Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Women's Auxiliary series
Festival Committee sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 14; Series 4-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Women's Auxiliary series
Festival Committee sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
14
Series
4-5
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Date
1965-1980
Physical Description
8 cm of textual records
113 photographs (31 negatives)
Admin History/Bio
The Festival Committee's goal was to ensure that each Jewish holiday was a joyful celebration for residents and patients and to enrich their religious and cultural life. The committee sponsored four events each year: Purim, Mother's and Father's Day (often held in conjunction with Shavuot), Sukkot, and Hanukkah. Planning for each event typically began six weeks in advance and a finalizing meeting was usually held ten days prior to the event. Once the event was over, the Committee held an evaluation meeting. Residents and volunteers helped Committee members prepare decorations and other items for the events.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists photographs and textual records documenting the activities and programs of the Women's Auxiliary's Festival Committee. Included are meeting notices and minutes, program notices, reports, speeches, correspondence, financial records, lists of committee members, invitations, event programmes, and photographs.
Subjects
Fasts and feasts--Judaism
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Charles King
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
24 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Charles King
Number
OH 101
Subject
Early life in Whitby
Toronto good
Interview Date
24 Jun. 1976
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Use Restrictions
Original tapes are damaged. Copies have been made, but the white noise interference is considerable.
Biography
The King family immigrated to Canada from Prague. Charles King and his family landed at New York in 1857 and moved to Whitby in 1863. Charles and his older brother, Joseph, bought out the former proprietor of the tannery and founded the King Brothers' Tannery at Whitby in 1863, which was located at 44 Colborne Street in 1863. In 1878, they opened a Toronto branch.
Charles King (1837–1915) and his wife, Henrietta, had eight surviving children. He was active in local politics, holding almost every position on the county council. Charles occupied the position of reeve of Whitby in 1880 and deputy reeve from 1891 to 1893. He sat in the county council and later became warden of Ontario County.
Charles King was a member of the Whitby Board of Education for sixteen years, serving several terms as chairman. He died at Toronto on 22 February 1915.
Material Format
sound recording
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Source
Oral Histories
Accession Number
2021-2-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2021-2-2
Material Format
graphic material (electronic)
Physical Description
3 photographs: col. (jpg)
Date
22 Jan. 2021
Scope and Content
Accession consists of three photographs documenting the brit milah of Amir Raphael Glatt, son of Adira Winegust and Daniel Glatt. The donor, Adira Winegust, provided the following commentary:
"We knew we were expecting our second son. The original plan was to do the Brit in Toronto with our immediate family, as we did with our first son. However we had to change plans with every new restriction and lockdowns. As a result of the second lockdown, and the infection rates in the Greater Toronto Area, we decide it was best to go to Ottawa for the bris and find an orthodox mohel.
We ended up at Dr. Engel after the recommendation of Rabbi A. Kravetz of Beth Tikvoh in Ottawa. As this was the height of the second wave only myself, my husband and mohel were at the bris. Due to the stay home order, it was best to do it in the doctor's office. We did not even zoom in our famiky. The first picture is the actual brit Milah. The second is of the naming part of the ceremony, where my husband and I sat in a hallway holding our baby with the mohel six feet away doing the brachot.
"This Brit Milah took place January 22 2021 in Ottawa ON. We drove from and to Kingston that day."
Administrative History
Adira Winegust is originaly from Thornhill, Ontario, while Daniel Glatt is originally from Oakville, Ontario. They met as undergraduates at McMaster University. In 2016, they relocated to Kingston, when Daniel started his medical residency there.
As of February 2021, Adira is a PhD student at Queen's University, where she studies education. She also works at Kingston's Hotel Dieu Hospital doing assessments in the Child and Youth Mental Health program. As of the same time, Daniel is a family doctor working in Napnee, Ontario. During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has kept up his family practice, worked as a hospitalist some weeks at Lennox and Addington General Hospital, and has been responsible for scheduling the doctors at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Napanee.
Adira and Daniel have two sons, Emmett and Amir.
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
Berit milah
Name Access
Engel, Andre
Glatt, Daniel
Winegust, Adira
Places
Ottawa (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-12-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-12-6
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
ca. 200 photographs and other material
Date
[193-]-[2007?]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the personal life and family of Myra Merkur. The bulk of the accession consists of photographs and home movies documenting family activities and an outing to High Park and the Toronto Zoo, holiday celebrations (such as Hanukkah Purim, Passover, and New Year's Eve costume parties), milestones (such as, Myra's wedding and graduation), cottage life at Gamebridge Beach and Camp Wishiwami, and family holidays and travel (such as to Israel, Blue Mountains in Collingwood, and Grossingers in New York).
Also included are sound recordings of a speech made by David Merkur to Nomi Tepperman at her bat mitzvah (17 May 1998) and of an interview with David Merkur who explains to his tweleve year old granddaughter what life was like when he was twelve (1 Nov. 2000).
Finally, accession includes a photocopy of a tribute Myra wrote for her late mother Lena Charlotte Gula documenting Lena's life and Myra's memories of her.
Administrative History
Myra Merkur (née Gula) was born to Lena Gula (née Neimen) and Jack Gula in Toronto in 1933. She had one sister, Elaine Wolfish. As a child, Myra and her family lived with her maternal grandmother, Betty "Brindel", at 234 Markham Street. They later moved into their own home at 1 Enid Crescent in 1949. Myra's father initially worked as a tailor but later went into the sales business selling furniture and insurance. Myra's mother initially stayed at home but obtained work in the mid-1950s as a saleswoman at Morgan's department store.
Myra married David Israel Merkur in 1954. David was a civil engineer and lawyer. He later started a family real-estate business that involved buying, selling, and maintaining properties. Myra and David had three children together: Shauna Tepperman (b. 1956), Lorne Merkur (b. 1957), and Jordan Merkur (b. 1962).
Myra completed her undergraduate degree from Atkinson College (York University) around 1975. She obtained her master of education from OISE in 1982. Myra worked as an ESL teacher with the Toronto Public School Board and was involved as a volunteer and leader with the National Council of Jewish Women, JF&CS, and the Jewish Women's Federation (Women's Philanthropy).
Descriptive Notes
Physical description: includes 1 folder of textual records, 2 sound recordings (wav), and 7 DVDs
Subjects
Families
Vacations
Fasts and feasts--Judaism
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
New York (State)
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 27; File 146
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
Level
Item
ID
Item 4360
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4360
Material Format
graphic material
Date
26 Jun. 1988
Physical Description
1 photogaph : col.
