CanadaIn our time period, 1907-1927, people were not nice to the Jewish people who lived in Europe. They didn't have enough food to eat and they didn't have good jobs. Many people wanted to come to a new, young country like Canada. Many Jewish people came to Canada, worked hard, saved money and used it to bring more of their families to Canada. Most of the Jews came to big cities like Montreal and Toronto.
AssociatedThe school was opened in the year 1907 on Simcoe Street in downtown Toronto. It was called Talmud Torah and was started so that Jewish children could study Torah, learn about being Jewish and have Jewish friends.
The school began as an evening school and Rabbi Jacob Gordon was the first principal. In the beginning all the grades were taught in one room. A full day school was opened on Brunswick Avenue. They began to also teach General Studies subjects as well as Hebrew subjects. The school was now called Associated Hebrew Schools.
This book was passed down the generations when the boys had their bar mitzvahs. My great grandfather gave it to my grandfather. He then gave it to my father and then my father gave it to my brother when he became a bar mitzvah.
My great grandfather had it many years ago. He collected it. Then he passed it on to my grandfather who then gave it to my dad.
It's an important artifact because it is made of metal and its a Torah pointer. Its is used when we read from the Torah on a regular basis at shul.
This camera belonged to my paternal great-grandfather Yonah. He used it to take pictures of his family and at family celebrations like weddings and bar mitzvahs. My great-grandfather immigrated to Canada from Eastern Europe in 1918 and first settled in Regina, then moved to Winnipeg where he met my great-grandmother. Later, he moved to Drummondville, Quebec.
This artifact was made in 1912 and passed on to my father. This photograph first belonged to my Grandma & Grandpa. My Grandma and Grandpa's fathers both belonged to the same Jewish running club in London, England. At that time Jews were not permitted to belong to private clubs, so the Jews started a new running club.
They are special in my family because they were my great great-grandfather's.
My great grandmother came to Canada by herself. Her mother died so she went to live with her uncles. Later, her family in Poland died in the Holocaust.
My great grandmother was very brave. If she did not come to Canada by herself I would not be born. Because she came to Canada, a lot of people were born.
The reason I chose this artifact is because it shows how my great grandfather was a excellent student. This letter allowed him to get his first job. He then went to school again and later on became a successful pharmacist. He then bought his own drug store on Vaughn Road.
This story is a lesson that we have to keep in mind: We cannot just forget about something that should never be repeated again.
Aly was named after her Great-grandfather Azaria who was 8 yrs old in this picture.
The reason Jews were leaving Russia was because the Russian pogromists were killing Jews and burning their houses. Today we have to thank all those brave people who spent weeks on rickety boats in the ocean, to come to the free land - Canada, because they came when they did we enjoy our freedom here.
My siblings and I are the 5th generation to be lighting this chanukiya.
This menorah came to Canada in 1882. It came from a village called Orla in Poland/Russia. Lev's great great great grandparents settled in Manitoba. They left it in Winnipeg with their children before settling in Israel in 1903.
This siddur has been in our family for a long time. It was given to Jaclyn's father by his grandmother who lived in Israel in the 1950's.
This siddur has been used by many of our family members especially during the High Holy Days.
Lisa's grandfather used it to cover his challahs on Friday night.