Name

Monty Grunebaum and Barney Sher

Number

OH 438

Subject

Canada--Emigration and immigration

Jews--South AFrica

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Interview Date

6 Sep. 2016

Interviewer

Naomi Raichyk

Total Running Time

OH 438 part 1: 22 min.

OH 438 part 2: 22 min.

OH 438 part 3: 20 sec.

OH 438 part 4: 14 min.

OH 438 part 5: 22 min.

OH 438 part 6: 11 min.

Biography

Monty Grunebaum and Barnie Sher are two of the founding members of Kehillat Shaarei Torah, a Modern Orthodox shul located on Bayview Avenue in North York. Monty, who immigrated to Canada in 1977, says that the impetus for starting the shul derived partly from South Africans wanting to recreate their memories of Jewish life in South Africa in their new country. A group began to look at different venues in the city and applied for a rabbi. Because many of the South Africans who immigrated to Canada were of modest means, it was a challenge raising funds. With the support of the established Toronto community, eventually, the group was able to purchase a property and hire a rabbi. In November 1980, the shul was incorporated as Kehillat Shaarei Torah of Toronto.

Kehillat Shaarei Torah has had four rabbis since its incorporation in 1980. Rabbi Eliot Feldman served the community from 1981 to 1988 and was instrumental in getting the shul established. Rabbi Steven Cohen succeeded Feldman, serving the congregation from 1988 to 1992. Rabbi Reuven Tradburks came next, caring for the community from 1992 to 2009. The current rabbi, Rabbi Joe Kanofsky, has led the community since 2009.

Material Format

moving images

Language

English

Name Access

Grunebaum, Monty

Kehillat Shaarei Torah (Toronto, Ont.)

Sher, Barney

Geographic Access

South Africa

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Digital file

Copy Format

Digital file

Transcript

Part 1:

00:29 Monty explains the impetus for starting a synagogue for South African Jews in Toronto.

01:37 Monty discusses where he lived in Toronto when he arrived in 1977. He discusses the main locations where South African Jews settled.

02:50 Barnie describes a large presence of South African Jews in the Bayview/York Mills area.

03:11 Barnie discusses the origins of the synagogues in South Africa.

04:14 Barnie discusses the importance of cantorial singing in South African synagogues.

05:20 Barnie describes some of the synagogues and their primary influences from Lithuania and Germany.

06:24 Barnie recounts his first experience at a Toronto synagogue for the High Holidays.

08:13 Monty recounts his first experience at a Toronto synagogue for Rosh Hashanah and how it served as a catalyst to establish a synagogue that would feel more comfortable.

09:47 Barnie describes funeral traditions in South Africa. He contrasts these practices with his personal experience in Toronto.

14:19 Barnie and Monty discuss the early attempts to establish services to meet the needs of their South African Jewish community.

18:21 Barnie highlights the importance of having a separate section in the cemetery in order to maintain South African burial practices.

19:23 Barnie and Monty discuss the role played by Bernard Isaacs in the formation of the synagogue.

Part 2:

00:00 Barnie discusses some of the earliest founders and promoters of the synagogue: Rabbi Whitty, Kurt Rothschild, Harvey Hecker, ?Bernie Gert. He describes fundraising efforts.

01:19 Monty explains how the property for the synagogue was purchased.

03:23 Barnie describes the acquisition of the aron kodesh, pews, and prayer books from an Ontario synagogue donation and from membership donations.

04:25 Monty discusses the limited financial resources of new South African immigrants. Financial support for the synagogues came from membership donations.

05:20 Monty notes that the synagogue attracted a number of Jews who moved from Montreal.

06:26 Barnie discusses the synagogue's first rabbi, Rabbi Feldman.

07:50 Barnie discusses resistance to the synagogue from Jewish neighbours.

09:36 The synagogue's name, Kehillah Shaarei Torah, was the name of Rabbi Feldman's congregation in Syracuse. Barnie and Monty reminisce about Rabbi Feldman.

12:55 The synagogue was incorporated in November 1980.

14:45 Barnie describes the operation of the synagogue before a building was constructed.

19:13 Monty recalls that Beth Tikvah Synagogue lent them Torahs.

19:51 Barnie reminisces about the first Rosh Hashanah in their new building.

20:48 Barnie recounts how the synagogue received a generous donation from the Reichman family.

Part 4:

00:00 Monty lists the rabbis who served the synagogue.

00:26 Barnie recounts a humorous incident about meeting a new rabbi.

