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Tamar Hoffman, is the mother in-law to Talia Hoffman and Michael Hoffman, as well as Jamal Boris' wife. She had gotten divorced of Aubrey Berg, the past father of Talia Hoffman, and had lived life in Eastern-Europe in a "ghetto". Her financial state and abusive behaviour from Aubrey had motivated her to move to Canada, seeking a better life.

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Jamal Boris is the father in-law to Talia Hoffman, Michael Hoffman and husband of Tamar Hoffman. He was an African-American Jew from Israel who had faced harsh racial discrimination along with traumatizing events done to his family. Jamal had immigrated to Canada far before the waves of Israelis had recognizably migrated, and since then has been hustling to build a future for himself.

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Talia Hoffman was the first child of Tamar Hoffman and was raised in Eastern-Europe under harsh conditions. An abusive father, lack of food, and her only hope was her surprisingly positive mother. Once moved to Canada, her father Jamal was a much better role model in her life and gave her hope.

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Michael Hoffman, the youngest child from Talia Hoffman and Jamal Boris was a mixed child of African and European. He was raised with the best effort and lived often under Canadian culture. Though, being both a representative of Jewish and black skin tone, he was faced with loads of racial discrimination.

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Picture of a ghetto in the Genocide of the European Jews. The Holocaust had costed a staggering 3 456 211  Jews to survive out of 9 508 340 in 1933.

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News had hit Tamar Hoffman as she was at home that the Genocide of European jews had begun and it had reached her old neighborhood. Knowing this, she thought about Aubrey Berg and if he was okay, possibly dead. Though, she was right. All of her relatives, family, and close ones in the "ghetto" had been shattered to pieces. Aubrey Berg and the ghetto had been left as a No Man's Land.

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Picture of German soldiers and jews in Concentration Camps during WWII. WWII was a great tragedy in history and Canada had participated w/ no hesitation.

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Jamal Boris had lost his oldest child, and is in tremendous agony. Prior to already serving in WWI as a No.2 Construction Battalion, Jamal with some type of motivation had decided to serve in WWII as well. A few hundred of black men were able to serve in the frontline for WWII under Canada, and Jamal happened to be one of them as a veteran. As a two-time world war soldier, Jamal had still realized he was facing the same discrimination he faced within WWI amongst soldiers. Sadly, Jamal died on the frontlines by a setup from his fellow soldiers, if only the civil rights movement could change...

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Picture of Viola Desmond. Viola Desmond became an ambassador in the Civil Rights movement for Black-Canadians and women after she got dragged out a theatre.

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Viola Desmond has brought the sheer racism that Black-Canadians had to face into light. As Michael Hoffman grew as an adult and started maturing, Desmond was a huge inspiration to his life. He started embracing black culture as he married a black woman, and started to value his rights. His wife really embraced Black Women's rights as well, as she participated in riots and protests.

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Picture of a Sleeping Car Porter. THough having bright white smiles, the sleeping car porters worked cruel conditions like sleeping under mattresses w/ smokers.

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After the disbandment of the No.2 Construction Battalion on Sept 15, 1919, Jamal finally had time to care for his family and pursue his educational needs for a "better" job. 6 years later with a well-established financial income and university finished, he was ready to move the next step, a sleeping car porter. Jamal Boris was flabbergasted by the working conditions he got into, and immediately demanded rights; he was faced with a warning. Jamal worked 24 hour shifts and could only see his family after several days, sleeping in the smoke room and coming home reeking of odour.

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Picture of European Jewish Immigrants coming to Canada, close to 1914. Many came as artisans, small merchants, and unskilled workers.

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During the near end to the early start of the 19th century, numerous European Jews immigrated to Canada due to religious mistreatment, revolution, as well as social and economic changes from technicalities. The very first wave had come from Germany in 1948 due to failed revolutions, and the next wave that had brought Tamar and Talia was from the Pale of Settlement, bringing immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. Anti-Semitism had dramatically increased in these regions from social and political disruptions. Jews added to an increase in restrictions on mobility rights and economic freedoms.

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Picture of the No.2 Construction Batallion squad. THe No.2 Construction Batallion was entirely composed of black soldiers due to racial discrimination.

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No.2 Construction Batallion (July 5, 1916)

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No.2 Construction Batallion (July 5, 1916)

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Jamal Boris, seeking to honour Canada's gratitude for bringing him in from Israel and finding pride in himself, he made the tough decision to serve in WW!, ultimately leaving his Pregnant Wife Tamar and child Talia. In the No.2 Construction Battalion, Jamal did not only not expect this bulk of black soldiers, but the cruel conditions and labour he was tasked to do. It was completely not what he had expected, adding on with the racial discrimination he faced from peers of other battalions. A lot of Jamal's fellow battalion soldiers had died of illness and disease from the work they had done like digging holes, lumber, and labour camps.

