name:"Interviewed by Millie Mirsky" found 4 records - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network

Scope and Content: Subject: David Rabin Interviewer: Millie Mirksy Date: January 28, 2001 Location: Ottawa Number of tapes: 2 Time: tape 1 32:03 tape 2 53:47 David is Millie’s maternal uncle. Her mother is his sister Esther The family came to Canada from Lithuania because David’s father had gotten a position at the …

Collection: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Material Type: sound recording

Physical Description: 2 tapes

Scope and Content: Subject: David Rabin Interviewer: Millie Mirksy Date: January 28, 2001 Location: Ottawa Number of tapes: 2 Time: tape 1 32:03 tape 2 53:47 David is Millie’s maternal uncle. Her mother is his sister Esther The family came to Canada from Lithuania because David’s father had gotten a position at the Adath Jeshurun in Ottawa. His father came in 1927, and worked in Kirkland lake with the Jewish community. His mother, his sister Esther and David arrived in November 1929, in Montreal. From there, they moved to Ottawa. The name of the boat was the mon calm? It was later scrapped during the war Lived on Daly Ave. then moved to Rideau St. closest neighbour was Mr. Abelson, and they used to go there Friday nights for shabbos dinner. His dad played the violin and his mother played the piano and they used to play duets together when they lived on Daly Ave. Recalls the conditions on the boat on the way to Canada, and how he was an outgoing child. Arrived during the depression but they never lacked for anything. Recalls childhood stories, and anti-semitism growing up. Recalls looking at the window displays at I.L Cohen’s drug store at Cumberland and Rideau St. and Freiman’s Department Store. Recalls during the depression when his father’s salary was reduced by $300, and his mother never forgave the secretary of the synagogue for that. Recalls his father going to the Byward Market to slaughter the chickens. In those days people would bring their chickens and would get them slaughtered for 10 cents. At cantor’s and Weinstiens butcher shops. Got his first bike at his bar mitzvah. He used to bike to and from the Byward market for the chickens and other grocery shopping. Canned goods were bought at Edelsons, across the street from York St. Shul, on Clarence st. Mr. Edelson used to come and take people's grocery orders and deliver them to houses. Recalls looking forward to shabbos dinner. Loved the food and the people who used to come for shabbos dinner and the songs they would sing David went to shul every saturday. Recalls running to shul at Adath Jeshurun on King Edward because there was free ginger ale and cream soda from pure spring. David had younger brothers; Eli and Lionel. Lionel ended up in New York, and is the most religious person in the family. When David was in high school friday night services were brought back by Rabbi Fasman. David was 6 years older than Lionel and 13 years older than Eli, so they had little in common. Tape 1 ends. Tape 2 *content advisory* contains mention of illicit substances. Recalls a rabbi who had legal problems, and his family’s reactions. Recalls teachers and administrators from both York St Public School, and Osgoode Public School. Went to high school at Lisgar Collegiate, and recalls teachers and administrators there. One of the physics teachers was a veteran of the First World War, and used to tell them war stories Recalls rivalry between Lisgar and Glebe Collegiate. Recalls teenage friends and their fates during the war. Went to cheder on George St. in an old salvation army building that had been condemned. His teacher was Mr. Lief and there was also a Mr. Krantzberg. Went from age 6-13. Recalls that you were only allowed to miss cheder if you were very sick Talmud Torah alumni club. It started off a sporting club, and grew as more guys who went to Tamund Torah together joined. Anti-semitism was rampant from St. Anne’s church because of an anti-semitic priest, so Talmud Torah and community was very important. It’s where you learned prayers, songs, and Jewish values Recalls his dad charged a tax when he was slaughtering chickens, where a portion of the cost went towards the Talmud Torah, to pay the teachers salary. Tuition was $2 a month, so rather than raise the price of tuition fees during the depression, David’s dad gave money The Litwacks family, the Commercial Tire family, was poor and lived in the basement of the Talmud Torah building. Recalls his friends who went to cheder with him, including the Loeb family and others. Living on Wurtemburg St, David learned to skate on the Rideau River, after getting skates from his dad. He also played baseball and softball in the summer. Played softball in the Jewish Men’s league, and in the senior league. Also played tennis. In University he used to play bridge. Sons of Israel were the group of Jewish boys who lived in Lower Town. The Talmud Torah Alumni club lived on Rideau St. and surrounding area. The SOI were tougher because their area faced more severe and physical antisemitism. The SOI and the TTA used to play sports together. Would rent the gym at York St School once a week to play basketball. Would go to Brittania by streetcar with his family. Recalls going to Brittania with Talmud Torah and playing with other students. Audio cuts Recalls different bakeries; Rideau Bakery, Bodnoff’s, Mocian? A lot of the Jewish community, including David, shopped at Freimans. If Freimans didn’t have it, there were other smaller stores on Sparks St. Recalls going to the Regent theater, Rideau theater, and the capitol theater. David and others would try to get out of Shul fast, eat lunch and then for a dime spend the afternoon in the theater. I.L Cohen at Cumberland and Rideau was the drug store David’s family went to. Cantor’s bakery and butcher shop and Weinstein Butcher shop, run by Percy Weinstein’s family who was a friend of David’s brother Barney Weiss supported the Jewish softball teams, and he used to come to all the games at York St School Team players included; Burt Loeb, Sammy Hanzer, Steinburg boys. David recalls a certain game where he hit a home run and was offered free food from Barney Weiss, who’s daughter Pauline went on to marry Hy Hochberg. David recalls education and schooling was his parents priority, so he didn’t get to play a lot. Recalls listening to and being fans of jazz and swing music, and going to the shows when they came to central Ottawa. David saw Louis Armstrong when he was in high school, c. 1939/40 Recalls how times were different in regards to substance use or abuse. Recalls how David and his friends used to sell newspapers to the butcher shops to make money. David recalls how he misses Ottawa, and how much the community in Ottawa meant to him He was in Ottawa until he married his wife Elenor. Discusses friends who enlisted in the war. Audio ends

