Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.16-10 Name: Rita and Marvin Weintraub Interviewer: Alisa Lazear Date: June 29th, 2016 Place: Jewish Public Library Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project
Summary: 00:00: The interviewer Alisa Lazear introduces herself and the guests Rita and Marvin Weintraub. She then asks the Weintraubs to describe the beginnings of the Jewish Public Library. 00:39: The Weintraubs describe how the library was planned for when the centre was renovated. Rita was responsible for the library being started. 2:59: Rita had also started a library in St. Catherines, Ontario where she and Marvin had previously lived. She was involved with the finding and training of all the volunteers that worked in the libraries she started. 8:05: The workers in the library were mostly volunteers from the various women’s groups that Rita was a part of. 9:44: Marvin describes the contributions and donations of the Isaac and Sophie Waldman. The Weintraubs are looking through an album or book while being interviewed. Marvin recounts the story Sophie Waldman told him of her survival in Warsaw under Nazi occupation during the Second World War. 15:05: Rita and Sophie Waldman had lunch together one day during which Rita convinced Sophie to finance the library in the JCC. 17:46: Rita has two Masters degrees, one in Library Science and the other in Sociology. Rita recalls that she had an opportunity to go abroad and complete a PhD but she chose to stay and marry Marvin. 20:01: The Weintraubs recall some others who were supporters of the library such as Rabbi Wosk, Evelyn and Leon Kahn. 22:16: They come across photos of the first librarian, Eric Pelam. 23:13: The speakers discuss their thoughts on what the future of libraries will be. 25:09: End of interview.
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 Leah Levitt. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Leah talks about her grandparents' history with the Peretz School and Communist Party in Calgary, her family's experiences in World War I and II, her father's operation of hotels across Vancouver such as Stratford Hotel, and their family real estate company, Abbott Realty.
Follow-up oral interview with Leah Levitt. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Leah talks about her extended family, education, and her involvement with B'nai Brith Girls and the National Council of Jewish Women.
Interview with Sharon Posner. Interviewed by Debby Freiman for The Scribe, 2018. Sharon discusses her family history, her upbringing in Vancouver, and her involvement with B'nai Brith Girls. She talks in depth about her parents' restaurant, Oscar's.
Oral interview with Alexander "Lexie" Bernstein. Interviewed by Laura Zitron. Lexie talks about his family's contribution to Jewish life and education in Cape Town, and his own life and spirituality in Vancouver.
