Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-46
Name: Donna Becker
Interviewer: Penny Goldsmith
Date: November 20th, 2018
Place:
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: Penny Goldsmith is interviewing Donna Becker on behalf of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir and the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Becker describes some of her family history, including her grandparents.
3:44: Becker recounts how she ended up arriving and settling in Vancouver. She then describes more of her parents’ and grandparents’ histories.
8:56: Goldsmith asks Becker to describe her secular and religious education.
15:18: Becker recounts her career history. She worked in a variety of jobs before becoming part of the staff of the Vancouver Peretz Center.
18:44: She used to be part of the Ukrainian choir but eventually moved to the Jewish choir.
22:08: Becker recalls a fond memory of another choir member.
23:41: Becker eventually became increasingly involved in the Peretz choir and the Center itself. She took on a management role within the choir while being a member. She took care of much of the administration.
27:04: Becker states that she believes it’s important to have a Jewish/Yiddish choir that is also secular. She wants it known that the choir is neutral and like the Peretz Center, does not take a particular stance on Israel.
31:42: Becker describes some ways she thinks that the choir could evolve in the upcoming years. She thinks they need to expand their repertoire and find younger people to join the choir.
34:06: End of interview.

Oral history interview with Elizabeth Wolak, interviewed by Jennifer Yuhasz. Elizabeth reflects on her childhood in Poland, while discussing her family’s history, including her experience living through WWII. She details her education both ordinary and musical, from which she graduated with honours and after which she was recommended to assist a conductor. Elizabeth started her own professional career conducting in 1952. When it was time for her and her mother to immigrate, they moved to Sydney, Australia, where they had some relatives. It was here that Elizabeth became truly interested in Jewish music. She and her husband, who she’d known in Poland, married in Australia before moving to Vancouver in 1963, where he had eventually settled after the war. Once in Vancouver, she ran a large choir with the Jewish Community Centre. She also speaks about her passion for music and how it has intertwined with her involvement in both Jewish and choral communities in Vancouver, since her immigration. Finally, she speaks about her family.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-44
Name: Elliot Dainow
Interviewer: Victor Neuman
Date: October 25th, 2018
Place: Peretz Centre
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project
Summar:
00:00: The interviewer, Victor Neuman, introduces himself and Elliot Dainow who is being interviewed. Dainow was born in Montreal to parents who had immigrated from what is now Belarus. Dainow also describes his education.
4:07: Dainow describes his career path up until the time of the interview and includes a description of how he came to be part of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir. Neuman also asks Dainow about his history with music and being a pianist.
9:34: Dainow recalls some of his most prominent memories of being in the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir.
12:55: Neuman asks Dainow what he believes is the importance of the Choir to its members and the community in general. Dainow replies that is has an important role in keeping Secular Jewish and Yiddish culture alive. Dainow occasionally still plays or sings for the Choir.
14:55: End of interview.

Oral history interview with Elliot Dano. Interviewed by Victor Neuman in Vancouver on October 25, 2018.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-49
Name: Felicity Dunfield
Interviewer: Stevie Steiner
Date: November 24th, 2018
Place: Vancouver, Steiner’s Home
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: Steiner introduces herself and Dunfield whom she is interviewing on behalf of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir and the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Dunfield describes some of her family and personal history.
4:22: Dunfield notes how she became involved in the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir and how long she’s been involved. The speakers also discuss the conductor and other members of the Choir. The conductor’s name was Cyril Freedman.
6:44: Dunfield recalls some of the social activities the Choir did together.
8:15: Steiner asks Dunfield what she thinks is the importance of the Choir to its members and the community. Dunfield mentions that the Choir was linked also to Peretz because of its members who were active in both institutions. The speakers also discuss a new conductor.
11:07: End of interview.

Oral history interview with Ida Albert. Her memories of the Russo/ Japanese war. Ida was involved in the Council of Jewish Women, the Sisterhood, Beth Israel and worked with the Red Cross. She was interned at a Japanese interment camp.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-47
Name: Norman Epstein
Interviewer: Penny Goldsmith
Date: November 21st, 2018
Place: Vancouver, BC
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: The interviewer, Penny Goldsmith, introduces herself and Norman Epstein, who is being interviewed on behalf of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir and the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Epstein describes his parents’ immigration to Canada, his childhood and his parents’ business.
6:14: Epstein describes his education and adult life. He eventually moved to Vancouver and received a position at the University of British Columbia.
8:09: Epstein recounts the religious education he had as a child in Montreal.
10:02: Epstein’s love of singing led him to eventually join the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir. He mentions the conductor when he was first there was Cyril Freedman.
13:15: Goldsmith asks Epstein what he thinks is important about the choir. He responds that the choir is probably more important to the members than to the larger community.
13:56: Epstein recalls some ways he thinks the choir could evolve.
15:02: Epstein notes some of his favourite songs that he liked to sing when he was in the choir. He still has much of the music that they used in the choir.
17:41: End of interview.