Heritage – Yerusha Summer 2010 Tammuz 5770 Volume 12, No. 3 HERITAGEHERITAGE www.jahsena.ca The Journal of THE JEWISH ARCHIVES & HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF EDMONTON & NORTHERN

Inside:

Bridging the Talmud Torah gets ready for its 100th! Generations: Jewish Dentists in Edmonton page 6

Clean & Pressed: Edmonton’s Jewish Drycleaners page 4

Roy Farran Fingered page 9

PAA photo 75.388/46, donated by Burton Margolus. Talmud Torah’s Front Row: Eric Weil, Judy Rabin, Susan Schloss, Rosalie Shaw, Elva Switzer, Sandra Fratkin. 100th Anniversary Second Row: Morley Bleviss, Irwin Woodrow, Phillip Lister, Sol Rolingher, Sidney Goorevitch, is coming! David Rosenberg, David Shugarman. Third Row: Moshe Yedlin, Miss Sanderson and Principal Jack Chetner. Do you have any Fourth Row: Norman Bell, Ron Goldberg, Barry Brovender, Phillip Silver. class photos? If you have any class or other Talmud Torah pictures, please bring them in to the JAHSENA office so that they can be included in the 100th Anniversary website. If you have any photos to donate, please phone or email the office at: 780-489-2809 or [email protected]. 2 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010 hwry From the Archivist’s Desk..., by Debby Shoctor HERITAGEHERITAGE

Summer, 2010 The Journal of the Jewish Archives & Historical Society of Edmonton and Northern rchives have been in prevalent in the Archives world on-line versions of newspapers, Alberta A the news a great deal lately, as the National Library magazines and even books. this year, as well as being and Archives of Canada merged I myself recently bought portrayed in movies, TV a couple of years ago into the a Kindle book-reader from President shows and books I have read National Library and Archives Amazon, just to reduce the Jini Vogel recently, such as Angels and of Canada. Our special guest at stacks of books by my bedside Archivist & Editor Demons, and the Girl With the conference was Dr. Daniel and save a few trees. No sooner Debby Shoctor . the Dragon Tatoo Caron, National Librarian and had I done that then Apple Treasurer In fact, people seem to be Archivist of Canada. brought out the I-Pad, and Howard Davidow more aware of Archives and Convergence is also happen- Chapters brought out its own the treasures they hold. It was ing at the University of , version, the Kobo, now avail- Secretary barely a year ago that the City where Dr. Tom Hickerson has able in stores. Gloria Aaron of Cologne Archives collapsed merged the Library, Archives, However, despite all this on- Vice Presidents into a Subway tunnel being U of C Press and Special line access to information, they Judy Goldsand built below it, sending its Collections into one unit. I estimate that only about 1% of Mel Wyne 1000-year-old contents into the have a suspicion something the world’s documentary heri- rising Rhine River below. This, similar is about to happen at U tage is currently digitized, and Members-at-Large the oldest municipal archive in of A, as their archives staff has of the born-digital documents Cory Felber Europe, containing the records been reduced to two people – that are now being generated, Dr. Manuel Friedman of the Hanseatic League, the pretty sad for a Canadian very little of them are being Barry Zalmanowitz papers of Albertus Magnus and University and research centre. captured by archives. Dr. Eric Schloss the music of Jacques Offenbach, Of course in smaller archives We are essentially entering Hal Simons had survived both the first and and historical societies, such as a digital dark age, a period of Miriam Rabinovitch second world wars, only to be ours, that convergence is inevi- time when much information Past-President felled by a subway tunnel! They table, as we look after the JCC is in danger of being lost before Dan Kauffman estimate it will take 30 years Library, as well as our own, the techniques and procedures just to sort out the mess. archives as well as any artifacts are developed to capture it Founding President Local archivist Regina which individuals in the com- permanently as we make the Uri Rosenzweig Landwehr from the University munity hope to donate. transition from paper to bits Graphic Design of Calgary has been over there Until now, this has been and bytes. PageMaster twice this year to help sort rarer in larger institutions such So think twice before you through the rubble. This was as Universities. However in delete that email – you may Mailing Address the subject of a very interesting today’s climate of recession and want to print it, because it JAHSENA, 7200-156 St., talk she gave at this year’s cutbacks, I fear it is becoming may not be retrievable. At least Edmonton, Alberta, T5R 1X3, Archives Society of Alberta all too common. the papers which fell into the Conference, held at the Banff Another contributing factor Rhine were able to be scooped Telephone: (403) 489-2809 Centre in May. to this has been the explosion out, dried and pieced together Fax: (780) 481-1854 The theme of the conference of the internet and digital manually. Email: [email protected] was, “The War of Independence access to libraries, archives and Piecing an endless string Website: www.jahsena.ca. Revisited: Librarians vs. documents in general. of ones and zeros together is Archivists.” Our keynote This has already sent much harder. speaker, archival theorist Terry warning shocks through the Debby Shoctor Cook, from the University of publishing industry, especially Archivist Manitoba, addressed this topic. newspaper publishing, as people This theme has become very abandon print and opt for HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 3

