Biographical Sketch:
Born before WWII in Moscow, father from Belorussia (trained as a doctor, opened a pharmacy), Vera Parnes worked with pioneering methods of diagnosing cancer through imaging devices. In 1990 she began working on Wallenberg commemorations in Moscow. In Montreal since 1991, assisted in her immigration to Canada by then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, she was asked to work in the Montreal General Hospital but continued her Wallenberg work instead. She was founder and president of the Raoul Wallenberg International Movement for Humanity (RWIMH). Dr. Parnes died March 24, 2010, at the age of 91.

Custodial History:
Vera Parnes donated this collection on Aug. 10, 2004.

Scope and Content:
Invitation to Ottawa tribute event, Wallenberg memorial bulletins. Handwritten certified Russian copy of Moscow medical diploma. Videotaped interview by Tatiana Jour (English, Russian) (to follow, along with additional materials and scanned photos).

Biographical Sketch:
Born in 1901, Mr Maxwell S. Pascal was president of J. Pascal Hardware Co. Ltd., which grew to become Montreal’s most well-known chain of hardware stores. He was also the consul for the Republic of Korea in Montreal. In his volunteer capacities, Pascal was general chairman of Montreal’s Combined Jewish Appeal-United Israel Appeal in 1958 as well as president of the Baron de Hirsch Institute and a member of National Council of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He married Florence Bloomfield in 1936. Mr. Pascal died in 1989, and his wife died in 1956.

Custodial history:
This addition was donated by Florence Pascal through Eiran Harris on April 14, 2008.

Scope and Content:
Letters, cards, certificates pertaining to births, marriages, Bar Mitzvahs, deaths, awards. Press clippings. Correspondence. Plans re community activities. Zionism. J. Pascal Hardware Co. Inc. Family and business photos. Items in collection also pertain to daughter Barbara Pascal Mintzberg and her children.

Addition 2008: Max Pascal’s birth certificate, 1935. Max Pascal’s birth certificate, 1965 (copy). Max Pascal’s burial plot reservation, 1952. 1 letter from Congregation Shaar Hashomayim to Max Pascal re burial plot reservation, 1953.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designation: P90/11.
Restrictions: 1 file.
Related Materials: Wooden plaques, framed photos and certificates.

Administrative History:
Pioneer Women (now called Na’amat) was founded in America and Montreal in 1925. This women’s organization, part of the Labour Zionist movement, raises funds which provide half of all social services for Israeli women, youth and children. Affiliated with Israel’s Moetzet Hapoalot, it sponsors a nurses training school, children’s homes, daycares, vocational and agricultural schools, and community centres which help Jewish and Arab Israelis. Aside from fundraising, the organization runs educational and cultural activities to encourage women to be active in Israeli and Canadian affairs. Pioneer Women/Na’amat was affiliated with its American counterpart until the late 1960s, when it became an independent Canadian group. It supports the Habonim-Dror Zionist youth movement and is active in promoting women’s issues, in Israel and elsewhere, by its members throughout Canada and in twelve other nations.

Biographical Sketch:
Religious Jewish couple who suffered discrimination in Russia and were refused exit visas. They eventually came to Israel and then to Canada.

Custodial History:
Tatiana Jour donated this collection on June 14, 2004.

Scope and Content:
1 CD containing photos and documents. Video interview about experiences as a Jewish refusenik in Soviet Russia; Jewish life in Moscow, Russia; and later life in Israel after emigration. 3 photos.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designations: P04/01-23.

Administrative History:
The Poale Zedek (“Workingman’s”) synagogue was founded in the northern area of Mile End, Montreal, in 1910. The sanctuary of the Mile End building at 7161 St. Urbain Street was constructed in 1920-1922. A notable feature of the interior was a Torah ark of decorated wood with images of books on it, and this, combined with the distinctive old-style women’s gallery, made the synagogue a chosen location during the filming of the feature film “Enemies, A Love Story” in the 1980s. After a fire damaged part of the sanctuary in September 1988, the building was sold to the Buddhist community and is now the CaoDang Buddhist Temple. The Poale Zedek amalgamated with the Adath Israel Congregation of Hampstead, Quebec, in 1992, and the ark was moved to the alternative chapel there.

Custodial History:
The collection was donated by Louis Sheiner, vice-president of the congregation through the 1970s and 1980s, in particular during the era of the fire and the sale of the St. Urbain Street premises.

Biographical Sketch:
Dina Podolsky was born in Moscow, moved to Israel, and came to Montreal in the 1970s. She is an artist and the daughter of Lev Podolsky.

Custodial History:
Dina Podolsky donated this collection in April 29, 2004.

Scope and Content:
CD (for Lev and Dina) including photos of artworks, bio and reviews, articles. Book of artworks titled Dina Podolsky, Opera gallery, 2003.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designations: P04/01-11.

Custodial History:
Semen Polonsky donated this collection on Sept.13, 2004.

Scope and Content:
1 video. 1 CD.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designations: P04/01-41.

Biographical Sketch:
Genady Prement founded the Maple Leaves Press to publish the works of Russian authors in Montreal and publishes his own poetry there. He is also a popular singer known as Genady Nord.

Custodial History:
Genady Prement donated this collection on May 29, 2004.

Scope and Content:
Singer, writer, publisher (Maple Leaves press, specializing in Russian poetry.) 4 commercially produced CDs of music. 4 books of poetry published by his press.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designations: P04/01-19.

Biographical Sketch:
Wife of singer and writer Genady Prement and a writer herself.

Custodial History:
Ludmila Prement donated this collection on May 29, 2004.

Scope and Content:
2 copies of a book (novel) published by Maple Leaf Press.

Notes:
Alpha-Numeric Designations: P04/01-20.

Administrative History:
Project Genesis is a storefront community service organization in the Cote des Neiges-Snowdon area of Montreal. Begun in 1976 by social worker Jim Torczyner, its basic aim is to show the area’s disadvantaged citizens how to organize themselves to secure their rights. It dispenses free information, legal advice and assistance. Over the years it has also provided daycare, language courses, workshops, and a cafeteria; distributed food baskets; and held a crime prevention program. Volunteers inform area residents about Project Genesis services, discuss community concerns, and provide information, referral and advocacy services. The organization’s outreach also serves to combat the effects of poverty and to help elderly residents remain autonomous. Run by staff and trained volunteers, Project Genesis is funded by Federation CJA (formerly Allied Jewish Community Services), government grants, and donations. It is known for its yearly multicultural street festival.

Biographical Sketch:
Leonid Pulniy is an accomplished artist, photographer and graphic designer. He was born in Kharkov in the Ukraine in 1940 and immigrated to Montreal in 1995. Despite the obstacle of a speech handicap caused by an exploded bomb when he was a child during the war, he worked at the Institute for design in Kharkov after doing his studies there and has been featured in local and international exhibits of his photographs and art work.

Custodial History:
The collection was donated by Leonid Pulniy on February of 2007, with an addition in March. An addition was made on Nov. 18, 2009 by Leonid Pulniy.