7 records – page 1 of 1.

The Goldstein Family

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106826
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
June 11, 2007
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
June 11, 2007
Fonds No.
O0045
Notes
Date Digitized: October 4th, 2021 Digitized by: Grace Turner Number of Cassettes: 1 Subject: Goldstein Family Interviewer: N/A Date: June 11, 2007 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 44.00 -This recording is from the Ben Karp Lecture Series. -Adele Sidney is introduced. Adele will be giving a talk on her family's history, The Goldsteins. Adele is the daughter of Louis and Miriam (Dubrow) Goldstein. -Adele begins the talk with her grandmother, Bella Gluck Goldstein. In May of 1907 Bella Gluck married Moishe Goldstein at the age of 24 in hungary. Bella was the oldest of 5 siblings. -Bella and Moishe lived in Uzhhorod (previously known as Ungvar) from 1908-1917 and had 6 children. They then moved to Czechoslovakia and had the youngest 2 children. The children were raised in a zionist and jewish household, Adele talks of the community in Czechoslovakia at the time. -Bella and Moishe were considered a middle class family; Adele paints a picture of what middle class looked like in this time period. Bella’s brother Samuel Gluck had been living in Ottawa for many years now and came to visit his sister Bella; he convinced her to move the family to Ottawa for a better life. -From 1927-1939 the 8 children and Bella slowly immigrated to Canada. Rose was the first to come over and stayed at her Uncle Sam’s; the rest of the siblings followed suit. -Sam was the next Goldstein to come over; he studied as an electrician and at the age of 17 he started the Goldstein Brothers Electrical Company. -In 1931 Moishe passed away from lung problems and Bella was left widowed with 6 children at home. -In 1933 Harry came to Canada on a special immigration order. Samuel Gluck had connections in the government and was able to get the Goldsteins to Canada despite very tight immigration at the time. -In 1936 the immigration changed a bit and it allowed for Leo, Louis, and Shari to come to Canada. -And finally, in 1939 Bella arrived in Canada. -Once in Canada the realities of life became apparent. The family worked hard to make a living and were still very active members of the jewish community. Bella and her children were members of the James Street Shul; Adele recalls her father Louis telling stories of being very outspoken and against the closing of the James Street Shul. After its closure most of the family became involved in either the King Edward Shul, Agudath Israel, or Machzikie Hadas. -Adele talks of all of the marriages of Bella’s children, including the wedding of her parents; Louis and Muriam Goldstein. She also tells the story of Henry and his bride from Europe. -Adele then discusses the various businesses the Goldstein family was a part of. The maor one being their Electrical company. She talks of the company’s beginning to it’s first storefront. -Adele shares stories from the community about the Goldstein’s company and how they helped the community. The Goldsteins were known for their kindness and they frequently did work for free or cheap for those struggling. Adele also mentions how this practice drove brother Harry crazy as the company made very little money. -In the 1960’s and 1970’s the business continued to expand. In 1967 there was a fire in the original storefront and the store was moved to Bank and Gilmour. Adele also speaks of this time where almost all of the Goldstein Nieces and Nephews spent a summer working for the company as “go-fors” and were often the butt of jokes from their uncles. -Around this time Harry also founded a very successful construction firm that built the Alta Vista Towers. -Some of the other businesses the family was involved in was a Grill on Bank street run by Rose and her husband as well as Leo’s Confectionary Store. -Adele recalls her uncle Sam and Murium’s house as the family gathering spot; most dinners happened in their house. She recalls that when Sam passed away and Murium was widowed she was still considered part of the family and a sister to the siblings. -In April of 1960 Bella passed away just months before her son Sam passed away. -In 1965 Harry’s daughter Susan passed away at the age of 14 and in the same year Rella passed away. -Adele speaks of her fond memories with the family. She recalls the summer cottages on Lac Bernard in Quebec, as well as family outings to the popular Brighton Beach. She talks of her grandmother and aunt’s famous chocolate and cinnamon desserts. She also recalls Harry’s large garden and his homemade wine and challah. -After the Hungarian revolution of 1956 the Goldsteins became very active in helping new Hungarian immigrants in Ottawa. The Goldstein brothers often hired new immigrants at the electrical company until they could learn English and pursue a career. -Adele speaks of the family fund the siblings kept to help the family still in Europe. -Harry was a very active member of the jewish community and made several various charitable donations anonymously throughout his life. She recalls seeing the Rabbi always telling Harry about a new charity or family in need for him to help. Harry was also instrumental in the foundation and building up of Camp Gesher; she recalls it being one of his passions and him pouring his heart and hard work into the camp. -Adele touches on all of the brother’s involvement in the Labour Zionist Movement and their charity work with the party. -Adele concludes the presentation with up to date information on the remaining cousins, grandchildren, and family. -The talk concludes with a thank you to Adele and a reception. END OF TAPE AT 44:00 MINUTE MARK
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Hadassah Wizo Interview with Rose Betcherman, Esther Bilsky, and Adele Sidney.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107576
Collection
Ottawa Hadassah-Wizo fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
moving images
Physical Description
1 DVD
Fonds No.
