◊ The following articles describe a tragedy that unfolded in Toronto’s Jewish district on Adelaide Street West near Spadina in 1914. I was particularly riveted by the sad drama because this is where some of my relatives were living at the time — practically in these very addresses — and one of my grandfather’s ‘landsmen’…
From the Canadian Jewish News, April 5, 2014 Snowball, Dragonfly, Jew, by Stuart Ross (ECW Press) I hadn’t heard of Stuart Ross before reading Snowball, Dragonfly, Jew. I was therefore surprised to find that we are “landsleit” — both from Bathurst Manor — and that he is quite prolific, with more than a dozen books…
TORONTO SAGES is a booklet compiled and published in 2004 by Mayer S. Abramowitz, a grandson of Toronto cantor Nosson Stolnitz. Its full title is “Chachmei Yisrael of Toronto — Toronto’s Sages.” The booklet presents information about 35 Toronto rabbis from their tombstones, translated into English; some Yiddish and English obituaries are also included. The contents…
From the Canadian Jewish News, April 1, 1977 Sarah Gitel Salsberg, long a colourful, vivacious figure in the Toronto Jewish community, died this past weekend after a brief illness. She was 94 years of age. Born in Lagow, Poland, Salsberg came to Canada 64 years ago, about 1903. The mother of CJN columnist J. B.,…
A look back at the CJN from 40 years ago: From the Canadian Jewish News, March 6, 1974 Spry Ben Sherman has no thought of retiring, and plans to work a full day in the hardware store he founded 55 years ago, the Canadian Jewish News reported in March 1974. Sherman’s family wasn’t even planning…
From Beth Sholom Bulletin, Fall 2012 In 1933, Toronto residents Philip and Sally Latchman were surprised by the birth of triplets — three identical boys, Donald, Marvin and Victor — a blessed event that prompted Buckingham Palace to send them a ceremonial payment of several British pounds sterling. “When we were born the King of…
From the Canadian Jewish Chronicle, November 11, 1938 Rebbetzin Lifsha Gordon, wife of the late Rabbi Jacob Gordon, died, after a brief illness on Monday, October 31st. The funeral service was held at the University Avenue Synagogue, where Rabbi Samuel Levine of Hamilton, Rabbi A. N. Mandelbaum of the Beth Medrash Hagodol of Alany Park,…
From the Globe and Mail, April 18, 1908 Objecting to a Reference to Kosher Meat, Shier Herman Pulled Rabbi Levi from the Altar and a Disturbance Followed Because he objected to the rabbi’s doctrine, Shier Herman of Teraulay street caught Rabbi Levi by his robe yesterday morning at the Tower of Justice Synagogue [possibly Shaarei…
◊ The Jew in Canada (first published 1926) offers hundreds of personal profiles as well as history capsules of Jewish communities from coast to coast as well as synagogues and many Jewish organizations. It is a wonderful resource for historians and genealogists. Below is the complete “biographical index” of persons profiled (with photographs) in the book.…
Condensed from The Canadian Jewish News, August 4, 1983 When the cucumber harvest is in, the Strub brother’s facility in Dundas, Ontario goes into their busiest season. The cucumbers are brought to the plant, unloaded, washed, sorted, packed into big barrels and vats filled with special pickling ingredients and then put into cold storage. Some…