02:50 Barnie and Monty discuss Rabbi Tradburks and his contribution to the synagogue and the greater Jewish community in Toronto.

09:29 Barnie discusses an attempt to change the synagogue's direction from Orthodox to Conservative.

10:28 Barnie and Monty continue to reminisce about Rabbi Tradburks.

Part 5:

00:00 Monty discusses Rabbi Joel Kanofsky.

02:40 Barnie identified demographics as a concern for the continuity of the synagogue.

04:50 Barnie continues to discuss membership. Membership has remained relatively steady at a 220-230 family core.

06:00 Barnie and Monty discuss outreach methods and various synagogue services, education, and events.

11:00 Barnie discusses some humorous incidents involving their group of four friends, including a Purim skit and a birthday gag.

18:17 Barnie discusses Rabbi Tradburk's involvement in the formation of the Coby Mandel Foundation, a support group for youth in Israel who have lost family members as a result of terrorism.

Part 6:

00:00 Barnie discusses changes that are occurring in the synagogue with a change of demographics and new membership.

02:24 Monty raises concerns about loss of membership.

04:18 Monty lists some programs and services offered in the synagogue, including a youth program.

04:43 Barnie discusses the current status of the synagogue. He cites some of the problems with the existing synagogue (e.g. no elevator, lack of parking, no banquet hall).

07:34 Barnie mentions the synagogue on Green Lane, another synagogue with a large South African membership.

08:44 Barnie describes the process of hiring a new rabbi for their synagogue.

Source

Oral Histories

https://player.vimeo.com/video/232091886?

Name

Belle James

Number

OH 16

Subject

Families

Rabbis

Interview Date

21 Apr. 1975

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Stephen Speisman

Total Running Time

Side One: 46 minutes

Side Two: 5 minutes

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

Belle James (née Levy) was born in Toronto in 1908. Her father, Rabbi Meyer Levy, became chief rabbi of Toronto in 1905/6.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

James, Belle

Levy, Meyer

Weiss, Lottie

Geographic Access

Toronto, Ont.

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Transcript

G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 16 - James\OH16_001_Log.docx

G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 16 - James\OH16_002_Log.docx

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Mel Lastman

Number

OH 290

Subject

Religion

Families

Interview Date

1 Jun. 2006

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Ellen Scheinberg

Total Running Time

60 min.

Conservation

Copied November 2006

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

Melvin Douglas Lastman was born in Toronto on 9 March 1933, the son of Rose and Louis Lastman. Raised in the Kensington Market area, he attended Ryerson Public School and Central High School of Commerce, where he was president of the school council. Lastman left high school to work at an appliance store and, in 1955, opened his own appliance store. By the late 1960s, he owned a chain of forty stores, Bad Boy Appliances, throughout Ontario. Lastman lived in North York and, in 1969, ran successfully for the North York Board of Control. In the 1972 municipal election, he was elected as mayor of North York, a position he held for twenty-five years until North York became part of the newly created City of Toronto on 1 January 1998. With the provincially-mandated creation of the new City of Toronto by the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto and the six local municipalities, Lastman decided to run for mayor against the other major contender, former City of Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. He won the 1997 election and was sworn in on 1 January 1998. Lastman was easily re-elected in the 2000 mayoralty election; however, in February 2003, Lastman announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the November municipal election.

In 1953, Mel Lastman married Marilyn Bornstein. They have two married sons and six grandchildren.

Material Format

moving images

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Lastman, Mel

Scheinberg, Ellen

Geographic Access

Toronto

Kensington Market

Original Format

Digital videocassette

Copy Format

DVD

Source

Oral Histories

In this clip, former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman remembers playing as a child at the Minsk Shul in Kensington Market.

Name

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Newman

Number

OH 19

Subject

Families

Interview Date

4 Jan. 1975

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Stephen Spiesman

Conservation

Copied August 2003.

Notes

Availability of other formats

Use Restrictions

Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.

