- Part Of
- Dr. Alexander Brown fonds
- Board of Jewish Education series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 95
- Series
- 1
- File
- 25
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1970-1975
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of graduation and annual dinner invitations and programmes, correspondence, an advertisement calendar and an informational booklet.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Board of Jewish Education fonds
- School files series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 48
- Series
- 5
- File
- 90
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1962-1970
- 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
- School files series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 48
- Series
- 5
- File
- 92
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1988-1999
- 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
- School files series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 48
- Series
- 5
- File
- 94
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1976-1978
- 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
- School files series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 48
- Series
- 5
- File
- 97
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1982-1983
- 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
- Accession Number
- 2014-9-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-9-4
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1.2 m of textual records and other material
- Date
- [ca. 1936]-2012
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting the activities of Eitz Chaim. Included are photographs, yearbooks, class lists and registers, teachers record books and student grade reports, curriculum materials, anniversary books and 2 DVDs from a gala dinner and fundraising event. Also included is the Beth Jacob High School dedication and founders dinner book.
- Administrative History
- Known then as the Poylishe Talmud Torah, Eitz Chaim began in 1915 with a few students in one classroom guided by one teacher. The school’s first premises were in the Elm Street Shul. Within a year, a second teacher, Reb Leibish Noble, was hired, and he remained actively involved in Eitz Chaim for 30 years. There were now 30 students in two classes. The four-hour nightly sessions were held at the end of the regular public school day with an additional six hours on Sunday. Classes continued throughout the summer as well.
- The school’s first building on Chestnut Street was inaugurated in August 1916, with additional classes held at a branch on Simcoe Street. The second president of the school, Yosef Shidlowsky, in a move to be more inclusive of all Orthodox Jews, changed the name of the school to Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim.
- In 1917, Mr. Shidlowsky, Itshe Meyer Korolnek, and Joseph Cooper managed not only to obtain a provincial charter to open a religious school, but were also instrumental in purchasing the Italian Club at 68 D’Arcy St. to accommodate the school’s growing enrollment.
- In 1920, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart arrived from Stashow, Poland, and assumed the post of spiritual leader of the Talmud Torah. He introduced more Hebrew instruction and a more intensive Torah curriculum.
- In 1926, Rabbi Pinchas Ravad became the next principal, a position he retained for the next nine years. During that time, a separate girls’ class was formed and the first female teacher was hired. Although a fire in 1927 destroyed the wooden school building on D’Arcy St., a new, larger school was constructed on the same site and dedicated on December 30, 1927. After moving into the new building, student enrollment increased dramatically. Beginning with 300 students in 1929, the student body grew to 400 in 1931, 503 in 1933, and 600 in 1938.
- After the passing of Rabbi Graubart, an evening high school yeshiva, the Maharil Graubart Yeshiva, was founded in 1939 to serve boys 14 years of age and up with Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky acting as rosh yeshiva beginning in 1941. The building next door to the Talmud Torah, at 80 D’Arcy Street, was purchased to provide space for the yeshiva and was connected via a walkway to the Talmud Torah. As the students of Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah graduated from the elementary school, they would eventually attend the Maharil Graubart Yeshiva. That same year, Rabbi Jacob I. Wohlgelernter became principal of the Talmud Torah and a kindergarten was added in 1942.
- Seven years later, Rabbi Chaim Nussbaum officially assumed the role of principal of Eitz Chaim Schools. Beginning with only a grade 1, new grades were added every year until grades 1 through 9 were in place. Eitz Chaim gradually broadened its scope, welcoming Jewish students from many diverse backgrounds and establishing afternoon and day classes beginning in 1950 at a branch on Burnside Ave. To meet the growing demand for classes, the Torath Emeth Jewish Centre was established at 1 Viewmount Avenue in 1956.
- By 1958, in response to the geographical shift of the Jewish population northward, the Tanenbaum Building was added to the complex, followed by the Korolnek Building in 1961, both at 1 Viewmount Avenue. By this time, Eitz Chaim had two principals: Rabbi Nussbaum, who oversaw Hebrew studies, and Rabbi Shlomo Jakubovitz, who oversaw general studies.
