Item AAAB3503 - Ben Pastinsky interview : [Itter & Marlatt, 1977]

CALL NUMBER: T3195:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Jewish community - Rabbi Pastinsky PERIOD COVERED: 1919-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ben Pastinsky discusses personal and family background: arrived in Vancouver 1919 with parents and sister; family from Russia; Ben Pastinsky born in Kiev. Father was Rabbi Nathan Meyer Pastinsky, died 1948: known as 'Father Pat'; Rabbi at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue; he acted as interpreter in police station and courts; helped immigrants; anecdote about how he helped leftist New York writer who was having trouble with immigration authorities; highly respected in community; brought strangers home from synagogue to eat; Catholics knew and greeting him; friendly with padre at Sacred Heart; instigated women's organization (Council of Jewish Women) to help immigrants. TRACK 2: Ben Pastinsky discusses: immigration class (father supported all 25); construction of Schara Tzedeck Synagogue and congregation there; Katz Nelson, Hebrew teacher; Rabbi Wohlgelertner and Rabbi Zlotnick; father's community work at slaughterhouse and visiting institutions. Ben joined 'The Province' as police reporter in 1924, night beat. Crime in East End and the use of opium. CALL NUMBER: T3195:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Jewish community- Rabbi Pastinsky PERIOD COVERED: 1919-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-12-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discusses: father's good humour; children semi-devout; Ben sent to New York for religious training but preferred to work on newspaper; getting work on paper although an East End kid; father's idealism in helping criminals ran counter to son's knowledge of world; story of pimp; Hogan's Alley -- recalls some of the places and activities; Vie's Chicken Inn; prostitution in neighbourhood; brief mention of Janet Smith case; Thurlow Street fire; conversation on police reporting. (End of interview)