Rabbi Bernard Baskin Speaks to JAHSENA Members

abbi Bernard Baskin of Hamilton, ROntario’s Anshe Shalom Synagoge was in town the week of April 12th to honour the Library at the with a donation of 7,000 rare books from his private collection. The University of Alberta contacted JAHSENA and suggested that we invite Rabbi Baskin to Rabbi Bernard Baskin and JAHSENA President Jini Vogel at the joint University of Alberta speak to us on the evening of April 15th Libraries - JAHSENA Spring Program, April 15th, 2010. Shoctor photo. on “Ten Turning Points in Jewish History.” I also had the pleasure of hearing Rabbi Baskin the previous evening at ence was his marriage to his wife, Marjorie books was partially sparked by his brother a dinner hosted by the University of Shatz. Leonard Baskin, artist and publisher of the Alberta Libraries, where he talked about The Baskins arrived in Hamilton in Gehenna Press. his brother Leonard Baskin and his 1949. At that time, Temple Anshe Sholom Over the years there have been many work at the Gehenna Press, which was was a congregation of 80 families worship- honours – Baskin was one of the first most fascinating. Leonard Baskin was an ping in a bleak and cramped building at Jews awarded an honourary doctrate by avant-garde artist and printmaker in the Hughson and Augusta streets. Within a McMaster University, he is a recipient of United States in the 1960s and ‘70s, who year of the new rabbi’s arrival work started the B’nai B’rith Humanitarian Award for printed and published many books of art on a modern new facility in a farm field in his commitment to interfaith activities, and poetry, some with British poet laureate Westdale. he has been the Hamilton Jewish com- Ted Hughes. Rabbi Baskin became deeply involved in munity’s Man of Year and also received Rabbi Bernard Baskin was born in New community service – he was a member of the Good Servant Award of the Canadian Brunswick, New Jersey in 1920, and grew the public library board for a decade and Council of Christians and Jews. In 1990, up in Brooklyn, New York. His father, served as its chairman, was a member of he was chosen for Hamilton’s Gallery of Samuel, was a progressive Orthodox rabbi the boards of the Hamilton Art Gallery Distinction. who had been ordained in Eastern Europe. and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra as Our program was well-attended, with Bernard was educated at an Orthodox well as Board of Governors of McMaster about 90 members and friends coming out yeshiva and public high school, and gradu- University. to hear Rabbi Baskin’s enlightening talk on ated from Brooklyn College, part of the Baskin became Rabbi Emeritus of the 10 turning points in Jewish History, City University of New York before mov- the Temple in 1989. In retirement he which include the Exodus, The Babylonian ing on to the Jewish Institute of Religion and Marjorie operated an antique book Exile, Shabbati Tzvi, the Spanish where he was ordained in 1948. business – Ibis—The Book Arts, an Expulsion, the French Revolution, the Baskin actually took up his first post, antiquarian bookselling firm specializing Dreyfus Affair, the mass immigration to in Denver, Colorado, before he officially in Judaica, books about books, occult and America, the Holocaust and the creation graduated. One outcome of that experi- private press volumes. His interest in rare of the State of Israel. 4 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010 Cleaned & Pressed: Edmonton’s Jewish Drycleaners By Marni Dlin here is a history of Jewish drycleaners Tin Edmonton, dating back to the 1920s. In 1926, Michael Podolsky started Dollar Cleaners at 93rd Street and 106th Avenue. When Mickey Dlin returned from service in the RCAF and married Michael and Fannie Podolsky’s daughter, Sybil, in Michael Podolsky’s Dry-Cleaning Business, Rug Cleaning Department, October, 1930. JAHSENA Archives, photo donated by Cory Dlin Felber. 1945, he became the President and General Manager. Cecil Paull (formerly Podolsky), Dollar Cleaners had the first ever drive- ’40s through part of the ’50s. In 1949, he the youngest son of Michael and Fannie, thru cleaner depot, located at 108th Street bought Cosmo Cleaners on 99th Street and joined the business in 1949. He attended and Jasper Avenue, where one could both Whyte Avenue. He foresaw the arrival and courses in Silver Springs, MD, at the drop off and pick up items. They also offered growth of suede and leather fashions, and in drycleaning school, which was the central a special Blue Ribbon Aristo-Craft Care ser- the 1965, Cosmo became “Mr. Suede: King location for study for North American vice, where every piece was hand-inspected of Guaranteed Leather Cleaning.” There were drycleaners. for quality control by Cecil. The company 7-10 employees and his wife, Goldy, was had eight trucks with salesmen and four the office manager. Bernie, his son, helped satellite stores along with the main plant and in the business when he was a youngster drive thru. and then was assistant manager from 1970- They had about 30 employees and won ‘80. There were franchises in Vancouver, multiple industry awards. In 1964, Cecil Kamloops, Regina and Calgary, along with decided it was time for a change and went the Edmonton store. “Mr. Suede” did a into the insurance business. Mickey soon tremendous volume of business through the recognized that the drycleaning industry was post office from people in small towns all on the decline and founded Western Linen across Western Canada and the North. All Supply, which cleaned and provided linens to the clothing and department stores endorsed hotels, restaurants and shops. He developed “Mr. Suede” to their customers when they a new system of data control for linen sup- purchase their suede and leather garments. ply that was implemented in many other Hy developed his own processes for cleaning places. In 1965, when Western Linen was these materials, which became standards of viable, he sold Dollar Cleaners to Trudeau’s the industry. and became a Director of the amalgamated Hy sold Mr. Suede in 1988, and though company, while also being President and it still can be found in the phone book, it is Manager of Western Linen. now part of Page the Cleaners. Hy Estrin started from the ground up at In 1951, Sheppy Slutker bought Trudeau’s “Mr. Suede” drycleaning advertisement, ca. Capital Cleaners, which was owned by his Cleaners and Shirt Service from Mr. 1970. JAHSENA Archives. uncle, Abe Estrin and Morris Gofsky in the Trudeau. He also bought Brown’s Cleaners, HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 5

