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Sidney Ofner Collection
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn16718
- Collection
- Sidney Ofner Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 2 folders of textual material ; 1 CD
- Date
- 1992-1995
- Scope and Content
- Contains the publication Sidney Ofner: A Soldier’s Story, 1942-1944, compiled by Suzan Horovitch, as well as copies of the letters written by Sidney Ofner and a CD copy of the book.
- Collection
- Sidney Ofner Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 2 folders of textual material ; 1 CD
- Scope and Content
- Contains the publication Sidney Ofner: A Soldier’s Story, 1942-1944, compiled by Suzan Horovitch, as well as copies of the letters written by Sidney Ofner and a CD copy of the book.
- Date
- 1992-1995
- Storage Location
- 7-3C
- Creator
- Suzan Horovitch
- History / Biographical
- In 1993 Suzan Horovitch (née Green) began the task of typing out her uncle Sidney Ofner’s letters, written home to Montreal during his station in Europe in World War II. Sidney Ofner was in Italy when he was killed supporting a trench on January 15, 1944. Suzan Horovitch and her husband Art spent several years compiling into a book the letters as well as official Canadian Forces correspondence regarding Sidney. The Horovitch’s also tracked down and contacted several veterans whom had served with Sidney in order to gather all information possible on his time in the army and his death. Sidney Ofner was the only son of Alexander and Tillie Ofner, both of Montreal. Mr. Ofner ran a women’s ready-to-wear garment store, in which Sidney also worked. He was a graduate of Strathcona Academy. Sidney enlisted in the Victoria Rifles of Canada in 1942, going overseas in 1943. He was later stationed to North Africa with a reinforcement regiment and then with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Italy in the fall of 1943. Sidney’s sister Marjorie, mother of Leona (mentioned in the letters) and Suzan) saved all of the letters from her brother.
- Custodial History
- Transferred to the JPL-A by Suzan Horovitch
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Helfield/Gallay Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn16735
- Collection
- Helfield/Gallay Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.33m textual records ; 200 photographs ; 60 artefacts
- Date
- ca189[?]-ca198[?]
- Scope and Content
- Series 1 and series 2 include textual records arranged chronologically. Series 3 consists of group photographs related to Wilfred Gallay’s professional life and a group of family snapshots dating mostly from the 1920s. Series 4 consists of religious objects, and kitchen and tailoring artefact…
- Collection
- Helfield/Gallay Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.33m textual records ; 200 photographs ; 60 artefacts
- Scope and Content
- Series 1 and series 2 include textual records arranged chronologically. Series 3 consists of group photographs related to Wilfred Gallay’s professional life and a group of family snapshots dating mostly from the 1920s. Series 4 consists of religious objects, and kitchen and tailoring artefacts documenting the spiritual, domestic and professional life of members of the Helfield and Gallay families over more than a century.
- Date
- ca189[?]-ca198[?]
- Storage Location
- Bay 3
- History / Biographical
- Tylia Helfield Tylia Helfield was born in Montreal in 1934. She received her (BFA) from Concordia University in. She is a writer, printmaker and artist. Eric Sidney Helfield Eric Sidney Helfield was born in Montreal in 1931. (where he lived and went to school) He was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in 1952 and a (BCL, 1955) from McGill University. He was a barrister and served for 14 years, between 1976 and 1990, as councilor of the former City of Côte-Saint-Luc. Eric Helfield died 3 October 1992 in Montreal. Marks Ellis Marks Ellis was born in Lithuania in 1873. A tailor by trade, he immigrated via London to Montreal in 1895, accompanied by his wife Mary. He established Bellingham Cleaners in the 1930s, at the corner of Bellingham and Maplewood streets (now rue Vincent-d’Indy and boulevard Edouard-Montpetit) and operated the business for two years. He worked as a tailor during the Second World War for Sterling Clothing on Park Avenue, and at Scott’s Clothing. In 1927, Ellis was involved in the founding of the United Commercial Loan Syndicate, formed by Jewish businessmen who gave loans at low interest rates to Jewish immigrants. He was also one of the founders of the Congregation Shaare Zedek in Montreal. He retired in 1956 at the age of 82 and died in Montreal on 26 December 1965. Ellis was the maternal grandfather of Eric Helfield. Children: Barnett, Mildred, Samuel. Brother of Bluma Ellis. Wilfred Gallay (Dr) Wilfred Gallay was born 10 June 1906 in Hawkesbury, Ontario. He went to elementary school and later obtained a First Class Teacher’s Certificate in Calgary, Alberta. Gallay studied chemistry at McGill University in Montreal, and was awarded a Ph.D. in 1930. He carried out post-doctoral research at the University of Leipzig and at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, Germany. On his return to Canada, he worked at the National Research Council in Ottawa, becoming head of the Section on Colloids and Plastics. From 1944 to 1953, he was a consultant to Canadian and American firms and from 1953 until his retirement in 1971, he was Director of Research and Member of the Board of Directors of the E. B. Eddy Company in Hull, Quebec. In the course of his career, Gallay published some 85 scientific papers chiefly in the field of colloid or surface chemistry and was the recipient of several fellowships, awards and honours, including the Bolton Award the Technical Section Medal from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, and the Plummer Medal of the Engineering Institute of Canada. Gallay was also involved with several scientific organizations and served namely on various committees of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association and as Secretary General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. He was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Ottawa. Wilfred Gallay married Birdie Silver in 19xx, and was the father of Tylia Helfied. He died in Toronto.
- Language
- English, Yiddish, Hebrew
- Custodial History
- Donated by Tilya Helfield
- Notes
- Further accurals expected.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Charles and Ninel Segal Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn17146
- Collection
- Charles and Ninel Segal Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.5 m textual material
- Date
- 1934-2008
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of correspondence, minutes, memoranda, speeches, articles and ephemera dealing with the Segals' professional and personal lives. Also contains numerous historical articles and speeches written and presented by Charles Segal. Numerous photographs illustrating this work also containe…
- Collection
- Charles and Ninel Segal Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.5 m textual material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of correspondence, minutes, memoranda, speeches, articles and ephemera dealing with the Segals' professional and personal lives. Also contains numerous historical articles and speeches written and presented by Charles Segal. Numerous photographs illustrating this work also contained within the fonds.
- Date
- 1934-2008
- Storage Location
- 5-5G
- Creator
- Charles and Ninel Segal
- History / Biographical
- Charles Segal was born in Montreal on November 27, 1921 to Hyman Manuel Segal and Fanny (Moscovitch). Mr. Segal's fonds includes numerous details of his decades of work in the political world - from his days of journalism here in Canada and in the U.S., to his role in Histadrut, his meetings with President Truman and work with Oscar Ewing, his work with fair employment practices with the Construction Fund of the State University of New York and so on. Segal married his wife Ninel (Bercovitch) in 1979 and she also has been heavily involved in work in Congressman Mike McNulty. More details are available within the fonds.
