The Barbara Frum Branch is a key part of Jewish cultural life in Toronto.  Regrettably, the removal of the Yiddish language collection from the Branch created a void for the local community and students. This was the sole branch with Yiddish books. Yiddish is more than a language; it is also a bridge to history and a significant living culture that deserves a home in the heart of the community that uses it most.  Currently at Barbara Frum one finds the following international books:

Language           Shelves
Hungarian         36
Russian              35
French                27
Tagalog              12
Spanish              10
Chinese                8
Italian                   4
EMPTY              ≥50
Yiddish                  0
 There are 1900 Yiddish books housed at the Toronto Reference Library 789 Yonge Street 4.1 miles away. One finds multiple copies of books there, e.g., 

• 10 copies of ” Ale ṿerḳ”  Mendele Mokher Sefarim, 1835-1917.    

•6 copies of “ Oysgeṿeylṭe ṿerk” Sholem Aleichem, 1859-1916.

The Solution

We call upon the Toronto Public Library (TPL) to:

1. Restore the Yiddish book and media collection to the Barbara Frum Branch.

2. Consultation: Work with local cultural educators and organizations to ensure the collection meets the needs of modern Yiddish speakers and learners.

3. Visibility: Ensure the collection is properly curated and promoted as a vital part of Toronto’s multicultural fabric.