- The two buildings on D’Arcy St. were sold in 1966 and the proceeds were designated toward purchasing a new school building to the north of the city. Rabbi Shlomo Jakobovits, Avraham Bleeman, Joe Goldwasser and Sam Wortsman led the way in persuading the Board of Directors to purchase the land at Patricia and Bathurst Streets. Patricia and Bathurst Streets served as the temporary location for portable units until the large, permanent building was completed in 1970. This location evolved into the boys’ campus, servicing students from all areas of the city.
- Rabbi Shneur Weinberg succeeded Rabbi Nussbaum in 1969 and served as the Hebrew principal until his retirement in 1995, when Rabbi Aaron Levine took over. The position of Hebrew studies principal for the girls’ school was created in 1974 and was held by Rabbi Leibish Adler for 26 years. Rabbi Mordechai Gewirts succeeded Rabbi Adler in 2002 and was principal of the girls’ school until 2012. Eitz Chaim Schools developed rapidly and acquired an excellent reputation among North American day schools.
- The female graduates of Eitz Chaim, for the most part, attended public high school. To counter this trend, Beth Jacob High School, with the guidance of Eitz Chaim, was launched in 1963, with classes conducted near the Viewmount branch. In 1966, the Beth Jacob High School and Teacher’s Seminary was completed on Lawrence Avenue, culminating in the opening of a girls’ high school that became completely independent of Eitz Chaim. Today, many female graduates of Etiz Chaim continue their education at Beth Jacob High School.
- The Spring Farm campus, named for the farm formerly on that site, opened its doors in 1988. Currently, Eitz Chaim serves primarily as an elementary educational institute under the guidance of Rabbi Isser Pliner.
- History from http://www.eitzchaim.com/index.php?page=history (viewed Oct. 6, 2014)
- 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. 500 photographs, texts, 2 DVDs and 1 betacam cassette.
- Use Conditions note: student grade reports are closed until 30 years after the death of the individual.
- Subjects
- Education
- Children
- Name Access
- Eitz Chaim Schools (Toronto, Ont.)
- Places
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 55
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1960-1997
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, borchures, and donation cards.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 56
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1971-1995
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 57
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1972-1999
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newsletters and calendars.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Gilbert Studios fonds
- Jewish community events series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 37
- Series
- 7
- Item
- 5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- November 1970
- Physical Description
- 1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Eitz Chaim school was founded by a group of boys who were concerned about the education of the Jewish youth. Some of the founding members included: Itsheh Meyer, Sam Korolnek; and Samuel and Louis Cooper. Together, with a few other boys, they started a small gathering in the Bes Medrash Shul on Elm Street in 1914. The official founding date for the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim School was in 1915, with the move to temporary quarters on Chestnut Street, and eventually moving to the newly rennovated building on D'Arcy Street in 1917.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph is of a dedication ceremony at the Eitz Chaim School in Toronto.
- In attendance were: Phil Givens (far left), Rabbi Itche Meyer Korolnek & Mrs. Korolnek (2nd & 3rd from left), and Joe Tanenbaum (standing behind the Korolnek's).
- Name Access
- Eitz Chaim School
- Givens, Philip, 1922-1995
- Korolnek, Rabbi Itche Meyer
- Tanenbaum, Joe
- Subjects
- Dedication services
- Portraits, Group
- Schools
- 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
- 280
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 8 Jun. 1977
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph of a rabbi addressing a room of students (boys) at Eitz Chaim.
- Notes
- Photo by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Availability of other formats: Also available as a digital image.
- Subjects
- Rabbis
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 27
- File
- 431
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 24 May 1979
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two negatives of a rabbi lecturing to a room full of boys, possibly at Eitz Chaim.
