Oral history interview with Gallia Chud. Gallia Chud was born in Staraya Russa, Russia in the year 1923. She briefly describes her childhood in the town prior to her immigration to Canada in December, 1929 at the age of six. Her family settled in Winnipeg where she completed her studies and met her husband, Ben. They married in 1943 and were reunited in 1945 as Ben had been serving in the Canadian military during World War II. Ben was invited to teach at the Peretz School in Vancouver during its establishment and they moved to the city in October, 1945. Both Gallia and Ben were involved with the school for most of their lives while residing in Vancouver, with Ben serving as principal for fifteen years and Gallia serving as president for five while maintaining involvement with the PTA the whole time. They had two daughters. Ben passed away in 1986.
Oral history interview with Geraldine (Gerry) Biely (nee Chertko or Chetko). Geraldine's husband George Biely owned Grandview Poultry Farm at 3995 Grandview-Douglas Highway, Burnaby, BC.
Oral history interview with Gilda Israel (nee Goldie Tow) who was born in Winnipeg, 1913. Her interview consists mainly of growing up and her children and grandchildren.
Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.20-08 Name: Gyda Chud Interviewer: Debby Freiman Date: May 12th, 2020 Place: Vancouver, BC, via Zoom Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project
Summary: 00:00: Debby Freiman begins to introduce Gyda Chud, a male voice interrupts her. 00:37: Freiman introduces herself and Chud who are meeting over Zoom. Gyda was born in 1947 and has lived in Vancouver all of her life. 1:53: Gyda has a sister named Rita who kept the full version of their last name, Chudnovsky. Her mother, Gallia Chud was ninety-seven at the time of the interview but her father, Ben Chud had died many years prior. Gallia’s family came from Belarus while Ben’s came from Russia. Gallia’s family lived in Winnipeg. Ben and Gallia met in Toronto and married before coming to Vancouver. 3:56: Chud describes how her parents came to Vancouver and were met by several other community members at the train station. The Chuds arrived to help start the new Peretz school in Vancouver. 6:15: Chud mentions several families that were influential in the beginning of the Peretz school such as the Sarkins, Wynes, [Oberbachs]. The Peretz school was initially in an old Tudor style house on Broadway. 8:20: Gallia Chud was involved in parent’s organizations at Peretz. The students used to be at Peretz school twice a week and on Sunday mornings. 10:03: Chud explains the original secular humanist approach of the Peretz school. The children were taught Yiddish rather than Hebrew. Chud was an early childhood education professional. 13:23: Chud recalls performing plays in the auditorium of the old Peretz school building on the holidays. 16:14: Chud describes having her father as a teacher and his teaching style that attempted to be more interactive and engaging for the students. 18:00: Ben Chud left Peretz school in order to complete his high school education. He then went on to get his Master’s of Social Work and taught at the School of Social Work at UBC. 19:42: The two speakers discuss their memories of Ben Chud’s successor, [Label Bossman]. 21:40: Chud describes a group she is part of called the Exploring Jewish Authors Group. 23:30: Chud describes making latkes for the holidays while attending Peretz. She also describes a secular humanist Haggadah that was developed at Peretz. 28:10: Chud tells the story of how the P’nei Mitzvah program and celebration came about. 35:35: The speakers discuss their memories and knowledge of Sara Sarkin. 37:06: Chud discusses the adult programming at Peretz including the Sholom Aleichem Speaker Series. She also discusses the other regular activities and classes that go on at the Peretz Centre. 41:06: The speakers discuss the rumours about the Peretz Centre being a place for communists. Chud rationalizes that people who saw the photo of I.L. Peretz on the wall may have thought he was a Russian man and a communist influencer. 44:30: Chud mentions her son and that he and his wife were married in the Peretz auditorium. 46:31: Freiman asks Chud about the population of Jewish people in Vancouver and how many are regularly involved in the Peretz Centre. Chud mentions that many local Jewish people don’t even know that Peretz exists. 49:18: Chud describes her happiness that the Peretz Centre has become a gathering place for the Jewish community and its organizations. 50:52: The Peretz Centre has several levels of Yiddish classes. 51:44: Chud describes how one of the teachers visited several Jewish families in the Squamish area and described the Peretz services and programs. She also tells of a program where children in the P’nei Mitzvah program gather with students from an Islamic school to learn from each other and cook for the poor of the area. 54:50: End of interview.
Oral history interview with Hinda Simkin who was born in Winnipeg, 1937. Hinda was a part of the Girl Guides when she was younger and after moving to Vancouver and joining Beth Israel Synagogue she worked with the Girl Guides. Hinda belongs to the National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, Volunteer Grand-parents Society and Nat’l Council of Jewish women.
Oral history interview with Horace Raphael who was born in Vancouver, 1920. His grandfather was born in Germany, 1832, and his grandmother was born in Poland. While his mother was born in Winnipeg and his father was born in Poland but left for Vancouver between 1904-05.
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.