Name Access
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Subjects
Jewish day schools
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1988-7-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1221
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1221
Material Format
graphic material
Date
5 Jun. 1956
Physical Description
2 photographs : (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Left to right: B. Weinberg; J. Levine; W. Gordon.
Name Access
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
Subjects
Jewish day schools
Places
Neptune Drive (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
1977-1-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
General office records sub-series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 17; Series 5-5; File 77; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
Community Relations Committee series
General office records sub-series
Level
Item
Fonds
17
Series
5-5
File
77
Item
1
Material Format
textual record
Date
30 Apr. 1981
Physical Description
1 letter
Scope and Content
Item is a letter addressed to Morley Wolfe from Frank Dimant and dated 30 April 1981. The letter concerns the Canadian Jewish Congress' reversal of "a long standing policy of theirs" in calling upon the Ontario government to provide day-school funding for Jewish schools.
Notes
Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.
Name Access
Dimant, Frank
Subjects
Jewish day 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
Level
Item
ID
Item 4326
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4326
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[between 1918 and 1920]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Right: Ruby Kroll.
Notes
Original by Kennedy, Toronto.
Subjects
Jewelry stores
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
1987-1-7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2004-5-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2004-5-9
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 12 x 16 cm and 13 x 18 cm
Date
[ca. 1915?]
Scope and Content
This accession consists of an original and copy photograph of Sydney Wise's bris, May 1, 1915, and a Wladowsky family photograph.
Administrative History
Dr. Sydney Wise was a volunteer at the Ontario Jewish Archives. He passed away in January 2013.
Descriptive Notes
An identification key is provided.
Subjects
Berit milah
Families
Volunteers
Name Access
Wise, Sydney, 1915-2013
Wladowsky, Bernard, 1870-1963
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-6-5
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-6-5
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
4 m of textual records and other material
Date
[194-]-2017
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records, photographs, sound recordings, moving images, and several felt badges and crests. The textual records include strategic planning documents, pedagogical and curriculum documents, meeting minutes, capital planning documents, fundraising records, school yearbooks, graduation programs, newsletters to parents and internal newsletters, and other operational documents. Photographs document the building and classrooms; school classes; sports teams; class outings; special guests; Jewish holiday celebrations; and Bialik groundbreakings, galas, and anniversary celebrations. The audio recordings include the school choir and an interview with Pearl Meckler. Moving images include graduations.
Custodial History
Records were stored in the Viewmount location. A committee of past alumni and parents formed to sort the archival material in preparation for donation to the OJA.
Administrative History
Bialik Hebrew Day School was established by the Labour Zionist Alliance, which also operated the Farband Folks Shule and The Borochov School. In the 1950s, the Labour Zionist Alliance sold its property on Cecil Street in order to finance the purchase of the 12 Viewmount Avenue, which housed both the offices of the Labour Zionist Alliance and Bialik Hebrew Day School. The school was intended to fill a gap in Jewish education in Toronto, namely by teaching Yiddish as well as Hebrew and by promoting Zionism. The school was named for Chaim Nachman Bialik, Israel’s national poet.
Bialik Hebrew Day School began with 29 pre-school and first grade students in 1961, and by the mid-2000s had grown to over 800 students in kindergarten through grade 8. Several renovations and expansions took place over the intervening decades, and in 2003 a new school was opened at 2760 Bathurst Street. In 2013, the school opened a northern campus (Bialik North, or the Ben and Edith Himel Education Centre) on the Joseph & Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus in Vaughan to serve students in the York Region.
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. 1000 photographs, sound recordings, moving images, and several objects.
Subjects
Education
Jewish day schools
Name Access
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Address
91 Denison Avenue
Source
Landmarks

The Anshei Libavitch Synagogue was formed around 1905 and was first located on Centre Ave in the St. John's Ward. It later moved to Denison Ave where it remained until its merger with Shaarei Tefillah on Bathurst Street in 1976.
Address
91 Denison Avenue
Time Period
1905-1976
Scope Note
The Anshei Libavitch Synagogue was formed around 1905 and was first located on Centre Ave in the St. John's Ward. It later moved to Denison Ave where it remained until its merger with Shaarei Tefillah on Bathurst Street in 1976.
Category
Architecture
Religious
Source
Landmarks
Level
Item
ID
Item 1509
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1509
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1914
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of H. Stein standing in front of his jewellery store at 944 Queen St. West in Toronto.
Name Access
Stein, H.
Subjects
Jewelry stores
Storefronts
Repro Restriction
Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
Places
Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
1978-3-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2004-5-134
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2004-5-134
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
15 photographs : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
Date
[ca. 1990]-[ca. 2000]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of photographs of Henry Springer outside and inside his kosher meat store on Bathurst Street in Toronto. His son, Jeff Springer, appears in one of the photographs.
Administrative History
Henry Springer (1921-2014) was born on 10 November 1921 to Mordechai and Leah Springer in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland. He had two sisters, Brenda and Faigie and one brother, Charles. Seven generations of Springers in Poland were butchers. During the Second World War, the whole family survived as prisoners of Russian labour camps. Following the end of the war, they spent four years in a displaced persons camp in Austria named Steyr, then immigrated to Canada, arriving in Quebec City in 1949. They migrated to Toronto with the assistance of JIAS and the Springer family in Kingston.
After a few years of working in an upholstery factory, Henry and his brother Charles partnered to open a kosher butcher store called Springer’s Kosher Meats, on Augusta Ave. in Kensington Market. In 1958, they opened a second location at 3393 Bathurst St., following the Jewish community's move north. A year or so later they closed the location on Augusta and focused exclusively on the Bathurst St. location until its closing in 1995. Their father Mordechai also worked at the business up until his death in 1982.
The store sold fresh meat, chicken and fish and some delicatessen and was well known for its chickens.
Henry Springer was married to Shriley Springer and together had three children: Rochelle, Hannah and Jeff. He died on 3 November 2014 just shy of his 93rd birthday.
Use Conditions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Subjects
Butchers
Kosher food
Name Access
Springer's Kosher Meats
Springer, Jeff
Springer, Henry, 1921-2014
Places
Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2736-2762
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2736-2762
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1979]
Physical Description
27 slides
Name Access
Kosher Meals on Wheels
Subjects
Charities
Kosher food
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.)
