Bulletin / Bulletin De L’AÉJC | Spring / Printemps 2018 Page 1 Association for Canadian Jewish Studies Association Des Études Juives Canadiennes

ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 1 Association for Canadian Jewish Studies Association des études juives canadiennes

Spring / Printemps 2018/ 5778 BulletinVolume 32:1

Richard Menkis: 2018 Recipient We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s conference, of the Louis Rosenberg Canadian which will take place at three wonderful venues from May 13-15 in Montreal: the McCord Museum, McGill and Jewish Studies Distinguished Concordia Universities (please see page 4 for the agenda). Service Award Sunday is our Community Day, and we encourage all members of the broader community to come out and see what we have in store, free he Association for Canadian Jewish Studies (ACJS) is very pleased of charge. On that day, we’ll have panels by established and emerging to announce Richard Menkis as the 2018 recipient of the Louis scholars on “Jewish Performances,” TRosenberg Canadian Jewish Studies Distinguished Service Award. “Contemporary Yiddish in Montreal” Professor Menkis has a long and very distinguished career as a strong and “Identity Performance.” We have advocate for and practitioner of the scholarship and teaching of Canadian much more than panels planned during the day, including two book launches Jewish studies. by Ellin Bessner and Peter Usher as Dr. Menkis received his PhD from Brandeis well as a launch for Seymour Mayne’s University in 1988 and for many years held a new book of poetry. Finally, if you’d like to stay for the exciting evening events, position in the Department of Classical, Near we have a wonderful evening planned, Eastern and Religious Studies with a cross- composed of our annual awards appointment to the Department of History at the ceremony with a dessert reception University of British Columbia. He is currently and what promises to be a fascinating concert, entitled “Musiques juives: Associate Professor of Medieval and Modern Accords sacrés et profanes.” This Jewish History in the History Department at year’s conference promises to be truly UBC. In addition to the surveys of medieval and exciting, and we couldn’t be happier modern Jewish history, he has taught advanced with how it’s coming together. undergraduate courses on the Holocaust; We hope to see you in May. Canadian Jewish history; fascism and antifascism; the historiography of genocide; and Jewish identity and the graphic novel. He continues to Jessica Roda and Jesse Toufexis supervise both MA and PhD student theses at UBC and has served on PhD Conference Coordinators committees at other institutions. Dr. Menkis’s research interests focus on Canadian Jewish studies, and Inside this issue / he has published widely on the cultural and religious history of Canadian DANS CE NUMÉRO Jewry. His articles have appeared in American Jewish History, American Jewish About Us...... 2 President`s Message...... 3 Archives, Canadian Ethnic Studies, Canadian Jewish Studies and in a number Editor’s Message...... 3 of edited volumes. Dr. Menkis was co-author, with Harold Troper, of More ACJS Conference Schedule...... 4 On the Bookshelf / Sur les rayons...... 6 Than Just Games: Canada and the 1936 Olympics (University of Toronto Press, From Our Regions...... 7 2015), a seminal work in the field that presents a thorough investigation of A Yiddish Parody on Royal Life...... 11 Concordia Institute for Canadian the responses and reactions of both Jewish and non-Jewish Canadian athletes Jewish Studies Winter Programs...... 12 and their communities to participation in the games. He is continuing the Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Option...... 13 Ryerson University Conference research for a publication, begun with Gerald Tulchinsky (z”l), on an aspect Call for Papers...... 14 of the Canadian Jewish garment industry. Vered Jewish Canadian Studies: Holocaust Course...... 15 Affiliated Societies and Institutions...... 16 Continued on page 13 Page 2 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

About Us à propos de nous ACJS on Twitter!

Stay up to date with The Association for Canadian Jewish the latest call for papers, L’association d’études juives Studies was founded in 1976 as the news items and events in canadiennes fut créée en 1976 Canadian Jewish Historical Society. Its Canadian Jewish studies: sous le titre de Société d’histoire goal is to encourage scholarly research https://twitter.com/ACJSaejc. juive canadienne. Son mandat est on Canadian Jewish history, life and d’encourager la recherche sur l’histoire, culture through academic disciplines. Follow us and share la vie et la culture juive canadienne par It is a national association with with your networks! une approche pluridisciplinaire. headquarters in Montreal and is Il s’agit d’une association nationale affiliated with historical organizations dont les quartiers généraux situés à and institutions throughout Canada. Montréal assurent le contact avec This newsletter is written for différentes sociétés d’histoires et organisations à l’échelle du pays. organizations and individuals with a Ce bulletin est dirigé à l’endroit particular interest in Canadian Jewish AÉJC sur twitter! de tout individu ou organisation studies. Restez à jour sur les appels à manifestant un intérêt pour les études Comments, news, announcements communications, les nouvelles juives canadiennes. and reviews can be emailed to jason et les évènements d’intérêt Nous vous invitons à nous faire chalmers at [email protected]. à propos des parvenir vos commentaires, des études juives canadiennes: nouvelles d’intérêt ou des comptes- The ACJS website: https://twitter.com/ACJSaejc. rendus à [email protected]. www.acjs-aejc.ca. Suivez-nous et partagez au sein Le site web de l’AÉJC: de vos réseaux! www.acjs-aejc.ca. President / Présidente Rebecca Margolis NOTICE TO MEMBERS / AVIS AUX MEMBRES Vice-President / Vice-président Barry Stiefel All membership renewals to the Association can now be made online using Paypal. Simply Treasurer / Trésorier go to www.acjs-aejc.ca to renew. Also, if you have a change of address, email or phone Michael Kent number, please let us know by emailing the secretary at [email protected]. Secretary / Secrétaire Hernan Tesler-Mabé Le renouvellement de votre abonnement à l’association peut à présent s’opérer en ligne Past President / Ancien président via le service PayPal. À cet effet, veuillez visiter le www.acjs-aejc.ca. Pour signaler un changement d’adresse, d’adresse courriel ou de numéro de téléphone, veuillez contacter Barry Stiefel le/la secrétaire au [email protected]. Bulletin Editor / Rédacteur en chef du bulletin jason chalmers Thank you to the following institutions for their support of the Association for Bulletin Production / Canadian Jewish Studies / L’association d’études juives canadiennes tient à Mise en page du bulletin remercier les institutions suivantes pour leur support: Shirley Muhlstock Brodt Concordia Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies; Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies (York University); Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies (Carleton University); and Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program (University of Ottawa). The ACJS Bulletin is published biannually for members of the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the ACJS. Please send all correspondence to ACJS/AEJC, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8. For membership details and rates, log on to www.acjs-aejc.ca.