Responsibility: Interviewed by Millie Mirsky

Date: January 28, 2001

Fonds No.: O0045

Storage Location: vault

Name Access: Millie Mirsky

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Interview with Dr. Shalom Pearlman

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106354

Collection: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Material Type: sound recording

Physical Description: 2 tapes

Fonds No.: O0045

Date: May 17, 2000

Collection: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Material Type: sound recording

Physical Description: 2 tapes

Responsibility: Interviewed by Millie Mirsky

Date: May 17, 2000

Fonds No.: O0045

Storage Location: vault

Name Access: Millie Mirsky

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Ottawa Jewish Archives

Interview with Jack Smith

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106363

Collection: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Material Type: sound recording

Physical Description: 2 tapes

Fonds No.: O0045

Date: June 13, 2001

Collection: Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Material Type: sound recording

Physical Description: 2 tapes

Responsibility: Interviewed by Millie Mirsky

Date: June 13, 2001

Fonds No.: O0045

Storage Location: vault

History / Biographical: Duration: tape 1- 1:03:07 tape 2- audio ends 54:40. Tape ends 1:42:32 Number of tapes: 2 Tape 1: *outdated language warning* Jack was born January 14, 1932 in Ottawa at the Civic hospital. Lived on St. Patrick street for most of his life, before moving to Lisgar street and then Powell Ave. His dad Leopold arrived in Canada in 1908, after leaving Russia and going to Norway with his brother Joe to live with their uncle. Both were peddlers there. His father had 3 or 4 brothers, but Jack is only familiar with one uncle who lived on Murray Street in Ottawa near the Shul and his father, before moving to the states and settling in Brooklyn. Recalls a paternal family reunion he went to after putting his father’s story on the internet and finding distant relatives. Recalls how his mother’s family was close. His mother was the youngest of 5 sisters, but they do not recall how she got to Montreal His parents met in Montreal, where his father was a shoe maker. They were married by Rev. Mirsky on Cumberland Ave. Their marriage certificate exists in the Ottawa Jewish Archives His father had a shoe maker shop on St. patrick street for 50 years There were 9 boys and 4 girls in the family. Recalls how there were always activities growing up in a large family. His mother was a homemaker and passed away when she was 57. His father passed away at 87 They lived above their shoe maker shop, and the property was owned by Abe Bodnoff, who owned the next door kosher bakery, where 2 or 3 of Jack’s brothers worked. His father worked closely with farmers, fixing their shoes, and worked on a barter system; a farmer with a creamery in Winchester would bring dairy products in return for his father’s services. This barter system helped ensure there was always food in the house Remembers going to Sam Caplan’s department store for products and clothes Remembers his father making latkes on sunday’s for people and always having soup on the stove in the shop for visitors because there was a kitchen at the back of the shop Recalls how his father used to get the Jewish newspaper in his store, so people would come to visit the shop for social visits as well as shoe services His mother used to tell fortunes and was an herbal medicine maker. She made salves, and other medicines she would sell. His mother worked closely with an Indigenous woman who gave her medicinal recipes in exchange for fortunes [outdated term used] Recalls going to Stittsville on the train in the summer to pick plants for the salve Recalls his parents taking the train to the sulfur springs. Recalls how the Johnson family had a place in carlsbad springs and the Tennenbombs [?] People came from all over to go to Carlsbad sulfur springs. It cost 65 cents