- Custodial History
- Transferred directly from Charles Segal to the JPL-A starting in 2006. Further accurals expected.
- Notes
- Fonds also includes photographs, currently awaiting arrangement and description into the JPL Photograph Database.
- Access Restrictions
- Restriction on File 006, manuscript of Mr. Segal's biography, marked as so on file.
- Subjects
- Veterans, Jewish - Canada
- Segal, Charles
- Segal, Ninel (Bercovitch)
- Israel
- Israel - Foreign public opinion
- Israel - Foreign relations
- United States. Congress.
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn18200
- Collection
- Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 4 m of textual records and other material
- Date
- 1908-current
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 10 series containing the operating records of the Workmen's Circle, its committees, branches, choir and school program. Series I – Committees Series II – Branches Series III – His tory and Organizational Papers Series IV – Publications Series V – Abra…
- Collection
- Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 4 m of textual records and other material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 10 series containing the operating records of the Workmen's Circle, its committees, branches, choir and school program. Series I – Committees Series II – Branches Series III – His tory and Organizational Papers Series IV – Publications Series V – Abraham Reisen Schools Series VI – Workmen’s Circle Loan Syndicate Series VII – Workmen’s Circle Choir Series VIII – Workmen’s Circle, New York Series IX – Correspondence Series X – Scrapbooks and Artefacts
- Date
- 1908-current
- Storage Location
- Bay 6
- Creator
- Workmen's Circle
- Physical Condition
- Excellent.
- History / Biographical
- The Workmen’s Circle (Arbeter Ring) of Montreal (now Worker’s Circle) celebrated its 100th Anniversary in the city in 2007. The organization, which was originally founded in New York in 1892 by mainly Russian Jewish immigrants fleeing Czarist pogroms, conducted itself as an “irretrievable part of the radical labour movement.” An advocate for change, the Workmen’s Circle also provided education, enlightenment, health benefits, open forums, a library, clubs and cemetery plots for its members. The work of the group extended to emergencies such as operating a soup kitchen during the Depression or organizing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry in the late-1980s and early 1990s to aid immigration. Their involvement in politics saw support for the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and candidates such as A.M. Klein, David Lewis and Kalman Kaplansky. In 1940, two Workmen’s Circle members from Branch 151 were elected to the Montreal municipal council, Michael Rubenstein and Albert Eaton. The first Workmen’s Circle building was completed in 1936 after several years of planning and a hold due to the Depression. The building was located at 4848 St. Laurent and served the Workmen’s Circle’s business and social activities as well as one of the schools. Like most other Jewish organizations, the Workmen’s Circle moved from the once-traditionally Jewish Main area and re-located to Isabella closer to the Jewish community campus. The Worker’s Circle is still housed there although the organization is shrinking and serves an aging population.
- Language
- Yiddish, English, Russian
- Acquisition Source
- Workmen's Circle of Montreal
- Custodial History
- Transferred directly from the Workmen's Circle, first date of transfer unknown, accural of new materials in November 2007.
- Arrangement
- Current arrangement based on an older system of description used by the JPL-A during the 1970s and 1980s. The finding aid was up-dated to RAD standards in March 2008.
- Related Material
- Jewish Labour Committee Fonds
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle, Montreal
- Subjects
- Workmen's Circle Schools (Montreal, Quebec)
- Labour and labouring classes
- Workmen's Circle - Eugene Debs Branch no. 204
- Workmen's Circle - Meyer London Branch no. 151
- Workmen's Circle - Moishe Lewis Branch
- Workmen's Circle, New York
- Workmen's Circle - Vladeck Branch
- Workmen's Loan Syndicate (Montreal)
- Labour movement
- Labour unions
- Women in the labour movement - Canada
- Workmen's Circle - Ladies' Vladeck Branch
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Witness to History Collection
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn60296
- Collection
- WITNESS TO HISTORY COLLECTION (MHMC-02)
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 536 video recordings
- Date
- 1994-Present
- Scope and Content
- The Witness to History program consists of a growing collection of interviews (as of January 20, 2014). The collection counts 536 testimonies: 511 Holocaust survivors (A Holocaust survivor is anyone who suffered and survived persecution for racial and religious, reasons while under Nazi or Axis con…
- Collection
- WITNESS TO HISTORY COLLECTION (MHMC-02)
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 536 video recordings
- Scope and Content
- The Witness to History program consists of a growing collection of interviews (as of January 20, 2014). The collection counts 536 testimonies: 511 Holocaust survivors (A Holocaust survivor is anyone who suffered and survived persecution for racial and religious, reasons while under Nazi or Axis control between 1933 and May 8, 1945; or who was forced to live in hiding; or to flee Nazi or Axis onslaught before and during World War Two in order to avoid imminent persecution.); 15 World War Two veterans; 6 Holocaust survivors who are also World War Two veterans; 1 Rescuer; 3 Others. Testimony has been taken from survivors of the ghettos, hidden children, labour camp, concentration camp and death camp prisoners, partisans, liberators, and rescuers. The records accurately reflect the personal history of each of the interviewees, and become a priceless resource for further research and teaching related to Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.
- Date
- 1994-Present
- History / Biographical
- The Witness to History project was developped by the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. The first interviews were conducted in the spring of 1994. The Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre’s objective in inaugurating this programme was to record and document as many of the survivors’ histories and experiences as resources permitted. Videotaped interviews are conducted by trained interviewers with emphasis on the survivors’ Holocaust experiences as well as their pre-war lives and their often remarkable post-war efforts to reconstruct normality into their lives in Canada. The Centre’s objective is to continue the Project and provide the facility for those of the Montreal area survivors still willing to come forth and record their experiences towards the education of future generations.
- Language
- English
- Hebrew
- French
- Hungarian
- Russian
- Yiddish
- Accession No.
- 2014X.02.01
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Jewish Public Library
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn44539
- Collection
- Jewish Public Library
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1000
- Date
- 1914-current
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of three individually organized collections based on records from the JPL. The first collection consists of materials organized from the JPL records dated 1914-1971. The second collection consists of material organized from the JPL records dated 1972-1986. The third collectio…
- Collection
- Jewish Public Library
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of three individually organized collections based on records from the JPL. The first collection consists of materials organized from the JPL records dated 1914-1971. The second collection consists of material organized from the JPL records dated 1972-1986. The third collection consists of modern era records and is currently being organized following the creation of an appropriate records management classfication.
- Date
- 1914-current
- Fonds No.
