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JHSBC Oral History Collection Portland
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Aaron Kafka

Interview with Aaron Kafka. Interviewed by Michael Schwartz for The Scribe, 2018. Aaron talks about his experiences with coffee shops and cafes before he decided to open Kafka's in Vancouver. He talks about how his coffee shop sets him apart from competition, the city's shifting food scene, and the importance of relationships in the Jewish community.

Bertha Uniden

Oral history interview with Bertha Uniden who was born in Poland. She has worked for B’nai B’rith

Bud Riback

Oral history interview with Bud Riback. Bud Riback, born in Portland, Oregon, in 1928, is a founding member of Temple Sholom and a frequent volunteer in Vancouver's Jewish community, including work with the 60 Plus Group, Beit Halochem, and the Jewish Community Centre's welcome booth for recently immigrated community members. Bud has also worked for Budget Rent-a-Car, franchising across Western Canada, and remains a partner of the business. He is married to Fay Riback. His work with the 60 Plus Group has been a particularly rewarding part of his life.

Bud has a very deep and personal connection to Temple Sholom, the State of Israel and to the Jewish community as a whole. Family is most important to Bud; there are three generation of Ribacks that are connected with Temple Sholom. Bud and his wife Fay were very instrumental in organizing the support for the Vietnamese boat family who were sponsored by Temple Sholom and he continues to support visits from the Beit Halochem veterans.

Bud is shy and doesn't like the spotlight on him. He has a strong sense of right and wrong and will let you know in very clear terms if he feels that an injustice has been done. Bud is a strong advocate for seniors - he does not tolerate ageism. On the other hand, he does not believe that age alone should command respect; respect needs to be earned at any age and he does not tolerate a sense of entitlement no matter how old or young a person may be. He never expects to receive something for nothing.

Moe Cohen

Oral history interview with Moe Cohen who was born in 1896 in Montreal.

Sylvia and Harry Ablowitz

Oral history interview with Sylvia and Harry Ablowitz. Contains discussions of Sylvia's involvement with the Ladies Auxiliary. Sylvia was a original member of Temple Emanu- El. Her father built the Sylvia Court building, now known as the Sylvia Hotel.

Harry's father was quite active in the Jewish community, B'nai Brith.