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

Biography

Ben Newman was born in July 1920 in St Catharines, Ontario. He married Sheila Gould from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ben's father, Abraham, immigrated to St. Catharines from Russia in 1909, living with his aunt and uncle and helping them with their junk business. His wife, Mary, and two children followed later. Four more children were born in Canada: Norman, Benjamin, Rebecca, and Gordon. Benjamin took over the company after Abraham’s retirement and turned it into one of the largest steel manufacturers in Canada. Ben Newman was active in all phases of Jewish life in the community and was the first Jewish aldermen in St. Catharines, a position he held for several years.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Newman, Benjamin

Newman, Sheila

Geographic Access

St. Catharines (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Sarah Green

Number

OH 4

Subject

Families

Immigrants--Canada

Neighborhoods

Interview Date

7 Jan. 1975

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Sophie Milgram

Total Running Time

38 minutes 44 seconds

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

Sarah Green (née Patlik) grew up living in Toronto's Junction neighbourhood. The family home and scrap yard business were both located on Maria Street, which served as the centre for Jewish life in the Junction during the early 1900s. Sarah Patlik was involved with numerous charitable organizations including the Ontario Hospital School of Orilla and the Rubinoff and Naftolin Mishpocha.

Material Format

sound recording

Language

English

Name Access

Green, Sarah

Geographic Access

Kingston (Ont.)

Maria Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Portland Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Stanley Street (Toronto, Ont.)

West Toronto Junction (Toronto, Ont.)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 4 - Green\OH4_Log.docx

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Hilton and Shirley Silberg

Number

OH 419

Subject

Business

Immigrants--Canada

Families

Occupations

Interview Date

3 Sep. 2015

Interviewer

Naomi Raichyk

Total Running Time

1 hr. 34 min.

Biography

Hilton and Shirley were born in Durban, South Africa in 1951. Although both were involved in the Habonim youth movement, the two did not meet until their first year in pharmacy school. After getting married and serving a brief stint in the military, Hilton left with Shirley on a trip overseas that included Europe and the United Sates, but whose ultimate purpose was the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Upon arriving in Montreal, the couple decided Canada would be a good place to live. By that point, they had resolved that they did not want their children to internalize the racial norms of apartheid South Africa. Cementing their decision was the fact Shirley’s sister was accepted into Canada shortly after the two returned to South Africa.

Hilton and Shirley’s immigration to Canada was complicated by the fact they were regarded by the government as students, not full-fledged pharmacists. When they came to Canada in August 1977, they therefore had to qualify as pharmacists, which they did by attending university while holding down full-time jobs as pharmacy technicians. Once certified, they moved to Dundas, where they opened a series of pharmacies and raised their children.

In 2007, the couple sold their Day Night Pharmacy chain to Rexall Pharma Plus. In 2014 Hilton and Shirley relocated to Toronto and now spend their time between Toronto and Vancouver to be close to their children and grandchildren.

Material Format

moving images

Language

English

Name Access

Silberg, Hilton, 1951-

Silberg, Shirley, 1951-

Geographic Access

Dundas (Ont.)

Durban (South Africa)

Johannesburg (South Africa)

Original Format

Digital file

Transcript

00:38 Shirley was born in Durban, South Africa in 1951.

00:44 Shirley discusses her family history. Her maternal grandparents came to Durban in early 1800s from England. They married in South Africa. Her paternal grandparents came to Durban from Lithuania in the late 1800s. They married in South Africa. Her father was a physician specializing in physical medicine; her mother worked as his secretary.

03:31 Shirley describes her privileged early home life.

04:26 Shirley attended Hebrew day school.

05:06 Shirley describes her education and involvement in sports.

07:28 Shirley attended the Habonim youth movement.

08:13 Shirley discusses her early memories of politics and apartheid.

09:57 Shirley describes the impact an overseas trip to Europe and Israel had on her.

12:34 Shirley explains that she and Hilton considered immigrating to Canada and Israel. Her sister had immigrated to Canada and her brother had immigrated to England.

13:31 Hilton and Shirley attended the pharmacy school in Durban.

14:48 Hilton and Shirley married and moved to Johannesburg. Hilton completed mandatory service in the army.

15:37 Hilton was born in Durban on 26 October 1951. He discusses his family history. His maternal grandparents came from Lithuania. His mother was born in South Africa. His father's family came from Lithuania. His father was born in Lithuania. Hilton shares a story about his paternal grandmother's voyage from Lithuania to Pretoria with five children. When his parents were married they moved to Durban in the mid-1950s.

17:46 Hilton discusses his parents. His mother was an occasional secretary. His father was initially a tool and diemaker. Later, he worked in business. Hilton notes that his father was a semi-professional football player.

20:30 Hilton explains that his mother had a strong Jewish identity, but was not religious.

21:06 Hilton discusses his education in public school and Hebrew school.

21:58 Hilton reminisces about his childhood.