Wedding of Sybil Podolsky and Mickey Dlin, 1945. JAHSENA Archives. Goldy and Hy Estrin, JAHSENA Archives.

on 109th Street off Jasper Avenue. Brown’s worked for Mickey Dlin at Dollar Cleaners, burned to the ground in the late ’50s and for several years. In 1957, he started was not rebuilt. Sheppy built the central Hygienic Laundry and Shirt Service Ltd., Trudeau’s plant on 142nd street and 111th near the Royal Alexandra Hospital on 111th Avenue. There were four satellite stores in Avenue and 101st Street. He specialized different areas of the city. The Slutker family, in wholesale, so most of the drycleaners including Jack, Alex and Ron worked there. brought him their customers’ shirts and Albert Charnaw, who was a brother-in-law, other items to clean and then once they were started as a driver, got his boiler man papers cleaned and brought back, delivered them to and managed two plants, and sister, Anne the customers either at the stores or by their Charnaw was the main plant’s office manag- delivery services. He also did tablecloths and er. They employed about 330 people and the aprons for hotels and construction site cloth- Gary Segal of The Cleanery, JAHSENA Archives. average staff stayed for 14 years, which was ing. He dealt only with the wholesale side of a very long time. The facility was internally the business, not retail. In 1973, he closed self-serviced. They had their own fleet of 30 the business down. + trucks with salesmen. They had their own Gary Segal bought The Cleanery, a well- mechanics for the vehicles and engineers for established , wholesale-based cleaners, spe- the huge boiler rooms. They were top leaders cializing in leather and suede, in November, in the industry across Canada and many 2009. The Cleanery is located at 11210-109 plants were styled after theirs. Competitors Avenue. He is working hard to build up the were always welcome to drop by and see retail side of the business, while maintaining how they ran such a successful business. a fine reputation and many clients on the Sheppy felt that “Martinizing,” which was a wholesale side. coin-operated self-drycleaning service, would He is proud to be part of the legacy of really cut into the dry cleaning business and Jewish drycleaners who have served the City sold Trudeau’s in the early ‘70s. of Edmonton, as well as influenced and bet- Ray and Trudy Goldberg immigrated to tered the processes used for the drycleaning Canada after enduring the Holocaust. Ray industry, as a whole, for more than 80 years. Ray Goldberg, JAHSENA Archives. 6 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010

1995 I joined the Rotary Club and played Bridging the Generations: the piano for ‘O Canada’ before the meet- ing and volunteered for the ‘Snack in the Shack Program.’ I joined the Jewish Seniors Jewish Drop-In Centre and served three terms as a Board Member. I am active with the drop in center Choir and did play the piano for Dentists some of the holiday performances.” in Bernie Adler’s brother, Dr. Eli Adler, Edmonton was also a dentist, and very active in the By Paula E. Kirman Edmonton Jewish Community. He also graduated from the University of Alberta and first practiced in Winnipeg for three here have been Jewish dentists in years, before returning to Edmonton. He TEdmonton for almost as long as there practiced for 44 years. “He was in the Royal has been a Jewish community in the city. Officers training program, and they paid Even today, it is a fairly common profession for his education,” Bernie explains. Eli for Jewish people to enter. Adler was also a Negev Dinner honouree Dr. Bernie Adler is one of the city’s in 1977, the same year the family moved to premier dentists, Jewish or otherwise. Born Ramat Hasharon, Israel for a year, where and raised in Vegreville, in 1930, where his Dr. Bernie Adler at his Bar Mitzvah in Eli set up a free dental clinic for children. parents owned a department store, Adler Vegreville. JAHENA Archive photo. He was active with JNF for many years, the entered Dentistry at the University of JCC, local and nationally on the CZF, with Alberta after managing his parents’ store In addition to his practice, he was the Talmud Torah, UJA and B’nai Brith. for two years. He graduated in 1957 and Dental representative on the General Dr. Bernie Adler is not one hundred per- practiced for 38 years. Alumni Council of the U of A from cent sure who the very first Jewish dentist “In Vegreville, we had a family named 1972 to 1976, becoming the President in Edmonton was, but thinks it may have Olyan. Harry Olyan’s wife taught us our of the Alumni Council in 1977. He also been Dr. Samuel D. Riskin. He graduated Yiddish and Hebrew. They were strong served on the U of A Senate representing from the University of Alberta in 1932. Zionists and it was Mrs. Olyan who taught the General Alumni Council and on the A life member of the Canadian Dental me and the other Jewish children. We Honorary Degree committee from 1975 to Association, Dr. Riskin died on September joined the Young Judea club and went to 1977. He was also a member of the Board the summer camps to meet other Jewish of Governors representing his Alumni children,” says Dr. Adler, who was hon- council from 1980 to 1982. For its 75th oured at the Negev Gala on May 30 of this anniversary, he managed to get the Board year by the Jewish National Fund. of Governors to agree to the Faculty of Adler married Miriam Dashevsky in Dentistry having its own convocation. 1955 in Vegreville, at the old Agudas Israel Adler has always been very involved Synagogue. The couple then moved back in Jewish and general community life in to Edmonton, while Bernie finished Dental Edmonton, both before and after retiring School. He worked as an associate for Dr. from dentistry. “I joined the Beth Israel Ken Gordon until his graduation in 1957. Synagogue in 1960 and was in the choir He then started his own practice, where that performed for the High Holiday he worked part-time, while continuing to services with a visiting Cantor like Cantor work part-time for Dr. Gordon as well. Dr. Vigodaé,” he says. “We reactivated a choir Mauro Scarslone, a patient of Bernie’s and for High Holiday service a few years ago. I a fellow Dental Student, approached Bernie was a member of the board for many years, and asked to work with him as an associate. served a term as chairman of the board, This relationship continued until 1994, and became President of Beth Israel in when Bernie sold his practice to him upon 1974.” his retirement. “When I retired from dentistry in Dr. Eli Adler, 1955. JAHSENA Archives. HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 7