- Notes
- Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Julius P. Katz fonds
- Subject files series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 55
- Series
- 2
- File
- 58
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1958
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- This file consists of a receipt for a donation made by Katz to Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim building campaign.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Clanton Park Synagogue series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 6
- File
- 27
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1961, 1965
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Custodial History
- File consists of correspondence between Clanton Park and Eitz Chaim relating to the rental of the synagogue by the school as well as a rental agreement between Clanton Park and Eitz Chaim School.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 52
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1957-1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of souvenir books, an invitation, and programmes.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 53
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1984-1992
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of dinner books and invitations.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 54
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1960]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting minutes for the Eitz Chaim women's group.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 58
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1977-1995
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an invitation and programmes.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Community March for Israel 1995 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-21
- File
- 14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1995
- Physical Description
- 37 photographs (36 negatives) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains 36 negatives and one matching print of the girls' learnathon at Eitz Chaim. The pictures include images of girls working in groups at tables, listening to speakers, and raising their hands. Other images are of speakers, teachers, presentations, and room overview shots.
- Notes
- Photographs by Stephen Epstein.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Community March for Israel 1996 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-22
- File
- 15
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 62 photographs : col. (49 negatives)
- Scope and Content
- File contains a sponsor sheet for the Eitz Chaim Learnathon, held May 21st, 1996, with a package documenting the expenditures for the event and photographs taken there. The 62 images include boys studying, wide shots of the room full of students, speakers, teachers and the girls' learnathon with similar images.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of the file.
- Photographs by Stephen Epstein.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Walk for Israel 1997 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-23
- File
- 15
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1997
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 24 photographs : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains a form letter to the rabbi initiating the organization of the Learnathon and a budget for the event. There are also 24 photographs that come from a number of separate learnathons: most are from that of a group of elementary school girls; two are of the boys' school including a speaker; and the remainder are of a high school group meeting at the Lipa Green Building.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Israel Funwalk 1999 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-25
- File
- 20
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1999
- Physical Description
- 124 photographs (74 negatives)
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of the Eitz Chaim Learnathon, which at the boys' school featured speaker Abe Glowinsky. One set of negatives is for the girls' Learnathon. The images are of students at work, reading aloud, conversing with teachers and Mr. Glowinsky, as well as shots of the room and speakers.
- Notes
- Photographs by Stephen Epstein. One set of negatives matches the prints.
- Accession Number
- Accession 2005-12-2.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Walk with Israel 2003 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-29
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Date
- 2003
- Physical Description
- 74 photographs (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- File contains images of the Eitz Chaim Learnathons for girls and for boys, including images of students at work in small groups, speakers, teachers and room overview shots.
- Notes
- Photographs by Stephen Epstein. His discs include hi-resolution jpgs, thumbnail images and html index pages ("web gallery") with the thumbnails.
- Accession Number
- Epstein photographs from accession 2005-12-2.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- Walk with Israel sub-series
- Walk for Israel 1983 sub-sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-1-9
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 2 May 1983
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : 24 x 20 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- The 1983 Eitz Chaim Learnathon raised $3000.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photograph of three Eitz Chaim boys' school students with school principal, Rabbi Shnayer Weinberg, during the annual Learnathon fundraiser for UJA.
- Notes
- Photography by Graphic Artists Photographers.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 27
- File
- 354
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 8 June 1978
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs (3 negatives) : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm and 28 x 28 mm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph and three negatives of a learnathon at Eitz Chaim. A teacher points to the text of the Shema on the wall; boys all around look on.
- Notes
- Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Availability of other formats: Also available as digital images.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 27
- File
- 596
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 26 May 1982
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two negatives of male students studying Talmud (possibly an Eitz Chaim learnathon).
- Notes
- Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Name Access
- Eitz Chaim Schools
- Subjects
- Students
- Talmud
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Photographic and audiovisual collection series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 27
- File
- 146
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 8 May 1975
- Physical Description
- 5 photographs : b&w (5 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of five negatives depicting students (boys only) at a Learnathon, possibly at Eitz Chaim.
- Notes
- Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
- Subjects
- Jewish day schools
- Source
- Archival Descriptions