Accession Number
1981-2-9
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Toronto Holocaust Museum series
Education sub-series
Students sub-sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 28-12-1; File 28
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Toronto Holocaust Museum series
Education sub-series
Students sub-sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
28-12-1
File
28
Material Format
graphic material
Date
ca.1998
Physical Description
3 photographs : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope and Content
File consists of photographs from a survivor visit to a local Jewish school. Those identified in the photographs are: Elly Gotz, Robby Engel, Anita Ekstein, and Max Eisen.
Name Access
Eisen, Max
Subjects
Holocaust survivors
Jewish day schools
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1222
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1222
Material Format
graphic material
Date
5 Jun. 1956
Physical Description
2 photographs : (1 negative)
Name Access
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
Subjects
Dinners and dining
Jewish day schools
Places
Neptune Drive (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
1977-1-5
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 27; File 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
27
File
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[195-]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w ; 23 x 12 cm and 26 x 21 cm
Scope and Content
File consists of two photographs of children celebrating Purim at Associated Hebrew Schools, 3630 Bathurst Street, Toronto. The larger photo depicts children in a Purim play in an auditorium, with adults and other children in the audience. The smaller photo consists of a group of children in their Purim costumes. Both photos were taken by Edward Green Studio of Photography, 3377 Bathurst Street, Toronto.
Name Access
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
Subjects
Children
Jewish day schools
Purim
Places
3630 Bathurst Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 67; Series 27; File 100
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Photographic and audiovisual collection series
Level
File
Fonds
67
Series
27
File
100
Material Format
graphic material
Date
23 May 1974
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (2 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm
Scope and Content
File consists of two negatives depicting boys learning Torah at a Jewish day school (possibly Eitz Chaim learnathon?). The boys sit at tables with books while rabbis stand nearby aiding and overseeing.
Notes
Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.
Subjects
Jewish day schools
Rabbis
Students
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Paul Abeles
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
14 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Paul Abeles
Number
OH 87
Subject
Farmers
Immigrants--Canada
Interview Date
14 Jun. 1976
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
45.05 minutes
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Paul Abeles was born on 15 November 1906 in Czechoslovakia. He was a successful businessman and part of a group of four local businesspeople, with Leon Rotberg, Jack Rotberg, and Jack Brown, who bought and rented business properties in the city. The group were also referred to as the “Brantford Companies,” set up to own and manage warehouse properties in the City of Brantford.
Paul was active in the Brantford Jewish community and represented Brantford at the Second Regional Leadership Conference in London, Ontario on 27 March 1960, where over seventy-five representatives of regional Jewish communities gathered. At this conference, Paul was presented with an award of recognition for his volunteer endeavours.
Paul was one of thirty-nine families who immigrated to Canada in 1939 from Czechoslovakia and placed on farms. He was married to Rita Abeles (née (Glaser). He passed away in March 1989.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Geographic Access
Brantford (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 87 - Abeles\OH87_Transcript.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Sadie Stren
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
14 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Sadie Stren
Number
OH 91
Subject
Communities
Education
Interview Date
14 Jun. 1976
Quantity
2 cassettes (1 copy) 2 WAV files
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
OH91_001:44.37 minutes OH91_002:37.34 minutes
Conservation
Copied November 2006
Digitized 2010
Sound distorted on side 1 and side 2
Notes
Significant sound distortion.
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
Sadie Stren was born 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. Stren graduated from Wayne State University and worked as a social studies teacher. Following her marriage to Maurice Strenkovsky in 1947, she moved to Brantford, Ontario. In Brantford, Sadie was actively involved in both Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations including Haddassah, the Family Service Bureau, and the University Women’s Club. She was also a board member of the YM-YWCA. In Toronto, Sadie was a member of the Baycrest Women's Auxillary and also authored the History of the Brantford community.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Canada
B’nai Brith Youth Organization. Lake Ontario Region
Hadassah
Geographic Access
Brantford (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 91 - Stren\OH91_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 91 - Stren\OH91_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Ben Collis
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
1 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Ben Collis
Number
OH 93
Subject
Musicians
Cemeteries
Synagogues
Antisemitism
Farmers
Yiddish language
Interview Date
1 Jun. 1976
Quantity
2 audio cassettes (1 copy)
2 WAV files
Interviewer
Larry Troster and Elaine Kahn
Total Running Time
OH93_001:43.50 minutes OH93_002:18.45 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Digitized 2014
Notes
poor sound quality in some sections
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Ben Collis, the son of Russian immigrants, was born in 1911. He grew up in Oshawa, Ontario. In 1944, he moved to Peterborough, Ontario. Ben's interest in music led him to form his own dance band and play gigs throughout Ontario.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Geographic Access
Oshawa (Ont.)
Peterborough (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 93 - Collis\OH93_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 93 - Collis\OH93_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Frank Schleifer
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
29 Jun. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Frank Schleifer
Number
OH 84
Subject
Canada--Armed Forces
World War, 1939-1945
Recreation
Families
Interview Date
29 Jun. 1976
Quantity
1
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
OH84_001: 45.20 minutes OH84_002: 11.00 minutes
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Frank was born on 4 January 1916 in Toronto. His parents were Charles Schleifer and Mary Schleifer (née Noble). At the age of three, his family moved to Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. In 1922, the family moved to Brantford, Ontario, where his mother's family lived. Frank left school at age sixteen to work at the family Cigar and Soda Fountain store when his father became ill. He opened Frank’s Billiard Parlour from 1941 to 1946. He was drafted into the army in 1943, where he served in the artillery and infantry. He started to work in Unemployment Insurance with the federal government. Frank married Bertha (née Moldaver) in 1937. They had one son, Charles, born in 1947. As a youth, Frank was involved with AZA (B'nai Brith youth organization). He was a member of B'nai Brith and served on the executive of the synagogue in Brantford.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Schleifer, Frank
Troster, Larry
Geographic Access
Brantford
Sturgeon Falls
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 84 - Schleifer\OH84_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 84 - Schleifer\OH84_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories

In this clip, Frank Schleifer shares some early memories of growing up in Brantford, Ontario. He mentions some of the original Jewish families who settled in Brantford.

In this clip, Frank Schleifer describes his involvement in a variety of Jewish activities and groups during his youth, including AZA, summer camp and baseball.

