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Interview with Bryna Kahane
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106350
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- August 7, 2000
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman
- Date
- August 7, 2000
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- History / Biographical
- Subject: Bryna Kahane Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: August 7, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 52:00 -Byrna was born in the west end of London. Her father had been from Russia and moved to London in 1911. Her father was a master woodcarver; one of the few remaining in England after the war. Her mother was born in England and had worked as a machine operator in a fur factory before her daughters were born. -Byrna had 2 sisters; an older sister Millie and a younger sister Norma. The family kept to themselves as they were considered immigrants. Byrna discusses her memories of friends in the neighbourhood. -Byrna was in high school when the War broke out and recalls being evacuated to a small town outside of London; Saint Aubin (?). Byrna and her younger sister Millie were evacuated to a foster home together. She discusses the food rations, living with the foster family, studying at night during blitz’s, and looking after her sister. -Byrna discusses her memories of being back in London studying at Cambridge from 1941-1944. She talks about sleeping in shelters and the sounds of the different bombs. -Byrna met her husband Henry while he was in Europe. Henry’s parents were originally from Europe and had immigrated to Canada in 1941. Henry enlisted in the Canadian Military and was sent overseas. He had been injured and when he was sent back to Canada he applied for Byrna to immigrate to Canada. -Byrna arrived in Canada in 1945. She discusses the ship she took from England. She arrived in New York and took a train to Montreal. She recalls her arrival to Canada and the anti-semitism she experienced. -She discusses building a home in Montreal, henry;s job, and her job. -In 1949 their daughter Diana was born. -Byrna discusses a war bride group she joined in Montreal. She was very lucky to find many jewish war brides who became her good friends. -From July 1951 to october of 1952 Byrna and Henry moved to England to start a new life there; unfortunately the jobs were not what Henry expected and they moved back to Canada a year later. -Byrna discusses her work with a congregation in montreal; she was a secretary for the Rabbi and she discusses how much she admired the Rabbi And his work. -In 1973 Henry was diagnosed with a terminal illness and he passed away in September of 1973. Byrna discusses her mentors at work and the support and guidance they provided her during this time. -In January of 1978 Byrna moved to Ottawa for a new job. She discusses her daughter's success and her son's career. She details her career in Ottawa and the various things she was involved in before she retired in 1992. END OF TAPE at 52:00
- Notes
- 1. There are two copies of this interview. Sylvia Kershman donated a second copy of the recording in March 2015.
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with David Appotive
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106335
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- October 28, 2003
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman,
- Date
- October 28, 2003
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman,
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with Doris (Cohen) Edelstein
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106341
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- November 8, 2000
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Doris Cohen Edelstein: A Canadian War Bride Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: December 1, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 32:02 -Doris was born March 11, 1925 in London England to Daniel Strema and Rachel Bernstein. -Daniel was a natural born salesman, an amateur boxe…
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Doris Cohen Edelstein: A Canadian War Bride Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: December 1, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 32:02 -Doris was born March 11, 1925 in London England to Daniel Strema and Rachel Bernstein. -Daniel was a natural born salesman, an amateur boxer in his youth, and had a fascination with law. He moved to New York prior to Dori’s birth to make a name for himself; he stayed for 3 years before Rachel called him home to get married. -Rachel and Daniel were married in May of 1924. -Doris recalls her mother being beautiful, funny, a great piano player, and a wonderful mother. -Doris speaks of her childhood in London and seeing shows in the West End. -In 1933 her brother Dennis was born. -In 1937 Doris’s mother Rachel passed away of pneumonia when Doris was only 11. She recalls her father then moving them closer to his family and having to switch schools. She recalls struggling with the transition. The family had trouble finding good household staff so Doris taught herself to cook and clean. -Doris discusses the