23:25 Hilton discusses how he and his sister became competitive ballroom dancers.

25:50 Hilton discusses his bar mitzvah training.

27:02 Hilton was active in the Habonim youth movement.

27:31 Hilton shares his impressions growing up under apartheid. He discusses discrimination, restrictions, and censorship.

30:33 Hilton discusses his mandatory military service.

36:22 Hilton and Shirley discuss how they met and dated.

37:45 Hilton discusses some of the factors that triggered the couple's decision to leave South Africa.

43:07 Hilton and Shirley describe how they struggled to accumulate money before leaving South Africa.

44:12 Hilton describes the efforts made to secure work and a visa for entry into Canada.

48:31 Hilton and Shirley describe the sentiments that surrounded their departure from South Africa.

49:40 Hilton and Shirley arrived in Canada on 25 August 1977.

50:30 Shirley shares anecdotes about her first experiences with household chores.

54:20 Hilton and Shirley discuss their few acquaintances/contacts when they first arrived in Canada.

55:40 Hilton explains how his outlook has changed since he moved to Canada.

57:41 Shirley describes the challenges of juggling work and pharmacy classes at the University of Toronto. Hilton and Shirley share some examples of cultural differences between Canada and South Africa.

1:01:05 Hilton and Shirley worked as pharmaceutical technicians.

1:03:53 Hilton explains how they became partners in a pharmacy in Dundas, Ontario. Hilton and Shirley discuss how they settled in and were welcomed into the Jewish community.

1:10:05 Hilton and Shirley brought Hilton's two sisters, brother, parents, and Shirley's mother to Canada.

1:11:02 Hilton explains the circumstances that led to a split with his partners. He changed the name of the pharmacy from Amherst Pharmacy to Hilton Pharmacy. He describes the growth of the business.

1:18:00 Hilton describes the expansion and success of the business to five pharmacies.

1:20:12 Hilton discusses his involvement in the Jewish and secular communities in Dundas.

1:20:57 In 2007, the business was purchased by Rexall.

1:21:33 Shirley explains the circumstances that prompted their move to Toronto via Vancouver.

1:23:55 Shirley describes a return visit to South Africa with her two youngest children.

1:25:22 Hilton reminisces about a family trip to London and South Africa in 1980.

1:27:08 Hilton describes his discomfort during a visit to Durban, South Africa in 1986.

1:28:40 Shirley relates an anecdote that occurred during their family trip to South Africa.

1:30:46 Hilton reflects on how much he appreciates being in Canada.

1:32:50 Shirley identifies becoming Canadian citizens as a turning point in their new life in Canada.

Source

Oral Histories

https://vimeo.com/230208590

Immigration Tribulations

Who Has Left Over Matzah Balls?

The First Midnight Store

Name

Michele Landsberg

Number

OH 294

Subject

Religion

Families

Buildings

Interview Date

Aug. 2006

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Ellen Scheinberg and Aviva Heller

Total Running Time

60 min.

Conservation

Copied November 2006

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

An award-winning columnist, staunch feminist, and tireless activist for social justice and progressive causes at home and abroad, Michele Landsberg was a well-known and prominent Torontonian during the mid-to-late twentieth century. According to a biography posted by the University of Windsor where Landsberg was a distinguished visitor in women's studies in October 2003, her "zest for wanting to change the world has its roots in her childhood: growing up as a Jewish girl in 1950s Toronto, where sexual stereotyping and objectification were rampant and overt antisemitism was acceptable." As a result, Ms. Landsberg tackled a wide-range of related issues, often grounding her columns in events, places, and issues of particular interest to Torontonians.

Born on 12 July 1939, Ms. Landsberg attended Toronto public schools, spent time on a kibbutz in Israel, and graduated from the University of Toronto with honors in English language and literature in 1962. She was dissuaded from pursuing a master's degree by her male professors and instead became a reporter at the Globe and Mail newspaper and launched a remarkable career as a journalist and writer. In addition to freelance and full-time stints with the Globe and Mail (1962–1965; 1985–1988), Chatelaine magazine (1965–1971), and the Toronto Star (1978–1983; 1989–2003), Ms. Landsberg frequently appeared on television and radio and wrote three best-selling books. She garnered awards, including the first National Newspaper Award for column-writing, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, and the 2002 Governor-General's Award in Commemoration of the 1929 Persons Case, and received honourary degrees from several Canadian universities. She also served on the boards of many community organizations, such as CARAL (Canadian Abortion Rights League) and Opportunity for Advancement.