Accession Number
2006-2-10
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2006-2-10
Material Format
graphic material
Physical Description
32 photographs : b&w ; 16 x 10 cm
Date
[ca. 1940]-[ca. 1949]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of thirty-two copy photographs of the Smith family, including images of the donor's father David during the Second World War while stationed in Quebec City, Halifax, England and eventually imprisoned in prisoner of war (POW) camp Stalag Luft III in Germany. In addition there are photographs of the donor's grandparents Max and Rose's singles resort at Port Carling in the Muskokas called Smith's Bay House and holiday photos from Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and a Passover seder. Additional locations of photos include Young Judaea's Camp Hagshama in Perth, Ontario and Toronto city street views of Bloor Street and Palmerston Boulevard.
Administrative History
Max and Rose Smith opened a resort for Jewish singles in Port Carling, Muskoka in 1938. The resort was kosher and offered Jewish content to visitors. Boys and girls bunked seperately.
Rose Smith sold the resort in 1955 shortly after Max passed away.
According to David Smith's daughter Miriam "What my dad and my aunt told me is that Smith's Bay House is where the young people went, not the older folks, as is stated in Andrew's article. I think the discrepancy is that after the war, when the soldiers came home, there were more young people around working and going on vacation. They told me that my grandfather would go around at 11pm, making sure all the visitors were sleeping where they should be and that there were no shenanigans going on! Also of note, the first summer they opened, 1938, in the first group of visitors included a young man who would become my aunt's husband. They met there. My aunt loved to tell that story."
Suzanne Smith (née Beskin) and David Samuel Smith met at Cornell University in the spring of 1946, after David returned from service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Suzanne was living in the United States and attending Columbia University. She worked as a libraian at Cornell. David studied hotel administration. They married in 1947 and moved back to Toronto in 1948.
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
Fasts and feasts--Judaism
Summer resorts
World War, 1939-1945
Places
Germany
Halifax (N.S.)
Muskoka (Ont. : District municipality)
Perth (Ont.)
Québec (Province)
Québec (Québec)
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-3-63
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-3-63
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
[192-?]-1953
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material primarily documenting kosher meat scandals and strikes in Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s as well as the Kehilla (Toronto Rabbinical Board). There are complete pages of some documents and portions of others. The documents are flyers (public notices) in Yiddish (with some Hebrew in religious context and quotations) to do with a scandal or several scandals in which it became clear a number of butchers were operating outside Rabbinical Board supervision and therefore selling (assumed to be) treif meat to Toronto Jews. Secondary scandal with Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart, who allegedly split off from the Rabbinical Board with six butchers to do business outside the union, with wholesalers, and gaining more money than union butchers and the rabbis working with them. Another thread relates to a strike for cheaper meat, including meetings of women picketers, and then for better conditions for local butchers. The flyers mostly fall between 1920-1940. All are from Toronto. Lists of local butchers’ shops with addresses and names are included.
Additional flyers cover Communist protests and protest meetings against German fascism and pogroms, specifically Hitler's government's prosecution of the Communist Party of Germany related to the Reichstag fire. Also included are a 1953 flyer for the tenth anniversary commemoration of the Latvian-Lithuanian Jews’ annihilation, and an open letter to Rabbi Abraham Aaron Price regarding his title.
Custodial History
There is no information on the acquisition of this material. However, retrieved from the original package in which the material was lodged was a note "Kashruth fliers from E. Miller" or Mitler.
Descriptive Notes
Language: Yiddish with some Hebrew (phrases and quotations).
Subjects
Demonstrations
Kosher food
Rabbis
Places
Augusta Avenue (Toronto. Ont.)
College Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Dundas Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
Kensington Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
Queen Street West (Toronto, Ont.)
Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2600-2601
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2600-2601
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1974
Physical Description
2 slides
Scope and Content
Probably Miracle Food Mart.
Name Access
Miracle Food Mart
Subjects
Kosher food
Meat
Supermarkets
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1981-2-9
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4361
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4361
Material Format
graphic material
Date
26 Jun. 1988
Physical Description
1 photograph : col.
Name Access
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Subjects
Graduation (School)
Jewish day schools
Speeches, addresses, etc
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.)
Accession Number
1988-7-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Financial reports sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 61; Series 1-2; File 40
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Executive director series
Financial reports sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
61
Series
1-2
File
40
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
This file contains one report created for the Jewish Community Centre of Toronto, one for the YM-YWHA and a summary of expenses for the YM-YWHA.
Accession Number
2004-5-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Publication Committee series
Y-Time newspaper sub-series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 61; Series 3-1; File 30
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds
Publication Committee series
Y-Time newspaper sub-series
Level
File
Fonds
61
Series
3-1
File
30
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Scope and Content
This file consists of two issues of the Y-Time newspaper.
Accession Number
1984-7-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2013-4-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2013-4-3
Material Format
moving images
Physical Description
2 film reels (ca. 6 min.) : b&w, si. ; 8 mm
Date
1951-1952
Scope and Content
Accession consists of two 8 mm film reels documenting the activities of Norman Burns and his family. Included is a film with footage of a Jewish resort near Muskoka (likely Arcadia House in Port Carling), such as shots of men leaving their cabins, diving in the water, men and women sun tanning and playing on a beach, men and women dressed in costume and men playing cards. Also included is a film documenting a family Passover seder.
Subjects
Outdoor recreation
Vacations
Name Access
Burns, Norman
Places
Port Carling, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Passenger Names
Burns, Ellen
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Burns, Ellen
Page Number
586
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Burns, John
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Passenger Names
Burns, John
Page Number
362
Date Range
June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
Photographer
Harvey and Adena Glasner
Source
Rotenberg Ledger
Level
Item
ID
Item 4244
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4244
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1974
Physical Description
1 photograph:
Scope and Content
Photograph of the deputation to the minister of education, Tom Wells, regarding religious education in public schools. The image includes David Satok (speaker), Milton Harris, Sidney Midanik, and Roland De Corneille.
Notes
Photograph by Gadi Hoz.
