Abraham Herman Lieff

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1930, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Barrister; Address:
  45 Rideau Street
• Fact: 14 Feb 2007, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Citizen

Notes:

Fonds - Honourable Abraham H. Lieff fonds
Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Honourable Abraham H. Lieff fonds
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Dates of creation area
Date(s)

l913-1991 (Creation)

Physical description area
Physical description
20 cm of textual records 171 photographs : b&w
Archival description area
Name of creator
Lieff, Abraham Herman, 1903-2007
Biographical history Abraham Herman Lieff was born on March 21st, 1903, in Antopol, Russia (now Poland), to Barnett (sometimes referred to as Bernard) and Esther Malka Pomerantz. Lieff arrived in Canada with his mother in 1904 and settled in Ottawa in 1905. In 1929, he married Sadie Lazarovitz, of Quebec City, one of the first Jewish women lawyers in Canada. Together they had two daughters, Miriam and Lois. Lieff was admitted to Osgoode Hall Law School in 1921 and was called to the Bar in 1926. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 1948. During his career he acted as counsel for the Canadian House of Commons Committee on Industrial Relations (1946) and for the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Narcotic Drug Traffic (1956). Lieff was the first person of Jewish faith to serve as Justice of the High Court of Justice (1963-1978). Lieff served as President of the Ottawa B'nai B'rith (1943), President of the Agudath Israel Congregation (1946-1963), President of the Ottawa Jewish Community Council (1953-1955), President of the Ottawa Vaad Ha'Ir (1953-1956), and Chair of the Canadian Committee of the North American Section of the Commission on the Re-organization of the World Zionist Organization with Mr. Justice Harry Batshaw, of the Quebec Superior Court (1965-1966). Lieff founded the Ottawa Talmud Torah, West-End Branch (1943) and incorporated the Canada-Israel Foundation (1965). He was honoured at the Negev Testimonial Dinner of Jewish National Fund of Canada (1978) and at a centennial party at Beth Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto (March 2003). Lieff died in Toronto on February 12th, 2007, at the age of 103. «
Scope and content
Fonds consists of Gathering Rosebuds, 1991, by Abraham (Abe) Lieff (v.l) and 94 letters of publication acknowledgments; scanned family photos (v. 2&3), What others said (v.4, rev. January 2002), A few more reminiscences about my family (v.5) 171 photographs, listing of reported legal decisions (1964-1975), 64 letters and reminiscences honouring the Lieff’s 50th wedding anniversary,(1979), news clippings (1936-2002), invitations, programs, memberships (1932-1998), Agudath Israel Congregation association, (1942-1963), family history including a description of Abraham Lieff’s birthplace, Antopol, Poland, and correspondence. «
Notes area
Immediate source of acquisition
171 photographs, news clippings and programs donated by Honourable Mr. Abraham Lieff on July 31, 2000. v.2,3,4,5, composed and donated by Honourable Abraham Lieff, 2002. Reported legal decisions, news clippings, invitations, programs, memberships, ... »
Restrictions on access
Open
Finding aids
Finding aid available Inventory available
Access points
Name access points

Lieff, Abraham Herman, 1903-2007 (Creator)


Fact:
LIEFF, Honourable Abraham H. - Peacefully at Mount Sinai Hospital on Monday, February 12, 2007, exactly three weeks before his 104th birthday. Dearly beloved husband of the late Sadie Lazarovitz. Cherished father and friend of Miriam Lieff (Albert Goldberg) and Lois Lieff. Dear brother and brother-in-law of Bess and the late Milton Narod, Joe and Evelyn Lieff, Dorothy and the late Max Lieff, the late Louis and Jeanne Lieff, Hy and Pearl Lieff, Morris and Pearl Lieff. Adored Papa of Stephen Cohen and Pernille Rorth, Lisa Cohen, Sharon Cohen and Eric Barker, Ellin Bessner and John Friedlan, Brenda and Kenny Adessky. He had seven precious great-grandchildren whom he treasured and who treasured him: Gillian, Jacob, Alizah, Avery, Alexander, Noah, and Evan. At Beth Tzedec Synagogue, 1700 Bathurst Street, for service on Tuesday, February 13th at 12:00 p.m. Interment Ottawa Jewish Community Cemetery, Bank Street, Agudath Israel Section, in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 14th at 12:00 p.m. Shiva Wednesday and Thursday at the Minto Place Hotel, 433 Laurier Avenue, Ottawa and from Saturday night in Montreal at Lois' home. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Camp Ramah Canada, 416-789-2193 or Jewish National Fund of Canada, 416-638-7200.
Published on February 14, 2007

Buried:
Bank Street, Agudath Israel Section,