ISSN 14895954 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 3

President’s Message

t is with overwhelming pride that I am reporting leading scholarly journal in the field (thank you, David and on the activities of the ACJS over the last academic Elizabeth), our Bulletin looks great as always (thank you, Iyear. During my first year as president, I have had jason and Shirley), and nominations are running smoothly the wonderful opportunity to work with a fantastic board (thank you, Hernan). We look forward to expanding our and executive, who have gone above and beyond in setting reach through new initiatives to co-sponsor events and into place new initiatives to both stabilize and expand our hold more activities at the community level. organization. Thank you to our entire leadership team for your To mention just a few: we have been completely dedicated service, and thank you to our devoted membership rebranded with a new logo and website (thank you, Jesse); for continuing to participate in and support our activities. we have publicity postcards to distribute at our events and We are always looking for new involvement on our board events of interest to potential members (merci, Simon- and executive, so please do not hesitate to reach out via Pierre); our members have been actively coordinating email or in person at our annual conference in May. events (thank you, SJ and Lindsey); our exciting conference in Montreal (May 13-15) on the theme of “Performance,” Sincerely, taking place at Concordia University, includes a special community day at the McCord Museum and ending with a special concert as well as a roundtable at McGill University (merci, Jessica). In addition, our budget remains balanced (thank you, Michael), Canadian Jewish Studies remains the Rebecca Margolis

Editor’s Message

ne of my favourite things about editing the Bulletin physically distant communities is the ACJS. The ACJS and is that I get to review institutional updates from its publications — Canadian Jewish Studies/Études juives Oacross Canada. It’s encouraging to see that Jewish canadiennes and the ACJS Bulletin — have become a hub life is so vibrant in both major cities and smaller centres where communities converge and share with one another. throughout the country. In this issue, you can read about I am grateful to everyone who has helped ensure that Jewish architecture in Winnipeg, cuisine in Vancouver, and this issue was a success. Special thanks to Shirley Muhlstock business in Saint John. Brodt for the wonderful production. While many Jewish communities in Canada are geographically removed from one another, there are many Sincerely, things that bring them together. It is easy to see that they are bound together by an appreciation for aspects of Jewish tradition, such as language and literature, architecture and the arts, and memory and music. Another thing that unites jason chalmers Page 4 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

CONFERENCE Schedule May 13-15, 2018 | du 13 au 15 mai 2018 Montréal, Québec

Sunday, May 13 | dimanche le 13 mai 4:00-5:00 pm: Session 3: Identity Performance Franklin Bialystok (University of Toronto): Composer Srul Location | Musée McCord Museum, 690, rue Sherbrooke Irving Glick and Performer Jacques Israelivitch Suite Ouest Hebraique: A Landmark Composition in Canadian Jewish Music Sunday’s sessions are open to the public free of charge. Hernan Tesler-Mabé (University of Ottawa): Ottawa on the Tickets to the evening refreshments and concert are $25 ($15 Moldau: The English-language Premiere of the Jewish for students). Children’s Opera Brundibár in Ottawa, 1977

Les séances du dimanche sont ouvertes au public 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Awards ceremony & dessert reception | gratuitement. Les billets pour les rafraîchissements et le Remise des prix & réception des desserts concert du soir sont de 25 $ (15 $ pour étudiants). 8:00 pm: Concert : “Musiques juives : accords sacrés et 9:00 – 10:00 am: Registration | Inscription profanes”

9:30 – 10:00 am: Welcome | Bienvenue Samuel Bonnet, guitare Nathaniel Huard, percussion 10:00 – 11:30 am: Session 1: Jewish Performances Yoni Kaston, clarinette et accordéon David Koffman (York University): Playing Indian at Jewish Khalil Moqadem, oûd et chant Summer Camp: Lessons on Tribalism, Nationalism, and Character Building Interprètes: Randal Schnoor (York University): Approaches to Engaging Yolande Amzallag Interfaith Families in Toronto Hélene Engel Kelly Train (Ryerson University): Authenticity and Jewish Orel Gozlan Identity: Race, Culture and the Construction of Community Monday, May 14 | Lundi le 14 Mai 11:30 – 1:00 pm: Lunch n’ Launch: Ellin Bessner and Peter Usher Book Launch Location | Lieu : Concordia University, Atrium of the A light lunch will be served on-site | un repas léger sera servi SB Building 1590 Dr. Penfield (corner Côte des sur place Neiges)

