Part Of
David Pinkus fonds
Genealogical research series
Benjamin Swartz file
Level
File
ID
Fonds 138; Series 3; File 14
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
David Pinkus fonds
Genealogical research series
Benjamin Swartz file
Level
File
Fonds
138
Series
3
File
14
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1922-[ca. 2010]
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 photographs : b&w ; 16 x 9 cm and 16 x 11 cm on sheets 28 x 22 cm
Scope and Content
File consists of records relating to Benjamin Swartz. Included are printed copies of the following items: a 1922 newspaper clipping, two portraits of Benjamin, Benjamin’s Canadian citizenship certificate, and web articles documenting Benjamin’s architectural works. Also present are records documenting Benjamin’s family history, including David Pinkus’ genealogical research notes and documents made by Stephen Zener (Benjamin’s grandchild) and Rhoda Swartz (Benjamin’s daughter).
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2015-3-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2015-3-6
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
5 cm textual records and other material
Date
[ca.1890]-[ca. 1940]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of personal records of Hyman (Ben) Benjamin, and records documenting Arthur Benjamin's military service. Records include ca. 30 photographs of three generations of the Benjamin family, Rosh Hashanah greeting cards, Hyman Benjamin's birth certificate and first aid certificate. Records also include correspondence between several branches of the Canadian government and Arthur's mother, Annie, regarding the circumstances of Arthur's death; his grave site and his army pension.
Custodial History
The records were donated to the Archives by Nancy Rose, daughter of the great-nephew of Hyman (Ben) Benjamin.
Administrative History
Hyman "Ben" Benjamin (ca. 1884-1969) was born in Leeds, England to Lazuras and Annie Benjamin. He married Hilda (Holds) Benjamin, and they immigrated to Canada in 1911. He worked as a car mechanic. They had two daughters, Laura (b. 1911) and Florence (b. 1912).
Arthur "Abraham" Benjamin (ca. 1882-1917) was Hyman Benjamin's brother. He immigrated to Toronto from Leeds some time after 1911 and worked with Hyman as a car cleaner. He joined the 198th Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1916, and was killed in the First World War.
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
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1914-1918
Name Access
Benjamin, Arthur, 1882-1917
Benjamin, Hyman, 1884-1969
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-5-14
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-5-14
Material Format
architectural drawing
Physical Description
1 drawing : pencil ; 46 x 43 cm
Date
[ca. 1911]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a demonstration drawing by architect Benjamin Brown of a synagogue, that bears some resemblance to a later design proposal for Beth Jacob Synagogue. The drawing is of the synagogue's facade. This drawing was likely done when Brown was a student at the University of Toronto, School of Practical Science.
Custodial History
This drawing was part of the larger Benjamin Brown collection, but was not part of the original donation in 1987. It was framed and hanging in Jay Levine's office for many years.
Subjects
Architecture
Synagogues
Name Access
Brown, Benjamin
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
Scenes from The Ward in the early 20th Century fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 43; Item 4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Scenes from The Ward in the early 20th Century fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
43
Item
4
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1910]
Physical Description
3 slides : b&w ; 8 x 8 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
Photograph of a young boy holding a tin of salmon in the Ward.
Notes
Original photo is a glass slide.
Title taken from writing on original slide.
Subjects
Children
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.
Accession Number
2005-5-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
35
Material Format
textual record
Date
1987-1988
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 2-4; File 12
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
2-4
File
12
Material Format
textual record
Date
1958-1971
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 2-4; File 83
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
2-4
File
83
Material Format
textual record
Date
1949-1967
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 2-4; File 435
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
2-4
File
435
Material Format
textual record
Date
1949-1953
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
Publicity photographs of people and events series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 28; Series 6; File 180
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
Publicity photographs of people and events series
Level
File
Fonds
28
Series
6
File
180
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[196-?]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm
Scope and Content
The file consists of a portrait photograph of Ben Newman.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
Anti-Semitism cases sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 5-3; File 223
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
223
Material Format
textual record
Date
1966
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of correspondence from Mr. Steiner claiming that CJC falsely accused him of being a Communist.
