Selection for Canada’s Tailor Project

[00:00-00:06]

Video begins with inter-title in white text on black screen while instrumental music plays and fades into the next frame: Joseph Klinghoffer was working in the Displaced Persons Camp in Salzburg (Austria) when he learned about Canada's Tailor Project.

[00:07-00:21]

Cut to Holocaust survivor Joseph Klinghoffer, sitting in front of a black background, and looking to the left of the camera. The camera shows his face and shoulders as he speaks during an interview conducted in Toronto in 1988.

>> Joseph Klinghoffer: The Canadian government decided to…

[00:12-00:19]

The name “Joseph Klinghoffer” and the location of the filmed interview, “Toronto”, appear in white text above Joseph's right shoulder.

>> …take in some displaced persons, but only tailors and furriers. There were two schemes. And they appointed Mr. Enkin.

[00:22-00:27]

Cut to black-and-white photograph of a man wearing a suit and bowtie and wide-rimmed glasses.  The photo caption appears in white text in the top-left corner, “Max Enkin, ca. 1950”.

[00:28-00:49]

Cut to Joseph Klinghoffer in front of the camera.

>> So they came to Salzburg. I was working at the time for JIAS, and the IRO – International Refugee Organisation – asked them to give them a person who knows all the languages, as secretary for the Canadian consul. And so JIAS handed me over to the Canadian consul as secretary…

[00:50-00:56]

Cut to black-and-white photograph of a group of five men and one woman standing together. The man in the middle smokes a pipe and is observing another man's sewing skills. The photo caption appears in white text in the top-left corner, “Canadian Overseas Garment Commission, DP Camp, 1947”.

>>…and I became very friendly, showed him Salzburg, helped him buy gifts for his family and so on.

[00:57-02:36]

Cut to Joseph Klinghoffer in front of the camera.

>>And one day I asked him, “Does Canada need only tailors and furriers? They don't need one intellectual maybe?” So he says, “Look, I can't do anything. But here's Mr. Enkin, the Chairman of the Selection Committee. If he would select you as a tailor, I would close my eyes and give you a visa.” So I went the next day to Mr. Enkin, and I come to him, I tell him who I am, I tell him the entire story very honestly. And then tell him, “Couldn't you do something for me, select me as a tailor? The Canadian consul says he would give me a visa if you would select me.” Mr. Enkin got mad at me for that. He says, “What do you suggest, Dr. Klinghoffer, that I cheat my own government for you? I am appointed by the Canadian government and you want me to cheat them for your sake? I say, “Look, Mr. Enkin, I don't want you to do anything. I asked only the question. I told you that I am no tailor. The only thing that I know is for sewing on a button, nothing else. And I was very honest with you. I told you who I am and what my background is. If you can't do anything, I am sorry. Bye.” I left him. And as Mr. Enkin told me later, he had a very sleepless night after this. Because the next day he called me and he says, “Dr. Kinghoffer, didn't you mention that you can sew buttons on?”

[02:37-02:50]

Cut to black-and-white photograph of a group of six men, three of which stand behind the other three men who are sitting and sewing fabric. The photo caption appears in white text in the top of the frame, “Canadian Overseas Garment Commission, DP Camp, 1947”.

>>I say, “I think I can.” He says, “You know that we need in our tailors' profession people who sew buttons on.”

[02:51-03:24]

Cut to Joseph Klinghoffer in front of the camera.

>>”Would you like to pass an exam?” I say, “If it's necessary I'll do so.” So he told me I should come to the examination hall. I came to the examination hall. He sees me coming in and he says, “Oh, you, Klinghoffer, you already had your examination.” I didn't deny, I didn't say yes, and didn't say no. He says “Okay, tell them that you have passed already the examination.” The next day I find myself on the list of tailors to Canada.

[03:25-03:35]

Music plays for the remainder of the video. Three credit pages appear in white text on black screen: Interview conducted by David Aronson, Archives of the Holocaust Project, Toronto, 1988, Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre

Images: Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre

Directing: Helgi Piccinin; Editing and Colorization: Michaël Gravel, Helgi Piccinin; Audio Mix and Original Music: Pierre-Luc Lecours. [Logo for Chaire de recherche du Canada en patrimoine ethnologique]

Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre, copyright 2017.

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End of transcript.