Social Activities
In the early years, most of the pioneers of Kingston's Jewish community had to work long hours to make ends meet and there wasn't much time or money left over for recreation. As well, many of Kingston's recreational organisations, certainly the elite ones, did not admit Jews. In the years when they were not admitted to the elite social clubs, Kingston's Jews liked to make their own fun. For weddings, bar mitzvahs and other community events, Jenny Cohen's Garden Dance Hall was available and was a popular destination.
One enjoyable activity was staging the Yiddish musicals written by community member Morris Tevan, son of community pioneer Jacob Tevan. These plays were put on at the LaSalle Hotel and at the Beth Israel Synagogue. Tevan's daughter, Dorothy Shanas, remembered how enjoyable the experience was for all who participated. Other kinds of musical entertainment were available for those interested in venturing out to the Golden Slipper dance hall, where Hyman and Harry Rosen had become owners in the late 1940s. After the Golden Slipper burned down in 1962 it was sadly missed by many in the area, Jews and non-Jews alike.
Starting in the late 1960s, fans of folk music could enjoy this type of entertainment at the bar at the Sandy Beach family resort, which had been owned and operated by David and Eda Plaw since the 1940s. Their son Gil remembered that "we didn't really make money but we had a lot of fun." In its heyday, the Sandy Beach Resort welcomed thousands of guests as well as hosting B'nai Brith picnics and other community events.