political climate in 1939; she recalls being the only jewish girl in her school and experiencing anti-semitism. She was put in Coventry which meant no one in the class was allowed to talk to her. -she has vivid memories of walking to school on September 1st 1939 with a suitcase and gas mask. Her brother and her were evacuated to Kettering and lived with a very nice family in a large house. She remembers the head of the house Mr. Cross, she also mentions how lucky she was for her experience and talks about some children who did not get as lucky with the families that took them in. -In Kettering Doris and her friends started a club called The 40 Club. they rented an attic, bought records, and would host dances with 40 people. -In 1942 at the age of 16 she returned to London and worked as a secretary. She recalls the bombings and the buildign next to her being hit directly, taking the wall and window off of her apartment and covering her with glass. -In January 1943 she met her future husband, Phillip Cohen. They were introduced by mutual friends when he arrived in London from Canada. He was a Canadian Air Force Officer and they began dating immediately. They wrote letters daily from 1943 to 1946 and she still has a full suitcase of handwritten letters. -Phillip Cohen was born in Montreal in 1916 and had 6 brothers and sisters. Doris recalls Phillip as quiet, gentle, and having a wonderful laugh. -Doris speaks of her fathers close bond with Phillip and his ability to get extra rations and treats for both Philip and Dennis. -On March 17 1943 Phillip proposed to Doris; however she said no as she felt she was too young and they continued to date. -Doris recalls the bombings on London once the Germans started usign V-1’s and V-2’s. There was an intense terror as they were so deadly. She later learned Phillip was part of the radar team tracking those bombers and striking them down before they got to London. -At the end of 1943 Phillip and Doris wanted to be engaged. In December they told her father they were engaged and he was upset as he did not want her to leave and Phillip had not asked permission to marry her. He eventually came around on the condition they wait a year to marry. -During this time Doris’s father began seeing a woman who eventually became Doris’s step mother. She recalls how loving and wonderful her step mother was to them. This helped calm Doris’s nerves about leaving her brother and father in London. -In 1944 she recalls the bombings in the night and running to a shelter with her weddign dress in hand. -Doris and Phillip were married September 4, 1944. The Rabbi flew in from Ireland and the reception took place at the Rembrandt Hotel and the couple honeymooned in Wales. -Doris recalls celebrating the end of the war in 1945 and Phillip leaving for Canada. -Doris left for Canada March 14, 1946. She recalls arriving in Halifax, taking a train with the rest of the war brides, and being shocked at how big and empty Canada was. -Doris speaks of the warmth she received from Phillip’s family on her arrival. Phillip's brother Abe rented a 1 bedroom apartment to them in Sandy Hill. here they had 2 of their 4 children and stayed until 1952 when they moved to a larger house in Sandy Hill. -Doris joined the National Council of Jewish Women. Doris speaks of deciding Canada was her home and integrating into the community. She touches on the very different war experiences of Europe versus Canada. -Doris speaks of her life in Ottawa; seeing artists, restaurants, and the Gatineau Club. -Phillip’s proudest career moment was when he represented Canada at a labour conference in Geneva in the 1950’s. The whole family moved to Geneva for a year during this time. -Doris recalls her first pregnancy in 1946 when she was also diagnosed with tuberculosis. She spent months in bed during this time as Phillip took care of them both. -In 1971 Phillip passed away unexpectedly. -In 1979 Doris remarried Nat Edelstein. The couple realized after getting married that they had met previously; in London Phillip had introduced his new fiancee to a fellow Canadian officer from Ottawa, that man turned out to be Nat Edelstein. END OF TAPE
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman
- Date
- November 8, 2000
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- Notes
- 1. A second cassette tape was donated by Sylvia Kershman in March 2015. The second cassette is dated December 1, 2000. 2.At the time of the interview Doris was living at 85 Range road appartment 7 in Ottawa. She reads an account of her life which she wrote. 3. Doris Edelstien was a war-bride. (war bride)
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with Fay Shulman
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106362
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Physical Description
- 2 tapes
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- September 11, 2000
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Physical Description
- 2 tapes
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman
- Date
- September 11, 2000
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- Notes
- 1. Sylvia Kershman donated an additional tape in March 2015. 2. Fay (Moss) Shulman was a war bride.
