ca-005461-ra017
history: The Kaplan and Shak families were Jewish families from Vilnius, Poland, now Lithuania. The records in this fonds pertain mostly to Abrasha Kaplan, also known as Abram; his wife, Ida Kaplan; their daughter, Odie Kaplan; and Ida’s brother, Boris Shak.Abrasha Kaplan (birth name Abram Krizowski, b. August 11, 1901, in Vilnius, Lithuania) was born to Shapsel (Shapson) Krizowski and Kala Levton. He had at least one brother, Benjamin Kaplan (b. September 25, 1894, in Vilnius, Lithuania; d. January 1, 1962, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada).In September 1941, Jews from Vilnius were evicted from their homes and forced into the Vilna ghetto. Abrasha and his first wife, Nochama (b. 1902; d. 1943), also known as Nadia, lived in the ghetto with their two daughters, Keila Krizowski (b. 1926; d. 1944 in Vilnius, Lithuania) and Golda Krizowski (b. 1928; d. 1942 in Ponary, Lithuania). While in the ghetto, Abrasha was a member of the Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye [United Partisan Organization] (FPO), a Jewish resistance organization formed in January 1942. He served as a liaison between the FPO and the ghetto chief, Jacob Gens.On September 23, 1942, Golda was killed when she refused to leave the group of children in her care as they were rounded up and taken from the ghetto. She allegedly kept the children singing the whole way to Ponary where they were executed. On September 12, 1943, Keila escaped with her boyfriend, Berl Weinreb, and fellow members of the FPO. The intent was to join the Soviets in their fight against the Nazis. Keila was arrested in the village of Podbrodz, tortured, and sent to Kailis slave labour camp in Vilna, which was established just before the Vilna ghetto was liquidated. She was killed three days before Vilnius was liberated. Nochama was killed when the ghetto was liquidated in September 1943; Abrasha escaped to the Kazian forest.Ida Kaplan (birth name Ida Shak, b. 1921 in Vilnius, Lithuania) was born to Eliash Shak (b. 1877), a merchant, and Sl…
identifier: RA017
has or had some members with language: rus
has or had some members with language: deu
record resource structure: Fonds has been arranged into eight series which reflect the major activities of the Kaplan and Shak families, as well as thematic divisions as it came to the VHEC.
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/ca-005461-ra017/acquisitions/1
scope and content: Fonds consists of vital records, citizenship documents, correspondence, photographs, slides, published materials, manuscript, videocassette, audio cassettes and objects relating to the lives and interests of the Kaplan family. Fonds has been arranged into the following series: Kaplan family personal records series (1994–1948); Kaplan family correspondence series (1947–1960); Kaplan family audio-visual materials series ([circa 1975], 1992); Kaplan, Shak family collected published materials series ([before 1989]); Kaplan, Shak photographs series ([193-]–1992); Kaplan, Shak family artefacts series (1946–1949); Boris Shak manuscript series ([199-]) and Odie Kaplan Theresienstadt visit materials series (1993).
has or had some members with language: pol
other finding aids: File list is available.
archivist note: Prepared by Sarika Kelm in March 2017. Updated July 2017 by Shyla Seller to add audio cassette testimony and related scans. Updated July 2017 by Sarika Kelm with description of accrual.
date: [193-]–2001
has or had some members with language: yid
accruals: Further accruals are possible.
has or had holder: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/institutions/ca-005461
type: RecordSet
record resource extent: 4.5 cm of textual records99 photographs : black and white, colour37 slides : 35 mm ; colour5 books1 videocassette2 audio cassettes6 objects
sources: Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
has or had some members with language: ces
has record set type: Fonds
title: Kaplan, Shak family fonds
has or had some members with language: fra
has or had some members with language: eng