- 1000
- History / Biographical
- The Jewish Public Library (JPL) was founded as a "folks" library, a library for all, in 1914. The creation of the JPL was a result of the consolidation of smaller, organization or ideology-based libraries already in existence. Key to the establishment of the JPL was Keneder Adler editor Reuben Brainin. Already active in Yiddish culture of the Montreal Jewish community, Brainin was a leader in the newly formed JPL until he left Montreal for New York in 1916. Brainin's archive collection was donated to the JPL upon his death in 1939. Until 1950 the Library was an independent body in the Jewish community. In 1952 it became a full member of the Allied Jewish Community Services (today known as FEDERATION CJA), an umbrella organization that conducts annual campaigns and is responsible for providing funding for its constituent agencies. The Library remains independent in that it is not part of the City of Montreal library system. The JPL was also a founding member of the Montreal Association of Indepedent Libraries. The operating language of the Library for the early years of its existence was Yiddish. Not just a place for reading, the Library was central to preserving a place for Yiddish culture in the lives of thousands of newly-arrived Eastern European Jewish immigrants. The Library became a venue for visiting authors, such as Sholem Aleichem in 1915, as well as a space for people to connect to a community as well as learn about their new city. At various points in its history the Library also provided learning opportunities under its Jewish People's University, YIFO. YIFO offered a wide variety of subjects taught by various instructors such as Melech Ravitch and Irving Layton. The Library was also the first home to Yiddish youth theatre, led by the then-newly arrived Dora Wasserman. Today the Library collects material and offers cultural programming in five languages: English, French, Yiddish, Hebrew and Russian. While the majority of new acquisitions, and thus the collection, remains focused on Judaica, the Library also provides general interest fiction, non-fiction, movies and music. The Library is further broadened by its Special Collections, which include the Jewish Public Library Archives, a community-based repository focused on social, cultural and educational history, a rare book collection, a Yizkor book collection, the Irving Layton Library Collection, a German Judaica collection, periodicals and Jewish Canadiana and international Jewry ephemeral collections. In 1929 a children's library section was added to the JPL. Now known as the Norman Berman Children's Library, children and their families can access a full-service children's and young adult library offering Judaica and general interest reading (fiction and non-fiction) in the five languages of the Library. In addition to the book, CD, DVD and reading kit collections, the Norman Berman Children's Library also offers year-long programming for children from birth to 14 years of age.
- Language
- Yiddish
- English
- French
- Hebrew
- Russian
- Finding Aid
- Please contact the JPL Archives directly to search the JPL archival collection.
- Subjects
- Jewish Public Library (Montreal, Quebec)
- Brainin, Reuben, 1862-1939
- Kaufman, Yehuda, 1886-1976.
- Hershman, Hirsch (Harry), 1876-1955
- Books
- Yiddish
- Yiddish theatre
- Wasserman, Dora.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
FEDERATION CJA
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn43512
- Collection
- Federation CJA Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 35.6m multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1001
- Date
- 1917-2010
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of material deposited by FED CJA offices as well as collected by the JPL-A through the Jewish Canadiana collection. Currently, the fonds is divided into five series based on the present organization: Series I – Minute Books (Bound, Executive and Directors) and Annual Repo…
- Collection
- Federation CJA Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 35.6m multiple media
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of material deposited by FED CJA offices as well as collected by the JPL-A through the Jewish Canadiana collection. Currently, the fonds is divided into five series based on the present organization: Series I – Minute Books (Bound, Executive and Directors) and Annual Reports, Series II – Executive Office, Series III - Campaign FED CJA, Series IV – Marketing and Communications Department, and Series V – Scrapbooks (1935-1967)
- Date
- 1917-2010
- Fonds No.
- 1001
- Storage Location
- JPL
- History / Biographical
- FEDERATION CJA was founded in 1916 as the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, with the first campaign held in 1917. The Federation originally consisted of 12 Jewish agencies: the Baron de Hirsch Institute, Mount Sinai Sanatorium, Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society, Herzl Dispensary and Hospital, the Montreal Hebrew Orphans’ Home, the Montreal Hebrew Sheltering Home, the Ladies Jewish Endeavour Sewing Society, the Young Women’s Hebrew Association, the Beth Israel Day Nursery and Infants’ Home, the Hebrew Ladies Aid Society and the Friendly League of Jewish Women. That first campaign raised $127,000 for support of agencies and community work. In 1951, the name was changed to Federation of Jewish Community Services and then again, in 1965, to Allied Jewish Community Services. The current incarnation of FEDERATION CJA occurred in 1992. Currently, FEDERATION CJA acts as the “central funding, planning, and coordinating body of services for the nearly 93,000 Jews in Montreal and is the one organization that speaks on behalf of the entire community.” Each year FEDERATION CJA raises funds for its various agencies, projects and the community through Combined Jewish Appeal. Today FEDERATION CJA has twelve constituent agencies (Agence Ometz, Bronfman Jewish Education Centre, Bronfman Israel Experience Centre, Camp B'nai Brith, Communaute sepharade unifee du Quebec, Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, Hillel Montreal, JEM Workshop Inc., the Jewish Public Library, the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre, the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, and the YM-YWHA Montreal Jewish Community Centre), four funded associated communal organizations (Quebec Jewish Congress - A division of Canadian Jewish Congress, Project Genesis, Quebec-Israel Committee, and United Israel Appeal of Federations Canada, as well as non-funded associated ties with the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, the Synagogue Council of Greater Montreal, and the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal.
- Language
- English
- French
- Hebrew
- Yiddish
- Russian
- Custodial History
- The Jewish Public Library has been accepting and preserving material from Federation CJA and the organizations that preceded it since 1917.
- Arrangement
- This Collection is arranged under the current name of "Federation CJA" but includes material created under former organizational names: Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Federation of Jewish Community Services and Allied Jewish Community Services. Series III, Campaign FED CJA, is an artificially created grouping, arranged by the JPL-A from material collected by the Library since 1917. New series have been added as other offices and departments of FEDERATION CJA deposit permanent archival material with the JPL-A. Individual agencies (e.g. Jewish Public Library) are not included as series within this Fonds. Instead, these agencies stand alone as individual fonds.
- Access Restrictions
- Privacy restrictions may apply.
- Finding Aid
- A detailed finding aid for the Exectutive Office exists, created by the JPL-A in the early 1970's and updated in 2007 and 2013. An index for the subject files of the Marketing and Communications Department was created in 2007 and is available in the JPL-A.
- Accession No.