20, 2004 at the age of 92. Another possibility for the first Jewish dentist in Edmonton is Dr. Ben Shlain. Dr. Shlain graduated from dentistry around the same time as Dr. Riskin and first prac- ticed in Mundare, Alberta then later moved to Edmonton and maintained a dental practice in the Tegler Building. Another Jewish dentist, Dr. Leo Lyman, worked with him in Edmonton. Although not in Edmonton, but close by in Vegreville, was Dr. Sam Hardin, who practiced for about 50 years according to Dr. Adler’s estimate. He came to Vegreville around 1930. Another early Edmonton dentist is Dr. Harold Samuels, who was born on December 2, 1922 in Edmonton. The son of Russian immigrants Ralph and Rose Chmelnitsky, his father was born in a Adler family, 1981. JAHENA Archives photo. Russian village in 1892 and changed his family. last name to Samuels after immigrating Shortly after he graduated from to Winnipeg. Harold attended Oliver Dentistry, he went to Boston and took School and Talmud Torah, then later post graduate studies at Harvard and Glenora and Victoria High School. He Tufts University in Pediatric Dentistry. He entered the University of Alberta in 1939 returned to Edmonton in late 1955 and earning a B.Sc. and went on to the Faculty went into practice with Dr. Riskin for seven of Dentistry in 1943. While a student years, after which he went into practice on at the university, Harold belonged to the his own at the Strathcona Medical Dental Jewish fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu, and Building. In addition to his 35 years as a joined the Canadian Army Dental Corps dentist, Dr. Margolis spent 30 years on after entering Dentistry. He graduated in staff as a permanent part-time Associate 1945 and was posted to Dauphin, Regina, Professor with University of Alberta in its Former Director Dr. Jerrrold Diamond, Camp and Vancouver and took a position with pediatric and orthodontic clinic. BB Riback reuntion, 1991. JAHSENA photo. the Department of Veterans Affiars in Dr. Margolis was a President of the 1946 for six months. In 1949 he married Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Ruth Podersky and established a private He received his fellowship in FRCDC sity and in practice!” dentistry practice. He later took post- in 1968 and was on the Executive of the A classmate of Dr. Margolis was Dr. graduate training in periodontics at Tufts Edmonton District Dental Society. As far Marsden “Bart” Levitt. He graduated from University and still practices and teaches at as his involvement in the Jewish commu- Dentistry alongside Dr. Margolis in 1954 the Faculty of Dentistry at the University nity goes, he has been a member of Beth and practised on 118 Avenue. He now of Alberta. Shalom Synagogue since 1950 when he resides in B.C. Although Dr. Bob Margolis was “born in returned to Edmonton. He has also been a Dr. Harold Fayerman graduated from Edmonton, and going to be planted here,” member of B’nai B’rith since that time. the U of A’s Dentistry faculty in 1955 and his parents moved to Saskatchewan in June He is also quick to add that he has been first practised in Wayburn, Saskatchewan, of 1929 and due to the Depression, stayed a member of the YMCA for 41 years. “I am before coming back to Edmonton where he there until 1950. Dr. Margolis took his pretty proud of that because I think that’s practised in the Meadowlark Professional Bachelor of Arts in Biology at University what’s keeping me active at 83 years old.” Building. He was married to Becky of Saskatchewan in 1950, then graduated Retired for 21 years, the father of three Shtabsky, and was very active in the Jewish from the U of A’s Dentistry faculty in 1954 and grandfather of two says that he is Community, serving as President of the after moving back to Edmonton with his “busier now than when I was at the univer- Continued on page 10 8 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010 Eulogy for Jack Newhouse, z’l (June 19, 1910-February 2010) Written and read by his daughter, Miriam Newhouse.

