The Corners of Our Fields: Jewish Farming in Ontario
On View: October 6-October 30, 2016
Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave, Toronto
Immigration schemes to environmental ethics - explore the untold story of Jewish farming in Ontario past and present in this exhibit by the OJA and Shoresh
A collaboration between the UJA Federation’s Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre (OJA) and Shoresh, the exhibition The Corners of our Fields explores the untold story of Jewish farming in Ontario, from pioneer training and immigration schemes to backyard chickens and environmental ethics. Like their biblical ancestors, farming was a source of livelihood for many Eastern European Jews who immigrated to Ontario in the early 20th century. Some grew up on farms and dreamed of owning their own land, others pretended to be agriculturalists to qualify for Canada’s strict immigration policies in the 1930s. Farming continues to be a calling for Jews practicing agriculture in rural and urban environments around the province.
On view are photographs and documentation from the collection of the OJA, Shoresh and private collections, that capture the ideals and labour of Jewish farmers in Ontario past to present.
Funding for this exhibition has been generously provided by the Acorn Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto.
