Oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal who was born in 1935 in Netanya, Palestine. His father's side is from Silesia, Germany and his mother's side comes from Lower Saxony and Aachen. In 1945-46, life became too hazardous, so they decided to get out of Israel. Friends suggested either British Columbia or New Zealand, John contacted both governments; B.C. responded first, that decided him to come to BC. Bill applied for various jobs after finishing a typing course, was declined by Imperial Bank of Commerce because he was Jewish, applied and was hired as junior clerk with an insurance company. He has been in insurance since Jan. 1953. Met his wife, Noemi, at a young adult group that met every Sunday night at the JCC. Talks about “Vancouver Diaspora” and the Vancouver Jewish Community. Bill has been a part of the Jewish National Fund and worked for the Vancouver Board of Trade
Oral history interview with Ruth (nee Baruch) Phillips was born in Poland in 1927. The family left Poland in the 1930's due to pogroms and growing antisemitism. Ruth's father moved the family to Vancouver in 1934 to become the principal at Talmud Torah. Ruth’s Husband, Maran Peter Phillips, ran a fish packer for Queen Charlotte Fish.
Oral history interview with Abe Jampolsky who was born in Lipton like his two brothers. Abe's grandparents were Ukrainians who emigrated to Canada in 1906. Met his wife Ldyia, in Montreal and after having children moved to Vancouver in 1955. Besides running a successful clothing business, Abe participated throughout the Jewish community in Vancouver. He was involved in the B. I. men’s club, the Jewish Community Centre, the Israel Bonds Committee, the Jewish National Fund, Vancouver's Talmud Torah and the Sharey Tefillah congregation. Abe speaks of the changing nature of the business dealing with Chinese clientele in the 80's and 90's when he'd started serving Caucasians as the Asian community had not expanded until the last quarter of the century.
Oral history interview with Esther Brandt who was born in 1932 in Belgium. She was highly involved in a number of Jewish organizations; Pioneer Women, a member of the Schara Tzedeck Board. She outlived her husband who had survived the Nazis concentration camps.
Oral history interview with Barbara Weiser, born in 1946 in Quebec. She worked for Eaton's and a number of other companies as a Buyer, travelling across Canada. She is a prolific writer and researcher, having published 4 books / papers on the Jewish community with focuses on Synagogues and Holocaust memorials.
Oral history interview with Sally Rogow, who was born in New York, 1930. Sally's grandparents were born somewhere in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Sally's uncle was the first Jewish man to be a Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Army, while her mother helped organized women during the Second World War. Sally worked as a teacher, teaching blind and handicap children, eventually advocating for those with Special Needs.
Oral History interview with Albert Melul. He speaks French, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Italian, English, and some Ladino. He grew up in Tangiers. He was a scout and scout master as a teenager. When Israel was established, he helped move people there but decided to go see the world before settling. When he first came to Canada he worked in a factory in Toronto. He moved to Vancouver for a job with the JCC and National Council. He talks about the Sephardic community as well as the general community in Vancouver.
Oral interview with Derya Akay. Interviewed by April Thompson for the Feeding Community podcast. Derya is a Vancouver-based artist who often incorporates food and food themes into his works.
Oral interview with Rotem Tal and Itamar Shani. Interviewed by April Thompson for the Feeding Community podcast. Having both immigrated from Israel, Rotem and Itamar together own Chickpea, a Mediterranean food truck and restaurant in Vancouver, BC.
Oral interview with Lauren Kramer. Interviewed by Bill Gruenthal. Lauren talks about her family's history in the medical and health profession, their immigration from South Africa to Canada, and her various experiences across North American cities.