1:00 – 2:30 pm: Session 2: Contemporary Yiddish in 8:30 – 10:00 am: Open Board Meeting, Association for Montreal Canadian Jewish Studies | Réunion publique, Vardit Lightstone (University of Toronto): Traditional Association des études juives canadiennes Innovation: An Analysis of the Folk Literature of Yiddish Speaking Immigrants 10:00 – 10:30 am: Coffee Break | pause-café Michele Byers (Saint Mary’s University): Performing Yiddishly: Language and Return in Yid Life Crisis 10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Session 4: Humanitarianism and the Keira Kenny (McGill University): Klezmer Revival Holocaust Adara Goldberg (Stockton University): Flexing Its 2:30 – 3:00 pm: Coffee Break | pause-café Humanitarian Arm: The Memory of the St. Louis, Canada’s Jews, and Postwar Refugee Policy 3:00 – 4:00 pm: Le chant de Moïse/The Song of Moses, Magdalene Klassen (McGill University): Going Out Into the Biblical Poems by Seymour Mayne, translated into World: Humanitarianism, Assimilation, and Gender French by Caroline Lavoie among Jewish members of the Imperial Order of the ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 5

Daughters of the Empire, 1900-1939 des Neiges) Barbara Weiser (Independent Scholar): Fitting Places of Memory: Canadian Holocaust Memorials 8:30 – 10:00 am: Annual General Meeting, Association for Canadian Jewish Studies | Assemblée 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch break | pause diner (provided) générale annuelle, Association des études juives canadiennes 1:00 – 2:30 pm: Session 5: Performing Jewish Stories Simone Grossman (Bar Ilan University): Portrait du Juif en 10:00 – 10:30 am: Coffee Break | pause-café écrivain québécois Sharon Gubbay Helfer (Concordia University): Four 10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Session 7: Hasidism Contemporary Montreal Rabbis: Life Stories Across Steven Lapidus (Concordia University) and William Shaffir Linguistic, Cultural and Denominational Divides (McMaster University): Institutional Completeness and Alexandria Fanjoy Silver (University of Toronto): Performative …Yet History & Poland on the Toronto March of the Living Valentina Gaddi (Université de Montréal): « We don’t wanna be outlaws ! » : performances de la judaïté hassidique 2:30 – 3:00 pm: Coffee Break | pause-café et vivre ensemble dans le quartier d’Outremont. Joshua Tapper (Stanford University): “This Is Who I Would 3:00 – 4:30 pm: Session 6: Moments in Jewish Canadiana Become”: Russian Jewish Immigrants and Their Richard Menkis (University of British Columbia) and Encounters with Chabad-Lubavitch in the Greater Gerald Tulchinsky (z”l): Jewish Reactions to the Toronto Area Phillips Garment Fire, (Toronto, 1950): A Study in Historiography and History 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch break | pause diner (provided) Goldie Morgentaler (University of Lethbridge): The Strange, Sad Story of Prof. Tony Hall and the University that 1:00 – 3:00 pm: Session 8: Canadian Jewish Ethnic Life Could Not Get Rid of Him Yosef Robinson (Concordia University): Geography of Ira Robinson (Concordia University): A History of Halakha in Interwar Montreal Quebec Dana Ionescu (UQÀM): La présence juive roumaine à Montréal; quelques considerations 5:00 pm: Roundtable at McGill University: “Performing Joshua Falek (York University): Purim as Site Rife with Jewishness: Issues and Challenges Across Time Jewish Abjection and Cultures” Christopher Chanco (York University): Title Forthcoming Prof. Erica Lehrer (Concordia University) Prof. Christopher Silver (McGill University) 3:00 – 3:30 pm: Coffee Break | pause-café Prof. Anna Shternshis (University of Toronto) 3:30-4:15 pm: Session 9: Future Research “Lightning” Tuesday, May 15 | Mardi le 15 Mai Feedback Workshop

Location | Emplacement : Concordia University, Atrium 5:00 pm: Sephardic Spaces: Reshaping Jewish Montreal of the SB Building 1590 Dr. Penfield (corner ôC te Walking Tour

We wish to thank our sponsors | Nous remercions sincèrement nos commanditaires:

Concordia Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies The Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies McGill Department of Jewish Studies Musée McCord Museum New Jewish Press Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program Page 6 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

On the Bookshelf Sur les rayons

For an ongoing list of ACJS members’ publications, please visit the website at http://acjs-aejc.ca/our-members-publications/.

Usher, Peter J. Joey Jacobson’s War: A Jewish-Canadian “I was introduced to the stories of the Hebrew Bible very Airman in the Second World War. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier early – in kindergarten... From those early years the stories University Press, 2018. of our matriarchs and patriarchs were imprinted on my imagination. What made them so vivid was their resemblance In the spring of 1940, Canada sent hundreds of highly trained to the behaviour of my immigrant Ukrainian-Russian Jewish volunteers to serve in Britain’s Royal Air Force as it began a family… concerted bombing campaign against Germany. Nearly half of So I read my family through the filter of Biblical stories, them were killed or captured within a year. This is the story of and I understood the tales of Genesis as they reflected family one of those airmen as told through his own letters and diaries experience. I still consider Abraham as well as those of his family and friends. and Sarah and the others as Joey Jacobson, a young Jewish man from Westmount on extended members of my own family the Island of Montreal, trained as a navigator and bomb-aimer — almost in the here and now!” in Western Canada. On arriving Biblical stories that have captured in England he was assigned Seymour Mayne’s interest over the to No. 106 Squadron, a British years can be found in Beresheet unit tasked with the bombing (Genesis) and Shmot (Exodus) and of Germany. Joey Jacobson’s include the account of Abraham and War tells, in his own words, why his family, the predicament of Joseph he enlisted, his understanding and his brothers, and the tumultuous of strategy, tactics, and the life and times of Moses. effectiveness of the air war at its Noted translator Caroline Lavoie has rendered this lowest point, how he responded sequence of Seymour Mayne’s Biblical poems. The author and to the inevitable battle stress, and translator will offer readers and listeners a bilingual sampling how he became both a hopeful of the texts, with creative readings drawn from the midrashic idealist and a seasoned airman. tradition of commentary, at the ACJS annual conference in Jacobson’s written legacy as a serviceman is impressive Montreal. in scope and depth and provides a lively and intimate account of a Jewish Canadian’s life in the air and on the ground, written in the intensity of the moment, unfiltered by the memoirist’s Articles and Special Issues: reflection, revision or hindsight. Accompanying excerpts from his father’s diary show the maturation of the relationship Mayne, Seymour. “Dream the Living into Speech: A Selection between father and son in a dangerous time. of Poems and a Homage to Yiddish.” Shirim (2018). Special issue featuring the poetry and memoir of Seymour Mayne. Mayne, Seymour. Le chant de Moïse/The Song of Moses. Translated by Caroline Lavoie. Montreal: Mémoire d’encrier, Morgentaler, Goldie. “A Tale of Two Writers: Chava Rosenfarb 2018. and Zenia Larsson.” Tablet Magazine (2018). ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 7

