Sam Kruger and Veronika Mikolajewski are Assistant Archivists at the Ontario Jewish Archives. They are responsible for processing the OJA’s extensive collection, as well as working on special educational projects. We caught up with them to learn more about cataloguing offsite storage, finding treasures in the collection, Jewish role models, and favorite Fiddler characters.
Kultura Collective: Hi Sam and Veronika! Can you please tell us a bit about you and your roles at the Ontario Jewish Archives (OJA)?
Sam Kruger: Hi, I’m Sam, an Assistant Archivist here at the OJA. I was hired to process the offsite collection in order to move it to a new offsite location. This project took 4 months to complete, and I am now working on cataloging the published materials within the archives – think library materials like books and magazines.
Veronika Mikolajewski: I am currently working as Assistant Archivist and was brought on to tackle the archives’ backlog, and to facilitate the move of our offsite storage. These days you’ll find me processing collections and accessioning records which so far have included everything from a sewing machine to vinyl records, from concert posters to a Havdalah Besamim box and torah finials. There is always a new surprise!
KC: For those who don’t know – what does the OJA do as a community-based archive?
Sam: I will borrow directly from the Archive’s website for this answer: The Ontario Jewish Archives “acquires, preserves, and makes available documentary sources related to Ontario’s Jewish community.” This means that the Archives accepts documentary donations about the Ontario Jewish community, from the Ontario Jewish Community, and preserves it so that Jewish Ontario cultural heritage can be enjoyed for the centuries to come.
The Archives, on the day-to-day, fields many questions from and provides research support for researchers. We have volunteers who have cultural knowledge – Yiddish speakers, shul members, etc. – and they help provide context to the historical records we have. There are also regular exhibitions of our collections for the public to enjoy as well.
The Archives is a truly rich repository of information on Jewish life in Ontario and has a wealth of information that they provide to the community every day, be it by providing educational resources for educators, putting on timely and engaging exhibits for the community to enjoy, or providing researchers with priceless information.
KC: You both began at the OJA in fall 2024 by taking on a very large task – a move of the collection. What was involved in this project?
Veronika: When the OJA decided to move their collection from offsite storage, it became clear that this would be a big project. With over 1,000 boxes at the facility (making up 1/5of the OJA’s overall collection), Sam and I joined the team to get the job done. Between the two of us, it took 4 months of physical work identifying, assessing condition, rehousing, appraising, and creating detailed file listings, and 1 month of data entry. This was a HUGE project that involved assessing and documenting over 1,000 boxes containing 30,000 files within a strict deadline.
How did you sort through so much information?!
Veronika: Patience, perseverance, and above all, teamwork! Tackling the project together and streamlining our workflow allowed us to move through our work with speed and efficiency. With Sam’s knowledge of Hebrew language and my archival experience having worked on similar projects in the past, our strengths complimented each other which helped us progress quickly.
Sam: It’s also helpful we are both so committed and fascinated in the work. It’s easy to stay on task when each of us are passionate about preserving historical documents and making them accessible for staff and researchers. This fascination can also be a weakness – a major difficulty we faced sorting through this information was fighting the urge to stop working and read every interesting thing we came across!
KC: Now that it’s completed, what is the benefit for the community?
Veronika : Working on this backlog project has been extremely fulfilling because of its big impact. Previously researchers would have an overview of the backlog collections without precise direction on what it really contained. Our detailed work means that researchers will now be able to pinpoint which file they would like to access and will be able to find specific information through a simple keyword search! In other words, we’ve made these records much more accessible so that they can do their work in documenting the community’s rich history.
KC: While you were looking through so many boxes and records, did you come across anything that stood out to you or surprised you?
Veronika: Yes we sure did! When working on big projects like this, there’s really no telling what you may find! I came across handwritten sheet music, recipes, and even human hair samples that were used to colour match wigs and hair pieces! The OJA has a wealth of records just waiting to be explored!
Sam: Overall, I really enjoyed finding ephemera from past campaigns such as buttons, stickers, letterheads, etc. They are such a physical way of capturing a moment in time. I found a button that says “I Gave More in ‘84” which is a catchy political slogan that still sticks with me. Additionally, I found a memo sent by my bubbie in 1989. I was file listing the records of an organization where I knew she worked, and I happened to open a folder and a memo from her is the first paper at the top of the folder. What are the odds! I got goosebumps. It felt very besheret. I enjoy preserving information for preservations’ sake, but having this connection to the information I was preserving was a truly heartwarming experience.
KC: The OJA recently launched the educator resource “being Jewish in Ontario.” Can you tell us more about that project?
Veronika: As a community archive, it is important to us to be active in facilitating Jewish cultural heritage in Ontario today. One way we are doing this is through our “being Jewish in Ontario” educational resource, created in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves Canada. It includes a film, teacher resources and supplementary material to engage with students.
The Ontario Ministry of Education announced a new curriculum in 2022 to help combat rising rates of antisemitism. While teaching students about the Holocaust is integral, learning about Jewish identity, heritage and community can help dispel harmful stereotypes and provide new perspectives for students unfamiliar with Judaism. This ultimately also encourages Jewish students to be confident with their identities and helps foster open conversations.