remember my Auntie Lottie remarking Ionce about early pictures of Dad, that he was always hanging upside down from something – a tree branch, the fence, out of a window – if you wanted to see a picture of Jack Newhouse right side up, then you Newhouse family. L-R: Esther-Rose Angel, Jack Newhouse, Judy Miller and Miriam had to accept that the rest of the world was Newhouse, ca. 1990. JAHSENA photo, donated by Judy Newhouse Miller. going to be upside down. Which is often the way it was when Dad was around. Rose, Miriam and Judy; a bird and a dog We’ve heard people say about our father Dad was the only son of Joshua and Rose (both female). that he had a charmed life – but there were Newhouse. He was adored and spoiled And I have to say, he was the coolest tough spots. The death of his father – Dad rotten by his two sisters, Tryna and Lottie. dad in the neighbourhood. Other dads revered him – and many of his best stories But in return, he was their little champion, entertained little kids in the traditional way were about Grandpa. The loss of his busi- who’d protect them and fight for them. The – you know, the severed thumb trick – that ness was a blow. Our mother’s death – the fact that he quite enjoyed the fights for sort of thing. But our Dad – he was the biggest blow of all. their own sake was just an added bonus. one doing really bad tricks – like showing But maybe those people who said his life Because Dad was a scrapper. He was us how he could swallow a lighted cigarette. was charmed were right. Because after the little and he was fast. He always said that Now that was cool! love of his life, my mother, died, Dad met being a good runner was essential in those Both before and after Mum and Dad a little lady, Rose, and after 44 years with days if you were scrawny, funny-looking were married, Dad travelled as salesman our mum, Dad embarked on his second and Jewish. But he learned to box and for Newhouse Wholesale, the wholesale romantic adventure, one that lasted another stopped running. grocery started by his father. He had story 24 years. As our cousin Michael says, he’s Dad was a natural athlete. He had after story about his life on the road, which had two wonderful lives. extraordinary co-ordination and an instinc- he would tell at the drop of a hat. One of Besides his close family, Dad had two tive grace of movement. He found the Y my favourites of his travelling tales was great loves – women in general and chil- at thirteen and never looked back. Besides about the time he was driving from St. dren. And both those groups reciprocated the aforementioned running and boxing, Paul to Edmonton to get married. It was with the greatest enthusiasm. I think Dad was a gymnast, a high diver, a handball the middle of May, but it was ice all the the women responded to his charm, his player, a curler, a golfer, and, most amaz- way. He said it was more like skating than sense of fun, his obvious appreciation and ing of all, a basketball player. We always driving. Along the road he counted fourteen his adorable smile. The candy handouts assumed he was so effective because he was cars in the ditch. He’d then add that he was didn’t hurt, either. I think children instinc- able to run between the other players’ legs. so nervous about getting married, he kind tively recognized that he was one of them. He was certainly below their eyeline – they of hoped he’d be number fifteen. Because I think there was a part of Dad probably didn’t even know he was on the Dad and Mum had the warmest, happi- that never grew up – that remained the court – except he tended to be the one est, most loving relationship for 44 years. same funny, impish little kid with a quick shooting the baskets. As children, we thought every household quip and a quicker jab. So, Dad grew up in a household of ador- was like ours – where laughter regularly For a little guy, Jack Newhouse cast a ing women. It seems he saw the positive rang out at the dinner table. It was quite huge shadow. People who knew him count benefits of that and, in his own household, an eye-opener to discover later in life that themselves lucky. For those of us who were ended up with another harem – this time other families just didn’t have as much fun in the charmed inner circle – we’re the his wife, Fanny; three daughters, Esther as we did. How lucky we were. luckiest of all. HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 9

Cesarani doesn’t downplay Farran’s wartime Book fingers heroism, but suggests its genesis stemmed from his deep commitment to imperialism. former Alberta Born in England and raised in British India, Farran would go on to become one of top cop as the most decorated soldiers of the Second World War. young He was three times awarded the and earned a reputation for ruthless Israeli’s killer efficiency as an SAS officer In 1946, he came to Palestine at the end