Our Regions Join us Sunday June 10, 2018, for this February session focused on Sephardic

o m special event! genealogy resources. Archival work continues apace, This spring we will be hosting the F r as archivist Alysa Routtenberg leads exhibit created by the Jewish Cultural de interns and volunteers in processing Association of the Yukon about the the JMABC’s two largest collections: Jewish presence in the Gold Rush. the Jewish Historical Society fonds Our spring program on May 7 will nos rÉgions and the Canadian Jewish Congress- feature local author Trudy Cowan, Pacific Region fonds. Stay tuned for who will present her new children’s exhibits based on these collections in book, Quarantine: Keep Out! The book the near future. tells the tale of the impact of the 1918 flu epidemic on the Jewish community in the area of the Montefiore Colony.

Jewish Museum and Archives of BC

Throughout much of 2017, the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC celebrated the diversity of international Jewish cuisine through The Chosen Food Jewish Historical Society Jewish Heritage Centre Supper Club and The Kitchen Stories of Southern Alberta of Western Canada podcast series. These innovative public programs reached over 4,000 “Building Community: An Online Recent Programs and Exhibits people and have attracted substantial Tour of Historic Jewish Calgary” attention for the small organization. was officially launched at our Annual December 5: The JHC ran a program On the success of these programs, General Meeting program on jointly with the Winnipeg Architecture Michael Schwartz, JMABC Director October 30. This project was partly Foundation (WAF) devoted to Green, of Community Engagement, has funded by a Canada 150 grant through Blankstein, and Russell, a major been invited to speak at numerous the Calgary Foundation. This virtual architecture firm in Winnipeg since the industry conferences, including the tour can now be accessed at www. 1930s. After World War II, it designed Vancouver Food Summit, the BC jhssa.org/building-community-tour. many important buildings, including Museums Association Conference, the Thanks to an additional grant Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (1950) and Lower Mainland Museum Educators from the Government of Canada’s City Hall (1963), using modernist and Conference, the Canadian Museums Documentary Heritage Communities internationalist principles. The firm also Association Conference, and Museums Program, we have been able to continue worked across Canada and in Israel. and the Web. work on the JHSSA Archives Backlog The program featured a launch The Chosen Food Supper Club and project. This current round of funding of Jeffrey Thornsteinson and Brenda The Kitchen Stories podcasts have now has enabled us to process significant Smith’s book, Green, Blankstein, and come to an end, but interested listeners accruals to several significant fonds, Russell: An Architectural Legacy. See the can still find all episodes ofThe Kitchen particularly those of B’nai Brith. We WAF website for numerous details about Stories on the JMABC website at have processed the textual records of the firm and the buildings it designed. jewishmuseum.ca/the-kitchen-stories, many major local Jewish organizations An exhibit prepared by WAF can or through their favourite podcast and have also created item lists for be seen in the JHC display area. app. many of our fonds. Innovative programs continue at JHSSA hosted a presentation January: A three-day program for the JMABC this year with the launch at the JCC Jewish Book Festival in International Holocaust Day was of the BC/Canada 150-supported December by Ellin Bessner about her organized by the Freeman Foundation project “East End Stories,” a series of book Double Threat. Ken Drabinsky Holocaust Education Centre of six videos commemorating the Jewish is continuing his monthly Genealogy community’s early roots in Vancouver’s Sunday Workshops in partnership historic Strathcona neighbourhood. with temple B’nai Tikvah. The Continued on page 8 Page 8 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