After her retirement from the Toronto Star in 2003, Ms. Landsberg planned to pursue other writing projects and to spend more time at home in her garden and with her family: husband Stephen Lewis, three grown children, and two grandchildren. In September 2005, she was acclaimed as the new Chair of the Women's College Hospital Board when the Hospital ended its partnership with Sunnybrook Hospital.

Material Format

moving images

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Landsberg, Michele

Scheinberg, Ellen

Heller, Aviva

Geographic Access

Toronto

Original Format

Digital videocassette

Copy Format

DVD

Source

Oral Histories

Canadian author and journalist Michele Landsberg provides recollections of attending the Minsk Synagogue with her grandfather in the 1940s.

Name

Syd Halter

Number

OH 309

Subject

Thunder Bay

synagogue

Rabbi Katz

Rabbi Polanski

Rabbi Siegal

Young Judea

Schaffer family

Interview Date

19 Sep. 2007

Quantity

2 mini DVs ; 2 reference DVDs ; 2 archival copy DVDs

Interviewer

Sharon Gubbay Helfer

Notes

Part of Ontario Small Jewish Communities Project

Use Restrictions

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

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

Biography

G. Sydney "Syd" Halter (1925–2012) was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the child of Max and Freda Halter. His father was from England, and his mother was from Russia. Both came to Canada in the early 1900s. Syd attended the University of Manitoba, where he graduated in 1946 with his bachelor of science-engineering. After obtaining his FEIC, P. Eng. Syd joined C. D. Howe Company Limited as a design engineer. In 1976, he became the president and general manager, senior vice-president of Howe International Ltd. (the overseas arm covering over fifty countries overseas) and director of the Howe Group of Companies.

Syd's main fields of expertise involved dock-and-harbor installations and bulk material handling, on which he lectured and wrote numerous published papers. He designed and supervised the construction of step-down electrical substations for a variety of industrial and institutional clients. Syd was involved in the design, additions, electrical power works, and automation at various facilities in Canada and overseas. He had project responsibility for major grain terminal and harbour works across Canada and in Acajutla, El Salvador. He was honoured twice by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario with the Sons of Martha Medal for outstanding service and also with the Citizenship Award; he received the Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada in 1987 in recognition of his excellence in engineering and for services to his profession and to society.

Both before and after his retirement in 1989, Syd was involved in a large number of volunteer activities, including: chairman of the Board of Governors for fifteen years and a member of the Executive Committee of Lakehead University; president of the Board of Governors of McKellar General Hospital for nine years; director Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Communications Committee; director Ontario Chamber of Commerce; member Related Land and Water Management Committee of Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority; programme chairman and international director of Grain Elevator and Processing Society; past secretary-treasurer, past chairman and past branch councillor of Lakehead Branch Engineering Institute of Canada; president of Consulting Engineers of Ontario for six years and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, and the State of Wisconsin; member of numerous committees of APEO, including chairman of the fees Committee; chairman since inception of CEO/POC Committee regarding new Engineers and Architects Act; member of the Rotary Club; president Fraternal Service Club - B'Nai Brith Lodge 696; vice-president and director of Shaarey Shomayim.

He was married to Dorothea Halter (née Cross) of Thunder Bay for sixty-one years. They had three daughters and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Material Format

moving images

Geographic Access

Thunder Bay (Ont.)

Original Format

Mini DV

Copy Format

DVD

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Toba Fluxgold

Number

OH 8

Subject

Bakeries

Immigrants--Canada

Interview Date

1975

Quantity

1 cassette (1 copy) 2 WAV files

Interviewer

Sheldon Steinberg

Total Running Time

1:02 min.

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Digitized December 2014

Use Restrictions

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

Conditional access. Researchers must receive permission from the interviewee or their heir prior to accessing the interview. Please contact the OJA for more information.

Biography

Toba Fluxgold was born in Warsaw, Poland and immigrated to Toronto with her father, older brother, and sister. Toba's father ventured into the bakery business and, in the early 1920s, opened his own kosher bakery in Toronto. Following her father's death in 1929, Toba’s brother Morris expanded and modernized the bakery and later sold it to Carmel Bakery. After her marriage in 1925, Toba moved to Arthur, Ontario, and returned to Toronto after the birth of her first child.

Material Format

sound recording

Language

English

Yiddish

Geographic Access

Arthur (Ont.)

Elizabeth Street (Toronto, Ont.)

