Oral history interview with Edwina Heller who was born in 1914 in Warsaw. She taught music for a number of years at the University of British Columbia.

Oral interview with Alex Kliner. Interviewed by Peter Doolan for SLAIS Oral History class. Kliner was born in Philadelphia in 1930. His parents were from Rusia and he talks about his parent’s life and growing up in Philadelphia. At 20 he was drafted to fight in the Korean War. He came back and studied acting at Hedgerow. After he graduated, he went to New York to work on Broadway. Morris Schwartz told him not to go into Yiddish Theatre because it was dying. He talks about McCarthyism and the blacklist in Hollywood and on Broadway. A friend convinced him to move to Hollywood. Here he went to Los Angeles Community College and UCLA and got a master’s degree. His teachers told him not to get his PhD and got into teaching instead. He moved to Vancouver to work at the Peretz School. He then became the program director at JCC. With Tova Sneider he started the Jewish Heritage Theatre Company. Later he became the Executive Director of State of Israel Bond. He also worked with Chelm Cultural Club

Oral interview with Nancy Halpern. Interviewed by Samantha Stokell for SLAIS Oral History class.

Nancy's father's family moved to Vancouver in 1906, when her father Norman Brown was less than six months old. She has stories of her own life in the Vancouver Jewish community and those of her grandparents and parents. She was involved in drama and theatre in the Vancouver and Spokane, WA areas, and worked as a librarian in Vancouver. She was also involved in creating the West Vancouver Jewish Community Association.

Nancy mentions her cousin's daughter, Barbara Liskov (née Huberman) from the States, a professor at MIT who was the first woman to graduate in Computer Science in the U.S., and who is a winner of the Turing Award.

Oral history interview with David Skulski, interviewed by Alysa Routtenberg. David, born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, speaks about his family’s history in Ukraine [Beresteczko] and Russia and immigration to Canada. David discusses his early life and adolescence in Moose Jaw and North Battleford and relocation to New Westminster, British Columbia. David talks about both his secular and religious education and relationship to the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture, both in his youth and later in his leadership. David also speaks of his experience as a professional oboist, which influenced his founding and direction of Early Music Vancouver, residency at SFU, and role in Vancouver’s symphony.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-45
Name: Tammy Neuman
Interviewer: Victor Neuman
Date: October 26th, 2018
Place:
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project
Summary:
00:00: Victor Neuman, the interviewer, introduces himself and Tammy Neuman who is being interviewed. Tammy recalls her childhood and family history.
5:28: Tammy was born in Vancouver and went to the Peretz centre in Vancouver for her Jewish and Yiddish education. She went to university and became a teacher.
7:08: Victor asks Tammy how she got involved in music. She describes her love of choral music and then recounts how the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir was founded.
11:16: Tammy recalls that there were few members in the Choir to begin with but some of those original members remain.
13:18: Victor asks Tammy why she thinks the Choir is important to the community? Tammy responds that the Choir perpetuates the Yiddish language and does a significant amount of outreach in the community.
15:41: End of interview.

Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.18-47
Name: Norman Epstein
Interviewer: Penny Goldsmith
Date: November 21st, 2018
Place: Vancouver, BC
Project: The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00: The interviewer, Penny Goldsmith, introduces herself and Norman Epstein, who is being interviewed on behalf of the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir and the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC. Epstein describes his parents’ immigration to Canada, his childhood and his parents’ business.
6:14: Epstein describes his education and adult life. He eventually moved to Vancouver and received a position at the University of British Columbia.
8:09: Epstein recounts the religious education he had as a child in Montreal.
10:02: Epstein’s love of singing led him to eventually join the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir. He mentions the conductor when he was first there was Cyril Freedman.
13:15: Goldsmith asks Epstein what he thinks is important about the choir. He responds that the choir is probably more important to the members than to the larger community.
13:56: Epstein recalls some ways he thinks the choir could evolve.
15:02: Epstein notes some of his favourite songs that he liked to sing when he was in the choir. He still has much of the music that they used in the choir.
17:41: End of interview.

Oral history interview with Leah (nee Ellen) Main who was born Barbara Ellen Gilbert.