- 00-076
- 12-017 (series c)
- 12-018 (series c2)
- 13-012
- Subjects
- Federation CJA
- Federation CJA - Combined Jewish Appeal
- Federation CJA - Women's Division
- Federation CJA - Young Adult Committee
- Federation of Jewish Community Services [Montreal]
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Bergen-Belsen Survivors Association of Montreal
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn38264
- Collection
- Bergen-Belsen Survivors Association of Montreal
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.3m. multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1006
- Scope and Content
- Consists of mainly textual records of association activities such as membership lists, anniversary gatherings, etc. Includes correspondence and scrapbooks.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.3m. multiple media
- Scope and Content
- Consists of mainly textual records of association activities such as membership lists, anniversary gatherings, etc. Includes correspondence and scrapbooks.
- Fonds No.
- 1006
- Storage Location
- 1-2B
- History / Biographical
- At the initiative of Joseph Rosensaft a meeting was held in New York in December 1961 of Bergen-Belsen survivors. It was decided at that time that a World Federation of Bergen-Belsen survivors would be formed with associations in all cities where there were numbers of survivors present. As a result in early 1962 an association was formed in Montreal with Paul Trepman as president. The aims were the following: A. Making sure that neither the world nor the Jews ever forgot the Holocaust; B. Wage a continuous fight against Neo-Nazi groups and organizations; C. Offer brotherly aid to former Bergen-Belsen inmates who are in need; D. Keep alive the heroic and rich Bergen-Belsen tradition. The association met a number of times a year, although the main focus was the Liberation Rally, which took place on or around April 15th, the date of the Bergen-Belsen camp was liberated by the armed forces. Some of the other activities of the association were the erection of a monument in a local Jewish cemetery and a trip back to Belsen on the 25th anniversary of the liberation.
- Language
- English
- Yiddish
- French
- Custodial History
- Transferred by Paul Trepman, former director of the Jewish Public Library and a leader in the Bergen-Belsen Survivors Association.
- Reproduction Restrictions
- May contain materials restricted due to Copyright.
- Subjects
- Bergen Belsen (Germany: Concentration camp)
- Bergen-Belsen Survivors Association
- Displaced persons
- Trepman, Paul.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Sarah E. Fischer Collection
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn30235
- Collection
- Sarah Fischer Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.6m
- Fonds No.
- 1017
- Date
- 1913-1975
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of recital programmes, correspondence, audio recordings, printing blocks and photographs. It is organized into two series. Series one contains Fischer's professional activities (containers 1-2, 5-7). Series two contains Fischer's personal activities (containers 3-4).
- Collection
- Sarah Fischer Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.6m
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of recital programmes, correspondence, audio recordings, printing blocks and photographs. It is organized into two series. Series one contains Fischer's professional activities (containers 1-2, 5-7). Series two contains Fischer's personal activities (containers 3-4).
- Date
- 1913-1975
- Fonds No.
- 1017
- Storage Location
- JPL
- History / Biographical
- Sarah Fischer was born in Paris, France, moved as a young girl to England, where she attended grade school. At the age of 13 she and her parents (1909) came to Canada and they settled in Montreal. In Montreal, Fischer was employed as a long distance operator during the day and at night took free singing lessons at the Monument Nationale. In 1917, Fischer won the Strathcona Award which enabled her to go to London, England on a three-year scholarship at the Royal College of Music. She left Montreal in 1919 and with a few interruptions spent the next 21 years of her life abroad. She sang in major opera houses in Europe, gave numerous radio recitals and concerts and achieved good reviews. She was considered a most lyrical soprano with a beautiful appearance and good acting ability. In 1940 she returned to Montreal. For the next 35 years, until she died on May 3, 1975, Fischer spent most of her time orgnanizing the Sarah Fischer Concerts where young musicians got a chance to appear in public and show their talent. Many prominent Canadian musicians got their start with these concerts.
- Language
- English
- Related Material
- Related photographs in the JPL Photograph Collection. Larger collection of Sarah Fischer housed at the Library and Archives of Canada.
- Accession No.
- 00-004
- Name Access
- Fischer, Sarah E., 1896-1975
- Subjects
- Musicians
- Places
- Montreal (Quebec)
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Chayele Grober Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn43491
- Collection
- Chayele Grober Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.25 m. of multimedia records
- Fonds No.
- 1020
- Date
- [ca. 1930-1980]
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of scripts, promotional material, newspaper clippings and correspondence related to Chayele Grober's career in theatre. Fonds comprises a single series of twenty files.
- Collection
- Chayele Grober Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 0.25 m. of multimedia records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of scripts, promotional material, newspaper clippings and correspondence related to Chayele Grober's career in theatre. Fonds comprises a single series of twenty files.
- Date
- [ca. 1930-1980]
- Fonds No.
- 1020
- Storage Location
- 4-6C
- History / Biographical
- Chayele Grober (1898-1978) was born and educated in Bjalistok, Poland, and was transplanted to Moscow during World War II. Grober began her career as a performer in Moscow in 1918. She was among the founders and stars of the famous Hebrew theatre Habimah. She relocated to Montreal in the 1930s, where she continued her career as a singer and actress, working in Hebrew and Yidddish. She most often performed as a one-woman act incorporating song, theatre, dance, comedy and mime. She toured extensively, appearing in in South America, Canada, Europe, Israel, South Africa and Australia. In Montreal, Grober became director of the Yiddish Theatre Group in Montreal and founded her own studio which she named "Habimah" after the famous theatre founded in Moscow. Later in life, she performed less but remained involved in theatre as a drama teacher and playwrite.
- Language
- Yiddish
- English
- Spanish
- Custodial History
- The fonds contains a large amount of correspondence recieved by Mr. and Mrs. Ravitch from C. Grober, possibly indicating that all or part of the fonds was first collected by them before donation.
- Name Access
- Grober, Chayele, 1898-1978
- Subjects
- Theatre
- Grober, Chayele, 1894-1978.
- Yiddish Theatre Group [Montreal].
- Dance
- Theatrical Productions.
- Yiddish theatre
- Folk music
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Jewish Junior Welfare League Collection
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn30236
- Collection
- Jewish Junior Welfare League Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 2.1m of textual material and other material
- Fonds No.
- 1022
- Date
- 1926-1984
- Scope and Content
- This collection consists of office records pertaining to Jewish Junior Welfare League activities, correspondence and material related to these activities, material published or collected by the JJWL, certificates and awards they have received and multiple media material.
- Collection
- Jewish Junior Welfare League Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 2.1m of textual material and other material
- Scope and Content
- This collection consists of office records pertaining to Jewish Junior Welfare League activities, correspondence and material related to these activities, material published or collected by the JJWL, certificates and awards they have received and multiple media material.
- Date
- 1926-1984
- Fonds No.