Name Access
Wells, Tom
Satok, David
Harris, Milton
Midanik, Sidney
De Corneille, Roland
Subjects
Public schools
Religious education
Accession Number
1986-1-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
John Furedi
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
29 Jul. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
John Furedi
Number
OH 78
OH 79
Subject
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Immigrants--Canada
Farmers
Communities
Synagogues
Interview Date
29 Jul. 1976
Quantity
4 cassettes (2 copies)
3 WAV files
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
OH78_001: 45.20 minutes OH78_002: 45.30 minutes
Conservation
Copied to cassette in August 2003
Copied to digital file in December 2013
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
John Furedi was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1925. During the Second World War, John was drafted into the Hungarian Labour Service System (Munkaszolgalat). After the Nazi occupation of Hungary in March 1944, John was deported to the Kistarcsa transit camp. Between 1945 and 1948, John travelled throughout Europe and returned to Budapest during the takeover of Hungary by the Communists. The revolution and anti-Jewish sentiment forced many Jews, including John and his wife Stephanie, to flee Hungary. In 1956, they immigrated to Canada and lived in Montreal for one year. In 1958, with the aid of a six-thousand-dollar loan provided by the Jewish Colonization Association, John became the first Jewish chicken farmer to settle in Beamsville, Ontario. John went on to become an active member of Beamsville's Jewish community and participated in the establishment of the community’s first congregation in 1966.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Name Access
Furedi, John
Jewish Colonization Association
Geographic Access
Beamsville (Ont.)
Hungary
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 78 - Furedi\OH78_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 78 - Furedi\OH78_002_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Accession Number
2016-6-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-6-3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
7 photographs : b&w and col. ; 24 x 30 cm or smaller
Date
[194-]-2005
Scope and Content
Accession consists of copies of photographs depicting members of Club Aquilla (1940s), a Jewish high school social club for boys located in the Bloor and Dufferin/Ossington area, and a reunion photo of the same club (1962). Identified are Norman Burns, Dr. Wilf and Faige Meisner and Martin Strom. Also included is a photo of the 10th anniversary jubille dinner for the Ozerover Mutual Benefit Society (1946); a photograph of men attending Norman Burns' stag at the Ambassador Schvitz formerly located at Bathurst and Sheppard; and a photograph of a Rochwerg family reunion (1980s). Textual records include a certificate for Sandra Goldman (Burns) declaring her a member in good standing in Sha'aron Chapter of B'nai Brith Women, and a Rochwerg family history written by Jerry Ross.
Administrative History
Norman Burns (26 July 1926-14 May 2012) was born in Toronto, the son of Benjamin and Lottie Burnstein. He had one sister; Sadie Rash (b. 21 Aug. 1913-d. 2 Nov. 1979). Benjmain and Lottie were born in Russia, moved to England and then to Toronto in 1902. Norman Burns married Sandy Rochwerg in 1973.
Hyman (b. ca. 1903) and Faige (b. ca. 1903) Rochwerg (nee Kestenbaum) were married in Poland around 1923. Together they had four children: Pearl Wetstein (b. 1925, Poland-d. 1990, Toronto); Bess Felman (b. 15 Aug. 1926, Poland-d. 2002); Norman Ross (b. 1928, Poland-d. 1955); Jerry Ross (b. 16 Aug. 1941, Toronto); and Sandy Burns (b. 16 Oct. 1942, Toronto). In 1929, Hyman immigrated to Hamilton. In 1935, Faige followed with her children; Pearl, Bess and Norman. Shortly after Faige arriving, the family moved to Toronto where they opened up a grocery store on Baldwin Street. Five years later, they had saved enough money to buy their own building across the street at 27 Baldwin, where they reopened their grocery store next door to Mandel's Creamery and Silverstein's Bakery. Sandy recalls the Silversteins allowing members of the community the use of their ovens to bake bread and prepare Shabbat dinners. Their father's brother, Shlomo Meir Rochwerg was the Shamas at Beth Jacob Synagogue.
Name Access
Burns, Norman, 1926-2012
Burns, Sandy, 1942-
Source
Archival Accessions
Name
Dr. Minnie Cohen
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
October/November 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Dr. Minnie Cohen
Number
OH 143
Subject
Cantors (Judaism)
Discrimination in higher education
Women physicians
Interview Date
October/November 1976
Quantity
2 cassettes (1 copy)
Interviewer
Doris Newman
Total Running Time
1:25 minutes
Conservation
Copied August 2003
Digitied
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please conact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Minnie Cohen was born in Russia in 1900. She immigrated to Toronto around 1910. After graduating as the first Jewish woman from the University of Toronto's medical school, she interned and joined the staff of Women's College Hospital. Dr. Cohen specialized in pediatrics. worked as a clinician in the 1920s for Toronto's first well baby clinic, and was on the staff of Mount Sinai's pediatric clinic. Her husband, Dr. Benjamin Cohen, was the first Jewish specialist in obstetrics and gynecology to practice in Toronto, and he was chief at the old Mount Sinai Hospital on Yorkville Avenue.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Cohen, Ben
Cohen, Minnie
Wladowsky, Bernard, 1870-1963
Geographic Access
Berlin (Germany)
Boston (Mass.)
Chicago (Ill.)
Dublin (Ireland)
Moscow (Russia)
New York (N.Y.).
Paris (France)
Romania
Saint Petersburg (Russia)
Toronto (Ont.)