By Eric Volmers and Sherri Zickefoose, of the British mandate, setting up “Q” patrols Calgary Herald; Canwest News Service with the Palestine police to infiltrate Jewish April 19, 2010 terrorist cells that were trying to push the Reprinted with permission. British out of the region. Not long after arriving in the Middle East, he description of the murder is brutal Cesarani claims, Farran became resolutely Tand brief. It was more than 60 years ago, anti-Zionist. somewhere along a lonely stretch of road This, Cesarani argues, was Farran’s state of Roy Farran Fingered, PAA photo J4315, between Jerusalem and Jericho. A 16-year-old mind when patrolling the streets on May 6, Edmonton Journal Collection. boy, Alexander Rubowitz, was abducted by 1947, when he came across Rubowitz. a shadowy team of “special forces” British According to the book, Farran confessed policemen while putting up posters for the academic name as an expert in Jewish history, to killing the teenager to his superior officer Zionist cause in what was then a British- this puts to rest the mystery surrounding the the next day. Other incriminating evidence ruled Palestine. fate of Rubowitz. surfaced. He was taken to an unknown location Cesarani’s book claims he was murdered in Most damning was the discovery of a hat in an unmarked police car, most likely to a cold blood by Farran. found at the scene that appeared to contain remote olive grove in the Judean Hills about “He was a charming man,” says Cesarani Farran’s name on a label. an hour outside of the city. He was then from his home in London. “He was funny ... After fleeing to , Farran was eventu- interrogated, tortured and finally beaten to Everybody who met him remembered him ally charged with murder and faced a military death with a rock. fondly.” court in southwest Jerusalem on Oct. 1, His body was stripped and stabbed repeat- “But,” Cesarani adds, “he also had a dark 1947. edly, his clothes burned. His remains were side. He was a trained killer. He was merci- But through legal manoeuvring, the alleged never found and his killers never brought to less.” confession never made it to the trial, Cesarani justice. On June 12, 2006, Farran was given a says. The hat could not be proven to be But the identity of the murderer is no hero’s burial with a military guard leading Farran’s. longer in question according to to British a procession 10 blocks to his final resting The next day, without a body or any author David Cesarani’s historical book place in Calgary. More in-depth obituaries eyewitnesses, Farran was acquitted. Major Farran’s Hat: Murder, Scandal and would make passing reference to the fact this But Farran didn’t go into hiding. Britain’s War Against Jewish Terrorism. revered man – who battled everything from He married in 1950 and moved to Calgary, “Roy Farran picked up a rock and smashed Nazis in the Second World War to fluorida- initially to become a dairy farmer. it against the boy’s head,” Cesarani writes. tion in Alberta – spent most of his life under He then founded newspapers, entered “After one or more blows Alexander Rubowitz the dark shadow of an unsolved mystery. municipal politics and eventually became died.” Cesarani’s book, released last year, is seen Alberta’s solicitor general under then-premier Farran is was a war hero, a newspaper by some as the historical equivalent of a . publisher and the one-time solicitor general smoking gun that outlines Rubowitz’s fate. Despite Farran’s position of power, accusa- of Alberta. The book paints a picture of a British tions of the past murder and a long-standing This part of the story, Cesarani insists, Empire in its dying years, struggling to main- coverup by the British military were never is not conjecture. In 2004, declassified files tain control of a chaotic Palestine. Farran far behind. from a nearly 60-year-old police report sur- comes across, much like he does in his own “That rumour’s been floating around for a faced in the National Archives in London, 1948 memoir Winged Dagger, as a globe- long time. I remember in the Senate people England. For Cesarani, a University of trotting soldier exceptionally skilled at both asking about that,” says former senator Ron London research professor who has made his covert operations and killing his enemies. Continued on page 11 10 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010

JAHSENA Member Publishes Book Dr. Sterling Haynes, JAHSENA member and Heritage/Yerusha contributor, has published his 3rd book of collected stories and reminiscences of his practice as a frontier doctor in Edmonton and the surrounding area. Dr. Haynes is an amateur historian and son of noted Edmonton drama instructor Elizabeth Sterling Haynes, who strongly influenced Jewish community members Joe Shoctor and Arthur Hiller, as well as many Dr. Harold Fayerman, Israeli Prime Minister Yigal Allon and Henry Brezer at a UJA other Drama students at the University of function in Edmonton ca. 1975. JAHSENA Archives photo. Alberta. He himself was closely associated dentists in edmonton Jewish Community Council, B’nai Brith, with a number of community physicians, Continued from page 7 including Dr. Harry Weinlos, Dr. Elliot Talmud Torah and many others. Corday and Dr. Ted Shnitka, and has Edmonton Jewish Community Council, Dr. Jerrold L. Diamond is part of written about them for JAHSENA. These and of the board of Talmud Torah School, the newer generation of Jewish dentists and many other stories of early medicine as well as UJA and Israel Bonds. practicing in Edmonton. He is originally in the Province of Alberta are detailed in Dr. Jack Margolus has a connection from Calgary and graduated from the “Tales of a Frontier Doctor,” which details to Edmonton’s dental history through U of A’s Faculty of Dentistry in 1991. Dr. Haynes adventures in early medicine in his association with Dr. Eli Adler for 14 “I have attended the Las Vegas Institute Alberta, Alabama and BC and is published months in the Meadowlark Professional for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI is an by Caitlin Press. Building in May of 1977, the same year advanced training centre in neuromuscular The stories range in scope from saving Dr. Margolus graduated from the U of his mother’s life through a blood transfu- dentistry), and am presently a member of sion at the age of 9 to advising American A’s Dentistry faculty. Born and raised in the faculty club at the Scottsdale Centre tourists to Canada about SARS, Mad Cow Edmonton, Dr. Margolus also associated for Dentistry in Arizona,” he says of his Disease and West Nile Virus. with Dr. Sam Riskin at the Baker Centre continued study and professional achieve- for nine months while waiting for the ments, which also include being a member completion of the Westgrove Professional in good standing with the Alberta Dental Building. In practice for 33 years, Dr. Association, the Edmonton and District Margolus has been at Westgrove for 31. Dental Society, and the Canadian Dental He credits his cousin, Dr. Bob Margolis Association. Dr. Diamond has recently (they are part of the same family despite the become a part of the APEX mentoring Dr. Sterling spelling variation in their names), for his program at the Boston University Henry Haynes. decision to enter the dental profession. “He H. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Supplied photo. is an extremely nice guy and definitely con- and will be mentoring an intern from the tributed to my high opinion of the profes- University until July of 2010. In addition, sion when making my decision to become a he has been a mentor for first year dental New Members: dentist,” he says. Margolus attended Talmud students from the Faculty of Medicine and JAHSENA would like to welcome the Torah, was a BBYO member in his teens, Dentistry at the University of Alberta for following new members: has been a lifetime member of Beth Shalom several years. Connie & Danny Zalmanowitz, Synagogue, and served on the JCC board Other Jewish Dentists who practice or Edmonton, Alberta for one year. His father, Burton Margolus, have practiced in Edmonton include: Dr. Erica Karabus, Edmonton, Alberta was a community leader for many years, Bella Andler, Dr. Mila Lutsky, and Dr. serving on the boards of the Edmonton Milana Levin. HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 11

