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Sad, extraordinary tale of a Jewish ‘miser’

The extraordinary story of Eli Hyman first came to my attention with the following notice that appeared in the Toronto Daily Star of December 20, 1902: * * *  WILL BE BURIED SUNDAY Rabbi Jacobs Will Conduct the Funeral from Holy Blossom Synagogue The funeral of the late Eli Hyman, the Jewish miser who died in…

Musty Memories of Old Court House on Adelaide Street

Tar and Feathers for an Obstinate Juryman — Some Attempted Escapes — A Picture of Desolation From the Toronto Daily Star, June 15, 1901 Grim, solemn, and even sullen seems the aspect of the old Court House on Adelaide street east, which has stood as a monument of integrity for half a century. The building…

Miss Mary Minty, Toronto’s first policewoman (1913)

Toronto’s Policewoman Has Faith in Her Sex Miss Mary Minty is Eager to Engage in Preventive Work — Seems Well-Fitted for Her New Position From the Toronto Star, May 15, 1913 “I have received no official intimation of the appointment, and did not know I had been chosen until I saw the announcement in the…

Obits: Hyman Breslin (d 1934); Reva Breslin, 1918

Death silences toast of noted businessman while family mourns Clock stops in hallway as Hyman Breslin borne to grave “Trinken Lachayim” Jewish philanthropist years ago had vision of passing of wife’s mother From the Toronto Daily Star, January 2, 1934 With his life hanging by so slender a thread that death resulted an hour later,…

Minnie Cohen, Toronto’s first Jewish woman doctor

Not only is Minnie Cohen Toronto’s first Jewish woman doctor, but she was also known within the city’s Jewish community as “Chazzan Bernard Wladowsky’s daughter” because she was the daughter of the well-known cantor. As reported in The Canadian Jewish News of March 2, 1962, Dr. Cohen specialized in paediatrics and also in an specialty…

Obit: Movie pioneer Arthur Cohen (1880-1975)

Arthur Cohen, the Canadian movie industry pioneer, was a leader of Toronto’s Jewish community and a philanthropist. He died of a heart attack at the age of 94, the Canadian Jewish News reported on March 7, 1975. Cohen was the son of Magistrate Jacob Cohen and Lena Jacobs Cohen. He attended Jarvis Collegiate, from which…

B’nai Brith Toronto Lodge was founded 1919

The Toronto Lodge of B’nai Brith was founded 1919 and had as many as 2,400 members in its heyday in 1948, according to a Canadian Jewish News article on March 27, 1980, marking the Lodge’s 60th anniversary. Sixty-eight Jews banded together to form Toronto Lodge of B’nai Brith in 1919, and one of them was…

Sad case of Louis Brown, 1915

Real Estate Losses Led to Brown’s Suicide Queen St. Tailor Suffered Heavily in Slump FEARED FOR HIS FUTURE  Had Made Up His Mind to Die — Intimated He Would Leave Money to All Denominations, Though He Was a Russian Jew From The Globe, March 8, 1915 Although he was the holder of many mortgages and…

Flees pogroms, he builds large business (Max Wolfe)

Max Wolfe was born in the village of Widze, Kovno district, in March 1892 and came to Canada in 1905, the Canadian Jewish News reported in a story marking his 90th birthday in its issue of April 22, 1982. Max’s father, three brothers and two sisters left Russia first; as the baby of the family,…

Obits: Alfred D. Benjamin (1848-1900); Frank Benjamin (1866-1937)

A. D. Benjamin is Dead Well-Known Business Man and Citizen Passes Away Suddenly To-day LEADER IN THE SYNAGOGUE One of Toronto’s Most Wealthy and Generous Hebrews — A Popular Employer From the Toronto Daily Star, January 8, 1900 The business portion of the city was surprised this morning to learn of the sudden death of…