British Columbia
John Mahrer, an immigrant from Prague, opened a brewery in Nanaimo, a coal mining centre and port that is located north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. When the brewery amalgamated with the Union Brewery in 1891, Mahrer became its manager and master brewer. Mahrer was on the Nanaimo City Council for eight years and belonged to several charitable organizations as well as the city's band. John and Louise Mahrer's home and the Nanaimo Opera House, which John built, were the centres of Nanaimo's cultural life at the time.
These Hebrew letterpress blocks were used at Charles and Sarah Gorvich's Broadcast Printers, 3621 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC.
A decorative shield is placed over the mantle, symbolizing the breastplate of the High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. Evelyn Toban donated this ornament to Congregation Schara Tzedeck in honour of the ninetieth birthday of Harry Toban. As Schara Tzedeck's president in the 1940's, Harry Toban led the synagogue's move from Heatley Street in Vancouver's East End neighbourhood of Strathcona to Oak street in Fairview neighbourhood, South Vancouver.
These decorative ornaments sit atop the two wooden dowels that hold and roll the Torah.
Awarded to Cyril Leonoff by the National Council of Jewish Women
Hebrew inscription reads "present given for the blessing of Meir Son of Leiser Wolf from Society Cheschvank, Wednesday, March 8, 1650." The plate was brought to Vancouver from Vienna, Austria, in 1938, by Mrs. F. Bloch-Bauer.
Dr. Irving Ziskrout received this gift from the Whitehorse-Atlin community in appreciation for the medical services he provided. Made from fossil mastodon ivory and Yukon gold nugget.
Bowling Cup, Vancouver Hebrew Athletic Club. Won by A.M. Silverson.
A special menorah with eight lights (plus an additional one that lights the others) is used during the holiday of Hannukah. Hanukiahs come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. The hand, also called a hamsa, is a typical Sephardic decorative symbol, meaning protection from the evil eye. This hanukiah is lit using oil and wicks.
Max and Mandel Dodek immigrated from Poland to Canada in the mid-1920s and moved to Vancouver in the mid-1930s. They established Dodek Brothers Furriers in 1939. Eventually, each brother operated a separate fur business.