young Israeli’s killer Are archivists today’s real peacemakers? Continued from page 9 New Yorker Blog Posted by www.newyorker.com search site for content by Meredith Blake. Ghitter. “Clearly, there was a price on Roy’s head.” oliticians, beauty queens, and rock stars Saad Eskander proves just how danger- In the 1948 first-edition version of Winged Pall claim they want world peace. But ous – and how urgent – the work of an Dagger, Farran claims “at the time of the could the unassuming archivist, more likely archivist can be. The former Kurdish fighter alleged kidnapping I was having dinner with to be found buried in a stack of yellowing returned to his native Iraq in 2003 to work three Arabs in another part of Jerusalem. newspapers than at a global summit, be the as director of the Iraqi National Library Everyone knew that that was an unshakable true peacemaker of our time? in Baghdad. In a captivating online diary, alibi.” That was the prevailing theme at the Eskander chronicled his brave efforts at In the chapter entitled Escape From Scone Foundation’s “Archivist of the Year” reclaiming his nation’s history from a variety Palestine, 1947, Farran goes on to suggest he was being “thrown to the wolves” for political awards, held last week at the CUNY of threats: mold, car bombs, Baath loyalists, reasons. Graduate Center: archivists aren’t here Muslim fundamentalists. The blog provided But Cesarani insists proof of Farran’s guilt merely to perform the dutiful-but-dull task a window into the bipolar demands of his is now on file. job, from mundane administrative questions, of preservation, but to defend civil liberties, “When I went to the public records . . . and encourage transparency, and maybe – just like where to install new air conditioners, to had a look at that file, there was absolutely maybe – facilitate historical reconciliation the virtually unthinkable – snipers, death no doubt from what it contained,” Cesarani between former enemies. Underscoring threats, and even the kidnapping and murder says. the idea of archivist-as-peacemaker, this of two staff librarians. “The police investigation into the disap- year’s award was shared by representatives In less dramatic fashion, another previous pearance into Alexander Rubowitz concluded of both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian honoree, John Taylor, of the U.S. National that Roy Farran had murdered him and that conflict: Khader Salameh of the Al-Aqsa Archives, was once hailed by Maureen Dowd Roy had himself admitted to the killing of Mosque Library in Jerusalem, and Yehoshua as one of Washington’s true “macho heroes” Alexander Rubowitz in a statement he made Freundlich of the Israel State Archives. after standing up to Dick Cheney. The vice- to his boss and superior.” David Myers, the director of U.C.L.A.’s president and his famously aggressive legal Many of the witnesses who may have been Center for Jewish Studies, spoke gracefully team insisted that Cheney was not a member able to back Cesarani’s claims have long since on the evening’s subject, saying that “the of the executive branch, and therefore did died. Farran is no longer around to defend potential of the archive is not merely to not need to provide access to his records to himself. preserve, but to liberate.” His belief is that archivists. In turn, the archivists filed a com- In Israel, Rubowitz remains a symbol of the Zionist struggle. through the dedicated work of archivists, it plaint with the Department of Justice. As Certainly the incident came at a key time may be possible for Israelis and Palestinians Dowd wrote, “When [Cheney] tried to push in Middle East politics. Within a few weeks to “craft a shared history that honors, with around the little guys, the National Archive of Farran’s acquittal, Britain pulled out of self-critical honesty, both traditions.” As data collectors – I’m visualizing dedicated Palestine. In November 1947, the United possible inspiration, he cited “Histoire- ‘We the People’ wonky types with glasses Nations voted in favour of the partition of Geschichte,” a history textbook about and pocket protectors – they pushed back.” Palestine and proposed the creation of a Jewish post-war Europe http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/ Let’s hear it for the wonks. The White state, an Arab state, and a UN-administered hi/4972922.stm” co-authored by French and House’s famously aggressive legal team Jerusalem. Israel declared independence in German experts. insisted that Cheney was not a member 1948. Columbia’s Rashid Khalidi, though a of the executive branch, and therefore did For those who knew Farran in Alberta, shade or two more skeptical than Myers, was not need to provide access to his records reopening the Rubowitz case is a pointless nevertheless insistent that preserving the to archivists. In turn, the archivists filed a assault on his memory. records of the Palestinian people was a criti- complaint with the Department of Justice. “He’s gone and dead now. What can be cal step in the peace process, particularly in As Dowd wrote, “When [Cheney] tried to gained? It’s better to keep in him in fond the ongoing absence of a Palestinian state or push around the little guys, the National memory,” says Ghitter. even a centralized archive. Vital as it may be, Archive data collectors – I’m visualizing “I prefer to remember him in a very posi- preservation often takes a back seat to more dedicated ‘We the People’ wonky types tive light. He contributed considerably during his public life in Alberta. He had a remark- dire needs, said Khalidi. “There always seem with glasses and pocket protectors – they able life.” to be more pressing needs elsewhere.” pushed back.” Previous “Archivist of the Year” honoree Let’s hear it for the wonks. © Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald 12 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010