Turkey
Ukraine
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
Personal Family History 0-14.20-25.35: Minnie born in Russia in 1900 tells the story of her family’s move from Russia to Turkey and subsequently to Romania, where they remained from 1907–1909. Minnie talks about her father, Bernard, a renowned cantor, and about her life in Romania as an accomplished child pianist. In 1909, the family moved to New York and then Chicago, where Bernard Wladowsky continued his cantorial career. Education 29.00-32.00: Minnie graduated high school from Jarvis Collegiate and went on to study medicine at the University of Toronto’s medical school between 1919 and 1922. Life in Toronto 32.04-38.38: In 1912, the family moved to Toronto, where Bernard Wladowsky began a five-year contract as cantor of the Goel Tzedec Synagogue. Bernard Wladowsky and Goel Tzedec went into arbitration, with Wladowsky subsequently leaving Goel Tzedec prior to the end of his contract. In 1915, Wladowsky become the cantor of the Londoner Shul, and for the following thirty-four years Wladowsky remained cantor of the McCaul Street Synagogue Side 2: University of Toronto Medical School 0.18-8.04: Minnie discusses the discrimination she experienced as the first and only Jewish woman enrolled in the University of Toronto’s medical school. Minnie discusses her internship and personal experiences at Women’s College Hospital and talks about her medial school colleagues David Eisen, Joe Trachman, Ivan Vale, and Aaron Volpe Medical Career 8:09-8:57: Minnie tells about her job offer with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York. Rather than leave her husband, Minnie gave her job offer to her classmate Dr. Glenna Garrett, one of the leading psychiatrists in the United States. 8:58-9:59: Minnie talks about her husband, Dr. Ben Cohen, and his medical education and service overseas during the First World War. 10:00-11:37: Minnie discusses Ben's medical career at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and his close relationhip with Robert Briscoe, the then mayor of Dublin. 11:38- 14:06: Minnie talks about Ben's return to Toronto in 1920 and their marriage in 1922. 14:07-15:11 Minnie talks about her first office at 62 Brunswick Avenue and Ben's first office on Dundas Street. Minnie limited her practice to pediatrics and as a fill in for other doctors. 15:12:- 15:45: Minnie talks about her husband's practice, which he shared with Dr. Abe Roby and Dr. Soloway 15:46-16:36: Minnie talks about how they found their first apartment. 16:37-17:32: Minnie recounts how her husband was the first surgeon who operated at Mt. Sinai Hospital. In 1928, he was the first doctor in the world to make his patients get out of bed and walk after surgery. 17:33-18:16: Minnie discusses how the idea of the first Mt. Sinai Hospital came to be in 1923 and the physicians who were instrumental in the formation of the original Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1923. Mentioned are Drs. Ben Cohen, Abraham Wilinsky, M. A. Pollack, Louis Breslin, and Simon Fine. 18:17- 19:37: Minnie explains the Ezras Noshim Women’s Auxillary, which, together with Dorothy Dworkin, worked to fundraise for Mt. Sinai Hospital. 19:38:- 20:23: Minnie describes some the Mt. Sinai fundraising campaigns. 20:24:-20:31: Minnie talks about Ben's role with the hospital's planning committee and his passing before the hospital's completion. 20:32:-21:23: Minnie talks about going with Ben to Boston to investigate the obstetric and gynecology services of the Beth Israel Hospital. 21:24:-22:44: Minnie talks about becoming part of the Mt. Sinai staff following the passing of her husband and working in the outpatient department doing free pediatric clinics. 21:45:-25:28: Minnie discusses the billing of patients for their medical care. 25:29-25:56: Minnie talks about working as a clinician in the 1920s at Toronto’s first “Well Baby Free Clinic,” which was located at Euclid and College. 25:57:-27:06: Minnie talks about working for the government for free as a restaurant inspector. 27:07-28:08: Minnie talks about working on the staff of the Mt. Sinai Hospital's pediatric clinic. 28:09-29:00: Minnie recalls Dr. Lowry, with whom she brought soup to miners and their families living in northern Ontario during the Depression. 29:01:-30:32: Minnie talks Toronto's first social service on McCaul Street and bringing soup to women frequenting the service. 30:33:-31:12: Minnie talks about her work as she travelled to locations outside of Toronto. 31:13:-32:55: Minnie recalls Ben's invitation in to perform a surgical operation in Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) in 1932. 32:56:-34:49: Minnie recalls the honour bestowed on Ben for the surgery he performed. 34:50:-36:07: Minnie recalls their experiences traveling by train through Communist Russia. 36:08:-36:56: Minnie recalls relatives they visited in the Ukraine. 36:57:-38:37: Minnie recalls her first plane ride from Leningrad to Paris. 38:38:-39:13 Minnie recalls refueling in Berlin during the time when there was already Hitler talk. 39:14:-40:10: Minnie describes the quality of life in Leningrad during the late 1930s. 40:11:-41:10: Minnie recalls their experiences dealing with customs while aboard a ship. 41:11:-42:54: Minnie recalls their hotel, the Metropol, in Moscow. 42:53-45:00: Minnie recalls overhearing a conversation with a relative who spoke out against the Communist government. 45:01-46:15 Minnie recalls the tense atmosphere in Berlin during the late 1930s.
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Paul Szasz
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
29 Jul. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Paul Szasz
Number
OH 80
OH 81
Subject
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Concentration camps
Communism
Farmers
Communities
Synagogues
Interview Date
29 Jul. 1976
Quantity
4 cassettes (2 copies)
2 WAV files
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
OH80_001: 45.29 minutes OH80_002: 44.23 minutes OH81: 44.20 minutes
Conservation
OH 080 and 081 were both damaged (tape snapped). They were sent out and were repaired and digitized in 2014.
Copied to cassette in August 2003
Digitzed in June 2014
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Paul Szasz was born in 1926 in Tiszakeszi, Hungary, and was a Holocaust survivor. He came from a family of traditonal farmers. During the Second World War, he was drafted into the Hungarian Labor Service System (Munkaszolgalat) and was liberated from Auschwitz in 1945. Paul escaped Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and immigrated to Canada. With the aid of a loan from the Jewish Colonization Association, Paul purchased a farm in Beamsville, Ontario. Paul went on to become an active member of Beamsville's Jewish community and particpated in the establishment of the community's first congregation in 1966.
Material Format
sound recording
Language
English
Geographic Access
Beamsville (Ont.)
Hungary
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH80_001_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH80_002_Log.pdf
G:\Description\Oral Histories\OH 80, OH 81 - Szasz\OH81_Log.pdf
Source
Oral Histories
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Annual Campaign series
Walk with Israel sub-series
Walkathon 1976 sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
ID
Fonds 67; Series 17-1-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
Annual Campaign series
Walk with Israel sub-series
Walkathon 1976 sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
67
Series
17-1-2
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1976
Physical Description
9 photographs (negatives) : 6 x 6 cm
1 poster : 34 x 51 cm
Admin History/Bio
The 1976 Walkathon was held on 30 May. Funds raised went towards UJA's Israel Special Fund. This year's walk was the first in which community groups took charge of each of the checkpoints, beginning a long tradition of B'nai Brith's involvement in the walk.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Address
10 St Andrew Street
Source
Landmarks
Address
10 St Andrew Street
Time Period
1930
History
It was founded by poor Jewish immigrants from Russia (mostly Minsk) in 1912. The current Byzantine Revival building was completed in 1930. The congregation has had only three full-time rabbis: Meyer Levy (1916–1921), Meyer Zimmerman (1940–1954), and Shmuel Spero, who has served from 1988 to the present. It is the only Orthodox synagogue in downtown Toronto with a full-time rabbi, and the only one that holds daily services.
Category
Religious
Source
Landmarks
Level
Item
ID
Item 1136
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1136
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1954
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of the burning of the mortgage ceremony at Beth David Synagogue in Brantford, Ontario. The photograph depicts Ethel Rapoport (m. Rotberg), Louis Rapoport and Edith Rapoport (m. Kanter) lighting several candles placed on a banquet table. Looking on in the background on the right is Mrs. Sam (Celia) Axler. In the background on the left is Hyman Stemeroff.
