Oral history interview with Alan Tapper, interviewed by Matthew Graves and assisted by Alan’s wife, Daphne. Alan speaks on his family’s history as well as adolescence in the Jewish community of East London, England, including the artistic and political environment. Alan talks about his family’s experience during the Second World War in London where his neighborhood was heavily bombed and impoverished by rationing, leading to his family’s evacuation to Devon and Newcastle. Alan discusses his involvement in various youth groups and theatre during the war, such as the Brady’s Boy Club. He talks about his military training at Padgate and subsequent conscription into the Royal Air Force intelligence unit where he was stationed in Egypt to monitor conflict over the Suez Canal. Alan speaks about how his military experience impacted his life and also the anti-Semitism he observed. He discusses his immigration to Vancouver, Canada and his role in numerous Jewish and Zionist organizations and boards, including B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress. He talks about his job in fundraising, teaching public speaking, and radio program hosting, as well as his children and marriage.
Oral history interview with Ed Rozen who was born in Vancouver, 1918. Ed joined the Air Force in 1935 in the 111th Squadron. When war broke out in 1939 his reserve squadron was folded into the permanent Air Force, leading Ed to go to Bombardier and Gunnery school. Is a founding member of the B. C. Jewish Veterans Association.
Oral history interview with Esther Nobleman. Esther Nobleman believes in the importance of serving the community however one can. Since her arrival in Vancouver from Medicine Hat in the fall of 1969, Esther has contributed much to the Jewish community here. Among other volunteer activities, in the early 1980s she threw herself into the campaign to safeguard the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union as chair of the Soviet Jewry Committee. Even when time has been all that she's had to give, Esther has given it freely and generously.
Esther was born in the prairies and her husband, Abe Nobleman, was born in Montreal. Esther's parents came to Canada from Russia; Esther' father was in the Russian army but they escaped Russia because of the pogroms. Esther was in the air force in Canada. Her brother was a prisoner of war. Esther worked extensively with the Soviet Jewry campaign in Vancouver as well as being actively involved in a number of organizations and volunteer work.
Oral history interview with Fanka Gaerber who was born 1913 in Stanislav, Galicia. She recounts her experiences of being Jewish in Eastern Europe during the 30's, 40's, escaping the holocaust and the endless terror of years of war.
Black and white image of Harry Seidelman posing in a sailor's uniform (while working on the S.S. Rupert) in the backyard of the family house at 1735 East 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia
Oral history interview with Irving Rivkin who was born in Winnipeg, 1915. Father Samuel Rivkin was in Russian army stationed in St. Petersburg, around 1905-1912; Irving's mother Lena Romalowski worked in St. Petersberg's large knitting factory. Ivring's wife, Ann, comes from England.
Oral history interview with Isaac Messinger. He was born in Poland in 1929. During the war he was moved to Siberia, Russia. Later in the war he became a chauffeur for a General in the Polish Army, he was 16 or 17 at the time. After the war he ended up in Germany and was a pickpocketing. He got sent to an American school in Germany that was teaching children that were going to immigrate to North America, but he couldn’t sit still in class, so they gave him a job in the garage where he learnt English with the Americans that worked there. He came to Canada at age 18 or 19. He got a job as a tin smith, then he got a job as a carnie and made his way to Vancouver where he worked at the PNE. He eventually opened a steak Restaurant and ran it for a while. He talks about Casinos and Las Vegas. He talks about how he met his wife and their life together.
