Oral history interview with Betty Averbach who was born in Romania in 1921. Her family moved to Canada when she was 3 years old, the Council of Jewish Women met them and helped them get settled. Talks about growing up in Vancouver and the Jewish community here. Her father was a junk peddler when they first arrived. Talks about raising her family in Vancouver and her family's active relationship with the Schara Tzedeck synagogue. Speaks of the importance of the Jewish Community Centre in the life of the community when she was young, the support and confidence it generated amongst Betty and her friends.

Oral history interview with Louis Averbach who born in the Ukraine in 1914. In Vancouver Louis worked in the furniture business, eventually setting up his own store 'Belmont Furniture'. Louis strongly advocates the importance of advertising throughout his career and afterwards. Moved into building later in life, first the Kamlo Motel on English Bay and later high rise apartments in the West End.

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.