Notes
Acquired on June 18, 1976.
Name Access
Beth David Synagogue (Brantford, Ont.)
Subjects
Communities
Synagogues
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Places
Brantford (Ont.)
Accession Number
1976-6-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Dr. Mattie Rotenberg
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
26 Feb. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Dr. Mattie Rotenberg
Number
OH 63
Subject
Antisemitism
Rabbis
Charities
Influenza
Balfour Declaration
Immigrants--Canada
Women's clothing
Women
Department stores
Interview Date
26 Feb. 1976
Quantity
2 cassettes (1 copy)
2 WAV files
Total Running Time
62:52 sec.
Conservation
Copied to cassette in August 2003.
Copied to digital file in June 2014.
Side 2 of the original cassette is damaged. The tape continually speeds up and slows down.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Mattie Rotenberg was the daughter of Russian immigrants. She grew up in Toronto's Ward district and received her degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Toronto. In 1920, she became the first secretary of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society in Toronto.
Material Format
sound recording
Name Access
Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto
Hillcrest Progressive School
Goel Tzedec Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
University of Toronto
T. Eaton Co
Geographic Access
Toronto (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Transcript
Introduction of Dr. Mattie Rotenberg to the audience 0:00-:49 Family History 0:50-4:00: Rotenberg, daughter of Russian immigrants, recounts the story of her parents’ immigration and arrival in Toronto during the early 1890s. 4:01-7:35: Rotenberg recalls her childhood memories of life growing up in Toronto’s Ward district during the era of “great” Jewish immigration. 7:40-11:10: Rotenberg recalls happy childhood memories living on Regent Street, then a primarily non-Jewish neighbourhood. 11:11-13:40: Rotenberg recalls the Great Fire of Toronto of 1904 that destroyed a large section of downtown Toronto. 13:45-15:19: Rotenberg recalls the open-air streetcar that ran along Toronto’s beltline, the City Dairy, and Riverdale Park. 15.20-18.02: Rotenberg recalls Rabbi Jacob Gordon of Goel Tzedec Synagogue and Rabbi Julius Price, the synagogue’s first English-speaking rabbi. 18:03-21:00: Rotenberg discusses her education at the Dufferin Elementary School and Jarvis Collegiate, her family’s first telephone, riding in a motor car, Massey Hall and Jarvis and Sherbourne Streets considered to be the choice residential district of the time. 21:01-22.00: Rotenberg recalls Dr. Sandler, Toronto’s first Jewish doctor to practice in Toronto’s non-Jewish community. 22:01-22:59: Rotenberg recalls the Queen Street shopping district, the Willinsky’s department store, and Hadassah’s first bazaar held at Toronto Armory. 23:00-23:47: Rotenberg recalls antisemitic incidents that occurred in Toronto during the late 1920s. 23:48-24.33: Rotenberg discusses the Orange Lodges’ influence on civic politics, prejudice towards the Jewish and Catholic communities, and the anti-French-language campaign Rotenberg discusses life in Toronto then and now 24.34-25.30: Rotenberg recalls the changes to Gerrard Sreet East, from a tree-lined street to concrete sidewalks. 25.31-26.48: Rotenberg recalls being the only Jewish student at Jarvis Collegiate. 26.49-27.20: Rotenberg discusses her Jewish education. 27.22-28.06: Rotenberg provides an anecdote about local Jewish news and gossip. 28.07-29.18: Rotenberg discusses the hardships of housekeeping. 29.20-30.25: Rotenberg discusses women’s fashion during the early 1900s. 30.26-31.05: Rotenberg discusses Eatons and Simpsons before the introduction of the cash register. 31:26-33.23: Rotenberg discusses life in Toronto during the early years of the First World War. Rotenberg recalls recruitment meetings held at the Armoury and the crowds that gathered to view war bulletins posted in the window the Telegram’s office on Bay Street. 33.24-36.28: In this portion of the interview, Rotenberg describes the University of Toronto as being an extremely “WASPish” place run by professors with chauvinistic attitudes 36.29-37.23: Rotenberg discusses the problem faced by Jewish women looking for a teaching position. 37:24-39:12: Rotenberg recalls Dr. (Canon) Cody, president of U of T, and his witch hunts for students believed to have Communist leanings. 39:13-40:05: Rotenberg recalls Toronto’s flu epidemic following the First World War. 40:06-41:07: Rotenberg recalls the announcement of the Balfour Declaration in 1918 and the city’s commemoration parade to honour the declaration. Side 2 0:00-:46 : Commemoration of the Balfour Declaration continued. 0:47-4.09: Rotenberg discusses her job as secretary to JIAS during the 1920s. She describes JIAS as an “embryo” started by a few dozen men working to provide aid for Jewish immigrants. *Speech garbled in some sections* 4:10-6:24: Rotenberg discusses the founding in 1929 of the Hillcrest Progressive Day School, whose main motive was to provide a comprehensive Jewish education. 6.25-6.36: Rotenberg discusses the making of liquid hydrogen at the University of Toronto’s physics building during the early 1920s. 6.36-10.00: Here the sound quality becomes poor and Rotenberg’s voice is garbled. 10:00- 21.45: Question period. Sound quality poor and garbled. END
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Elinor Einhorn Grill
Material Format
sound recording
Interview Date
13 Jul. 1976
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Elinor Einhorn Grill
Number
OH 99
OH 100
Subject
family history
Jewish education
Refugees
Antisemitism
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Farmers
Young Judaea
Camp Elohim
Queen's University Hillel
Rabbi Rosen
St. Catharines
Einhorn, Sol
Israel
Soviet Jewry
Interview Date
13 Jul. 1976
Quantity
2
Interviewer
Larry Troster
Total Running Time
2 hrs 25 minutes
Conservation
February 2009
Notes
Detailed transcription: file://s-oja01\data\Grants\Trillium2005\Oral%20Histories\interview%20summaries\St.%20Catharines%20OH%20099-100.doc Original tapes are damaged. Copies have been made, but the white noise interference is considerable.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
Biography
Raised and educated in Oshawa, Elinor Grill was an active member of the Jewish community and a keen bridge player. She was married to Earl Grill, with whom she had three daughters.
Material Format
sound recording
Geographic Access
Oshawa (Ont.)