Notes
Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Passenger Names
Benjamin, Isaac
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Benjamin, Isaac
Page Number
728
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Goldhar, Benjamin
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Goldhar, Benjamin
Page Number
688
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Usprech, Benjamin
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Usprech, Benjamin
Page Number
203
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 49
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
49
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1902-1949
Physical Description
ca. 1500 architectural and technical drawings
6 photographs : b&w ; 38 x 30 cm or smaller
16 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Benjamin Brown (ca. 1888-1974) was the first practicing Jewish architect in Toronto. Born in what is now Lithuania, he arrived in Toronto at an early age and soon after, quit school to take a job in a garment manufacturing factory to help out his impoverished family. Not finding this career to his liking, Brown enrolled in the Ontario School of Art and Design with the intention of becoming an artist. When this profession proved financially unfeasible, Brown decided to pursue a career in architecture. After completing his high school equivalency, he enrolled in the University of Toronto architectural program, graduating in 1913. Soon after, Brown opened up a practice with fellow architect Robert McConnell, which lasted until the early 1920s. After the partnership ended, Brown set up an independent practice, which he maintained until his retirement in 1955.
Scope and Content
The fonds documents Brown’s design work and renovations of existing buildings through his original drawings, renderings, and building blueprints. The fonds consists of approximately 1500 drawings that are organized into about 150 projects. These projects include single-family residences, apartment buildings, commercial and industrial buildings, as well as synagogue and other community buildings. Many of Brown's buildings were designed in the Art Deco style, with some containing Georgian, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor and Romanesque elements.
Brown's most important commissions include the Beth Jacob Synagogue located on Henry Street, which was one the largest synagogues in Toronto, and the Balfour Building, an office tower built in the Art Deco style. The designs of Mendel Granatstein’s mansion, which contained a retractable roof for Sukkoth, and a colour sketch of the Primrose Club, which is currently the University of Toronto Faculty Club, may also be of interest to researchers. The fonds also includes some of Brown's files containing articles and illustrations from architecture and design journals of the early twentieth century, which he used as a resource to assist him with his work.
Fonds includes six photographs, one of the Balfour Building, one of Cumberland Hall, and four of Brown as a young man.
Notes
Architectural plans of a lead mine in Burnt River Ontario have been sent to the Kawartha Lakes Archives.
Name Access
Brown, Benjamin, 1890-1974
Subjects
Architects
Creator
Brown, Benjamin, 1890-1974
Accession Number
1975
1987-9-3
1989-10-6
2004-5-109
2004-5-139
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 49; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
49
Item
1
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1902
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 17 x 25 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a family portrait of Benjamin Brown (aged about twelve) with his father Meyer, mother Tema, brothers Manny and Peter and sister Sophie. The photograph was taken in Toronto in 1902.
Notes
One image is a photocopy. See image of photocopy for identification information of Brown and his family.
Subjects
Families
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.
Related Material
See photo #1709.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2010-5-8
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2010-5-8
Material Format
graphic material (electronic)
textual record (electronic)
Physical Description
5 photographs : b&w, some sepia toned (jpg)
1 textual record (jpg.)
Date
[ca. 1940]-1946
Scope and Content
Accession consists of scanned photographs and one scanned discharge certificate documenting Isaac's experience in the Royal Canadian Army during the Second World War.
Administrative History
Isaac served in the Royal Canadian Army in Europe during the Second World War. He had a menswear store in Brantford.
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.
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
2
Material Format
multiple media
Date
1898, [192-?]-1997
Physical Description
80 cm of textual records and other material
Admin History/Bio
Benjamin Dunkelman (1913–1997) was a successful businessman and president of Tip Top Tailors. He had a distinguished military career in both the Canadian Army during the Second World War and in the Haganah during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Benjamin was born in Toronto to David Dunkelman (1883–1978) and Rose (née Miller, 1889–1949). He had three sisters and two brothers: Joseph, a movie executive; Ernest, a manufacturer; Zelda; Veronica; and Theodora. His father, David, was a successful entrepreneur who established Tip Top Tailors in 1910. Both David and his wife Rose were fervent Zionists.
Benjamin attended Upper Canada College and, at the age of eighteen, visited Palestine for the first time. While in Palestine, he worked for a year on a kibbutz, mostly as a guard. During the Second World War, he served as a major in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada; as major, he gained respect for his knowledge of mortars. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1945 for his role in the final Allied assault on Germany. Two years later, Benjamin returned to Palestine to join the Haganah in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. As a commander, he captured Nazareth and brought northern Galilee under Jewish control. Near the end of the war, he met and married Yael Lifshitz (m. Dunkelman), a corporal in the Israeli army. Benjamin was elected national commander of the Jewish War Veterans of Canada in 1977.