JAHSENA Recent Acquisitions DONATION These items have recently found their way into the 5 cm. newspaper clippings and other archives, and are available for research purposes: miscellaneous text, donated by Sharon CARDS 500 Yiddish books on miscellaneous Jewish Abbott. JAHSENA now has donation cards subjects, donated to the JCC Library, by Leo An outline of Jim Keegstra’s teachings to his with historic pictures on them available Superstein. These books were sent to the National Social Studies class in Eckville, Alberta, from for purchase. Mark your special simchas Yiddish Book Centre in Amherst, Massachusetts. 1978-1981. Donated by Crown Prosecutor J. by sending a donation to JAHSENA. Contact the office for more details at: Eulogy of Edith Kay, z’l, donated by Miriam Steven Koval, Q.C., via Arielle Wener. 780-489-2809. We have received the fol- Rabinovitch. Three handbooks to the Holocaust lowing donations: Oral History Interview with Abner Rubin, Symposium presented by the Jewish by Susan Lieberman. Heritage Centre of Western Canada, 2002, Sympathy 2003 and 2004. Donated by Dr. Dianne To the family of Joe Tabachnick, z’l, 10 cm misc. text and photos relating to Kipnes. from the Board of JAHSENA, and Na’amat Edmonton, donated by Sylvia from Marshall and Debby Shoctor. Alpern. 95 photos and 1 cm of text relating to the Beth Israel Synagogue, donated by Dr. To the family of Jack Newhouse, z’l, Three eulogies for Jack Newhouse, z’l, Bernie Adler. from the Board of JAHSENA, and donated by Judy Newhouse Miller. “Our House in Leova: a Memoir by Jacob from Marshall and Debby Shoctor. 1m textual records relating to the Edmonton Baltzan,” English translation donated by Jewish Community, donated by Uri Marvin Horwitz, Yiddish by Joel Waters. To the family of Rachel Dolgoy, z’l, Rosenzweig. from the Board of JAHSENA, and The Jewish Archives & Historical Society of Edmonton from Marshall and Debby Shoctor; Edmonton Jewish Demographics, UIA and Northern Alberta is always looking for new Dan and Esther Kauffman; Ed and Federations Canada, National Task Force on donations. If you have any personal papers, photographs, Joy-Ruth Mickelson. Jewish Demographics, 2010. negatives, books, audio-visual recordings or other items To the family of Harold Rodnunsky, Eulogies of Norman Silverman, z’l, donated relating to the history of the Jewish community of by Ruth-Ellen Shafir. Edmonton and Northern Alberta that you would like z’l, from the Board of JAHSENA. preserved for generations to come, please contact our To the family of Ansel Mark, z’l, Eulogy of Alex Rubin, z’l, donated by Abner office at (780) 489-2809. Rubin. from the Board of JAHSENA.

Help Us Preserve Our Past for the Future! I (we) would like to become part of the Northern Alberta (JAHSENA). continuing quest into our historical  Patron $100 past by joining the Jewish Archives and  Benefactor $50 Historical Society of Edmonton and  Donor $36 Northern Alberta in the category marked.  Individual $18 A charitable receipt will be issued.  I am interested in serving as a volunteer.  I have historical material that I would like to donate. Membership for other than individuals Please call me. includes spouses. Membership includes an annual subscription to Heritage/ Name: ______Yerusha, the Society’s newsletter, Address:______published 3 times a year. City: ______Postal Code:______Phone Number______Email:______Enclosed is my cheque for $______Visa/MC Number:______Payable to the Jewish Archives and Expiry Date:______Historical Society of Edmonton and Please clip out and return to: JAHSENA 7200-156 St. Edmonton, Alberta T5R 1X3 HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 13 14 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010

“FROM PEDLARS TO PATRIARCHS: Order A LEGACY REMEMBERED” and yo “BITTERSWEET MEMORIES: THE WAR YEARS” ur copy The Jewish Archives and Historical Society of Edmonton and Northern toda Alberta is taking orders for copies of “From Pedlars to Patriarchs: A y! Legacy Remembered,” and its sequel: “Bittersweet Memories: The War Years” its documentary films about the history of the Edmonton Jewish TO ORDER CALL Community. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of these films, they are available on DVD for $18. Please contact the Archives office at 780‑489‑2809. 780-489-2809 HERITAGE • summer 2010 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca 15 16 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.jahsena.ca HERITAGE • summer 2010