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with Larry Arron.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106753
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- December 29, 2004
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Larry Arron Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: December 29, 2004 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: Side A (44:44) Side B (10:52) -Larry’s parents came from Russia and originally settled in Montreal. In 1924 the family relocated to Ottawa. -Larry was born January 1, 1923 in Mo…
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Larry Arron Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: December 29, 2004 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: Side A (44:44) Side B (10:52) -Larry’s parents came from Russia and originally settled in Montreal. In 1924 the family relocated to Ottawa. -Larry was born January 1, 1923 in Montreal. -Larry’s father was born in Russia but when his father (larry’s grandfather) had been killed his mother moved the family to Canada. Larry’s father left school at a young age to be a butcher. He worked for 4-5 years as a butcher in a grocery store on St. Laurent Boulevard in Montreal. -Larry’s brothers, Jack and Louis, were also born in Montreal. -For 2 years the family moved to Joliette and his father opened his own store. At this time Larry recalls his mother’s brother coming from Russia to work in the store and live with them. -The family moved back to Montreal and Larry’s father opened a ¢10 store on Laval Street. However, he says his father did not like the area and decided to move to Ottawa due to its close jewish community. He recalls attending shul at Adath Jeshurun on saturdays. -In August of 1925 Larry contracted Polio. He recalls receiving treatment from a Dr. Harry Dover. -He says the Polio did not hinder him much as a child and he recalls swimming at Britannia Beach, walking along the pier, and spending time at the cottage they rented. -Larry was an avid golfer and recalls getting 2 hole-in-ones in his life. -Larry tells a story of a friend named Harry Cranzberg (?) who he has known since 1929 and often golfed with. -Larry recalls his education in Ottawa; he attended York Street Public School where he met Yetta, his wife. He went to highschool at the Ottawa Technical High School until grade 11. He wanted to be an aeronautical engineer and was attending school and working in Burbank California for Boeing. However, the war broke out and he had to return to Ottawa and left school to be a machinist for the war effort. -In 1940 he got conscripted however he failed the health exam due to his Polio so he was sent to be a machinist in Montreal. He then returned to Ottawa to work at Northern Tool & Gauge making fire control instruments for the Navy. -The Navy then moved him to Halifax to work in the arming depot for vessels. He recalls building a part for the radar on the boats; however he did not know what he was building due to secrecy. -Larry stayed in Halifax for approximately 2 years and returned to Ottawa in 1944 to work as a machinist for the airforce. -In May of 1945 Larry and Yetta got married. -Larry then discusses his health issues. In 1967 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and began medication for that. Then in 1980 he got cancer and underwent chemotherapy. He recalls a Dr. Ed Collins who lived in his building telling him to go to the hospital to get examined, where they found cancer on his bladder. He had a year of chemotherapy which did not work and in 1981 he had surgery and his kidney removed. He then moved to Florida to receive further chemo that was not approved in Canada, where he learnt he was allergic to the material used in stitches. After the chemo was approved in Canada in 1982 he returned to Ottawa for another year of chemotherapy. He also mentions having bypass surgery at some point. -Larry at the time of the interview is in good health and credits it to his wife Yetta and her cooking. -Sylvia asks him to recall what war time was like and he says he was very frightened and remembers listening to the radio all the time. He remembers feeling useless as he was too young to enlist at first. Larry also tells a story of losing a friend from A.Z.A. early in the war. -Sylvia then asks him about life in the early 1980’s in Ottawa. Larry recalls seeing the city expand very quickly and the construction of Carling Avenue. -When asked about High School Larry recalls going to Milkbar on Sparks street for milkshakes everyday after school. He also remembers the long walk home through Sandy Hill down Chapel Street. END OF SIDE A Note: Side A original recording cuts off abruptly; however, on Side