In addition to his work as a soldier, Benjamin was a successful businessman. He served as president of Tip Top Tailors after his father stepped down; he was also director of Colonial Finance Corporation, president of Cloverdale Shopping Centre, and president of Renforth Developments. Besides operating the Dunkelman Gallery, Benjamin and his wife, Yael, ran the Constellation Hotel and Dunkelman’s Restaurant.
Dunkelman later wrote of his experiences in both wars in his autobiography "Dual Allegiance" (published by MacMIllan). As well as the DSO, Dunkelman was awarded the Fighter’s Decoration of the State of Israel (1970), and an Israel Bonds Award Dinner in Tribute to Ben Dunkelman (1977). He was a guest of honour both at a reception hosted by the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science and the veterans of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada (1976) and at a 7th Brigade Reunion in Israel (1991).
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records documenting Benjamin Dunkelman's personal, business, and military activities. Included is personal and business correspondence and other records, maps, photographs, news clippings, and scrapbooks assembled by Dunkelman. The bulk of the records relate both to Dunkelman’s autobiography Dual allegiance and to his military career in the Second World War and in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Other records relate to his business work with Tip Top Tailors, the Constellation Hotel, Dunkelman’s Restaurant, and the Dunkelman Gallery, as well as to his Zionist actvities, his writing and public speeches, and his personal life.
The fonds is organized into the following series: Personal records and correspondence, Zionist materials, Businesses, Second World War, Arab-Israeli War, Dual Allegiance, and Speeches.
Notes
Physical description note: Includes 218 photographs, 60 maps, 7 postcards, 5 architectural drawings, and 3 albums.
Associated material note: see the Ben Dunkelman fonds at Library and Archives Canada.
Name Access
Dunkelman, Benjamin, 1913-1997
Subjects
Authors
Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949
World War, 1939-1945
Related Material
See fonds #39 (Rose Dunkelman fonds).
Creator
Dunkelman, Benjamin, 1913-1997
Accession Number
2000-3-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Speeches series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 2; Series 7; File 5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
Speeches series
Level
File
Fonds
2
Series
7
File
5
Material Format
textual record
Date
1976-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File contains two speeches, one a lecture given to the Adath Israel Synagogue in Toronto and the other entitled "On the Brink". Both relate to Israeli politics.
Name Access
Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
Adath Israel Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Committee for Soviet Jewry series
Refusnik cases sub-series
Individual Refusnik cases sub-sub series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
3-6-1
File
142
Material Format
textual record
Date
1973-1977
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 48; Series 2-4; File 186
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Board of Jewish Education fonds
Executive director series
Teacher files sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
48
Series
2-4
File
186
Material Format
textual record
Date
1951-1957
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records
Source
Archival Descriptions
Passenger Names
Benjamin, Ben & Abe
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Benjamin, Ben & Abe
Page Number
670
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Weinberg, Benjamin & Dina
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Weinberg, Benjamin & Dina
Page Number
534
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Part Of
Gordon Mendly fonds
Portraits series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 18; Series 1; Item 19
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gordon Mendly fonds
Portraits series
Level
Item
Fonds
18
Series
1
Item
19
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1973]
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm
Admin History/Bio
Rabbi Benjamin J. Hollander was born in 1936 in New York City. He was the principal of the Beth Tzedec Congregational School during the early 1970s, until he was dismissed by Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg in 1972. This move led to the infamous lawsuit between the congregation's Board of Directors and Rabbi Rosenberg.
Rabbi Hollander made aliyah in 1972 and has lived in Jerusalem since, spending some time in a Negev development town and a Gush Etzion community. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Hollander is affiliated with Conservative, Reform and Orthodox institutions in Israel and holds advanced degrees in literature and education from NYU and Hebrew University, respectively. A founding member of Rabbis for Human Rights, Rabbi Hollander has, since the 1970s, taught Jewish studies in Jerusalem at Hebrew Union College, Machon Schechter, the Hebrew University School for Overseas Students, and the Siegal (Cleveland) College of Jewish Studies. His field of specialization is Torah and classical commentary, which he learned, primarily, from the legendary Torah teacher, Nehama Leibowitz. He has also served as the weekly Torah commentator on Kol Yisrael radio and traveled the country as a tour educator. Over the past decade, Rabbi Hollander has regularly returned to North America as scholar-in-residence at Camp Ramah, as rabbi of alternative High Holy Day services at Congregation Beth Tzedec in Toronto and as teacher and speaker in over two hundred synagogues, communities, schools, and retreats.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of Rabbi Benjamin J. Hollander.