Continued from page 7 Four ACJS members presented a panel “Jews as Refugees.” entitled “Congress & Federation: Our speakers will include Yael Precedents & Adaptations of Jewish Braudo-Bahat, our visiting professor the JHC in conjunction with the Self-Governance Models” at “150 Ideas in Israel studies, Professor Sharon Azrieli Foundation, B’nai Brith, That Shaped Canada,” the Avie Delmendo of St. John Fisher College Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Bennett Conference at York University in Rochester, New York, and Professor Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the in October 2017. Frank Bialystok Olga Gershenson of the University Dante Aligheri Society, Vice-Consulate presented “From Democracy to Oli of Massachusetts at Amherst. More of Italy, and the Lupa di Roma Lodge. garchy? The Demise of the Canadian information will be available at http:// The events were: a) a screening of “The Jewish Congress”; David Koffman cjs.yorku.ca/. Garden of the Finzi-Continis” and a spoke on “Congress & Federation: talk by Dr. Jeremy Maron, curator at Precedents and Adaptations”; Jack CJN Awards the CMHR; b) a talk on Primo Levi by Lipinsky presented “Balancing on Dr. Alain Goldschlager (University of a Hyphen: Unifying Forces in the Call for Submissions 2018 - The Western Ontario); and c) a talk on the Canadian Jewish community to 1934”; Canadian Jewish Literary Awards Catholic Church and the Holocaust by and Stephanie Schwartz discussed will again acknowledge excellence in Father Sam Argenziano. “Federations @ 100: Analyzing the writing on Jewish themes and subjects Digital Record.” by Canadian authors. March: The 17th Holocaust Symposium, David Koffman spoke at the The 2018 awards program will which draws over 1,500 students installation opening of the “Canadian accept submissions of books on annually, was held on March 14 this year Jewish Experience – A Canada 150 Jewish subjects or with significant and featured Holocaust survivor Robbie Tribute” exhibit at Queen’s Park, Jewish content published between Waisman and Senator Murray Sinclair, Ontario Provincial Parliament, in May 1, 2017, and May 31, 2018. The former judge and chair of the Truth and November 2017. submission deadline is May 31, 2018. Reconciliation Commission.

Late March: The Jewish Heritage Centre and Manitoba Historical Society presented a joint program discussing some of their recent activities. The JHC speakers were Susan Turner (Synagogues Exhibit) and Belle Jarniewski (Holocaust Education Centre). The MHS speakers were Gordon Goldsborough (Mapping Historical Data) and John Lehr (Hutterites).

Internship Program: The annual internship program partners with the Gray Academy of Jewish Education day school. This year’s intern is pursuing research on the Holocaust orphans who came to Winnipeg in 1947-1948, York University’s Scott Library Last year, more than sixty submissions especially her grandparents. also hosted the nine-panel exhibition were received from Canadian for a number of weeks in the fall. publishers. Some of the books recognized Upcoming Events by the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards have gone on to receive other April 22, 2018: Wolinsky Lectures major awards, including a Governor Israel and Golda Koschitzky This year’s Wolinsky Lectures will take General’s Literary Award for My Shoes Centre for Jewish Studies place on Sunday April 22, 2018, from Are Killing Me by Robyn Sarah, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and we are pleased to a National Jewish Book Award in the Recent Events announce that this year’s topic will be United States for Birth, Sex and Abuse: ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 9

Women’s Voices Under Nazi Rule by Submissions must be received by The 2017-2018 Developing Future Beverley Chalmers. May 31, 2018. Early submissions are Leaders cohort raised funds to support For more information, see the encouraged and appreciated. Send the enhancement of the Ojigkwanong submissions criteria and the award submissions to the address noted Centre, “a home away from home” for categories below, or contact Edward above. many Indigenous students, and JET’s Trapunski, Chair, [email protected]. ( Jewish Education through Torah) educational programming. They did Submissions Criteria this by holding a silent auction in We invite you to submit any books on conjunction with the screening of the a Jewish theme or on a Jewish topic film “Rosenwald: The Remarkable by a Canadian author. The prizes will Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Story of a Jewish Partnership with continue the tradition of recognizing Centre for Jewish Studies African American Communities.” the best books on Jewish subjects On March 18, the ZC hosted by Canadian authors, who need not Through its activities and events, the feminist Biblical scholar Carol themselves be Jewish. Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre Meyers, who spoke on “Holy Land for Jewish Studies (ZC) at Carleton Archeology: Where the Past Meets Eligibility University continues to make the Present.” connections between academics and On March 19, Russian geographer • Books written on subjects with the broader community. Each year, and historian Professor Pavel Polian Jewish themes or with significant ZC partners with Limmud Ottawa was in Ottawa to speak to Carleton Jewish content to deliver a rich program for this students about the Soviet Union, • Books written by Canadian international adult learning conference. forced migrations, and Soviet Jewish citizens or permanent residents of This year on March 18, ZC researchers war prisoners. Canada joined other scholars, researchers, In May, eighteen undergraduate • Books written in English or artists and the community at large to and graduate students will accompany French share in this day-long celebration of Deidre Butler and Professor Mary • Books published between May 1, Jewish learning. Hale of St. Mary’s University for 2017, and May 31, 2018 This year’s presentations empha nineteen days (May 2-22) in Israel • Books with a 13-digit ISBN, sized the scope and variation of the as part of the RELI 3850-5850 Israel including E-books research undertaken by Zelikovitz Travel Course (https://carleton. • Books with Jewish content Centre affiliates. Presenters Hernan ca/studyisrael/itinerary/). Lectures written by non-Jewish authors are Tesler-Mabé spoke about Hans Krasa’s and classes will be taking place in eligible Brundibár (1943), a children’s opera partnership with Hebrew University • Graphic books first performed in Theresienstadt, which and Tel Aviv University, and the • Previously submitted titles, new had its English-language premiere tours arranged will offer numerous translations (except from Yiddish) in Ottawa in 1977; Sigal Barkai opportunities to study religion in and reissues are ineligible. displayed the works of contemporary historical and contemporary contexts. Israeli artists who bring the Holocaust How to Submit into their artworks; Allan Laine Five copies of each book. For E-Books: Kagedan spoke about the movement Three free downloads and two hard in the Soviet Union (1920s) to create copies. a Russian Jewish homeland; Peggy J. Completed submission form. Kleinplatz addressed the untold story Alex Dworkin $40 entry fee per title submitted. of the use of routine pharmacological Canadian Jewish Archives Cheques should be made out to: York procedures on women in Auschwitz University Koschitzky Centre for and its consequences; Andrea Lobel The Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Jewish Studies and mailed to: spoke on astronomy and rabbinic Archives are home to Barbara authority; Susan Landau-Chark Weiser’s data base of Canadian Art in The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards, talked about Jews and politics in 19th- Sacred Spaces. These archives are also Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies century Canada; and Seymour Mayne held at the Centre for Jewish Art at 763 Kaneff Tower, York University, entertained and informed with creative Hebrew University, Jerusalem, where 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario readings drawn from the midrashic Dr. Vladimir Levin is Acting Director. M3J 1P3. tradition of commentary. Weiser has been conducting an Page 10 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

