The Ottawa Jewish Archives has long been dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Ottawa’s Jewish community. One area that holds profound significance is the commemoration of Jewish veterans who have served in various military capacities throughout Canada’s history. For the Ottawa Jewish Archives, this effort has taken the form of a comprehensive project focused on collecting, curating, and displaying the stories and records of Jewish veterans.
Over the past two years, the Ottawa Jewish Archives has embarked on an ambitious and deeply meaningful project: the creation of a Jewish veterans information database. This ongoing initiative seeks to build a comprehensive repository of information regarding the services of Jewish veterans from Ottawa and the National Capital Region. This project came about to attempt to prove a long-standing legend: that Ottawa’s Jewish community had the highest enlistment rate of any Jewish community in Canada during the Second World War.
“When I first stared working at the archives in 2019, one of the more frequent stories I came across was about the enlistment rate of Jewish veterans in Ottawa,” says Teigan Goldsmith, Archivist at the Ottawa Jewish Archives. “I read it in books, and in our database but I had no proof to prove it, so I created an excel spreadsheet and started filing it in with all the veterans. Then I referenced materials in the archives, plaques, commemoration booklets, congregational records and then the Jewish Memorial Gardens grave database.”
According to Goldsmith, more than 680 people have been identified. While the database is only in the early stages of information collection, Goldsmith hopes to have it available by this time next year. The database will feature entries for individual veterans, their names, rank, division, life span, and a description of their service.
One of the goals of this project is to build an accessible resource for educators, historians, and family members who wish to research the contributions of Jewish veterans. This work complements the broader mission of the Ottawa Jewish Archives to document and share the history of the Jewish community. As the database continues to grow, it will provide a lasting legacy of the Jewish veterans who helped shape Canada's history.
In addition to the database project, the Ottawa Jewish Archives has an annual display in the Soloway JCC and a Facebook campaign that showcases the stories and achievements of local Jewish veterans. The display and Facebook posts feature photographs, personal artifacts, letters, and military memorabilia, giving visitors a glimpse into the past. From well-known figures in the community to unsung heroes, they tell the diverse and inspiring stories of Jewish military service in Ottawa. The display is currently on until December 2 and the Facebook campaign will continue until November 11.
As the Ottawa Jewish Archives continues to build its veterans' database and share their stories through displays and social media, the hope is that this work will inspire future generations to learn more about their heritage and the contributions of Jewish Canadians to the country’s history. The legacy of Jewish veterans is one of courage, resilience, and selflessness, and it deserves to be remembered. While Goldsmith doesn’t yet have an answer to the original statement, it has led to an incredible project that will preserve the stories and sacrifices of Ottawa’s Jewish veterans.
People are encouraged to visit the display at the SJCC on the second floor outside the library. For anyone who’s family member is a veteran and wants their service included, please contact Teigan Goldsmith at archives@JewishOttawa.com.
Lest we forget.