Name Access
Hollander, Ben
Subjects
Portraits
Rabbis
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Related Material
See Beth Tzedec fonds for further information on Rabbi Benjamin J. Hollander.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1906]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Benjamin (left) and Jacob (right) Cohen of Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario.
Name Access
Cohen, Benjamin
Cohen, Jacob
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
Kitchener (Ont.)
Accession Number
1977-8-17
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 291
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
291
Material Format
graphic material
Date
16 Jun. 1974
Physical Description
2 photographs : col. (1 slide) ; 15 x 10 cm and 35 mm
Name Access
Brown, Benjamin, 1890-1974
Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
Architects
Doors
Synagogues
Places
Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3064
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3064
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1914
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Name Access
Hashmall, Ansley Benjamin
Subjects
Portraits
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
1981-7-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 757
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
757
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[195-]
Physical Description
1 photograph
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of Rabbi Benjamin Hauer.
Notes
Acquired June 1976.
Name Access
Hauer, Rabbi Benjamin
Subjects
Portraits
Rabbis
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4272
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4272
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1880 and 1900]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a black-and-white portrait of Alfred D. Benjamin.
Name Access
Benjamin, Alfred D
Subjects
Portraits
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.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4273
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4273
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1880 and 1900]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a black-and-white photograph of Frank D. Benjamin.
Notes
Photo by A. D. Hart.
Name Access
Benjamin, Frank D
Subjects
Portraits
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.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 5093
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
5093
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1987
Physical Description
1 photograph ; b&w ; 14 x 9 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a photograph of Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal. Segal's photograph was kept by the Beth Sholom Synagogue's adult education department. It is unclear whether or not he was invited to speak in Toronto.
Name Access
Segal, Benjamin J.
Subjects
Portraits
Rabbis
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.
Accession Number
1989-6-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Executive Committee series
Executive director sub-series
Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
5-5-1
File
184
Material Format
textual record
Date
21 Jan. 1970-17 Dec. 1970
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of correspondence.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2022-8-4
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2022-8-4
Material Format
architectural drawing
graphic material
object
textual record
sound recording
Physical Description
ca. 11 m of textual records and other material
Date
1930-2012
Scope and Content
Accession consists of records documenting the life and career of Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg. Included are subject files, eulogies, sermons, marriage records, funeral record cards, conversion certificates, gittin (Jewish divorce documents), addresses for High Holiday services, and photographs. Also include are a few artifacts, such as felt patches and medallions, as well as sound recordings. A large number of documents are relating to Rabbi Friedberg's rabbinical career at Beth Tzedec Congregation.
Administrative History
Rabbi Joseph Benjamin Friedberg (1927-2022) was born on June 26, 1927, in Toronto to Chaim (Chamel) and Rochel Rose Friedberg. Rochel Friedberg was born in Polaniec, Poland (Russian part of Poland), the daughter of Moshe and Sura Poss. Rochel had little formal education but learned Talmud from her father. In her youth, Moshe came to Toronto to make a living and had to leave the family behind; shortly thereafter, World War I broke out, and Rochel was sent to the town of Stopnitz. She was then sent to Crackow to work. Rochel married Chaim (Chamel) Friedberg from Patchenev, who was enlisted in Pilsudski’s army. Before the Great Depression, Rochel and Chaim immigrated to Canada. Later on, Chaim took ill and had to go to the Western Sanitarium; soon after that, he passed away in 1957. Rochel passed away in 1992.
Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg was a native of Toronto and received his basic religious and secular education there. He attended Harbord Collegiate in his youth. After spending a number of years at the Yeshiva University in New York, he returned home to attended the University of Toronto, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. In 1950, Rabbi Friedberg entered the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his Master of Hebrew Letters degree and rabbinical ordination in 1954.
Rabbi Friedberg’s first pulpit was in Rochester, New York. He served as assistant rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation in 1955; and then as rabbi of B’nai Israel Congregation in London, Ontario. In 1959, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in Bible and Archaeology. As part of his doctorial program, he studied in the Department of Archaeology and Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; he also spent several years studying in the Department of Religion at the University of Ottawa with special emphasis on the Samaritans.