ongoing research project that includes way, the Museum can draw on the in Saint John, we propose to art in synagogues and cemeteries experience of past board members examine the small businesses across Canada. The Centre for Jewish and encourage others to step up into created by some of these new Art has carried out a comprehensive leadership roles. arrivals and reflect on how these differ from the small businesses created in previous generations.

3. The Holocaust Study Group education program – Each year, the Museum holds a series of seven workshop sessions for high school students, chosen by their Dr. Elizabeth McGahan teachers, from the greater Saint John area to learn more about Several projects have been funded the Holocaust. The history of by grants. Funding from the Exhibition the Holocaust is shared by guest From the Centre for Jewish Art Catalogue of Renewal and Museum Activities speakers, the use of documentary Wall Paintings in Central and East European Support Program, Heritage Branch, film, reading exercises, and the Synagogues. Province of New Brunswick, is being opportunity to create original used to support three projects: writing and art. The students are program of documenting sacred Jewish recognized for their interest at the art from around the globe for the past 1. Expansion of the exhibit Yom Hashoah service. thirty years, with special attention to “Exceptional Jewish Men and the remnants of Jewish art left after the Women from Saint John” – An online exhibit for the Virtual havoc of WWII and the Communist This exhibit presents brief Museum of History is nearing regimes in Europe. The data entry biographies of prominent current completion. This will tell the story of should be complete by autumn 2018. and former members of the the Saint John Jewish community from You can access these archives at www. Saint John Jewish community. the arrival of David Gabel in 1783 to cjhn.ca/en/permalink//cjhn317 or at the present day. It will be launched in http://cja.huji.ac.il/. The exhibit recognizes the the summer or autumn of 2018. significant contributions made Pending the approval of other by members of the Saint John grant applications, projects to Jewish community from the mid- undertake oral histories from current 19th century to the present day. and past members of the Saint John Jewish community, the digitization of 2. Update of an exhibit on slides and photographs featuring the Jewish businesses in Saint work of a Saint John artist, and the John – “Open for Business.” development community and public Saint John We propose to add more programming for the Dr. Moses I. Jewish Historical Museum archival documents (letterhead, Polowin Memorial Library are under newspaper stories, oral and consideration. The Saint John Jewish Historical written reminiscences), photo Several events are planned for Society elected a new board of graphs (including some from the coming months, including Yom directors at its annual general meeting the collections of Isaac Erb and Hashoah to be marked on April 16, the in November 2017. Dr. Elizabeth other prominent Saint John Sixth Annual Spring Variety Concert McGahan was elected as the new photographers) and additional on May 10, and the Fifth Annual president of the organization and will information collected from the Saint John Jewish Film Festival from serve for the coming year. Saint John city directories and the October 20-25. The organization has adopted Saint John newspapers, including the concept of the “three-person feature stories and advertisements. The Saint John Jewish Historical presidency,” which includes current Museum will open its doors to the and incoming presidents and a past With the arrival of more than one public from May 1 to November 2, r president or “wisdom” person. In this hundred new Jewish residents 2018. ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 11 A Yiddish Parody on Royal Life

by Irving B. Rosen, M.D.

t the turn of the century, Prime Pirates of Penzance, and Mikado emergence of TSO conductor Victor Minister Wilfird Laurier and his — were presented in rotation, along Feldbrill, comics Wayne and Shuster, immigrationA minister, Clifford Sifton, with others. Students with singing and singers Evelyn Gould and Selma encouraged immigration to Canada. ambitions transferred to HCI to Lenchner. They promoted it by promising free participate in the two-week operetta land grants to continental Europeans run, which usually sold out. with farming expertise. East European The essence of Gilbert and Jewish urbanites got caught up in Sullivan’s works is parody of English the settlement of Canadian cities life: its manners, speech, gender roles, and towns. By 1930 in Toronto, they music, law, patriotism and more. made up 7% of the city’s population When Gilbert, who wrote the words, of 600,000 and had settled in a central received knighthood, royalty and slum known as “the ward.” government vented their displeasure Conductor and violinist Victor Feldbrill. Photo courtesy of Toronto Musicians’ Association.

Gilbert and Sullivan — not usually the hallmark of Toronto’s Jewish life — provided a message of societal fallacy to generations of adolescents. The performances helped transform students’ personalities. Their experiences in Gilbert and Sullivan put them in good stead for dealing with grown- up responsibilities, and they emerged into challenging adulthood and a not- entirely-unfamiliar culture. And, above all, it was always great fun! r

Harbord Collegiate prior to 1932. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257.