- 1022
- Storage Location
- JPL
- Creator
- Jewish Junior Welfare League
- History / Biographical
- The Jewish Junior Welfare League was founded in 1926 by 26 young ladies who were dedicated to the ideal of community service. The league's objective from the start were: A. To train and educate its members as able volunteers. B. To sustain by means of volunteer service and financial assistance a number of worthy projects eeded by the community. C. To keep members enlightened on all issues within the scope of the social, economic and cultural welfare of the community. Projects over the years included volunteering in hospitals, schools & developing recreational programs for young and old, healthy and sick. The league reached its zenith in the 1960s with a membership of 300. By the mid 1970s problems began to beset them, however. Their ranks became depleted as more and more women chose to go to work, and many of the needs they were filling were taken over by government agencies. June 19, 1984 at the annual meeting the decision to disband was taken.
- Language
- English
- Custodial History
- Transferred from the Jewish Junior Welfare League.
- Notes
- The fonds also includes objects. Title based on the content of the collection.
- Access Restrictions
- Some privacy restrictions may apply.
- Reproduction Restrictions
- Some copyright restrictions may apply.
- Accession No.
- 00-126
- Name Access
- Jewish Junior Welfare League
- Subjects
- Volunteers
- Women's organizations
- Philanthropy
- Places
- Montreal (Quebec)
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Images
Jewish People's and Peretz Schools
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn30573
- Collection
- Jewish People's and Peretz Schools Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 5.1 metres of multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1024
- Date
- 1924-2006
- Scope and Content
- The series consists of: minutes of meetings; records related to history, campaigns and building development; financial records; school programs; files relating to different stakeholders (teachers, students, and parents); files relating to the Concert Society; publications; correspondence; files rel…
- Collection
- Jewish People's and Peretz Schools Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 5.1 metres of multiple media
- Scope and Content
- The series consists of: minutes of meetings; records related to history, campaigns and building development; financial records; school programs; files relating to different stakeholders (teachers, students, and parents); files relating to the Concert Society; publications; correspondence; files relating to Bialik High School; JPPS publicity; records from the Office of the Principal; and audio visual collection. The form of the records consists primary of textual records with some photographs, items, and audio visual material. The series consists of fourteen subseries, organized by subject.
- Date
- 1924-2006
- Fonds No.
- 1024
- History / Biographical
- The Jewish People’s Schools & Peretz Schools (JPPS) was formed through the merger of the two schools in 1971. At the time of the merger, the Jewish People’s Schools student population was 865, while the Jewish Peretz Schools was 260. The merger amalgamated all aspects of the schools including budget, finance, pensions, administration, education goals and philosophy. The union of the schools was a difficult process. One of the more pressing needs for the merger was the financial difficulties of the Jewish Peretz Schools, including the inability to honour teachers’ wages and a debt totalling $250,000. The education goals and philosophy of JPPS includes the need to instil in students the importance of a Jewish studies program (the study of Yiddish and Hebrew, and Jewish history); an attachment and a sense of responsibility to the State of Israel and its people; and a sense of general social justice. Once the schools were united, JPPS was able to pursue the goal of creating a day high school. Bialik High School was founded in 1972. In 1984, Bialik High School was moved to 6500 Kildare Road, where it is currently located. This school system as a whole is commonly known as JPPS-Bialik. By 1984, JPPS elementary consisted of two campuses: Van Horne and Cote St-Luc. In 2004, JPPS/Bialik made the controversial move to merge these two elementary campuses. The pressure to merge was partially due to an influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union (who generally could not speak English or French), adding considerable strain to the Cote St-Luc campus. As a result, the Cote St-Luc location was closed. JPPS elementary is now located at 5170 Van Horne Avenue. That same year, the JPPS celebrated its 90th anniversary. The JPPS is funded by enrolment tuition and fees, provincial government grants, the Federation CJA, fundraising campaigns, and private contributions. Important student events organized by the JPPS consist of the JPPS Music Festival, the Concert Society’s Annual Concert, and the Bialik Festival of the Arts and the organization of student trips to Israel. JPPS also runs a Children's Centre, located at 7950 Wavell Road.
- Language
- English
- Yiddish
- French
- Arrangement
- This fonds was arranged intellectually and physically following the principle of original order. The fonds is based on the records created at the merging of the two schools to create the Jewish Peoples' Schools and Peretz Schools in 1971. For records of the individual schools, please see their individual archival collections.
- Access Restrictions
- Some student records may be restricted for privacy reasons.
- Related Material
- Jewish Peretz Schools Fonds
- Jewish Peoples' Schools Fonds
- Subjects
- Jewish People's Schools and Peretz Schools
- Education, Elementary
- Education - Jews
- Children - Jewish
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Allan Raymond Collection
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn31559
- Collection
- Allan Raymond Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 16 linear metres of multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1034
- Scope and Content
- Consists of numerous series and sub-series from individuals, families, organizations and businesses from within the Jewish community of Montreal. Includes various forms of records such as correspondence, photographs, artefacts and ledgers.
- Collection
- Allan Raymond Collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 16 linear metres of multiple media
- Scope and Content
- Consists of numerous series and sub-series from individuals, families, organizations and businesses from within the Jewish community of Montreal. Includes various forms of records such as correspondence, photographs, artefacts and ledgers.
- Fonds No.
- 1034
- Storage Location
- JPL
- History / Biographical
- Allan Raymond (1922- ) was born in Lithuania and came to Montreal in 1928. He is a researcher and lecturer of Canadian Jewish history and an avid collector of Canadian Judaica. Raymond also considered himself a romantic poet. He had a successful career as an insurance broker in Montreal and during World War II served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Amongst his varied community activities he served as public relations director of the Westmount Historical Association, Montreal Jewish Historical Society, St. James Literary Society, One Parent Families Association, Parents Without Partners Association, the YMHA Chaverim Group, Avant Garde Singles Group and S-Group. Mr. Raymond conducted research for the Montreal Gazette's "Great Montreal Walks" as well as for the television documentary "Six Decades." Many of his historical documents and photographs were exhibited at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Universite de Montreal, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Shaar Hashomayim Congregation and the Jewish Public Library. He has delivered a series of illustrated lectures dealing with Canadian Judaica at the former Saidye Bronfman Centre among other institutions. This collection was accumulated by Allan Raymond over a period of thirty-five years. Most of the collection held at the Jewish Public Library was donated in 1993 and again in 1999. Mr. Raymond continues in his collecting as well as donations of material to the Jewish Public Library Archives to this day.
- Language
- English
- Yiddish
- French
- Hebrew
- Custodial History
- Received by the Jewish Public Library by Allan Raymond in 1993 and 1999.
- Arrangement
- Each series arranged individual to the specific family, person, institution, business or organization. Also includes materials arranged based on format such as "artefacts."
- Access Restrictions
- Some restrictions may apply due to Privacy legislation.
- Reproduction Restrictions
- Some restrictions may apply due to Copyright legislation.