In 1961, Rabbi Friedberg was called to the pulpit of Agudath Israel Congregation in Ottawa, Ontario, where he served for thirteen years until 1974.
In 1974, he was appointed senior rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto. His major emphases in the congregation were the development of both child and adult education and emphasizing Israel as the dominant fact in Jewish life today. Much of the programming at Beth Tzedec that he instituted dealt with Israel.
Rabbi Friedberg’s interest in Jewish education was responsible for the founding of a Hebrew High School in Ottawa. His concern with Jewish youth prompted him to devote his time as counsellor to the Hillel Organization on the campuses of the University of Western Ontario, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa. He taught Bible, Biblical Hebrew, and courses in Judaism at the University of Ottawa; and was an occasional lecturer at the University of Western Ontario in the Orientals Department. While living in Ottawa, he was active in a number of Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and the organizer of the Ottawa Soviet Jewry Committee and was head of the Jews in Foreign Lands Committee and Canada-Israel Committee. Also, he was on the Social Welfare Council and was chairman of the Aliyah Committee in Ottawa.
Rabbi Friedberg was active with the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). He worked actively on behalf of the CJC’s Educational Department. He was on the executive of the CJC Central and Eastern Regions and served as national chairman of the CJC’s International Affairs Committee. As an active Zionist, he served as national chairman of the Hasbara Committee of the CZF and was president of Mercaz Canada, the Zionist organization of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement. He also organized Israel tours and led Israel tour groups for a number of times. Rabbi Friedberg was the recipient of citations of the UJA, State of Israel Bonds, and various other awards in recognition of his communal work. In addition, he had also been invited to serve as a member of Teddy Kollek’s Jerusalem Committee.
Rabbi Friedberg was a contributor to Anglo-Jewish press, television work, and radio. He was chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Religious Advisory Committee and hosted his own television program called “Focus.” He had written for the London Free Press, and the Ottawa Citizen, and a number of Jewish periodicals.
Rabbi Friedberg was married to the former Lola Constant of Montreal (1930-2022). They had three children together—Mark, Gilah, and Esther. Lola Friedberg had a degree from McGill University in Arts and Music. She had given two-piano recitals in conjunction with her twin sister, Miriam “Mitzi” Leboff, on a number of occasions. Lola had taught piano and conducted choirs in Montreal and Ottawa.
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
Rabbis
Sermons
Eulogies
Name Access
Friedberg, Benjamin, 1927-2022
Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Ottawa (Ont.)
London (Ont.)
Jerusalem
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-11-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2023-11-3
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
4.9 m of textual records
Date
1930-1980
Scope and Content
Accession consists of record books and file cards documenting deceased persons handled by Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel.
The seven record books were kept by Joseph Benjamin from 1930 to 1980 and contain the following information: date of death, yarzheit, name of deceased, cemetery section, name of cemetery. The outside dates for each book are:
Book 1: Jan. 1930 to 31 Dec. 1945
Book 2: 1 Jan. 1946 to 19 Dec. 1953
Book 3: 1 Jan. 1954 to 29 Dec. 1959
Book 4: 29 Dec. 1959 to 29 Dec. 1963
Book 5: 1 Jan. 1964 to 30 Dec. 1968
Book 6: 29 Dec. 1968 to 28 June 1972
Book 7: 29 June 1972 to 30 June 1980
The complete set of file are arranged alphabetically in chronological order, 1936–1945, 1954–1976, vols. 1 to 21. Records arranged chronologically 1916 to 1957, vols. 21 to 24. The cards contain information about the deceased which supplements that found in the record books:
Volume 1: Aaron to Benaim
Volume 2: Benatar to Breslin
Volume 3: Breslin to Cohen
Volume 4: Cohen to Dzialoszynsk
Volume 5: Eaton to Fox
Volume 6: Fox to. Golant
Volume 7: Gold to Green
Volume 8: Green to Herman
Volume 9: Herman to Katz
Volume 10: Katz to Kyriazoglou
Volume 11: Labelle to Lipschitz
Volume 12: Lipset to Miller
Volume 13: Miller to Pearson
Volume 14; Pearson to Roher
Volume 15: Roher to Saltman
Volume 16: Saltman to Shindler
Volume 17: Shindman to Sobel
Volume 18: Soberman to Swerling
Volume 19: Swersky to Wein
Volume 20: Weinbaum to Yellin
Volume 21: Yeretsky to Zyro; 1 Jan. 1946 to 21 June 1947
Volume 22; 21 June 1947 to 28 Oct. 1949
Volume 23: 30 Oct, 1949 to 31 Dec. 1951
Volume 24: 1 Jan. 1952 to 31 Dec. 1953
Custodial History
Transferred from Library and Archives Canada in 2023 at the request of the OJA and with permission from Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel.
