Tag: JEWISH TORONTO

Obit: Edmund Scheuer (1847-1943)

Father of Reform Judaism in Canada dies at 93 Well-known philanthropist, educationist passes after street-car collision Edmond Scheuer, 95, one of Toronto’s oldest and best known citizens, died Friday (July 2, 1943) in St. Michael’s hospital following a collision with a street car at MacPherson Avenue and Yonge Street. Mr. Scheuer retired from the jewelry…

Fighting to get married: two Jewish marriages

The course of true love never did run smooth, as the Bard said, a sentiment confirmed by these two articles from Toronto newspapers in the pre-WWI era. The first story below appeared in The Globe of December 25, 1907: * * *  Bells Did Not Ring Free Fight in Synagogue instead of Wedding Detectives and Policemen…

J. S. Granatstein runs for alderman, 1906

The following article, which appeared in the Toronto Star of December 8, 1906, highlights the fact that Toronto Jews did indeed get involved in municipal politics, even in the relatively early period of their citizenship in our free and democratic Canada.  In an interview with the Star, aldermanic candidate J. S. Granatstein presented his views…

Obit: Rabbi David Ochs (1905-1985)

Horav David Ochs who died recently (1985) in Toronto after a prolonged illness, will be remembered for his unfaltering dedication to halacha and his commitment to outreach in the community. Rabbi Ochs was active in the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Jewish Vocational Service and many other organizations but believed in the separate integrity of Kashruth…

Toronto Jewish community celebrates 100 years (1956)

When Judah Joseph, an English-born Jew, settled in Muddy York in 1838 and set up shop as an optician and watchmaker, little did he dream he was the forerunner of a vigorous community of 75,000, the third largest Jewish community in the British Commonwealth. It is now (in 1956) celebrating its 100th anniversary as an…

Clanton Park’s rabbi set to retire after 30 years

Clanton Park Synagogue will honour Rabbi Yitzchok Kerzner and his wife Rebbitzen Bash Kerzner at a tribute dinner on May 7 (2002) at Paradise Banquet Hall. Well known for his knowledge of halachah and for his many contributions to this city’s Jewish community, Rabbi Kerzner is retiring from his pulpit duties at Clanton Park after…

91-year-old reflects on life as a pharmacy pioneer

Beth Sky has the distinction of receiving an award as the only surviving graduate of the University of Toronto’s pharmacy class of 1932. The active 91-year-old former pharmacist was presented with a gold medallion of the Chancellor’s Circle at a recent ceremony at the U of T’s Hart House. The following day, she received a…

Queen’s opens J.B. Salsberg Papers to the public (2002)

History students doing scholarly research and individuals interested in the labour movement and Jewish history in Canada can now, for the first time, study the J.B. Salsberg Papers. The permanent collection, part of the Queen’s University Archives, was opened to the general public last month. It consists of extensive correspondence, speeches, reports, photographs, clippings, sound…

King Edward P.S. marks 100th birthday, 2002

King Edward Public School will celebrate its 100th anniversary with festivities planned for September 29 to October 3 (2002). In 1872, the Bathurst Street School opened at the corner of College and Bathurst streets. In September 1902, the Toronto Board of Education renamed the school in honour of King Edward VII who ascended the throne…

YMHA reunion rekindles memories for club members

Hail, hail, the gang’s all here! Memories of the old gang will prevail at the Y All-Clubs reunion and buffet dinner, which will bring together members of all the early YMHA clubs, going back more than half a century. “The reunion will feature hundreds of wall-to-wall characters like you’ve never seen before,” says Ken Borden,…