O0035
Date
January 11, 1993
Collection
Ottawa Hadassah-Wizo fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
moving images
Physical Description
1 DVD
Responsibility
Adele Sidney interviewer
Date
January 11, 1993
Fonds No.
O0035
Storage Location
Multimedia Box 1
Notes
1. Digital tranfer to DVD from VHS by Baseline Communications in December 2012. 2. Located in Multimedia Box 1 under Individuals and Organizations 3. Duration 58 minutes
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Esther Bilsky
Rose Betcherman
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with Gustave Solman

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106364
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
2 tapes
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
October 24, 2000
Scope and Content
Subject: Gustav Soloman Interviewer: Adele Sydney Date: October 24, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 1:51:14 Audio begins mid sentence of the interviewer and then cuts. Blank audio- until 37 seconds in Adele Sydney interviewing her 87 year old “uncle Gus” for the Ottawa Jewish A…
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
2 tapes
Scope and Content
Subject: Gustav Soloman Interviewer: Adele Sydney Date: October 24, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 1:51:14 Audio begins mid sentence of the interviewer and then cuts. Blank audio- until 37 seconds in Adele Sydney interviewing her 87 year old “uncle Gus” for the Ottawa Jewish Archives Oral History project. Gus’s parents came from Romania in 1900, after they had married. Adele’s grandparents came over in 1921. Gus’ eldest sister, Annie was born in Europe, and came to Canada as a baby. Everyone else was born in Quebec, around Drummondville area. In Drummondville, his dad had a clothing store. Later on Gus’ older brother Charlie also had a clothing store in Montreal. There were 7 kids; 4 sons, and 3 daughters. Gus’ paternal uncles came over before his father, followed by his aunts. Gus traveled to Israel after WWII. His family came to Canada after the Wiener family, who helped them. When Gus was 6 they moved to Montreal. His uncles settled in Quebec, in the fur trade and clothing industry. His parents learned French and English while living in Drummondville. Gus makes a comparison between the Quebec independence movement and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gus was in Montreal for about 9 years, and then his family moved to Winnipeg. Gus considers himself well educated, because he went to school in both Quebec and Manitoba. In 1939, he moved to Ottawa after his father had passed away in Winnipeg, for employment opportunities. After his father’s death, his mother spent time in Vancouver and in Montreal with her daughter Tilly. He worked at Le Roche? On Rideau Street during the Great Depression, which used to belong to Joe Wienburg, who was a first cousin of Gus’ mother. Started government job in 1940. Pay grade was decided by education. There was an entrance exam to get into the government. The hours of his job were 9-5 with half day saturdays. He found there was no prejudice or racism in the government, being a young Jewish man. When his parents immigrated they were the only Jewish people in Drummondville. Gus discuss Jewish restrictions living in Germany, and says that conditions in Drummondville were alright Gus started in the government during the war, and he was in the RCAF department as a civilian. Moved to finance, and the new post office building. He was also in the Air Force Training plan. There were some other Jews in the government during that time. There was Harry Chricalski? who is also a member of Gus’ shul. Harry was not fit for service so he was in charge of personnel for the defence department they were working in. Gus was a member of the Civil Service Recreational Association (RA) on Rideau