to take the train to the springs, but Jack and his brother would hide rather than buy a ticket so they would have money for the corner store Recalls how his parents were incredibly protective and food for their children was their priority. It was a loving home in spite of tough times. Remembers his brothers going out to work and giving their pay cheques to their parents. Before he was born Jack’s parents and his brothers lived on a farm His parents never spoke about his life in Europe or his extended family or the pogroms, and when Jack asked his father what their name was before Smith his father would not tell him, however Jack later found out they left Europe with the name Smith. Jack states because of his father’s reluctance to talk about his extended family, Jack did not know how many people he was related to until he started doing research Jack’s mother was wonderfu, and she would volunteer at Murray St. Shul and would raise money for the Shul Recalls how his parents’ charitable spirit passed on to him *audio skips* Recalls how all of his children are hard workers and charitable and involved in the community. Recalls how Good Shepherd Laundry on St. Andrew’s street in Ottawa was full of nuns and they had a laundry there that they worked in. Jack’s father fixed their shoes for them, and Jack recalls going to pick up and deliver their shoes and how you never saw the sisters, you just dropped them off through a door. His father had 4 brothers, and his mother had 5 sisters and 3 brothers. [This information is different than what he stated earlier in the audio] Recalls meeting his first cousins from his mother’s side, who had come up from Detroit with his wife. Jack is the second youngest out of 13, and growing up his oldest brother Morris had already moved out. Recalls how Morris, his brother Cecil and his brother Sully worked at a bakery off of St. Patrick St. There were 3 bakeries; Bodnoff, Dominion, both on St. Patrick and Rideau bakery on Rideau St. Later came a fourth bakery in Hintonburg that did not last long. Recalls working closely with the kosher butchers. Recalls living at 378 Lisgar St, and his father sold the house to a dairy factory that was expanding, so they bought the house on 259 Powell. The house on St. Patrick st was above the shoe maker shops, and the Shwartz family lived next to them. The house has 1 bathroom downstairs in the shoe maker shop, and the bathroom with a bathtub was upstairs Recalls there was King Edward, Murray St, and Rideau St and James St Shuls. The west end shuls came later All the peddlers belonged to Murray St shul, and the rest were split between King Edward and Murray St shuls On St. Patrick st he lived next to Bodnoff Bakery, and was 2 doors down from the Jewish butcher shop. His first job at a deli was for Barney Wiess [?], at Capital House. *audio ends* Tape 2 *mention of antisemitic events* Recalls working with Mrs. Wiess and her kosher cooking, and her hosting the war brides when they arrived to Canada Recalls working in the grocery store, and everyone paying with Ration coupons. After school hours at York St. In Public School, he used to sell and deliver groceries. When they moved to Lisgar, he transferred to Kent St. School from York St. School Jack never finished school, he dropped out at 12 years old, and he started driving at 13 to deliver grocery orders. Recalls going to the market with his mother to slaughter the chickens. Recalls going to the store with his friends and spending money on goods Recalls his sister Freida liked to sing. On sunday nights his mother and father used to go out to Brittania in the street car. The kids used to make an orchestra. Freida and Nathan would sing and the other kids would play instruments Jack’s brothers Hymie, Scotty, Morris, Cecil all served. The only brother who wasn’t in the force was Sully. Sully was supposed to go, but his mother went to Rabbi Fazmin [?] and requested he find a way to keep Sully from going overseas, because all of her other sons were there. All the