Administrative History
Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel was founded in 1922 by Henry Benjamin, who was a member of one of the early chevrah kadishas of Toronto. Henry Benjamin came to Canada at the turn of the nineteenth century from Russia. He owned a grocery store on College Street in Toronto and had a wagon that he used to deliver groceries. Wagons were rare in the Jewish community at that time, so Henry was asked by Toronto’s first chevrah kadisha to use his wagon to help deliver bodies for burial. At first, he did this because he felt a responsibility to his community. Over time, he became more deeply committed to the work of the chevrah kadisha. When his son, Joe, was a young man, Joe helped his father prepare bodies for burial, and his father impressed upon him that taking care of the dead was a sacred trust.
In 1922, the Ontario government passed a law to regulate funerary services. From then on, the cultural traditions of all ethnic and religious communities had to be practiced under the auspices of a licensed funeral home. That year, H. Benjamin and Sons was established on Spadina Avenue to provide the proper legal framework for continued service by the members of this chevrah kadisha.
Joe Benjamin took over the company in 1939 following Henry Benjamin's death. The chapel (then known as the Park Memorial Chapel) served the Jewish community for forty years from its premises on Spadina Crescent. In Joe’s forty years, the chapel was known as H. Benjamin and Sons, Park Memorial Chapel, and, finally, Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel.
While Henry’s worldview had been local—focused within a few square blocks in Toronto—Joe’s was much wider. He was an active participant in the Jewish Funeral Directors of America, expanding his expertise and helping to develop many of the standards of communication, practice, process, philosophy, and values that are characteristic of the North American Jewish funeral home.
After university, Michael Benjamin, Joe’s son, studied to become a licensed funeral director in Ontario. He enhanced his training at Yeshiva University in New York and the Institute of Funeral Services in Evanston, Illinois. He studied Jewish ethical issues around burial with the late Rabbi Felder. He pursued an ambitious dream for a new funeral facility, custom-designed to meet the highest standard of care for the Jewish community. He assumed full responsibility for the business in 1979.
Toronto’s Jewish community had spread up the “Bathurst spine” to the suburbs and across the city. The culturally and religiously homogeneous Judaism then practised started to splinter through immigration and new religious movements. Benjamin’s followed the community north and built a new chapel at 1404 Steeles Ave W., which opened in 1977, the first designed specifically for Jewish funeral rituals.
As of 2024, Michael Benjamin and now his children, Marc, Jordan, and Barbi, continue to guide the business. After university, Marc and Jordan qualified for their funeral director licenses, while Barbi gained her certificate in human resources. They now form the core executive team under Michael, helping to guide Benjamin’s into the future.
Use Conditions
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
Descriptive Notes
USE CONDITION NOTE: Records less than forty years old will be made available only to:
researchers who have obtained written permission from Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel;
staff of the archives for purposes of answering specific requests for information and providing reproductions of records in response to such requests, with the cause of death and the cost of the funeral redacted;
researchers who seek information of a statistical nature and who agree in writing that they will not disclose directly or indirectly information about any individual person.
Subjects
Burial records
Name Access
Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Level
Item
ID
Item 761
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
761
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[195-]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
This item is an original print of a portrait of Rabbi J. Benjamin Friedberg of Congregation B'nai Israel in London, Ontario.
Notes
Acquired in June 1976.
Name Access
Friedberg, Rabbi J. Benjamin
Subjects
Portraits
Rabbis
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Places
London (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 49; Item 2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
49
Item
2
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca.1912]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of a young Benjamin Brown and Ben Hillman, who later became a clothing manufacturer, posing with an oar on the beach.
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 Brown fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 49; Item 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Benjamin Brown fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
49
Item
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca.1912]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of a young Benjamin Brown and Ben Hillman, who later became a clothing manufacturer, in a canoe.
Subjects
Canoes and canoeing
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
ID
Item 467
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
467
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1939
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of members of the Charles Benjamin Players, Seated, left to right: Mina Livingston; Helen Weinberg; Mildred Ludwig; Earl Fauman; Sylvia Page (Lennier). Standing, left to right: [unknown]; Mark Lutsky; __ Messenger; Ida Strauss; Elliot Markus; Charles Benjamin.