street. They used to hold events for government workers. Gus met Miriam Dubrow, his wife’s sister before he met his wife Esther Ester and Gus got married in December 1941. Gus enlisted in the army when he had to, previously having been in the militia, when he was called up in August 1942. He wasn’t set over right away, as he joined the supply corps of the army. His brother Morris was unemployed and also enlisted. Privates only made $1.30 a day. Gus and Esther first lived with her parents, before buying a home with her sister on Percy St, then Notting Hill, then South Gate. He was sent to Kingston for training in 1942, at the Barryfield army camp. Gus’ son Ronnie was born in July 1943, and was about 11 months old when Gus was sent overseas. Gus was sent to the Borden army camp in south England, before going to Lancaster in the north. He also went to Aldershot army camp. He was then sent to Yent (Belgium) before going to the front. His brother Morris went over in the summer of 1940, with some of the first Canadians sent over. Near the end of the war, the Canadian troops were running across the Rhine. Gus was lightly wounded in the leg during a battle. The major in that group was killed however in that battle. And there was another man in his platoon that was killed on the last day of the war. Gus was wounded and was sent down to Holland, where he had stayed for a couple of weeks to recover. He was given penicillin, which was new. Gus was sent home at the end of December 1945. Returning home he passed through New York. Going to war he went through Halifax. Audio cuts 31:57- 32:08 When he came back from the war he was unemployed. Esther worked at Friedmans as a sales lady when Gus returned home. There were a few Jewish girls working as sales women at Friedmans, but being bilingual was important, because there were a lot of French customers Gus makes comments about the importance of bilingualism, and the Quebec independence movement. Gus and Esther moved onto Percy Street c. 1966 Miriam, Esther and their Mother would go to the James Street Shul every saturday. Esther eventually became president of the sisterhood and Gus became financial secretary of the shul, and a member of the Hebrew Benevolent society Esther was the social type, and was interested in plants, and knitting. Gus used to go to the Capital to see theatre productions and movies before it was torn down When Gus was on leave in the army during the war, he visited London, Edinborough, Brighton, York, and Cardiff, Paris, Amsterdam, The Hague, Brussels. Gus donates to the Legion and the Salvation Army for their services during the war. Esther and Gus travelled to Montreal, Toronto, and the United States often. Esther has cousins in Brooklyn. Saul, Esther’s brother, was living in Montreal, but passed away after his marriage failed. In Ottawa, the Jewish community is growing because of the new community centre and old folks home, but the Jewish community has sustained itself in Ottawa for a long time. The Friedmans were a prominent Jewish family in Ottawa, and were involved during and after the war. There was not a lot of Jewish schooling when he was growing up, but a Rabbi used to visit to teach, because Gus’s family lived and worked in the French area of Montreal. They lived on Ontario St, and then Mount Royal in Montreal. Audio Cuts: 1:03:26- 1:51:14
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
October 24, 2000
Fonds No.
O0045
Storage Location
vault
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with Harry Goldstein

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106345
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
2 tapes
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
November 7, 2000
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
2 tapes
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
November 7, 2000
Fonds No.