B they correct the mistake by rediscussign the topic they were talking about. -Sylvia and Larry discuss the social aspects of Sparks Street, Bank Street, and Rideau Street. Larry recalls meeting many school friends there such as the Goldstein brothers. He has fond memories of spending time with friends at the Tea Garden on Sparks. -Larry tells a story about a close friend who also suffered from a bad foot just like he did due to Polio. -Sylvia and Larry discuss the social spots downtown and list off; Regent Theater, Center Theater, Rideau Theater, The Plaza Hotel, and the original Talmud Torah location downtown. -Larry also reminisces about getting his driver's license at 15 years old instead of 16 years old. -Larry finishes by discussing him and Yetta’s wedding and the sense of community the wedding had. END OF SIDE B
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman
- Date
- December 29, 2004
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with Yetta Arron.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106752
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Date
- November 12, 2001
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Yetta Arron Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: January 13, 2004 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 36:08 -Yetta’s family is originally from Lithuania. In 1929 her father came to Canada seeking better opportunities for the family and in 1932 Yetta, her 3 siblings, and her moth…
- Collection
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- sound recording
- Scope and Content
- Subject: Yetta Arron Interviewer: Sylvia Kershman Date: January 13, 2004 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 36:08 -Yetta’s family is originally from Lithuania. In 1929 her father came to Canada seeking better opportunities for the family and in 1932 Yetta, her 3 siblings, and her mother joined him in Canada. -Yetta recalls a rich uncle from America in 1925 visiting them and trying to convince them to move to America. Her grandparents saw American jews as not religious or strict enough and refused to move there. Her grandfather was Charles Weinstein and both her father and grandfather were butchers. -Yetta tells a story about an uncle studying Medicine in Switzerland during the Financial crash of 1929 and how it affected him. -Sylvia asks Yetta about her feelings arriving in Canada. Yetta recalls being sad to leave her grandparents, being happy to leave the anti-semitism in Lithuania, and that it was very hard on her mother to leave. She speaks on how she lost all of her european languages during her “americanization” upon arrival. -Yetta and her family lived at 433 St. Patrick Street in Ottawa and Yetta attended York Street Public School. Sh espeaks of fond memories of a teacher called Ms. Levitan. -Yetta’s father was a kosher butcher in Canada and became a butcher wholesaler later in life. Yetta recalls her father forcing her brother Percy out of school to join the butcher company and she speaks on the different treatment her brothers and her received due to their genders. -Yetta attended highschool at the School of Commerce until grade 11 when the war forced her to go to work. She worked for the Department of Transport at the age of 17/18 during the war time. She recalls working as a secretary for a Mr. Walker. -While working she met a man called Mr. Lefavre (?) who she speaks very fondly of as he introduced her to the arts, music, theater, etc. She also met a woman named Elsie Newman through work who she became friends with and also taught her more about the arts. During this time Yetta has fond memories of going to the Capitol Theater. -Yetta met Larry Arron at York Street School when they were young and the two were married in 1945. They had 3 children; Jeffrey, Wayne, and Shelley. And from her three children she has 5 grandchildren. -Sylvia asks about her memories of the synagogue in Ottawa. Yetta recalls going to both Machzikei Hadas on Murray Street and Beth Shalom on Rideau. However she says she grew up with a fear of her religion due to the way her father taught it in her house. -She speaks of what the synagogue in the old country was like and how she saw Beth Shalom as “heaven”. She recalls loving the services in Canada. -She says that as she got older she grew to love her religion despite her father using it to scare her, and speaks on how her children still love the Beth Shalom Synagogue. END OF TAPE
- Responsibility
- Interviewed by Sylvia Kershman
- Date
- November 12, 2001
- Fonds No.
- O0045
- Storage Location
- vault
- Name Access
- Sylvia Kershman
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
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