Toronto and a president of Jewish Family and Child Service Agency. An active communal leader, Ben received an MBE in 1946 for distinguished service to the family rehabilitation programme of Toronto and became the recipient of two coronation medals from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for outstanding communal endeavours. The UJA Federation's Ben Sadowski Award of Merit is named in his honour.

Scope and Content

The item is a portrait of Ben Sadowski.

Name Access

Sadowski, Ben, 1894-1974

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

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

22

Material Format

textual record

Date

19 July 1968

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of one news clipping regarding comments made by George Ben, Liberal MPP for Humber.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

71

Material Format

textual record

Date

1961

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of various documents related to antisemitic remarks by Mr. Gergely, an employee of Colonial Coach Lines, to Mr. Paul Sheffield, a jeweller.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds

Jewish Community Centre Archives Committee series

Photograph collection sub-series

Level

Item

Fonds

61

Series

2-2

Item

49

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 11 cm

Scope and Content

This file consists of one studio photograph of Ben Swartz. He is wearing leopard-print shorts and is standing in a wrestling pose.

Subjects

Wrestlers

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

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

4

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1978-1979

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence and a newsletter related to the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). The correspondence is a letter to Ben Dunkelman from Ben Kayfetz at the Canadian Jewish Congress, congratulating him on assuming full-time responsibility of the Joint Community Relations Committee at the CJC. The newsletter consists of announcements, along with a report providing information about an Anti-Nazi Committee.

Name Access

Kayfetz, Benjamin, 1916-2002

Physical Condition

Some records are fragile.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3685

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1955

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w. ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a copy print of a portrait of Ben Sadowski, president of Mount Sinai Hospital (1943-1966) and chairman of the board (1966-1971). The painting is currently hanging in the lobby of the hospital. It was painted by Augustus May.

Name Access

Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, Ont.)

Sadowski, Ben, 1894-1974

Subjects

Portraits

Accession Number

1983-5-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

4

Item

22

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1965]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Ben Winbaum was born on October 12, 1912 in Poland to Sarah and Samuel Winbaum. He was married to Faye Goldman and they had one daughter named Rosemary.

An industrialist, he was President for Vaunclair Purveyors Ltd. and President of Winco Ltd.

Ben Winbaum's community affiliations included: co-founder for the Beth Sholom Synagogue and a member of the Jewish Home for the Aged & Baycrest Hospital, Canadian Friends Hebrew University, Herzl Zion Club, YMHA, Palestine Lodge AF & AM, B'nai B'rith, Fairbanks Rotary Club, Primrose Club, Maple Downs Golf & Country Club and the United Jewish Appeal. He also played baseball for the Toronto Jewish Community League.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Ben Winbaum.

Name Access

Winbaum, Ben

Subjects

Industrialists

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

Accession Number

2021-12-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

5 photographs : b&w

Date

1944-1984

Scope and Content

Accession consists of correspondence to Ben Kayfetz from an American friend in Berlin in 1951 and 1952, a 1944 Central Commerce yearbook belonging to Eva Kayfetz (née Silver), five photographs, an armed forces prayer book formerly belonging to Chaplain Rabbi Jacob Eisen, a speech about Soviet Jewry, and Ben Kayfetz's retirement speech.

Custodial History

The donor, Zena Tenenbaum, is Ben's daughter.

Administrative History

Ben Kayfetz was a well-known leader of the Jewish community and advocate for human rights. He completed a degree in modern languages from the University of Toronto. During the Second World War, he worked for the Wartime Information Board reading prisoners-of-war letters, and from 1945 to 1947, worked with the Canadian Control Commission in the British-controlled sector of Germany.

He served with the Canadian Jewish Congress from 1947 to 1985 in various positions, including director of public relations and executive director of the Central Region. He was instrumental in the development of government anti-discriminatory policies and legislation in the 1950s and 1960s onward and received the Order of Canada in 1986.

Ben Kayfetz also founded the Yiddish Luncheon Club, was president of the Toronto Jewish Historical Society, and was a frequent contributor to various periodicals in Canada and abroad, under his own name and his pseudonym, Gershon B. Newman. He was viewed as the local authority on Toronto Jewish history and also had his own radio spot on CHIN.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: correspondence have been scanned and available in PDF format.

Subjects

Prayer books

Yearbooks

Human rights workers

Speeches, addresses, etc

Name Access

Kayfetz, Ben, 1916-2002

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Central Region sous-fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

28-1

Series

7

File

339

Material Format

textual record

Date

1963-1964

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

The file consists of a questionnaire and correspondence concerning Camp Manitou-wabing.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

5

File

45

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1971

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of portait photographs of Ben Dunkelman.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

92

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[196-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of a portrait photograph of Ben Herman.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

235

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1949

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of a photograph of Ben Sadowski.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions