From the Archives: Israel Bound
Participants checking in at the registration desk for the Zionist Organization of Canada (Central Region) tour of Israel, 24 June 1970. Photograph by Gordon Mendly. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre
In Costume
Over the past year, Glen Eker has invested a lot of time sorting through his family’s vast collection of photos. Concerned about dust accumulation, long-term preservation, and future access to these photographs, he looked to the OJA and found that donating original photographs and negatives to the OJA was the best way to prevent further […]
From the Archives: Meet the Rothers
A recent donation of records documents the life of the Rother family. Pictured here are Sadie Rother and Annalie in front of Rother’s Cigar Store, 1028 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, Ont, 1948. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre
From the Archives: Municipal elections
J.B. Salsberg delivers a speech during an election campaign in Toronto. In 1938, J. B. Salsberg was elected alderman of Toronto’s Ward 4. Known as “the Jewish Ward”, Ward 4 was comprised of the Garment District and Kensington Market. Salsberg’s major issues, outlined for voters in in a promotional leaflet from this campaign, included lower […]
From the Archives: Torah scroll dedication
People participate in a siyum ha’sefer for Torah scroll donated by Mr. and Mrs. Feldman, Shaarei Tefillah Synagogue, Toronto, ca. 1960. Individuals identified in photo include: Dr. M. Weinberg, Milford Goldman, Cantor David Greengarten, Rupert Harris (in white kippah) and Solly Rubenstein.
From the Archives: Sightseeing
Mark Hazza (seated front, fourth left) on a Toronto sight-seeing carriage, circa. 1910. Hazza (1845-1918) was one of the earliest Jewish immigrants to settle in Toronto. Born in Poland, he settled in Toronto around 1871 where he married Miriam Barnett from England. They raised a family of six in Yorkville where Mark ran a tailoring […]
From the Archives: Comedy and fundraising
Bob Hope being kissed by six-year-old twins Lorraine and Elinor Wagman (dressed in cowgirl costumes), alongside Sam Granatstein (left) and Alex Fisher, Toronto, 23 Aug. 1957. Hope was the guest of honour at the Founder’s Day dinner that took place at the Regency Towers Hotel on Aug.26 launching the North YM-YWHA building campaign. Ontario Jewish Archives, […]
Days of Awe
A resident at Baycrest Centre in Toronto in “thoughtful meditation” in the residence’s main synagogue, circa. 1970. Photograph from the National Film Board. (Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 14, series 8, file 4, item 6)
From the Archives:Happy New Year
A New Year’s greeting card picturing recently engaged Leyzer Nirenberg and Mariam Goldberg in Brzesc, Poland, ca. 1930. During last weekend’s Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, Olga Avigail Mieleszczuk paid tribute to the songs of Yiddish folksinger Mariam Nirenberg (née Goldberg). A recent donation of records to the OJA from Mariam’s granddaughter offers a glimpse into […]
From the Archives: Back to School
Workmen’s Circle Peretz School class, Toronto, December 1960. The origins of the Toronto Workmen’s Circle School (Arbeiter Ring) dates back to 1911 with the founding of the Toronto Yiddish National-Radical School. It was one of the first Yiddish secular schools in North America devoted to instruction in Yiddish culture and language. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family […]