- Finding Aid
- Original finding aid available in JPL-A.
- Subjects
- Abramowitz, Herman
- Abramowitz, Tess (nee Bokar)
- Montreal (Quebec) - Buildings, structures, etc.
- Montreal (Quebec) - Street scenes
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Images
Mannie Lecker Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn16743
- Collection
- Mannie Lecker Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- .4m of mixed material
- Fonds No.
- 1043
- Date
- 1885-2005 (predominant 1942-1945)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of wartime memorabilia and propaganda collected by Mr. Lecker during his service in Europe in World War II.
- Collection
- Mannie Lecker Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- .4m of mixed material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of wartime memorabilia and propaganda collected by Mr. Lecker during his service in Europe in World War II.
- Date
- 1885-2005 (predominant 1942-1945)
- Fonds No.
- 1043
- Storage Location
- JPL
- Creator
- Mannie Lecker
- History / Biographical
- Mr. Lecker was born and raised in Montreal. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II and served as ground maintenance crew in the Air Force. Mr. Lecker was present during D-Day invasion, June 06, 1944 and marched across Europe, specifically through France, Holland and Germany. During his time in Europe, Mr. Lecker collected and saved wartime propaganda and memorabilia. Upon discharge from the Forces Mr. Lecker returned to Montreal but travelled often across Canada as a travelling salesman. Mr. Lecker passed away in Montreal in December 2007.
- Custodial History
- Initial donation was made in 1978 by Mr. Lecker to Paul Trepman, then director of the JPL. In 2005, Mr. Lecker was reconnected to the Library and Archives and made two further donations in 2005 and 2006. The last donation of Mr. Lecker's service medals was made in 2008 after his death.
- Name Access
- Lecker, Mannie, d.December 2007
- Subjects
- Veterans, Jewish - Canada
- World War, 1939-1945 - Veterans
- World War, 1939-1945 - Personal narratives
- Medals
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn30952
- Collection
- Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 7.8m multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1044
- Date
- 1882-1978
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of records of both Temple Beth Sholom and Temple Emanu-El. Records vary from birth, marriage and burial registers, minutes, bulletins, correspondence and various legal documents.
- Collection
- Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 7.8m multiple media
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of records of both Temple Beth Sholom and Temple Emanu-El. Records vary from birth, marriage and burial registers, minutes, bulletins, correspondence and various legal documents.
- Date
- 1882-1978
- Fonds No.
- 1044
- History / Biographical
- Temple Emanu-El was founded as the first Reform synagogue in Montreal in 1882 although it was not until 1892 when the first Temple sanctuary was erected on Cyprus Street, corner of Stanley Street. Temple Emanu-El re-located in 1911 to a new building on the corner of Shebrooke Street and Elm Street in Westmount. In 1957, tragedy struck the congregation when a fire destroyed the building erected in 1911. A new sanctuary was completed at the same location in 1959. In 1980, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Beth Sholom, a sister congregation founded in 1953, merged together to create Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom.
- Language
- English
- Subjects
- Temple Beth Sholom - Montreal (Quebec)
- Temple Emanu-El -- Montreal (Quebec)
- Synagogues - Montreal
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
United Talmud Torahs Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn17109
- Collection
- United Talmud Torahs Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1047
- Date
- 1896 - current
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of administrative records on the running and organization of the school, student activities, teachers, activities, special occasions and parent involvement. The fonds is divided into eleven series. Series I: Board of Directors Series II: History Series III: Fundraising Series IV: Bu…
- Collection
- United Talmud Torahs Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of administrative records on the running and organization of the school, student activities, teachers, activities, special occasions and parent involvement. The fonds is divided into eleven series. Series I: Board of Directors Series II: History Series III: Fundraising Series IV: Budget and Finance Series V: Teaching Staff Series VI: Parents Series VII: Students Series VIII: Programs Series IX: Publications Series X: Audio-Visual Series XI: Correspondence
- Date
- 1896 - current
- Fonds No.
- 1047
- Storage Location
- JPL
- History / Biographical
- The United Talmud Torahs were founded in 1896. Rabbi A.M. Ashinsky established the first Talmud Torah class on 130 Cadieux St. In 1903 the Talmud Torah was housed in its own building at 140 St. Urbain street, when it came under the directorship of Rabbi Hirsch Cohen. In 1912 the school admitted girls and was incorporated under the name of "The Hebrew Free School of Montreal". In 1917 the language of instruction changed from Yiddish to Hebrew. Several Hewbrew schools, which were spread over the city of Montreal were amalgamated in 1917 as The United Talmud Torahs. In 1930 the building on St. Joseph Blvd. was erected and in 1935 The United Talmud Torahs became a day school. Since 1970 The French language is a significant language of instruction. At present the United Talmud Torahs consist of elementary school and Herzliah High Schools with branched in Snowdon and St. Laurent.
- Custodial History
- All records transferred directly from the United Talmud Torahs of Montreal.
- Subjects
- United Talmud Torahs (Montreal)
- United Talmud Torahs (Montreal) - Bialik Hebrew School
- United Talmud Torahs (Montreal) - Chomedy
- United Talmud Torahs (Montreal) - Herzliah High School
- United Talmud Torahs (Montreal) - Cote St-Luc
- Religious education
- Education, Elementary
- Education, Preschool
- Education, Secondary
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Aviva Ravel Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn44689
- Collection
- Aviva Ravel Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 3.3m of multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1058
- Scope and Content
- Series 1 includes textual records and photographs, which are arranged following the principle of original order. Files also include scholarly works, handwritten and typed notes and drafts, newspaper clippings, promotional material, and professional correspondence regarding the works written, transl…
- Collection
- Aviva Ravel Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 3.3m of multiple media
- Scope and Content
- Series 1 includes textual records and photographs, which are arranged following the principle of original order. Files also include scholarly works, handwritten and typed notes and drafts, newspaper clippings, promotional material, and professional correspondence regarding the works written, translated, and produced by Aviva Ravel. Series 2 includes textual records of professional correspondence , which detail Avival Ravel's large body of work. The files are arranged following the original order. Files also include newspaper clippings, and promotional material. Series 3 includes textual records of notebooks in Yiddish.
- Fonds No.