O0045
Storage Location
vault
Notes
Subject: Harry Herman Goldstein Interviewer: Adele Sidney Date: November 7, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: Tape 1 (62:50) Tape 2 (7:15) **content warning: mentions of sex work** -Herman (Harry) Goldstein was born in 1917. He grew up in Uszhorod, Czechoslovakia where his father ran an inn. Harry speaks of his childhood around the inn; he recalls his father taking rent in various forms, such as suits from a tailor living at the inn. Harry also speaks of the very common practice of his father renting rooms for prostitution in the town. -Harry recalls his home growing up; he had 7 siblings and his father treated them well. The house he grew up in had no plumbing and he had to walk to the well every morning to pump water. -Harry talks of his Cheder school growing up. He attended regular elementary school from 8AM-1PM everyday then Cheder from 1PM-8 or 9PM. He remembers learning a lot and found it very hard. He has fond memories of a teacher Mr. Goldberg (?). -Harry never got an allowance growing up. He used to steal candy as a child and he tells a story of working his way into the circus so he could see the elephants. -Harry attended elementary school in Ukrainian and then middle school in a Czech language. He had 9 years of schooling before he had to leave to work. -He got his first job in 1932 as a machinist for the railway and once he had finished that he went on to work for a local plumber. He recalls it being very slow work and not very busy. -On November 2nd 1933 he came to Canada for work. His older brother Sam and Sister Rose were already in Ottawa. Harry stayed with Sam until Christmas when he began work as an electrician. -Harry discusses the process of becoming an electrician in Ottawa. -During this time Harry recalls having to buy a new car each year as the Ottawa winter would always destroy his car. -in 1936 Harry was not making much money as an electrician so he bought a ticket to Sudbury. There he got a job selling washing machines, he was successful since they would send him to little Ukraine and he spoke ukrainian. He was also able to save more money as he would offer electrical work to the houses. He stayed in SUdbury for 6 months but he got very lonely and he returned to Ottawa in June of 1937. -In 1939 there was an offer for him to purchase a restaurant for $3000; he bought this grill on Rideau Street and began making improvements. He talks of the first year running the restaurant. -Harry’s sister Rose then came to him and asked for help as she and her husband had been unlucky in business. He let them buy the restaurant from him for $3000. Harry used the money to buy a truck. In 1948 Sam and Harry decided to go 50/50 on a store and they became partners in business. From here he discusses the stores they had and the various locations. -In 1966 there was a fire in one of their buildings. Around this time Harry left the business. -Harry had various contracts for his electrical work; he speaks of his suppliers and the industry. He never made much money as an electrician since he offered such low prices. -Harry then discusses various finances, loans, etc. in his company. -In Harry’s personal life he was active in the Labour Zionist Party; he discusses his work with the cause. -Harry then discusses Camp Gesher, (?) he began working for the camp as a councillor and then the camp was bought by the Toronto Zionist party. He became very involved in the camp and talked of his work on the electrical and cabins. Harry then took over most camp operations; he made many improvements including canoes, a boat, fixing up the cabins and the fields. END OF TAPE 1 -Harry also donated the big hall building to the camp. He spent his own money and built it for the camp. -Then some large investors came to the camp and wanted to take over the operations, Harry reluctantly left the camp when they joined. -Harry discusses his work as an electrician; he had apprenticed under Sam and Sam had apprenticed under Schwartz (?) END OF TAPE 2
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with Louis Goldstein

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106346
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
July 24, 2000
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
July 24, 2000
Fonds No.
O0045
Storage Location
vault
Notes
Subject: Louis Goldstein Interviewer: Adele Sidney Date: July 24, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 44:00 -Louis Goldstein was born in 1921 in Usharut(?). His father passed away when he was young and Louis does not remember much about the old country. His uncle had visited the family and decided to bring them over to Canada. -Louis arrived in Canada in october of 1936. He attended school for a year to learn english. Louis talks of his first impressions of Ottawa and Canada. -Louis’s brother Leo started working for Sam Saslov and shortly after Louis began work as an electrician. -During wartime Louis joined the Air Force. He was stationed in Saskatchewan where he met his wife Miriam Dubrow. She was also a member of the Air Force on the medical side. They were married in Ottawa and then returned to Saskatewan until the end of the war. -When they returned to Ottawa they lived on Percy Street, followed by St. Patrick Street, and finally they moved to York Street. They lived on York Street for 40 years. As they got older they moved to a condo until Miriam fell ill and had to move to an assisted living facility before she passed away. -Louis recalls his time in Ottawa from the 1930’s to the post war. He talks of the jewish community in Lowertown, the James Street Shul, and the difficulties of making a living during the 30’s. Louis was fortunate to have his sister; she was older and made sure he was ok throughout the depression. -Louis recalls his social activities being mostly through the synagogue and the community center on George Street. He discusses the various Shul’s in Sandy Hill and Lowertown and the demographics of them. -Louis tells a story of his favorite spot in Ottawa when he first arrived. At Rideau and Nicolas Street there was a large neon sign he was in awe about and he would take walks to go look at the large sign flash on and off. -Louis also tells a story about a Sunday night outing. Him and a friend went canoeing on the Ottawa River, walked across to Hull, and had a large dinner atva nice restaurant. He recalls all of their food being $1. -Louis recalls road trips to Syracuse and day trips in his truck with the family post war. He worked hard following the war to give his children everything they asked for. He worked hard to expand his business and provide for his family. END OF TAPE
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with Malca Goldstein

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106347
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
August 2, 2001.