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

Warsaw (Poland)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

Transcript exists for this oral history.

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Bertha Allen

Number

OH 7

Subject

Business

Motion picture theaters

Interview Date

Jan. 1975

Quantity

1

Interviewer

Lillian Bernstein

Total Running Time

Side 1: 36 minutes

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

Bertha Allen (née Herbert) was married to Herbert Allen. Herbert, his brothers Jule and J. J., and his brother-in-law Louis Rosenfeld were pioneers in the motion picture industry in Canada. They opened a chain of theatres across Canada in the 1910s and 1920s. In Toronto, they built several theatres including the Tivoli Theatre, Bloor Theatre, College Theatre, Parkdale Theatre, Beach Theatre, St. Clair Theatre, Danforth Theatre, and Hollywood Theatre.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Allen, Bertha

Allen, Jule

Allen, J. J.

Rosenfeld, Louis

Geographic Access

Brantford (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Transcript

G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 7 - Allen\OH7_Log.docx

Source

Oral Histories

Address

542 Dundas Street West

Time Period

1910-1975

Scope Note

The Yiddisher Zhurnal (or the Daily Hebrew Journal) was the primary organ for the Yiddish-speaking population in Toronto. This newspaper covered events in the Jewish world in Toronto and abroad. The paper was also a forum for Yiddish essayists. The long-time editor of the newspaper was Abraham Rhinewine (1887-1932). Born in Poland in 1887, he immigrated to London, England in 1902 and then came to Toronto with his wife Amy in 1907.

History

The newspaper eventually moved to 409 College Street West (at Lippincott). The OJA has the Yiddisher Zhurnal on microfiche from 1915-1959.

Category

Political

Education

Arts

Source

Landmarks

Name

David Cohen

Number

OH 73

Subject

Synagogues

Interview Date

22 Jun. 1977

Quantity

2 cassettes (1 copy)

1 WAV file

Interviewer

Mark Verman

Total Running Time

39.45 minutes

Conservation

Copied to cassette in August 2003

Copied to digital file in January 2015

Sound inaudible

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

David's parents, Sam and Clara Cohen, were amongst the first Jewish settlers of Port Colborne. David's father was born in Lithuania and came to Port Colborne via England and South Africa. After his arrival in Port Colborne in 1914, Sam opened a scrap business. David was born in Port Colborne and likely had his bar mitzvah in the late 1920s at the Agudath Achim Synagogue. David recalls Jewish settlers of Port Colborne including the Sam Kassirer family, the Dwors, and his in-laws who arrived in 1918. At its peak thirty-two Jewish families lived in Port Colborne.

Material Format

sound recording

Language

English

Geographic Access

Port Colborne (Ont.)

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Transcript

G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 73 - Cohen\OH73_Log.pdf

Source

Oral Histories

Name

Ida Siegel

Number

OH 166

OH 167

Subject

Charities

Women

Interview Date

22 Jul. 1971

Quantity

2

Interviewer

Eva Kayfetz

Total Running Time

OH166A: 47.minutes OH166B: 5. minutes OH167A: 29. minutes

Conservation

Copied August 2003

Use Restrictions

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

Biography

Ida Siegel (née Lewis) (1885-1982) was born 14 February 1885 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1894, Ida and her family moved to Toronto. On 14 February 1905, Ida married Isidore Hirsch Siegel. They had six children. An extremely active communal leader, Ida helped found Daughters of Zion in 1899, the Herzl Girls Club in 1904 and Hadassah in 1916. In the mid-1920s, Ida established The Mothers' and Babes' Rest Home,a camp for poor women with young children. She helped organize the first free Jewish dispensary in Toronto which eventually developed into Mount Sinai Hospital. Ida was also very active in womens peace movements, the Toronto Board of Education and the Toronto Bureau (elected to Board, 1930-36) of Jewish Education. In 1917, Ida helped to organize Federation of Jewish Philanthropies which later became the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

Material Format

sound recording

Name Access

Hadassah-WIZO of Toronto

Original Format

Audio cassette

Copy Format

Audio cassette

Digital file

Source

Oral Histories

In this clip, Ida Siegel discusses the formation of Hadassah in Canada and how it evolved into Hadassah-WIZO. She describes the creation of separate Hadassah branches.

In this clip, Ida Siegel explains the events that led up to the formation of a committee that she headed to write a aonstitution for Hadassah. She describes some of the struggles she encountered in the process.