- 1058
- Storage Location
- JPL
- Bay 5
- Creator
- Aviva Ravel
- Physical Condition
- Good to excellent
- History / Biographical
- Author of more than 25 plays, numerous short stories, and works of non-fiction, Dr. Aviva Ravel's works concentrates heavily on Jewish life throughout the world and, more specifically, in Montreal. Her works have been featured on the CBC, Kol Isreal, and at the Saidye Bronfman Centre. Two of her plays were also adapted into film. Born in Montreal, Dr. Ravel holds a Ph.D in Canadian Theatre from McGill University, an M.A from the Université de Montréal, and a B.A from Concordia University. She taught English, drama, and Canadian literature at all three of these universities, including the Royal Military College. Dr. Ravel's work as an educator was not reserved only to college and university; she also taught regularly as an elementary teacher in Montreal as well as on a kibbutz in Israel. Since 1984 Aviva Ravel has been Artistic Director of Cameo Productions. She is also founder and director of the popular Performance Playreading Ensemble of the Cote St. Luc Library that has presented over 150 plays, both classical and modern, in the theatre auditorium. Dr. Ravel is the recipient of many awards including the Women Write for Theatre Award, J.I. Segal Award, Women's Press Club Award for Humour, Québec Drama Festival Award, Women's Federation Honoree for Contribution to Montreal Theatre, and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Québec Award. Recently, she was honoured by the Association for Canadian Theatre Research.
- Language
- English
- French
- Yiddish
- Italian
- Acquisition Source
- Aviva Ravel
- Custodial History
- Aviva Ravel
- Reproduction Restrictions
- Contains copyright material. Consult JPL Archives for more information.
- Accession No.
- 12-002
- Name Access
- Ravel, Aviva
- Subjects
- Ravel, Aviva.
- Playwriting
- Plays
- Theatre
- Theatrical Productions.
- Writers, Yiddish
- Writing - Fiction
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Manny Batshaw Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn16730
- Collection
- Manny Batshaw Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1.7m of textual documents ; 347 photographs
- Fonds No.
- 1059
- Date
- 1918-2006
- Scope and Content
- The Fonds consists of correspondence regarding both personal and business matters, newspaper clippings (both loose and in scrapbooks), publications by AJCS and other Jewish organizations, a published biography of Manuel Batshaw, documents regarding his time as a social worker, photographs, audio an…
- Collection
- Manny Batshaw Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1.7m of textual documents ; 347 photographs
- Scope and Content
- The Fonds consists of correspondence regarding both personal and business matters, newspaper clippings (both loose and in scrapbooks), publications by AJCS and other Jewish organizations, a published biography of Manuel Batshaw, documents regarding his time as a social worker, photographs, audio and visual materials and awards. There are three series present within the Fonds. Series I covers Mr. Batshaw’s personal affairs, and consists mainly of photographs, degrees, certificates, scrapbooks and correspondence. Series II covers Mr. Batshaw’s career as a social worker, and currently consists of a summary of the 1975 Batshaw Report, although further accruals are expected. Series III covers Mr. Batshaw’s professional work within the Jewish community, and consists of annual reports, publications, awards and photographs.
- Date
- 1918-2006
- Fonds No.
- 1059
- Storage Location
- Bay 6
- Creator
- Manny Batshaw
- History / Biographical
- Manuel Gilman Batshaw (Manny) was born in Montreal on April 17, 1915. His parents, Tuvieh Batshaw and Golda Batshaw (née Gelman) immigrated to Montreal from Russia in 1903, following the birth of Manny’s older brother Harry in 1902 [?]. Harry was followed by Arthur in 1908, Frances in 1910 and finally, Manny. The family had a very limited income. While his father worked outside of the home, Manny’s mother Goldie ran a small grocery store from their home’s living room. From childhood, Manny was quite active within the Montreal Jewish community. In 1928, as a bar mitzvah gift from his brother Harry, Manny received a membership to the YMHA. Over the years, he moved from member, to club leader, to being in charge of all clubs, and finally, to educational director. It was through this organization that Manny had his first experiences in the field of social work. At 15 years old, he joined Young Judea. At 16, he became a counselor at Camp B’nai Brith. In 1938, Manny met Rachel Levitt (Rachie). She was also a social worker, nine years his senior. Two years later in 1940, the two were married. In 1942, Manny volunteered for the Canadian Armed Forces. He was placed in the Infantry and was made District Social Service Officer in charge of Social Services to the Canadian Armed Forces in the province of Quebec. He began his military career as a Private and by the time the War was over had attained the rank of Captain. After the War he was invited to become the Executive Director of the Red Cross in Montreal. As tempting as the offer was, he wanted to play a larger role within the Jewish community, so he declined. From 1947-1968, the Batshaw family moved quite a bit living in Philadelphia, Hamilton, Atlanta, Newark, New Jersey and New York. In 1968, the Allied Jewish Community Services (AJCS) contacted Manny, and asked him to return to Montreal as Executive Director of the organization. He agreed, and remained in that position until 1980. During the “Batshaw Era,” fundraising increased five-fold and the organization expanded, made obvious by the many buildings which were constructed, including Cummings House in 1973. He personally helped to reassure the community following the implementation of Bill 65, and made it his own personal mission to look after his people. He insisted on making it the right of all Jewish children to have a Jewish education, he helped to integrate the Francophone Sephardic population into the AJCS, he organized trips for students to visit Israel, and in the face of possible Quebec separation (when many Anglophone Jews were leaving the province), he fought for French Immersion education in Jewish schools. His compassion was felt beyond the walls of AJCS. In 1974, following a news story in The Montreal Gazette regarding the maltreatment of children in a welfare institution in La Prairie, Manny convinced Claude Forget, Minister of Health and Welfare for the province of Quebec, to allow him to form a small committee of professionals to go into the institution and make recommendations. The approval arrived the next day on a Thursday, the committee was formed the following day, and by Sunday night, the visit had been completed and the finished report had been delivered to the Minister. The recommendations were published in the local newspapers and soon after almost all of them had been implemented. Obviously impressed, Mr. Forget asked Manny to spearhead a thorough examination of the province’s 60 other institutions. What followed 11 months later was an 11-volume report, informally titled The Batshaw Committee Report. This led to the enactment of Bill 24, Quebec’s Youth Protection Act. In 1993, when the five Anglophone child welfare institutions of Quebec amalgamated, the new name was an easy choice: Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. After his retirement from AJCS in 1980, Manny joined Claridge Inc. at the request of his friend Charles Bronfman as his Consultant on Philanthropy and Jewish Affairs. He retired from this position in 1998.
- Custodial History
- Donated in 2006 by Manny Batshaw.
- Name Access
- Batshaw, Manuel G., 1915-
- Subjects
- Camp B'nai Brith
- Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Association
- Batshaw Youth and Family Centres = Les Centres de la jeunesse et de la famille Batshaw
- Federation CJA - Montreal (Quebec)
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn34235
- Collection
- Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 27.3 linear metres of multiple media
- Fonds No.