Original Format
Audio cassette
Copy Format
Audio cassette
Digital file
Source
Oral Histories
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
ID
Fonds 17; Series 2; File 283
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
General office subject and correspondence files series
Level
File
Fonds
17
Series
2
File
283
Material Format
textual record
Date
1976
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Access Restriction
Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.
Accession Number
2005-2-2
Source
Archival Descriptions
Name
Rita Tate
Material Format
moving images
Interview Date
8 Jun. 2010
Source
Oral Histories
Name
Rita Tate
Number
OH 368
Subject
World War, 1939-1945
Poland
Polish underground
People's Army
Concentration camps
Antisemitism
Jewish ghettos
Interview Date
8 Jun. 2010
Quantity
1 referece DVD (WAV file)
1 archival DVD (WAV file)
Interviewer
Shayla Howell
Total Running Time
45:40 seconds
Notes
This interview is 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=rita+tate
Biography
Rita was born in Vienna, Austria on 10 January 1932. Rita served in the Polish underground with the People's Army as a courier in the Armia Ludowa. Rita and her mother became involved in the Polish resistance and following the capture of her mother by the German Gestapo, Rita was placed in a Catholic orphanage located near the Warsaw Ghetto. Rita maintained a non-Jewish identity throughout the war. Rita’s mother who was murdered as a Polish political prisoner in Aushwitz, received a posthumous medal for being a war hero.
Material Format
moving images
Geographic Access
Poland
Original Format
DVD
Transcript
2:05: Rita was born in Vienna, Austria on 10 January 1932. Her father was Austrian, and her mother was Polish, 3:10: Rita served with Army Ludova, the People’s Army of Poland, underground resistance. Rita explains there were 2 factions: the Land Army (which was antisemitic) and the much smaller Army Ludova (a left-wing faction supported by Communists in Russia and not antisemitic). 4:37: Rita explains how her mother and she became involved in the resistance movement. Rita explains that they had excellent counterfeit documents, her mother had a job, and they had a place to live. 6:55: Rita describes how she and her mother escaped from Lvov, where they had been living in squalor with her mother’s extended family. 8:32: Rita recounts an incident involving hiding in the home of a Polish woman. She and her mother miraculously escaped capture by German soldiers and trained police dogs. 13:50: Rita and her mother escape to Tarnow, Poland, where they have a friend. Rita explains how the friend, a young man, was able to acquire Polish documents for them, rent an apartment for them, and find a job for her mother at the German Club. 15:44: Rita recounts an incident involving police coming to their building. She explains how her mother had prepared her for this event and how she was familiar with Catholic prayer and practice. 19:50: Rita explains how her mother introduced the idea of getting involved in the underground resistance. She and her mother went to Warsaw to join the Army Ludova. 22:21: Rita describes her job as a courier with the resistance at the age of ten years from October 1942 to March 1943. Rita would deliver messages that were written on small pieces of paper that were braided into her hair. 24:09: Rita explains how her mother was taken by the Germans in March 1943 and how she evaded capture. She was taken into the home of a woman who was involved in the other branch of the Polish resistance. Rita’s mother had been arrested and sent to a German Gestapo prison in Warsaw, Pawiak. 31:46: Rita was placed in an antisemitic Catholic orphanage, located next to the ghetto. 32:41: Rita ran away from the orphanage. 33:41: Rita’s mother was murdered in Auschwitz as a Polish political prisoner. Her mother did not give any information. 35:52: Rita recalls how the resistance fighters celebrated the victory of the Red Army defending Stalingrad. 39:39: Rita maintained a non-Jewish identity throughout the war. After the war, she found a maternal aunt. Together, they moved to Silesia. When they attempted to secure official documents, they were advised by the secret police to never disclose that they were Jewish. 43:00: Rita explains that after the war, there were several pogroms carried out by Poles against surviving Jews (e.g., Kielce). 44:50: Rita’s mother received a posthumous medal for being a war hero.
Source
Oral Histories
Part Of
Mimi Wise fonds
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 16; Item 7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Mimi Wise fonds
Level
Item
Fonds
16
Item
7
Material Format
graphic material (electronic)
Date
1959
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w (jpg)
Scope and Content
This item is an electronic copy photograph of Mimi Wise cooking cabbage rolls in her kitchen for the Hadassah Bazaar. The photograph was taken for the Toronto Telegram.
Subjects
Food
Repro Restriction
Copyright is held by the Toronto Telegram. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Accession Number
2006-9-7
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4415
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4415
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1985]
Physical Description
1 photograph
Notes
No restrictions on access.
Name Access
Hillel
University of Toronto
Subjects
Food
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.)
Accession Number
1986-12-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 4832
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
4832
Material Format
graphic material
Date
6 May 1957
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 13 x 11 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of Helen O'Connor (left) and Inez Richardson (right) leading a cooking class for CJIC, a television station in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The photograph depicts Inez standing in a kitchen, wearing a Hadassah apron, and using a cake mixer while Helen looks on. In the foreground is the television camera.
Notes
On the verso of the photograph there is an address: 128 March Street. This is likely either the address of the studio or the home of Inez Richardson.
Subjects
Food
Places
Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.)
Accession Number
1984-5-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
Women's Auxiliary series
Festival Committee sub-series
Mother's and Father's Day Program, photographs file
Level
Item
Fonds
14
Series
4-5
File
7
Item
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
19 May 1977
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of the Women's Auxiliary hostesses taken at Baycrest's Mother's and Father's Day event.
Name Access
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Women's Auxiliary
Subjects
Father's Day
Mother's Day
Access Restriction
Conditional Access. Researchers must receive permission from the donor prior to accessing the records. Please contact the OJA for more information.
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
Level
Item
ID
Item 1135
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1135
Material Format
graphic material
Date
[ca. 1942]
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 18 x 13 cm and 12 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a group of young women standing behind a table with linens and baby items for sale. Pictured from left to right are:
Edith Rapoport (m. Kanter), Shava Zaltz (m. Siegel), Lena Strenkovsky (m. Rothberg), Sarah Raimer, Rose Resnick (m. Halpert), and Ethel Rapoport (m. Rotberg).
Name Access
Canadian Young Judaea
Subjects
Youth
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
Brantford (Ont.)
Accession Number
1976-6-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 22; Item 150
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Morris Norman collection
Level
Item
Fonds
22
Item
150
Material Format
object
Date
[nd]
Physical Description
1 item
Subjects
Youth
Source
Archival Descriptions