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.
Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-17 Name: Adam Granot Interviewer: Debby Freiman Date: May 28th, 2018 Place: Peretz Center Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project
Summary: 00:00: The interviewer, Debby Freiman, introduces herself and Adam Granot who is being interviewed. 00:21: Granot was born in Israel. He then goes on to describe his family and early childhood. 2:45: Granot describes the importance and role food played in his household and while growing up. 4:27: Freiman asks how Granot became involved in the food industry. Granot recounts his father’s career as a restaurant owner in Tel Aviv, Israel while Granot was a child. He then describes his father’s wish to build a business that sells burekas when they moved to Canada. Eventually they purchased the Fraser bakery and named it Breka Bakery which still exists in several locations today. 13:14: Granot was originally working at a car rental agency but left that job in order to take part in the family’s bakery when he was in his early twenties. He also recounts the opening of the other locations. 19:57: Granot is involved with the operations side of the business. His sister, brother-in-law, mother and mother’s partner are all also involved in the business in a variety of capacities. He also describes some of the tenets of the bakery related to product and growth. 25:26: Breka makes a variety of traditional Jewish and Eastern European breads, some of which are in keeping with the tradition of Fraser Bakery. 29:41: The bakeries are open twenty-four seven. Granot describes who the customers are that come in at all hours of the night. 33:18: Granot answers how Judaism has affected the business. 34:46: The speakers discuss the changes that have occurred in the food industry since Breka was first created. They discuss the changes in what customers are looking for in the products they purchase. 38:12: Freiman asks Granot what he sees as the future of Breka. At the time of the interview, Granot was beginning to plan for two more locations to be added to the business. They were also considering to expanding beyond Vancouver itself to other Lower Mainland cities. Granot recounts what he’s learned and what he’s loved about working in the food industry.
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.
Interview with Alf Price (Abram Alfred Price). Interviewed by Laura Zitron. Alf talks about his family history and their immigration to Vancouver, BC. He discusses the differences in Judaism between South Africa and Canada, and his own involvement in the Jewish community in Vancouver. He also talks about his profession as an accountant.
Oral history interview with Alfred Evans on Harry Evans, the latter of which who was born in 1878. Harry is one the the founding members of the Schara Tzedeck Synagogue in Vancouver.
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 with Bertha Baron who arrived in Canada 1907 from Minsk, Russia; settled in Rumsey, Alberta. In this interview she discusses her involvement in the Victoria Jewish community and reflects on Zionism.
Oral history interview with Bessie Diamond who was born in London, England in 1899 but her family emigrated in 1905 to Canada. Bessie worked throughout the Jewish Community in Vancouver such as setting up the Well-Baby Clinic and during the Second World War worked with refugees. Bessie built the Joseph J. and Bessie Diamond Hospital in Israel to her late husband (1964).
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 interview with Brett Silberg. Interviewed by Debby Freiman. Brett talks about his family's history in South Africa, education, and the Apartheid. He arrived in Canada as a student before eventually immigrating and finding a renewed interest in Judaism.
