Philanthropy
Once the Jewish community had begun to flourish financially, its members were able not only to contribute their time and energy, but also to make substantial donations to support Kingston’s cultural and social life. This has resulted in the landscape of Kingston being enriched by Jewish names in places other than the traditional merchant shops along Princess Street or other parts of the commercial downtown area. For example, the name Zacks is well-known to art lovers in Kingston thanks to the significant collection of artworks donated in 1961 to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre by Samuel Zacks and his wife Ayala. The Centre also houses a Samuel J. Zacks Gallery. The Etherington Centre is located on University Avenue and Bader Lane, the latter street named after Austrian-born, Milwaukee based, Jewish philanthropist and art collecter Alfred Bader. Bader has sustained a lifelong gratitude to Queen’s for accepting him as a student when McGill’s quota system against Jewish students kept him out. His generous gifts to Queen’s include two Rembrandt paintings and Herstmonceux castle in England. Other examples of Jewish philanthropy in Kingston are Abramsky Hall in the Physiology Building at Queen’s, dedicated in 1975 and the Harry Abramsky Lobby at the Kingston General Hospital, dedicated in 1989.
