Hirsch Wolofsky
Encyclopedia
Hirsch Wolofsky (1878–1949), was a Canadian Yiddish author
and business owner.
, into an ḥasidic
community to which his father was crown rabbi
. He received a traditional Jewish education
until orphaned at 15. Soon after he moved to Lodz
, married Sarah Bercovitch, and immigrated to Canada
via the England
in 1900 to join his two brothers, Aaron and Srul Dovid who were already in Montreal
.
Upon arrival he opened a fruit store on St. Lawrence (now St. Laurent) Boulevard (a.k.a The Main). In 1907, after a fire, he created Eagle Publishing Company and started Keneder Adler
, Canada's first daily Yiddish newspaper. (Until the 1950s, Yiddish was Montreal's third most-spoken language, after English and French.) Wolofsky served as the paper's managing editor until his death.
The Keneder Adler served an ideologically diverse readership. The paper's focus was world events, but the editorial staff so understood its paramountcy to the neighborhood, they listed births and deaths on the front page. If no deaths were announced in the morning edition, it was referred to as a "clean paper."
The paper promoted Jewish education, establishment of a Canadian Jewish Congress, creation of a Jewish Community Council (Va'ad Ha'ir), and the building of what eventually became the Jewish General Hospital
.
The Adler attracted Jewish writers of international renown such as Hebraist
Reuben Brainin
, who served as editor from 1912 to 1915, and featured many of Canada's Yiddish writers. Wolofsky's Adler subsidized the literary and scholarly pursuits of its associates and published many of their books. Among the books published was Canada's first Yiddish book: Moshe Elimelech Levin's Kinder Ertsiyung bay Yidn ("Children's Education Among Jews," 1910), and a local edition of the Talmud, the Adler's Shas Talmud Bavli or, as it became popularly known, the Montrealer Shas ("Montreal Talmud," 1919).
Wolofsky also wrote for the Adler. He published three Yiddish books: a travelogue titled Eyrope un Erets-Yisroel nokh dem Veltkrig ("Europe and the Land of Israel after the World War," 1922), a volume of contemporary commentary on the weekly Torah portions, Fun Eybign Kval ("From the Eternal Source," 1930), and a book of memoirs, Mayn Lebns Rayze ("Journey of My Life," 1946; Eng. tr. 1945, Fr. tr. 2000). In addition, Wolofsky served as publisher of the Anglo-Jewish weekly the Canadian Jewish Chronicle
(founded 1914). He held various leadership positions in the Montreal Jewish community, including the vice presidency of both the American Union of Polish Jews and the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Samuel Bronfman
called him "both a recorder and maker of Canadian history."
Harry and Sarah had eight children Philip, Dan, Sophie (who married Leon Crestohl, a Liberal Member of Parliament), Max (who took over the newspaper when his father passed away), Diana (died in a boating accident as a child) Moishe (Bill Walsh), Saul (Sam Walsh) and Miriam (Cooperberg)
(According to family folklore, after Moishe and Saul became involved in the Communist Party their father asked them to change their names so as not to embarrass the family.)
In 2005 the city of Montreal named a park after Hirsch Wolofsky at the corner of Roy and de Bullion streets.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and business owner.
Biography
Wolofsky was born in Shidlovtse, PolandSzydlowiec
Szydłowiec is a town in Szydłowiec County, Mazovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 15,243 inhabitants . It is the seat of Szydłowiec Commune...
, into an ḥasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
community to which his father was crown rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. He received a traditional Jewish education
Jewish education
Jewish education is the transmission of the tenets, principles and religious laws of Judaism. Due to its emphasis on Torah study, many have commented that Judaism is characterised by "lifelong learning" that extends to adults as much as it does to children.-History:The tradition of Jewish...
until orphaned at 15. Soon after he moved to Lodz
Lódz
Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw...
