Fonds 1375 - Boris Rubinstein Fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Boris Rubinstein Fonds

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  • Textual record
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Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA JPL-A 1375

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1928-1983 (Creation)
    Creator
    Rubinstein, Boris, 1910-1983

Physical description area

Physical description

0.2 linear metres of multiple media

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Name of creator

Biographical history

Boris Rubinstein was born in Proskurov, Austria on March 25, 1910 to Leib and Chaya (nee Guz) Rubinstein. At age 20, Mr. Rubinstein immigrated to Canada, arriving in Montreal in 1930 where he joined his brother Sam who was already living in the city. Mr. Rubinstein attended McGill University for a period.

In 1939, Mr. Rubinstein enlisted in the Canadian Army, serving in the signal and intelligence crops. He was present at Dieppe and was amongst the first Canadian soldiers that entered Nazi concentration camps in Poland. After the war, Mr. Rubinstein worked for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation organization, particularly as part of the Yugoslavian mission. While working for UNRRA, he was able to locate and secure immigration for 10 of his surviving family members, each of whom had been in concentration camps during the war. According to his obituary, in his role with UNRRA Mr. Rubinstein was able to negotiate with Romanian Communist leader Ana Pauker for a train of Jewish orphans to be diverted from Romania to Palestine, rather than to the Soviet Union.

Upon his return to Montreal, Mr. Rubinstein opened a jewellery company with his brother Hyman, who had survived concentration camps during the war. Their company, Rubros Company, was marketed as "society jewellers" and counted amongst their clients numerous high profile personalities, such as Tony Bennett and Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

Mr. Rubinstein passed away from cancer in Montreal in 1983.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Consists of documentation of Boris Rubinstein's work with the UNRRA mission in the former Yugoslavia, such as reports and publications, as well as personal correspondence, photographs, and documentation of Mr. Rubinstein's time in the Canadian Army.

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Language of material

  • English
  • Yiddish
  • Russian
  • Bosnian
  • Czech
  • Slovenian

Script of material

  • Latin
  • Hebrew
  • Cyrillic

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