For secondary education, their with his parodic lyrics. Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. Courtesy of children went to Commercial High if The sight of Jewish immigrants’ Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, September 12, 2017. they aspired to business, Central Tech progeny behaving as parodying for the trades, but usually Harbord members of the English court or Dr. Irving B. Rosen is a professor in the Collegiate Institute (HCI), which had government appeared odd and Department of Surgery at the University of a 90+% population of Jewish youth. worthy of introspection. But these Toronto and has been a long-standing member This school was also uniquely students, who were still looked down in the Department of General Surgery at the characterized by its annual Gilbert upon as immigrants’ kids, enjoyed Mt. Sinai Hospital and University Health and Sullivan operetta presentations. posing as society’s upper crust. Network, as well as a consultant emeritus at the The big three — HMS Pinafore, These opportunities facilitated the Princess Margaret Hospital. Page 12 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

Concordia University Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies

Winter 2018 Programs

• Yosef Dov Robinson (Concordia University) • Professor David Stern (Harvard University) spoke on the topic “The Geography of Jewish spoke on the topic “Why Study the Bible Interwar Montreal: A Demographic and Materially?” in cooperation with Congregation Cartographic Survey” in cooperation with the Beth Israel Beth Aaron, the Azrieli Institute Museum of Jewish Montreal, February 20. for Israel Studies, Concordia University, Concordia University Department of • Professor Ira Robinson (Concordia Religions and Cultures, and the Concordia University) spoke on the topic “By the Rivers Religion Students Association, March 15. of the St. Lawrence”: The Montreal Jewish Community and Its Postmemory” on March 7. • Professor Pierre Anctil (Ottawa University): Launch of his two books/Lancement de ses • Professor David Stern (Harvard University) deux livres : Jacob Isaac Segal: A Montreal spoke on the topic “Through the Pages of Yiddish Poet and His Milieu (University of the Past: the Jewish Book in History” in Ottawa Press); Histoire des Juifs du Québec cooperation with Congregation Beth Israel (Les Éditions du Boréal), April 24. Beth Aaron, the Azrieli Institute for Israel Studies, Concordia University, Concordia • The annual meetings of the Association University Department of Religions and for Canadian Jewish Studies and the Cultures, and the Concordia Religion Canadian Society for Jewish Studies at Students Association, March 14. Concordia University, hosted by the Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies, May 14-15.

For further information: Telephone: 514-848-2424, ext. 2074; Email: [email protected]. ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 13

The University of Ottawa’s spans history, literature, film, religious Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program studies, ethnic studies, Canadian introduces its new Option in studies, Holocaust studies, Yiddish Jewish Canadian Studies language and culture, and others. The Option allows students to explore the past and present of an ethnic The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies subject. The Option represents a new and religious group that has shaped Program is happy to announce a new initiative by the University’s Faculty of and been shaped by the Canadian Option in Jewish Canadian Studies Arts to allow students more flexibility experience for the last 250 years. The beginning in May 2018. The Option in pursuing their interests. Options focus of the Option will be up to is a micro-degree consisting of three can be “stacked,” and students will each student to decide: the history courses from among our course graduate with several Options of their of the Jewish experience in Canada; offerings that students can complete choice on top of their regular degree. literature and film produced by Jewish as part of their studies. The Jewish The attractions of this new Option Canadians; the Holocaust; Yiddish Canadian Studies Option is open to in Jewish Canadian Studies are many. language and culture; and others. students enrolled in any program at Our program remains home to leading For more information, please the University of Ottawa, regardless scholars in the field, with a core faculty contact Professor Rebecca Margolis, of their discipline. This means that, consisting of Pierre Anctil, Rebecca Option Coordinator, at Rebecca. for example, a law student with an Margolis and Seymour Mayne. We [email protected] or visit us at interest in Jewish Canadian studies offer a variety of fascinating courses in https://arts.uottawa.ca/en/programs/ could complete an Option in the a multidisciplinary environment that vered. r

Continued from page 1 Dr. Menkis was responsible for from local donors and agencies. He also writing, re-writing or co-writing over co-edited with Faith Jones a “mini- Dr. Menkis has helped lay the twenty of the entries. festschrift” in honour of Seymour infrastructure for the study and Dr. Menkis has played a very Levitan’s receiving the Association’s teaching of Canadian Jewish history. important role in the Association for Louis Rosenberg Distinguished He was the founding editor of Canadian Jewish Studies. In addition Service Award that same year. Canadian Jewish Studies (CJS), the to founding CJS, he continued in his Working with the lay community Association’s scholarly journal, guiding role as editor until the publication of a is of importance to the Association, it carefully through the many stages of special issue devoted to a bibliography and the award also acknowledges design and editorship to the successful of works published since 1965 on that Dr. Menkis has been extensively publication of its first issue, in 1993. “Jews and Judaism in Canada” in involved with Vancouver’s Jewish He taught one of the first courses 1999-2000. He also was one of the community. He has supported in Canadian Jewish history, and his four compilers of that bibliography. institutions such as the Vancouver syllabus was widely consulted. Another noteworthy special issue Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) He was co-editor (with Norman was the 1996-1997 volume focusing and the Jewish Museum and Archives Ravvin) of the landmark Canadian on Canadian perspectives on the of British Columbia. He has served Jewish Studies Reader (Red Deer Holocaust, for which he shared as the co-author of two exhibitions Press, 2004), which won the Canadian editorial responsibility with Paula for the VHEC and has participated Jewish Book Award for Scholarship on Draper. After stepping down as CJS in public history projects with the a Jewish Subject in 2006 and is used in editor, Richard co-edited (with Ira Museum. courses in Canadian Jewish studies. Robinson) one more double issue of For his body of research, his For the 22-volume revision of the the journal in 2005-2006, co-published leadership in the Association for Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd edition, with Jewish History. Canadian Jewish Studies, his selfless Macmillan, 2007), Menkis and Harold He chaired the local arrangements devotion to academia, and his deep Troper were the Divisional co-editors committee (Faith Jones, Betty engagement with the wider Jewish for Canadian subjects, commissioning Nitkin and Ronnie Tessler) for the community in Vancouver and beyond, and editing some 240 individual Association’s extremely successful Professor Richard Menkis is the very articles; this represented a greatly Vancouver conference in 2008, when deserving recipient of the 2018 Louis expanded and a virtual reworking of he also worked with his committee to Rosenberg Canadian Jewish Studies all the entries dealing with Canada. assure funding through gifts and grants Distinguished Service Award. r Page 14 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

The Department of English at Ryerson University The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program at the University of Ottawa The Association for Canadian Jewish Studies and Library and Archives Canada

present a conference

Canadian Holocaust Literature: Charting the Field Sunday, October 28, 2018 Ottawa, Canada

Call for Papers

Although the Holocaust has long engaged writers in Canada — those with and without direct links to the historic event — their particular exploration of the subject has received little critical or scholarly attention. There now exists a significant body of Canadian Holocaust literature that warrants such attention.