- 1061
- Scope and Content
- General information about the Saidye Bronfman Theatre, but also specific records about different events that occurred in it and/or were organized by it. There are multiple files about plays with detailed descriptions about the budgets, the scripts and the costumes to name a few. Exhibitions’ …
- Collection
- Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 27.3 linear metres of multiple media
- Scope and Content
- General information about the Saidye Bronfman Theatre, but also specific records about different events that occurred in it and/or were organized by it. There are multiple files about plays with detailed descriptions about the budgets, the scripts and the costumes to name a few. Exhibitions’ explanations are also available to the interest of the public. Festival programs such as Family and Puppet Festival and activities such as Artapalooza are also in the Fonds. Grant proposals, donations by individuals and businesses, overall budgets, renovation information, letters between the centre and other institutions or people related to the centre and its activities, etc.
- Fonds No.
- 1061
- Storage Location
- JPL
- History / Biographical
- Initially funded by the Bronfman family and named for matriarch Saidye to honor her many years of deep and active interest in the arts and the YM-YWHA, the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts was inaugurated on September 24, 1967 as a non-profit cultural centre for the arts. The centre was home to an art gallery, theatres staging English, French and Yiddish language productions; the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre and the Youth Institute. It also housed the School of Fine Arts where classrooms were established as well as fine arts studios, dance and acting classes. The purpose the Centre was ‘to bring together in the common pursuit of learning and exploration men and women of all ages, religions, races, language or ethnic origins who identify with the mosaic of cultures which make up our province and our country.’ The art gallery was known internationally for its innovative leadership and excellence in contemporary art. Canadian, as well as international artists showed their multi-media exhibitions in the 3 500 square foot gallery. The Saidye Bronfman Centre hosted different shows and plays for older as well as younger audiences. Many plays were shown in the Yiddish Theatre to a larger public. There were also plays for children mostly organized by the Youth Institute which hosted stand-up comedy and activities for a younger audience. Artapalooza which was organized annually was also very popular and children participated heavily in the many activities related to it. The theatres of the SBC played an important role in the Montreal Jewish Community since ‘the Yiddish Theatre and its founder, Dora Wasserman [were] the recipients of many awards in recognition of the essential role they play in preserving the Yiddish language and cultural heritage.’ The School of Fine attracted people who were passionate about painting, photography, jewellery and much more. The School held sculpture symposiums and numerous photographs and painting exhibitions in order to show diverse projects in a myriad of mediums and subjects. It offered courses to approximately 1 000 students, ranging from novice to advanced levels. In the last year of its existence, the Saidye Bronfman Centre went through a major change. According to Kalichman, co-president of the YM-YWHA, a complex series of pressures led to the changes as well as financial issues for the Centre’s three entities; the gallery, the theatre and the School of Fine Arts. These pressures meant that these entities were directly competing for funding. Eventually these pressures led to the closure of the Saidye Bronfman Centre as it was under the administration of the YM-YWHA and the founding of the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts at the ‘Saidye’. The new centre has a new focal point concentrating strictly on performing arts. Because of this, the decision was made to close the School of Fine Arts and to discontinue the art gallery from the Segal Centre.
- Language
- English
- French
- Custodial History
- The collection came from the Saidye Bronfman Centre and the YM-YWHA.
- Access Restrictions
- Privacy laws may apply
- Reproduction Restrictions
- Copyright laws may apply
- Subjects
- Saidye Bronfman Centre [Montreal, Quebec].
- Renovation
- Buildings
- Theatrical Productions.
- School of Fine Arts
- Fine Arts
- Youth Institute
- Art gallery
- Correspondence
- Administrative information
- Marketing
- Publicity
- Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
Steinberg/Rafman Families Fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn16734
- Collection
- Steinberg/Rafman Family Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 5.0cm textual records ; 28 photographs
- Fonds No.
- 1066
- Date
- 1906-1990
- Scope and Content
- The Fonds consists of correspondence with Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg), her wedding notes, her journal pages, a number of legal documents, some newspaper clippings and stock certificates about Steinberg’s, and family photographs. There are three series present within the Fonds. Series I cover…
- Collection
- Steinberg/Rafman Family Fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Material Type
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 5.0cm textual records ; 28 photographs
- Scope and Content
- The Fonds consists of correspondence with Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg), her wedding notes, her journal pages, a number of legal documents, some newspaper clippings and stock certificates about Steinberg’s, and family photographs. There are three series present within the Fonds. Series I covers Lily Rafman’s personal papers. It includes correspondence. Series II is in regards to Steinberg’s store. Series III contains photographs of both the Rafman and the Steinberg families.
- Date
- 1906-1990
- Fonds No.
- 1066
- Storage Location
- Bay 6
- 6-4C
- History / Biographical
- Hyman Rafman The son of Max Rafman and Sarah Rabinovich, Hyman Rafman was born on November 20, 1906. On June 4, 1939, he married Lily Steinberg. He passed away on January 31, 1974. Lily Rafman (nee Steinberg) The daughter of Vilmos Sternberg (later known as William Steinberg) and Ida Roth, Lily Steinberg was born in 1909. As a child, she helped her mother run the family business (Steinberg’s Stores). In 1931, after her brother Sam had taken over the family business, she and her mother started up a small shop on Monkland Street in Montreal, where she worked and lived until her marriage in 1939. She and Hyman Rafman had four children, Sandra, Nancy, Marlene and Mark. Steinberg’s Ida Roth was born in 1884. In 1902, she married William Steinberg (an arranged marriage). They had six children: Jack (1903), Sam (1905), Nathan (1908), Lily (1909), Max (1912), and Morris (1914). On her own, Ida herself started a small grocery store in 1917 in order to provide for her family. It was on St. Lawrence Boulevard in Montreal, and was quite successful. All family members helped out around the store, but young Sam Steinberg quickly emerged as a retail prodigy. He began opening new stores around Montreal. In 1930, he incorporated the company, calling it “Steinberg’s Service Stores Ltd.” The first self-service outlet was opened in 1933, and a “Wholesale Grocereria” (offering limited service but drastically-discounted prices) opened its doors in 1934. There was a great expansion in the 1950s, where Steinberg’s opened up many outlets all over the province, not just in Montreal.
- Custodial History
- Donated by Sharon Steinberg (daughter of Jack Steinberg and Gertrude Dover) and Nancy Rafman (daughter of Hyman Rafman and Lily Steinberg).
- Notes
- All photographs entered in the JPL Photograph Database.
- Subjects
- Steinberg family
- Steinberg Foods, Ltd.
- Steinberg, Sam, 1905-1978
- Washmor Frocks Co. (Montreal, Quebec)
- Steinberg, Ida, 1884-1946
- Steinberg, Jack, 1903-
- Steinberg, Max, 1912-
- Steinberg, Nathan, 1908
- Rafman family
- Rafman, Lily (nee Steinberg)
- Textile industry
- Trout Lake (Laurentians, Quebec)
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Jewish Public Library Archives
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