The Jewish Hour: The Golden Age of a Toronto Yiddish Radio Show and Newspaper
Author Michael Mandel delves into the pages of a Toronto Yiddish newspaper to tell the story of a Yiddish radio show involving his father and many others in Toronto of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
The book documents Mandel’s quest to learn more about his late father’s Yiddish radio show as described in the pages of a Toronto Yiddish newspaper, the Kanader Nayes (1936-1954). Many articles from the paper, newly translated into English, provide fresh and immediate accounts of a myriad of cultural, political and other daily concerns within Toronto’s Jewish community. The reader is introduced to Max Mandel, Opatow-born star of the local Yiddish radio scene; Dorothy Dworkin, newspaper publisher, travel agent and co-founder of Mount Sinai Hospital; and a plethora of local performers, politicians, professors, cantors and impresarios. The finely-researched tale also touches upon many renowned visitors to the city including Molly Picon, Sholom Asch, Maurice Schwartz, Emma Goldman, Chaim Weizmann and Golda Myerson (before she was Golda Meir). The Jewish Hour adds a significant new chapter to our knowledge of the history of Toronto’s Jewish community. An appendix offers translated and transliterated lyrics of great Yiddish songs.
“… a lovely, loving new book.” — Rick Salutin, Toronto Star (2016)
US $27.00 plus $5 shipping (includes applicable tax).