The lesson includes a video on the contemporary Jewish experience, and resources to support classroom learning. Additional resources include books, holiday celebrations, and Jewish Heritage Month.
KC: This spring, the OJA will launch a new exhibition looking at the Jewish history of storefronts. What can viewers expect?
Veronika: We are busy preparing to open our new exhibit Storefront Stories in May as we launch into Jewish Heritage month.
The exhibit will showcase Jewish businesses throughout Ontario, their experiences, growth and impact in the community.
The exhibit will feature striking visuals and records from our collections including photographs, advertisements and much more!
We are excited to highlight the Jewish community and its impact and role in building Ontario.
KC: How did you get into this unique role?
Veronika: Since my early years, I aspired to become an archivist. It is a profession which has allowed me to put my passion for history into action. I started off by studying a joint honours in History and English to prepare for my career in information studies while volunteering and working at various museums and archives along the way. After graduation I jumped right into the University of Toronto’s ischool program where I continued to strengthen my knowledge and experience in the archives field.
Sam: I have loved libraries since childhood. The idea that books, and knowledge in general, is something that can be free and community based has guided me throughout my whole life. I discovered archives as a young adult and felt the same warmth towards them as I do towards libraries. While obtaining my Master of Information (the Masters that is needed to become a librarian/archivist), I worked in the university library processing Hebrew and Yiddish periodicals. It was a fun role to be in during my Masters experience, blending my love for libraries with my Jewish upbringing. My experience in libraries and archives and processing Jewish materials prepared me for this amazing role.
KC: What is your favorite part of working at the OJA?
Veronika: I love seeing the community in action. We have volunteers who come to work in the archive throughout the week who dedicate time and effort to working with the collections. Many volunteers have close connections with the records and converse with one another about their memories and experiences. I love to see the volunteers come together to share and contribute to the community’s rich history. It is such a striking reminder of what we are working to achieve together!
Sam: I enjoy being able to find my own family’s history within the Archive’s vast collection. I have worked in many roles in libraries and archives thus far, but I have not necessarily been the target audience of the library. Of course, I enjoy working in many information institutions no matter the material, but it is impactful to personally relate to the documentary heritage stored within the OJA. I get to enjoy the material as a staff member and as a patron!
KC: Who are your creative Jewish role models?
Sam: Hannah Baer, Ita Segev, Emma Seligman, Melissa Broder, Art Spiegelman, and Leslie Feinberg
KC: If you could have Shabbat dinner with anyone (Jewish), who would it be and why?
Veronika: Barbara Streisand. With her dynamic personality, inspiring persistence, and phenomenal voice- it would certainly be an evening to remember.
KC: Lightning round question!
Veronika:
Latke vs sufganiyot? This is a tough one since my family has top-notch secret recipes for both! I love Latkes topped with sour cream and caramelized onions
Raisin vs plain challah? I am categorically against raisins. Why ruin perfection?
Tevya vs Fruma Sarah? Tevya because of his wisdom and strong character. “As the good book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face.” “Villager: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Tevye: Very good. That way the whole world will be blind and toothless.”
Tzitel vs Hodel? Hodel! Her quick wit definitely makes her a role model! “I heard that the Rabbi who must praise himself has a congregation of one.” Fun fact, once I played the youngest of the five daughters, Bielke, in a school production of Fiddler on the Roof!
Larry David vs Jerry Seinfeld? What better way to end the day than a relatable, quick episode of Seinfeld?
Sam:
Pickled herring vs gefilte fish? Nothing beats gefilte fish and some horseradish, in my books.
New York vs Montreal bagels? Montreal Bagels forever!
Pomegranate vs apple? Apples for sure.
Veronika Mikolajewski:
With a Bachelor’s degree in History and English, Veronika is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s iSchool program and has worked in various archival and records management roles throughout Ontario. These roles, along with her experience in data entry and managing the movement of records, make Veronika a great fit for her role as she helps organize and relocate the OJA’s backlog and offsite records. This is an exciting opportunity for Veronika, as she is eager to work at a community archive and is passionate about the materials she will be working with.
Samantha Kruger:
A recent graduate, Samantha obtained her Master of Information from the University of Toronto in April 2024. She brings over two years of experience working in libraries, including the John P. Robarts Library at the University of Toronto and the Captain William Spry Library at Halifax Public Libraries. Samantha thrives in special library/archival projects, adding descriptive metadata to items, and creating findable records for users of an information collection. Samantha joins the team to prepare, appraise, and process archival material as the Archive plans to move its offsite location. She is excited to do this work at UJA as she gets to combine both her extensive archivist/librarian skillset with her Jewish identity.
The Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre (OJA) is the largest repository of Jewish life in Canada.
Founded in 1973, the OJA, a department of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, acquires, preserves and makes accessible the records that chronicle our province’s Jewish history. The collection documents organizations, individuals, synagogues, schools, summer camps, leisure, athletes, and businesses. There are many different ways to explore the OJA’s collection and learn about the province’s Jewish past. You can make an appointment to look at photographs, films, Yiddish newspapers, hand-written correspondence, and even an original Superman drawing! Through exhibitions, programs, research assistance, and walking tours, the OJA tells the stories of Ontario’s Jewish community. Learn more at https://ontariojewisharchives.org/
