Showing 19 results

Oral history interview with Jeanette Nuttall who arrived in Victoria in June 1890 from Nottingham, England with her husband, Harry, who served in the Canadian army during the First World War. She was a member of Hadassah and B'nai B'rith in Victoria.

Oral History of Anne Goldbloom. Her father was from Poland, and her mother was from Russia, they meet in Liverpool. Her uncle, Jack Stark, was the first family member to come to Canada. He originally settled in Winnipeg but moved to Vancouver before Anne's family immigrated. Her father followed her uncle to Canada and they opened a store together. At 16 Anne got a job as a stenographer, a skill that she used working as Secretary for many Jewish community organizations. During WW2 she was in charge of the knitting group that was making items to send to the overseas soldiers. Most of the interview is about her work with the National Council of Jewish Women and their Baby Clinic. She talks a lot about the Jewish community that she grew up in Vancouver.

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 David Simons who was born in England in 1900 and whose parents had emigrated from Poland to England in 1895. David was able to get servicemen's passage to come to Canada, arranged through a Cdn. Soldier, and he came to Vancouver in 1921. He had a job waiting on Lulu Island helping to clear stumps. Talks about his first impressions of Vancouver and liking the night life. Talks about his years in the army. He met his wife in England and got mariied in 1924. He is a long standing member of Royal Canadian Legion.

Oral history interview with Sam Heller, who was born in Poland, later moving to England than emigrating to Canada in 1940. Sam's father Horace was one of Poland's top lumber producers, Sam tried to get into the lumber trade on the east coast of Canada but was impeded, therefore moved to Vancouver. Besides Sam's involvement in the Forestry industry, he was involved in the Zionist Association.

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.

Oral history interview with Fannie Samuels who was born on the along the Prussian border of Poland in 1896 and emigrated to Winnipeg in 1905. Fannie was involved in the Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and Golden Agers. She moved to Vancouver in 1971, two years after her husband died.

Oral history interview with Michael Ratner, who was born in England, 1912. His father was born in Minsk, Russia; mother was born near Leningrad. Michael studied and worked as a Pharmacist in Vancouver until the 1970's. Michael was involved in the West Coast Historical Medical Society.

Oral History interview with Leslie Andrews. Born in 1929, Leslie grew up in a village a few miles out from London, and he speaks about what the Jewish community was like as he grew up. Leslie’s father was a tailor, and he collaborated with Leslie’s mother to start a clothing shop in London that sold waistcoats and petticoats called Andrews and Goldberg. During World War II, they moved their shop out of London to Aylesbury, and had contracts to make raincoats for the British Armed Forces. Leslie talks about the complications he had with both his secular and Jewish education in England. Leslie went to school to become a pediatric pulmonologist and proceeded to work in physical medicine. After the war ended, Leslie met his wife Iris, and became the first person in his family to come to Canada, emigrating to Vancouver in January 1962. He began working at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Center. Leslie, Iris, and their children attended Beth Israel synagogue, and were quite active in the Jewish community in Vancouver, with Iris working as a secretary and Leslie acting as chairman for various committees at Beth Israel. He talks about how the Jewish community in Vancouver has changed since he first arrived in British Colombia.

Oral history interview with Naomi Frankenburg (1926-2015) detailing her life in Canada and her involvement with various organizations within the Vancouver Jewish community. Naomi was born in London, England and immigrated to Vancouver, BC in July 1959 with her husband, Dennis Frankenburg and their first four children, Robert Frankenburg (b. 1948), Ruth Frankenburg (b. 1950), Francis Frankenburg (b. 1952), and Lucy Frankenburg (b. 1955). Her fifth and youngest child, Charles Frankenburg, was born in Vancouver in 1960. Naomi describes herself as a passionate Zionist and recounts the anti-Semitism that was occurring in Europe. Naomi describes Dennis Frankenburg as a businessman and accountant who managed an import and export business in Vancouver.

Amongst the numerous leadership roles she undertook, she was the founding president of King David High school, formerly known as Maimonides Secondary School. Naomi recounts her leadership positions in various organizations, in particular her time as a member and as national president of Hadassah-WIZO. Naomi became known for her public speaking skills and fundraising skills, which she exercised in various fundraising roles, such as chairing the Hadassah Bazaar, a campaign that supports women and children in Israel. Other notable organizations Naomi discusses her involvement in include the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Jewish National Fund, the Beth Israel Sisterhood, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the BC Forest.

Naomi summarizes her children’s accomplishments and lives chronologically, starting with Robert Frankenburg, the eldest, who served in the Israeli Defense Forces, has a Doctorate in Public Administration, and is the father of six children. Ruth, the second eldest, studied draftsmanship, has two children and is a business owner. Francis, her third child, Naomi describes as a leading expert in schizophrenia in the United States and lectures throughout the world. Lucy, her fourth child completed her education in computer studies, has three children and teaches physical education. Charles, Naomi’s youngest child, served in the Israeli Defense Forces, studied photography, and moved on to a career as a tour guide in Israel.