The second decade of Federation CJA presented new and distressing challenges for the Jewish community. The economic turmoil unleashed by the Great Depression caused exceptional hardships. Federation CJA responded by organizing an Employment Bureau: A free placement service that matched prospective employers with people who had lost their jobs. Federation CJA also set up kosher soup kitchens to help alleviate the growing financial desperation of those who couldn’t find work. Following the ascent of the Nazi regime in Germany in 1933, violence against Jews rose to unprecedented levels, causing feelings of dread and uncertainty. Jewish immigrants sought refuge in Canada, until government quotas severely curtailed their numbers. Disturbingly, they faced anti-Semitism even in Canada, though it was largely muted by the outbreak of World War II.
A journey through 100 years
