Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Level
Series
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Level
Series
Fonds
37
Series
1
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1956-1978
Physical Description
447 photographs : b&w and col. (392 negatives) ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller
Admin History/Bio
The Negev dinners were established in 1948, coinciding with the creation of the State of Israel, as an annual fundraising dinner. The Jewish National Fund hosted these annual dinners in honour of a leading Canadian citizen, and the proceeds from the dinners were used to establish JNF projects in Israel in the name of the honouree. The JNF projects have, and continue to do so today, raised money to purchase land in Israel's Negev desert and for re-forestation efforts.
The annual dinner was dedicated to a member of the Toronto Jewish community, who had demonstrated outstanding support and commitment to the Community and to the State of Israel. In honour of this individual's contributions, the secured land in Negev was named after them. The honourary guests were presented with awards of appreciation from members of the Canadian and International Jewish community, often including delegates from Israel. The dinners were attended by prominent members of Toronto's Jewish community, including politicians, business men, and philanthropists.
Each subsequent dinner became larger and more successful in its aim to raise funds for Israel, as a result this event soon became the most significant Jewish event in Toronto. As well, it was also the largest annual kosher meal served in Toronto.
The JNF produced an annual Negev Dinner yearbook, commemorating the event, and documenting both the lives of the honouree's family and the current activities of the JNF. As well, the names of individuals who donated money for the JNF projects were recorded in the Souvenir books under patrons and sponsors of the dinners.
Scope and Content
Series consists of negatives taken by Al Gilbert documenting eight Negev Dinners hosted by the Jewish National Fund. The images depict the various activities undertaken at these dinners including: the procession and introduction of the head table guests, the presentation of awards, speeches, toasts, presentation of flowers to the honouree or the wife of the honouree, and the entertainment. The majority of the negatives are portraits taken of the guests posing with the honouree and his or her family. One dinner in this series was dedicated to the Toronto Jewish Community (1956) on the year of its centenary, while the others are in honour of one significant member of the community.
There were Negev dinners held across Canada; however, the dinners in this series were all held in Toronto and were primarily attended by members of the Toronto Jewish community. The honourees documented in this series include: 1956, Toronto Jewish Community; 1966, Bert Godfrey; 1967, Nathan Silver; 1968, Phil Givens; 1970, Leon E. Weinstein; 1973, Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker; 1974, Phil Granovsky; 1978, Eric and Esther Exton.
Notes
Selection for this series reflects the various activities of the Negev dinners, including: speeches, toasts, award presentations, dinner tables, introductions, honourees, entertainment and presentation of flowers. In addition, we selected a sample of images documenting the dinner tables and guests who were not part of the evening's programme, and therefore, would not be captured in the aforementioned criteria.
Name Access
Negev
Jewish National Fund
Godfrey, Bert
Silver, Nathan
Givens, Phil
Weinstein, Leon E.
Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John G.
Granovsky, Phil
Exton, Eric
Exton, Esther
Subjects
Awards
Dinners and dining
Fund raising
Arrangement
Series has been arranged into files representing each annual dinner.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 4; Item 14
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
4
Item
14
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1968
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w
Notes
Photograph by Al Gilbert.
Name Access
Kent, Charles
Weinstein, Leon
Exton, Eric
Lockshin, Louis
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 4; Item 34
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
4
Item
34
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1968
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm
Notes
Photograph by Al Gilbert.
Name Access
Givens, Phil
Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991
Weinstein, Leon
Exton, Eric
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 4; Item 36
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
4
Item
36
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1968
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm
Notes
Photograph by Al Gilbert.
Name Access
Exton, Eric
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 4; Item 40
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
4
Item
40
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1968
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of guests posing together with a JNF certificate at the 1968 Negev dinner held in honour of Phil Givens.
Notes
Photograph by Al Gilbert.
Name Access
Givens, Philip
Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991
Exton, Eric
Kent, Charles
Lockshin, Louis
Shainhouse, Samuel
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
1
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, A. E. Diamond, and Eric Exton at the 1970 Negev dinner held in honour of Leon E. Weinstein.
Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut gave the closing address; A. E. Diamond was the dinner chairman; and Eric Exton provided the greetings from the Jewish National Fund.
Name Access
Plaut, Rabbi W. Gunther
Diamond, A.E.
Exton, Eric
Weinstein, Leon E.
Jewish National Fund
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
3
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Name Access
Diamond, A. E.
Finkler, Leona
Finkler, Arnold
Weinstein, Anne
Weinstein, Leon
Exton, Eric
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 9
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
9
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Name Access
Dennis, David
Granovsky, Phil
Finkler, Leona
Weinstein, Leon
Kent, Charles
Exton, Eric
Diamond, A. E.
Moses, L. J. E.
Jewish National Fund
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 21
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
21
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Eric Exton speaking at the Negev dinner. Eric Exton was on the dinner program providing greetings from the Jewish National Fund. Also present in the photograph are Leon E. Weinstein [sitting to the left of the podium] and Ruth Diamond [sitting on the right].
Name Access
Exton, Eric
Jewish National Fund
Diamond, Ruth
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 25
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
25
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Exton's and Granovsky's sitting at the head table at the Negev dinner. Eric Exton provided the greetings from the Jewish National Fund for the dinner.
Name Access
Granovsky, Shirley
Granovsky, Phil
Exton, Esther
Exton, Eric
Jewish National Fund
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 26
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
26
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of A. E. Diamond, Leon and Anne Weinstein, and Eric Exton at the Negev dinner. Allen Ephraim Diamond was the dinner chair, Eric Exton gave the greetings from the Jewish National Fund, and Leon E. Weinstein was the guest of honour.
Name Access
Diamond, A. E.
Weinstein, Leon
Weinstein, Anne
Exton, Eric
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 37; Series 1; File 5; Item 29
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Gilbert Studios fonds
Negev dinners series
Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file
Level
Item
Fonds
37
Series
1
File
5
Item
29
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1970
Physical Description
1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm
Name Access
Diamond, A. E.
Exton, Eric
Gefen, Aba
Givens, Philip
Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991
Weinstein, Leon
Weinstein, Anne
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