As a volunteer for the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, the organization created by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, author Alvin Abram gained first-hand knowledge of the experiences of Holocaust survivors. In his recently published seventh book, The Minyan, Abram combines his flare for detective crime mysteries with a story about the Holocaust, featuring locales…
Category: Jewish Toronto
Dental fraternity to mark 100th anniversary in 2007
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Steve Braunstein of Buffalo, New York, the international president of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity, was in town recently to address members of the group’s Toronto Alumni Chapter at its annual dinner. More than 325 people attended the September 18 (2006) event, held at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation. Founded in Baltimore in 1907 by a group…
WWII veteran remembered for his generosity
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Sam Cohen, a retired regimental sergeant major who fought with the Toronto Scottish Regiment machine gun unit in Europe in World War II, died on April 18 (2007) at 101. Cohen served in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Luxembourg and was decorated with many medals, ribbons and citations for his war service. He was a…
Centenarian a physical fitness buff
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For 100 years, Ruth (Rivka) Unger lived her life as many women of her generation did. She came to Canada early in the century, worked in a factory on a sewing machine, married, had children and coped with the tragedies mat life meted out. At her 100th birthday party, surrounded by family and friends, Unger…
Profile of city’s Jews — and rich Mr. Singer (1911)
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The Star Weekly ran this feature profile of “Toronto’s Hebrew population” in 1911, observing that some Jewish immigrants had risen, in only a few years, to the tops of their professions and that one — Jacob Singer — had become the biggest real estate owner in the city. The article also indicated that the Zion…
Oakwood Collegiate marks 100 years (2008)
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After three years in the planning, Oakwood Collegiate Institute’s (OCI) 100th anniversary celebration was a resounding success. From April 30 to May 4 (2008), hundreds of former and current OCI students came out to celebrate, with some alumni travelling great distances to meet and mingle with friends and former classmates, some of whom they had…
Centenarian is a Drildzer stalwart
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At age 100, Jack Stopper, who is known as Mr. Drildz, is a delight to talk to. He has a remarkable recall of a century of history, as well as a keen sense of humour, despite some hearing difficulties. He was interviewed at his home and workshop in Thornhill, where he has lived with his…
Obits: Hyman Breslin (d 1934); Reva Breslin, 1918
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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
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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)
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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…