Name Access
Benjamin, Charles
Charles Benjamin Players
Fauman, Earl
Lennier, Sylvia
Livingston, Mina
Ludgwig, Mildred
Lutsky, Mark
Markus, Elliott
Messenger
Page, Sylvia
Strauss, Ida
Weinberg, Helen
Subjects
Actors
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
Acquired April 7, 1975.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 421
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
421
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1914
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 16 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Admin History/Bio
Smith and his father, Gedaliah Janofsky, were founding members of the Kiever Synagogue. The family, like many Jews, changed their surname to a more Anglicized name. Both father and son were storeowners. B. B. was a peddlar in Sunderland at the time of this photograph.
Scope and Content
The item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Benjamin B. Smith (B. B.) seated on a horse in Sunderland, Ontario.
Name Access
Smith, B. B.
Smith, Benjamin B.
Subjects
Peddlers
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
Sunderland (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Isaac Benjamin Kanter
Material Format
moving images
Interview Date
14 Jun. 2010
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Isaac Benjamin Kanter
Number
OH 390
Subject
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Interview Date
14 Jun. 2010
Quantity
1 reference DVD (WAV file)
1 archival DVD (WAV file)
Interviewer
Sam Gojonovich
Total Running Time
14:53 seconds
Notes
This interview was part of the Memory Project event held at Lipa Green on 13 May 2010 in partnership with the Historica Dominion Institute.
http://www.thememoryproject.com/search?query=kanter
Biography
Isaac Kanter was born in 1917 and served with the Royal Canadian Army as a gunnery sergeant from 1939 to 1946. Isaac was stationed in Europe and involved in the Normandy and Oldenburg campaigns.
Material Format
moving images
Geographic Access
Normandy (France)
Original Format
DVD
Transcript
00:45: Isaac served as a gunner in the Normandy Campaign during the Second World War. 00:58: Isaac explains how he joined the army. 1:48: Isaac briefly describes the job of a gunner. 2:21: Isaac recalls a disaster that took place on an airfield in Normandy. 5:40: Isaac describes the type of gun – 25 lb. gun-how (Howitzer) with different charges. 6:40: Isaac emphasizes the need to be on the job twenty-four hours a day. 8:38: Isaac mentions that he was aware of one other Jewish officer who was captured and executed because he was Jewish. 9:28: Isaac did not recall any incidents of antisemitism. 9:35: Isaac describes some of his responsibilities as a gun position officer. 11:47: Isaac reports that the war had no impact on his connection to Judaism.
Source
Oral Histories
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 22; Item 18
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
Fonds
22
Item
18
Material Format
textual record
Date
1979
Physical Description
1 item
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2458
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2458
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1917]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Notes
From the Seymour and Abi Shatz Collection.
Name Access
Shatz, Benjamin
Subjects
Rosh ha-Shanah cards
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
1980-12-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 422
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
422
Material Format
graphic material
Date
May 1913
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 16 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Admin History/Bio
Smith and his father, Gedaliah Janofsky, were founding members of the Kiever Synagogue. The family, like many Jews, changed their surname to a more Anglicized name. Both father and son were storeowners. B. B. was a peddlar in Sunderland at the time of this photograph.
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Benjamin B. Smith (B. B.) seated on some logs in Sunderland, Ontario. A dog is sitting with him on his right.
Notes
Information taken from Toronto's First Synagogue's website.
Name Access
Smith, Benjamin B.
Subjects
Dogs
Teenagers
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
Sunderland (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3932
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3932
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1942]
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm
Custodial History
Donated by Beth Israel Synagogue in Kingston, Ontario.
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print of Bud Dubenofsky standing at the corner of Brock Street and King Street in Kingston, Ontario, shortly after enlisting in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is wearing his uniform.
Subjects
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
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
Kingston (Ont.)
Accession Number
1986-3-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3062
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3062
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1908
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Name Access
Hashmall, Ansley Benjamin
University of Toronto, School of Pharmacy
Subjects
Pharmacists
Portraits
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.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3063
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3063
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1906
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Name Access
Hashmall, Ansley Benjamin
Hashmall, Leah
Subjects
Portraits
Weddings
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
1981-7-4
Source
Archival Descriptions