by Ben Lappin (from Commentary, 1955) Spadina Avenue, the main street of the needle trades in Toronto, looks very much the same as it did ten, twenty, thirty years ago. The same kind of old-fashioned haggling still goes on between the employers and the handful of tense harassed business agents – former pressers, operators, and…
by Irving B Rosen, MD, FRCSC Society doctors, like Harley Street specialists, evoke the image of the sought after, affluent doyen of their calling, courted by the high and mighty, who never question their high fees. Toronto had its society doctors who held sway for about fifty years from about 1900 to 1950. I became…
Note: In 2012, Beth Lida commissioned Bill Gladstone to write a detailed history of the congregation since its founding in 1912. While the 44-page booklet is now out of print, it is still available in PDF format, and easily downloadable for free from the link below. From the Introduction: In Toronto, as in many cities…
One century ago this summer (2022), the Canadian Zionist Convention drew delegates to Ottawa from all parts of Canada. As the Shanghai-China-based newspaper Israel’s Messenger reported, a keynote speech was given by our prime minister, MacKenzie King. “The address of Premier King has created a deep impression,” the newspaper reported. “It was punctuated with bursts…
Irving Abella, the author and former history professor who died on July 3, 2022 at age 82, wore many hats throughout his distinguished career. He was chair of Canadian Studies, the Shiff Professor of Canadian Jewish History, chair of Canadian Professors for Peace in the Middle East, chair of Canadian Jewish Archives, Governor of York…
From the Canadian Jewish News, May 22, 1970 The Montreal Jewish community is still discussing the relevance of the Jewish Defense League to this city following the recent successful meeting at the Sheraton Mount Royal Hotel. Theme of the meeting, sponsored by the Quebec branch of the League, was: A Jewish Survival Rally. The introduction,…
From The Canadian Jewish News, December 2, 1960 Beirut, Lebanon – The turbulent Arab world was shaken by a new controversy this week over – of all people – that “dangerous Zionist” Elizabeth Taylor. The United Arab Republic, leader in the unrelenting Arab assault against the state of Israel, was painted as a culprit for…
Resources for Genealogists All searchable/viewable on this site (links below) Searchable Databases >> Births (range 1880 to 1917) Marriages (range 1858 to 1936) Deaths (range 1939 to 1966) Searchable Databases >> Family Who’s Who (Hebrew Univ. book of Canadian genealogies) Toronto Marriage Records (all denominations) 1940s to 1980s Books, Maps & Nominal Lists…
B o o k s t o r e Books on Jewish Toronto (and related) Only Yesterday: Collected Pieces on the Jews of Toronto 100 Years in Canada: the Rubinoff-Naftolin Family Tree The Jew in Canada The Rise of the Toronto Jewish Community Story of Beth Lida Congregation (booklet no longer available; download PDF…