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
August 2, 2001.
Fonds No.
O0045
Storage Location
vault
Notes
Subject: Malca Goldstein Interviewer: Adele Sidney Date: August 2, 2001 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 52:18 -Malca is the daughter of Nathan Sloan and Bessie. Nathan was from Lithuania and had come to Canada when he was 2 years old. Bessie was from Russia and came to Canada when she was 9 years old. Both families came to Canada for a better life and more opportunities and they met each other in Ottawa. -Bessie had attended Waller Street School and went to business school to learn stenography. Nathan was a grocer and owned a store in the market. -Malca discusses her mothers side; Her grandmother's name was Sarah Hofman, her mothers sister was Fanny, and her mother had 2 brothers in the states. Bessie was the youngest child and she talks about her older sister Martha Cohen. Martha came to Ottawa after Bessie to marry Irving Cohen. -Malca’s childhood was never lonely, she recalls having many jewish families around her . SHe was a girl guide and loved to read. She recalls going to school through the depression however she says it did not affect her. She also recalls her cousins going off to the war. -Malca recalls her mother being very involved in Hadasa. They went to the King Edward Shul although there wasn’t a seat for Malca so she only attended on the high holidays. -Malca went to York Street public school, then Lisgar high, followed by business college. She enjoyed her business school and went on to work as a stenographer for the government. -Malca then discusses her married life with her husband Harry Goldstein. They met through her cousin and married shortly after. Malca reflects on gaining a new family when she got married; she grew very close with her sister in law. Malca taught herself to sew and sewed all of her maternity clothes and baby clothes. Harry and Malca were homebodies, they did not go out much. Once their children went to school Malca began focusing on charity work. -Malca and Harry had a cottage at Lac Bernard. HSe loved the cottage;’ it had no electricity or hot water. Unfortunately when Malca and Harry’s middle child passed away Malca couldn't bear to be at the cottage anymore and they sold it. -Malca discusses her memories of the formation of the state of Israel. She recalls attending the party at the Chateau Laurier -Malca recalls Lowertown growing up; she talks of a neighbour always picking up the horse droppings after a cart passed for her garden. She recalls no one having much money but supporting each other. Malca recalls a night where the coal furnace in her house opened and the whole family had coal gas poisoning in their sleep; thankfully someone woke them all up before they got too sick. -Malca learnt to drive after she got married, Harry and Irving taught her. -Malca talk of being involved in the zionist movement and her daughters decision to move to Israel. -Malca discusses the jewish community growing up. Everyone supported those who had less and she talks about the Ottawa Hebrew Free Loan Society. -Malca talks about shopping in the market and her fathers grocery store. END OF TAPE AT 52:18
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with The Goldstein Family.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106827
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Fonds No.
O0045
Date
June 11, 2007
Collection
Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Responsibility
Interviewed by Adele Sidney
Date
June 11, 2007
Fonds No.
O0045
Notes
Duration: 43 minutes
Name Access
Adele Sidney
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

7 records – page 1 of 1.