setName:"Jewish People’s School of Ottawa fonds = Jewish Folk Shule Ottawa fonds" found 1 record - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one folder containing two Pesach Children’s Concert programmes of the Jeoash Folk Shule dating to 1929 and 1930, Jewish People’s School Montreal publication, ca. 1929, one newspaper clipping, and two photocopied letters of Hugo Levendel describing the role of the Folk Shule in the…

Collection: Jewish People’s School of Ottawa fonds = Jewish Folk Shule Ottawa fonds

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of one folder containing two Pesach Children’s Concert programmes of the Jeoash Folk Shule dating to 1929 and 1930, Jewish People’s School Montreal publication, ca. 1929, one newspaper clipping, and two photocopied letters of Hugo Levendel describing the role of the Folk Shule in the Ottawa Jewish community.

History / Biographical: The foundation for the Ottawa school was laid out in 1925 with the help of the Montreal Folk Shule and its Director, Mr. S. Weisman. Classes were first held with 25 pupils in a hall on Rideau Street. They moved later to a store on Rideau, then to larger quarters on York Street. Eventually there were five grades with approximately 100 pupils, both boys and girls. The school had a difficult time as it lacked financial support by the Jewish community. It was maintained by membership fees and the yearly campaign which was generously supported by the late Archibald Freiman, who personally admired the spirit of the school and those involved in its administration. Folk Shule supporters were supporters of the radical left of socialism who desired Yiddish instruction along with Hebrew. It was a secular school where classics were read, poems recited, choirs organized and plays presented. Financial difficulties ultimately weakened the Folk Shule. In 1935 or 1936 the Ottawa Talmud Torah Board assumed the institution’s assets and liabilities together with the services of Frank Malamuth.

Acquisition Source: Concert programmes donated by Sam Petigorsky, fall 2002.

Notes: Jewish Folk Shule history taken from Hugo Levendel photocopied letters to Rabbi Lifschutz, July 15, 1954 and August 3, 1954. The school has also been referenced to as "Yehoash Folk's Shule" or "Yehoash Folk Shule."

Related Material: Related material in the Ottawa Modern Jewish School fonds, Hugo Levendel fonds, and David Slover fonds (The Hazomir Program).