brothers came back His brother Sam came back shell shocked, because he was there when the Germans took the Rhine Scotty was stationed in Quebec at some point, and Jack recalls working with someone who served in Quebec with Scotty Scotty and his wife are very active, and enjoy many outdoor activities Jack’s father had to work on Shabbat, so he would go to Shul in the morning before opening the shoe shop. Shabbat and Yom Kippur were both big celebrations in their house Reverend Feinstein [?] used to come to the house every Sunday, and was a great friend of Jack’s father. Rev. Feinstein [?] and his friend Thomas the lawyer were both born-again christians, and both good friends of Jack’s father. Recalls running in Nathanial Feinstien, the son of Rev. Feinstein much later, who remembered Jack from when they were children A lot of people used to come to Jack’s father’s shoe store just to visit with his father Recalls when his father came to Toronto to Jack’s son Davey’s bris, and he was shocked at how busy Jack’s house was all the time, but Jack attributes it to how busy his house and father’s shop was growing up Growing up, Jack’s father used to repair skates so Jack would borrow skates from the shop and go skating, and use broom sticks as hockey sticks, and frozen manure balls as pucks He has fond memories of playing in the winter as a kid Recalls different people he used to work and associate with. People have approached Jack about writing his memoir before, as he has many stories he remembers and he loves reminiscing. Recalls an antisemitic event when he came out of Maziki Hadas and there was a swastika spray painted on his car Growing up there were french kids who used to chase them and say antisemitic things as well. *audio skips* Audio resumes and Jack is recalling packing the bread in his brother’s wagon and working with his brothers Jack enjoyed his childhood very much and has very fond memories Jack was 17 when he went to Toronto. He had his son Moshe at a young age. He went to Toronto with no kids and came back with 9. Only 2 of his kids were born in Ottawa Jack learned a lot about food and catering in Toronto. He learned from Mrs. Mitchell in Toronto Jack became the kosher caterer in Toronto after the Mitchell family moved away, so when he came back to Ottawa he had experience He started kosher parties at the Chateau, and he was a kosher caterer pioneer in Ottawa. He did Kosher parties everywhere. Jack’s son David went out east and came back with a lot of cooking knowledge and experience back to the catering company More than 25 years ago, Jack tried setting up a kosher restaurant in Ottawa on top of a deli, and it didn’t work out. Jack said it was the “right thing in the wrong place” The other caterers of the day were Michi [?] and Mrs. Goldfield. Mr D[?] and Jack E[?]. When Jack came back from Toronto he put Michi [?] out of business. Jack E[?] collaborated with Yuri [?] but then lost his license as a kosher caterer after the Vaad gave them an ultimatum to stay kosher or go the other way Jack loves being involved in the community. His brother David is very involved, and has received the Order of Canada and the keys to the city Jack wanted to change his career from caterer to fundraiser, and no one would take him. Jack recalls a time when his friend from Toronto visited, and told Moshe about how he and Jack lived as young adults in Toronto Jack recalls how he has no money despite a successful career because he is charitable and shares his good fortune Jack recalls when he was working at his restaurant in Hull, he had a man come in asking for money and Jack gave him $650 for his misfortunes. His customers thought he was crazy but 2 years later a delivery guy came in with a package for Jack. The man he had given the money to was a famous cartoonist in Montreal, and he had given Jack 4 pages and a thank you note. Jack refers to a picture he was given by Rabbi Shap [?] and B[?] for helping them raise money for their school *audio ends at 54:40* *tape ends 1:42:32*