, married Sarah Bercovitch, and immigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
via the England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1900 to join his two brothers, Aaron and Srul Dovid who were already in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Upon arrival he opened a fruit store on St. Lawrence (now St. Laurent) Boulevard (a.k.a The Main). In 1907, after a fire, he created Eagle Publishing Company and started Keneder Adler
Keneder Adler
Keneder Adler was a Yiddish newspaper published in Montreal by Harry Wolofsky for the city's Jewish Canadian community. The first issue rolled off the presses in 1907. It ceased publication in 1988....
, Canada's first daily Yiddish newspaper. (Until the 1950s, Yiddish was Montreal's third most-spoken language, after English and French.) Wolofsky served as the paper's managing editor until his death.
The Keneder Adler served an ideologically diverse readership. The paper's focus was world events, but the editorial staff so understood its paramountcy to the neighborhood, they listed births and deaths on the front page. If no deaths were announced in the morning edition, it was referred to as a "clean paper."
The paper promoted Jewish education, establishment of a Canadian Jewish Congress, creation of a Jewish Community Council (Va'ad Ha'ir), and the building of what eventually became the Jewish General Hospital
Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital
The Jewish General Hospital is an acute-care McGill University teaching hospital with 637 beds, serving patients from Montreal, from across the province of Quebec and around the world.The Jewish General...
.
The Adler attracted Jewish writers of international renown such as Hebraist
Hebraist
A Hebraist is a specialist in Hebrew and Hebraic studies. Specifically, British and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Hebrew language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was little understood outside practicing...
Reuben Brainin
Reuben Brainin
Reuben Brainin, Reuven Brainin, or Ruben ben Mordecai Brainin |]] - November 30, 1939, New York) was a Jewish publicist, biographer and literary critic....
, who served as editor from 1912 to 1915, and featured many of Canada's Yiddish writers. Wolofsky's Adler subsidized the literary and scholarly pursuits of its associates and published many of their books. Among the books published was Canada's first Yiddish book: Moshe Elimelech Levin's Kinder Ertsiyung bay Yidn ("Children's Education Among Jews," 1910), and a local edition of the Talmud, the Adler's Shas Talmud Bavli or, as it became popularly known, the Montrealer Shas ("Montreal Talmud," 1919).
Wolofsky also wrote for the Adler. He published three Yiddish books: a travelogue titled Eyrope un Erets-Yisroel nokh dem Veltkrig ("Europe and the Land of Israel after the World War," 1922), a volume of contemporary commentary on the weekly Torah portions, Fun Eybign Kval ("From the Eternal Source," 1930), and a book of memoirs, Mayn Lebns Rayze ("Journey of My Life," 1946; Eng. tr. 1945, Fr. tr. 2000). In addition, Wolofsky served as publisher of the Anglo-Jewish weekly the Canadian Jewish Chronicle
Canadian Jewish Review
The Canadian Jewish Review was a Canadian weekly newspaper, published in English between 1921 and 1966.The Canadian Jewish Review merged with the Canadian Jewish Chronicle in 1966, to become the Chronicle Review...
(founded 1914). He held various leadership positions in the Montreal Jewish community, including the vice presidency of both the American Union of Polish Jews and the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Samuel Bronfman
Samuel Bronfman
Samuel Bronfman, was a Canadian business magnate and philanthropist. He founded Distillers Corporation Limited, and is a member of the Canadian Jewish family dynasty, the Bronfman family.-Early life:...
called him "both a recorder and maker of Canadian history."
Harry and Sarah had eight children Philip, Dan, Sophie (who married Leon Crestohl, a Liberal Member of Parliament), Max (who took over the newspaper when his father passed away), Diana (died in a boating accident as a child) Moishe (Bill Walsh), Saul (Sam Walsh) and Miriam (Cooperberg)
(According to family folklore, after Moishe and Saul became involved in the Communist Party their father asked them to change their names so as not to embarrass the family.)
In 2005 the city of Montreal named a park after Hirsch Wolofsky at the corner of Roy and de Bullion streets.