Hours: By Appointment Only
Location: 6184 Ash Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9
Contact: 604-257-5199; info@jewishmuseum.ca
Access: Open to the Public
Website Address: http://jewishmuseum.ca/
The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, which also partners with Jewish Genealogical Society of BC, is an archive and museum that houses over 300 linear metres of textual records, 300,000 photographs and 725 oral history interviews, all documenting the history of local Jewish synagogues, organizations and families in British Columbia.
The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia houses various notable records of local and national organizations including the B’nai B’rith fonds (1886-2005), an international fraternal organization which aims to unite Jews in service to their community and the world at large. The Burquest Jewish Community Association collection (1975-2002) highlights the work of this non-profit organization, dedicated to the religious, social, cultural and educational needs of the Jewish populations of Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Mission. The National Council of Jewish Women, Vancouver Section collection (1902-2004) highlights the work of this voluntary organization, which was chartered in affiliation with the International Council of Jewish Women and the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. The Canadian Histadrut, Henry Avery collection (1962-1980) highlights the Canadian Histadrut campaign, which began in 1924 as an affiliate of the National Committee for Labor Israel (American Histadrut Campaign) to assist Histadrut in Israel through rehabilitation programs, medical assistance and the settling and integration of the newly arrived immigrants in Israel. Also notable are the records of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region (1970-1999), Canadian Zionist Federation, Pacific Region (1955-1998), Chelm Cultural Club (1978-1990), Hadassah-WIZO Council of Vancouver (1924-2000), Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (1962-2004), Jewish Family Service Agency (1953-2014), Mountain View Cemetery Restoration Committee (1949-2015), Royal Canadian Legion, Shalom Branch No. 178 (1944-2000), Vancouver B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation (1947-1998) and Vancouver Jewish Community Fund and Council (1930-1982), the first in Canada to establish a council of local organizations on which all adult Jewish organizations were represented.
Also significant are the collections of local synagogues including Congregation Beth Israel (1930-1911), Congregation Emanu-El (1851-2012), Congregation Har El (1962-2005), Congregation Schara Tzedeck (1948-2014), John Keenlysides Congregation Emanu-El (1962-1964), Ralph Barer’s Congregation Emanu-El (1862-2003) and Temple Sholom (1965-2013),
Private papers and family collections of local Jewish families include the Altman Family Collection (1904-2001), Bagoch family fonds (1949-2014), highlighting the work and community involvement of clinical professor at UBC and gastroenterologist Dr. Abraham Bagoch, the Morris Soskin and Rose Hyams collection (1911-1967), highlighting lawyer Morris Soskin, who was also founder and the first president of the Jewish Community chest and a past president of the Zionist organization, the Nemetz family fonds (1900-2012), the collections of actor and producer Ben Kopelow (1825-2009), rabbi Cyril E. Leonoff (1971-2000), lawyer Bernie Simpson (1957-2014), medical doctor Dr. Morris Levine (1959-1989), dentist Dr. Irving and Phyliss Snider fonds (c.1890-2002)–during WWII Irving served for four years as a Captain with the Dental Corps–president of Vancouver Hadassah-WIZO Marjorie Groberman (1940-2010), provincial government worker Minnie Toft (née Toban) (1910-2005), columnist for the Vancouver News Herald and Television/radio personality Murray Goldman (1995-) and writer and producer Tracy Ames (1916-1987),
The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia also contains several extensive photograph collections, most notably the Fred Schiffer Photography fonds of c. 100,000 photographs (1938-1999), Jewish Western Bulletin fonds (1897, 1925- ) of c. 10,000 photographs, Jewish communities of British Columbia historical collection (1858-2000), which includes 1m of textual records and c. 6,000 photographs, Leonard Frank Photos studio (1890-1944, 1945-1980) collection of 39,000 photographs, Seidelman family fonds (1889-1975) of c. 300 photographs, Soskin family photographs (1918-1945) and Sarah Ehrmann (née Shirley Gurevich) Habonim photographs (1949-1950).
Also significant within the Archives are various oral history collections including the JHSBC Oral History Collection (1968- ), which contains 725 oral history interviews with Jewish pioneer and community figures. The Archives also houses a collection of publications including The Scribe, an annual journal published by the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC documenting all aspects of the 150 year Jewish experience in British Columbia.
There are also various temporary and travelling exhibits as well as notable online exhibits including A Transcontinental Love, Letters Home, a collection of dispatches from the Frontlines during WWI, On These Shores, which explores the Jewish pioneers of Early Victoria, New Ways of Living and Sacred Sites: Dishonour and Healing. Approximately 10, 996 records, namely photographs, videos and audio records other textual documents have been digitized and made accessible online.