- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [192-?]-1993
- Physical Description
- 1.5 m of textual records
- 35 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, originally called the Canadian Federation of Polish Jews (CFPJ), was established in 1933 to assist Jews in Poland who were victims of anti-Semitism as expressed in economic boycotts and political discrimination. The CFPJ provided political action and advocacy on behalf of Polish Jews, as well as social help, moral strength and material support. It was a constituent member of the World Federation of Polish Jews, established in 1935, which provided relief and economic assistance to Jews in Poland, and coordinated the assistance given to Jewish communal organizations in Poland. In addition, the CFPJ assisted Canadian landsmanshaften (mutual benefit societies) which were giving support to those communities from which their members had emigrated.
- In 1939, following the outbreak of the Second World War, the CFPJ was among those Canadian Jewish organizations which founded the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies, the purpose of which was to assist in the war effort and to aid war victims. At the conclusion of the war, the UJRWR was renamed the United Jewish Relief Agencies, with an aim to assist refugees in their effort to settle in Canada.
- The scope and mandate of the CFPJ has changed over time as new challenges and projects have emerged. In January 1950, its activities expanded to include building homes in Israel for Polish Jewish immigrants, providing local relief to newly arrived Polish Jewish immigrants in Canada, locating relatives and providing legal advice on matters related to passports and visas, contributing to and participating in memorials honouring lost Jewish communities, and maintaining contact with its sister Farbands across the world.
- In December 1951, the name of the organization was officially changed to Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel, and as of March 1953, its priorities had shifted to focus increasingly on providing support to Israel.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel. Many records provide insight into the relief efforts carried out to assist Jews in Poland and Israel. Included are meeting minutes, agendas, reports, correspondence, speeches, newspaper articles, financial records, conference material, a ledger book, posters and invitations, membership and donation lists, scrapbooks, leaflets, photographs of important events, letters of appeal, visa and identification applications, property claims applications, and letters from individuals requesting aid.
- Name Access
- Canadian Federation of Polish Jews
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel
- Subjects
- Jews--Israel
- Jews, Polish
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Places
- Israel
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1936
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten lecture notes and a newspaper clipping documenting Shemen's lecture on Polish Jewry and the struggle between existence and ruin. Shemen presented this lecture to the "Not to Worry!" Club (or "Be of Good Cheer!" Club) in Radomer Hall, 210 Beverley Street.
- Subjects
- Jews--Poland
- Lectures and lecturing
- Physical Condition
- The lecture notes are rolled and difficult to unfurl.
- Places
- Beverley Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Rabbi Nachman Shemen fonds
- Canadian Federation to Aid Polish Jews in Israel series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 103
- Series
- 1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1939?]-[195-]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of handwritten and typed notes, booklets, newspaper clippings, reports, articles and a 10th anniversary publication. Many records summarize and reflect on the organization's activities and history.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions