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Archivistische beschrijving
Russia Military
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Bernard Victor

Oral interview with Bernard Victor who was born in Gomel, Russia in 1893 and came to Vancouver, on April 15, 1923, from Winnipeg. Bernard was involved with Talmud Torah, B'nai B'rith, and the Jewish Literary Club. He describes living through two pogroms in Russia. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in Europe from 1916 until 1919. His father worked for the Russian Vital Statistics Department and noticed large numbers of Jews leaving, encouraged Bernard and Bernard's brother to leave.

Louis Zimmerman

Oral history interview with Louis Zimmerman who was born in Toronto in 1911. He was stationed overseas in England and Scotland, operating England's coastal radar chain between 1941 - 1945. He discusses Vancouver's Jewish Community Centre and the start of his career in Vancouver in 1948. Was recognized as a "servant and master" of the Jewish community in Vancouver for his outstanding record of service.

Harry Ferman

Oral history interview with Harry Ferman who was born 1898 in Russia. He and his brothers emigrated to Canada in 1912. Joined the Jewish Legion in Winnipeg and went to basic training in Windsor, N.S. and England. He arrived on the front in the Middle East when Turkey surrendered; Harry's unit responsible for German and Turkish prisoners. Later he would spend his life farming in Kamsack, B.C.

Ed Rozen

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.

Irving Rivkin

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.

Harry Woolfe

Oral history interview with Harry Woolfe who was born in England to Russian parents. Harry's recounts his career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in construction and working for Paramount Pictures.

Interview with Dr. Irving Snider

  • CA JMABC A.1998.010, A.2008.007, A.1968.001, A.1971.002, A.2007.017, A.2007.009, A.2011.007, A.2010.055-OH.19.75-13
  • Stuk
  • August 10, 1975
  • Part of Cyril E. Leonoff fonds

An Interview with Dr. Irving Snider, who was born in England, 1903.

Joseph Segal

Oral history interview with businessman and philanthropist Joseph Segal who was born in Alberta, 1925. During the Second World War he spent two years in the infantry and a year as part of the postwar occupational army in Germany. He made his wealth buying and selling companies: Zellers, Hudson's Bay Company, Gamble Canada and dozens more. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989. He joined Simon Fraser University's Board in 1981, spearheading the SFU Downtown Campus and has been its Chancellor.

Sam Rothstein

Oral history interview with Sam Rothstein who was born in Russia, 1921. His family left Russia due to anti-semitism and post-revolution fallout, despite his father’s success in the lumber business. His father was Yisrael Leib and his mother was Elka Raisel. They settled in Vancouver because that’s where the rest of his family had chosen to live when they had arrived years before. He attended UBC for undergraduate studies and did a joined honours program in French and English and completed his masters there in French and English. He did his PhD at Berkeley and then got a teaching fellowship at the University of Washington in 1942 as a French teacher. He was drafted into the Canadian military during WWII. He served in counterintelligence. He was shipped to England in June, 1944 and then to Italy, Belgium and then stopped in Holland. While finishing his service, he came across a Librarianship pamphlet. He had money for the first time in his life and felt it was time for a change as he felt distance from the idea of being a French professor. He was invited to the faculty of the University of Manitoba as a French Professor but decided to go to Berkeley instead to become a Librarian, doing his PhD in Illinois. UBC offered him a job while he was briefly on return to Vancouver. He met his wife Miriam in 1948/49 through youth group activities at the JCC, they wed and then moved to Illinois to do his PhD, which he received in 1954 while Miriam worked as the dietician for the men’s residence. In 1961, he became the acting director of the UBC libraries. He also started the library school at UBC that same fall. Their daughter Linda was born in 1955 and Sharon was born in 1957. They were members of Beth Israel and Miriam was active in Hadassah. Sam served as an advisor to Hillel and joined the board at the JCC and eventually became president from 1970-1972. He served as one of the vice presidents of Jewish Congress.

Arnold Shine and Sam Segal

Oral history interview with Arnold Shine and Sam Segal who discuss the establishment, functions and history of the Canadian Legion in Vancouver. The Jewish Branch of Canadian Legion was founded by Charles Gorovich in 1945, became the Fairview Branch of Canadian Legion and now known as the Shalom Branch of the Canadian Legion. Arnold was in the Army part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division; served in Normandy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, England. Sam was an Infantry instructor stationed in Vernon.