We invite proposals for the first-ever conference devoted to Canadian Holocaust literature. The aim of this landmark conference is twofold: to identify a corpus of work and to generate scholarly interest in the field. Proposals that focus on literary works originally written in Yiddish, Hebrew, English or French are welcome. For the purposes of this conference, literary works include poetry, drama, short fiction, novels, life writing, graphic narrative and creative non-fiction. The theme of this inaugural conference is deliberately broad, and critical approaches may vary widely.

Canadian Holocaust Literature: Charting the Field will be held at Library and Archives Canada on Sunday, October 28, 2018.

Proposals of 250 words, along with a 50-word biography, should be submitted electronically by June 15, 2018, to the three conference organizers:

Rebecca Margolis [email protected] Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, University of Ottawa Seymour Mayne [email protected] Department of English, University of Ottawa Ruth Panofsky [email protected] Department of English, Ryerson University ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018 Page 15 Page 16 ACJS Bulletin / bulletin de l’AÉJC | spring / printemps 2018

Association for Canadian Jewish Studies Association des études juives canadiennes

c/o Department of Religion concordia University 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8

ACJS Affiliated Societies & Institutions (2016-2017) (Asterisks denote institutional members)

Sociétés et institutions affiliées à l’AÉJC (2016-2017) (les astérisques indiquent les membres institutionnels)

Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives Jewish Archives and Historical Ontario Jewish Archives, Dr. Norma Joseph, Chair Society of Edmonton Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre Janice Rosen, Director & Northern Alberta Eric W. Slavens, Chair 1590 avenue Docteur Penfield Judy Goldsand/Howard Davidow, Dara Solomon, Director Montreal, QC H3G 1C5 Co-Presidents UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Phone: 514-931-7531 ext. 2 Colleen Paull, Archivist 4600 Bathurst Street Toronto, ON M2R 3V2 Fax: 514-931-0548 10220-156 Street, Suite 200 Phone: 416-635-2883 ext. 5170 Email: [email protected] Edmonton, AB T5P 2R1 Fax: 416-849-1006 Websites: www.cjarchives.ca; www.cjhn.ca Phone: 780-489-2809; Fax: 780-481-1854 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.ontariojewisharchives.org Canadian Society for Jewish Studies * Website: www.jahsena.ca Professor Ira Robinson, President Ottawa Jewish Archives c/o Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Saara Mortensen, Archivist Concordia University Mark Kantor, President 21 Nadolny Sachs Private 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Andrew Morrison, Archivist Ottawa, ON K2A1R9 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 Suite C140 – 123 Doncaster Street Phone: 613-798-4696 ext. 260 Phone: 514-848-2424 ext. 2074 Winnipeg MB R3N 2B2 Fax: 613-798-4695 Fax: 514-848-8776 Phone: 204-477-7460; Fax: 204-477-7465 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: http://jewishottawa.com/ottawa- Website: www.csjs.ca Website: www.jhcwc.org jewish-archives

Concordia Institute for Jewish Historical Society of Saint John Jewish Historical Museum Canadian Jewish Studies * Southern Alberta Dr. Elizabeth McGahan, President Professor Ira Robinson, Director Saundra Lipton, President Katherine Biggs-Kraft, Curator Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies Agi Romer Segal, Librarian and Archivist 91 Leinster Street, Saint John, NB E2L 1J2 Concordia University 1607 - 90th Avenue S.W. Phone: 506-633-1833; Fax: 506-642-9926 FA-101, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Calgary, AB T2V 4V7 Email: [email protected] Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 Phone: 403-444-3171; Fax: 403-253-7915 Website: www.jewishmuseumsj.com Phone: 514-848-2424 ext. 2074 Email: [email protected] Fax: 514-848-8776 Website: www.jhssa.org Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program * Email: [email protected] Professor Seymour Mayne, Program Coordinator Website: http://cjs.concordia.ca Jewish Museum & Archives of British University of Ottawa, Arts Building Columbia/Jewish Historical Society of 70 Laurier Avenue East, Room 354 Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for British Columbia Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Jewish Studies * Alysa Routtenberg, Archivist Phone: 613-562-5800 ext. 1148 Professor Carl S. Ehrlich, Director 6184 Ash Street Fax: 613-562-5990 763 Kaneff Tower Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9 Email: [email protected]; York University Phone: 604-257-5199 (Skype-friendly) [email protected] 4700 Keele Street Fax: 604-257-5198 Website: https://arts.uottawa.ca/en/ Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Email: [email protected] programs/vered Phone: 416-736-5823; Fax: 416-736-5344 Website: www.jewishmuseum.ca Email: [email protected] Website: http://cjs.blog.yorku.ca Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies * Deidre Butler, Director Assistant Professor, Religion/ College of the Humanities Carleton University 2A49 Paterson Hall 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Tel: 613-520-2600, ext. 1320 Email: [email protected] Website: http://carleton.ca/jewishstudies