Ben Rose

The Barsh family fondly recalls its musical past

From the Canadian Jewish News, May 16, 1985 The Barsh family is a link between the fascinating worlds of Yiddish theatre and music in Toronto. The family lived in four rooms above their barber shop and pool hall at 305 Spadina Avenue, a few doors north of the old Jewish Standard Theatre at Dundas and…

Peterborough Jewish community comes to life (2000)

The Beth Israel Synagogue will be rededicated on September 24, 2000, in celebration of the rejuvenated Jewish life here. It cost $250,000 to renovate the synagogue, three times what the original Beth Israel cost to build in 1964, said community elder Isidore Black, 85, son of Philip Black. Philip was the first rabbi of Peterborough,…

King of Spadina, Harry Henig dies at 91 (2000)

Known as the “King of Spadina,” Harry Henig operated a women’s wear store for 30 years and then began a second career as an author. He died recently (2000) at the age of 91. Henig retired from the Fashion Centre at St. Clair Avenue and Dufferin Street in 1980 and proceeded to write seven books.…

Josef Krystal, 74, Labour Zionist activist (2000)

Josef Krystal, who was national president of the Labour Zionist Alliance of Canada, died recently (2000) after a long illness. He was 74. Owner of the Krystal Cap Company, he was active in the business until he became ill. His son Steven, who worked with him in the business for 20 years, is continuing to…

Lillian Gollom, loyal Mount Sinai volunteer (d. 2000)

Lillian Gollom, a volunteer at the old Mount Sinai Hospital on Yorkville Avenue, died recently (2000) at age 97, on the same date as her late husband, Nathan died, 19 years ago. A member of The Sinais, the volunteers at the old hospital, she carried patients up and down stairs. When the new hospital was…

First synagogue for Barrie, Ontario (2000)

The Jewish community in Barrie, which has grown to 100 families, has already raised $100,000 from its own members to build the city’s first synagogue. “We hope it will be a rallying point and attract more Jews to Barrie so that we will have 200 to 300 families,” said Eric Allen, executive member of the…

Samuel Kernerman at 101: a man of three centuries

For a man who has lived in three centuries, Samuel Kernerman, who will be 101 years old on January 19, 2000, has a simple request. “I just want to see my great-grandchildren grow up,” he said. He has 28 great-grandchildren. Interviewed at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre veterans wing, Kernerman, a veteran of World War…

Labor Zionist Alliance marks its 90th anniversary (1999)

One of the groups that worked hard for the establishment of Israel, the Labor Zionist Alliance (LZA), is celebrating its 90th anniversary November 14, 1999, with a dinner at the Borochov Centre. The Montreal branch of the LZA celebrated its 90th anniversary two years ago. The proud history of the Toronto branch includes the founding…

Obit: Rabbi Reuben Slonim (d. 2000)

Rabbi Slonim was an editor at the Telegram Rabbi Reuben Slonim died January 20, 2000, at his home, a victim of a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. He was 85. He had been in ill health for the past year, according to his daughter, Rena Tsur. The funeral was held at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel. The controversial rabbi…

Obit: Julius Hayman, Jewish Standard publisher (d. 2000)

Julius Hayman, publisher and editor of the Jewish Standard for 63 years, died in his apartment on Bathurst Street, Sunday, March 5, 2000. He was 92 years old. “He died at his desk, working as usual,” said his son, Michael, who learned of his father’s death while he was on holiday in Cairo with his…