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Halifax Explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The explosion was caused by ships of Belgium and Mont Blanc colliding. This initiated Mont Blanc's explosives.

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After a year has passed of Jamal's recruitment of the No.2 Construction Battalion, Tamar and Talia have been extremely worried about his existence; is he still alive? Not to mention with the recent birth of Michael Hoffman, the possibility of their father figure being dead was growing, especially after the news of the Halifax Explosion. Since The Hoffmans had gotten no notice of what Battalion he had served in, they automatically assumed he was in the combat battalion, amongst the many affected by the Halifax Explosion. To note, the blast was the most substantial man-made explosion at the time, killing at least 1,782, 9,000 injured, and 500 deaths even being left undiscovered.

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Picture of Great Depression in Canada. Canada was one amongst the worst affected. Goods no longer sold, businesses fired workers, and family revenue fell down

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The Great Depression/Stock Market Crash (1929-1933)

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The Great Depression/Stock Market Crash (1929-1933)

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When the Great Depression hit, the Hoffmans were left vulnerable and struck hard. Tamar, having to take care of Talia and her baby Michael nearly 24/7 alone, was going through stress and going broke. The fridge had close to nothing to eat, family dinners were rare, and the Hoffmans needed an answer to feed their empty stomachs. What could they do?

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Hello Prime Minister RB Bennett, my name is Tamar and I am a mother of 2 kids. Recently, as the Great Depression has hit. times have been incredibly hard for my husband and I to take care of our kids. My husband works as a sleeping car porter and is barely home; those car porter scums offer little to no wage.The lack of financial stability in our household has created a bit of a change in our youngest son, Michael. Michael is often outside late now, coming home reeking of smell, with red eyes and sometimes bruises. Our oldest sister, Talia, has had the lack of food play a toll in her studies as she is a very motivated student in pursuits of university. We all used to have nice family dinners everyday and especially when their father, Jamal, comes back on sundays. Though, we often have a lack of food now and the odour build up from Michael and Jamal make our household untolerable! Please RB Bennett, if you would just fund us enough money to provide us food and to pay our bills, it would mean the world, literally!

Sincerely, Tamar Hoffman

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Picture of the Christie Pitts Riot. The Christie Pitts Riot was one amongst the showcase of anti-semitism in Canada. None were left dead but injured.

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During the Jewish Harbord Playground Baseball Team that Talia and Michael had attended together, ruckus had started between Anglo-Canadians holding up swastikas and the Jewish Canadians of Christie Pitts. A brawl had started with ugly weapons and intents of murderer, with Michael on the frontline. The hours of fighting had finally ended, and Michael was left with multiple black bruises and blood stains on his shirt, but something was missing... Talia. Talia's body laid dead on the ground, stomped on countless times.

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Aubrey Berg was the past husband of Tamar Hoffman and past father to Talia Hoffman. He had worked as a farmer in a "ghetto" under rough conditions and often put his anger towards Tamar and Talia. Aubrey had no idea the day of Tamar's idea to immigrate, and was left with nothing after.

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Diary Entry: Michael Hoffman to Mother (Tamar)

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Diary Entry: Michael Hoffman to Mother (Tamar)

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Dear Mother,

My life has made a huge turn into the right direction with many tragic events changing it up. Firstly, the death of Talia had really brought a toll on me and it had made me realize the fate that would happen to me if I continued to live like this. I know you might have not seen my change because I moved out unexpectedly in anger and confusion, but I am doing well now! Next, the death of dad had left me in agony for several weeks, but the eventual ending of the pain had made me realize a bigger picture. Dad's death had been caused by racism, and if you have heard of Viola Desmond, her role in civil rights had inspired me. My wife is a pure Black-Canadian and she is really teaching me. I've finally found a good job as a barber and living happily, AWAY from Christie Pitts. I hope you are doing well and I wish you could move in with my family and I! My three kids always wonder what their grandma is like! In sincereness, I am sorry for all the troubles I've caused back in my younger years and I dream you are proud of me!

Love, Michael!

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From Jamal, To Family (January 1st, 1918)

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From Jamal, To Family (January 1st, 1918)

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Hey guys! It's been a long time since I've been home and I swear I have been home sick this whole trip. I know I missed the birth of our son, Michael Hoffman, and I am so excited to finally see him! My role in the No.2 Construction Battalion is nearly coming to an end, approximately one more year. How is Talia doing? I've been keeping track of her age and she is SO close to graduating, God Bless! I hope taking care of the house is not too troublesome by yourself Tamar, and I pray you guys stay safe before I come back home. Anyways, you guys might have heard of the most recent event, the Halifax Explosion. I am here to say... I'm fine! In the No. 2 Construction Battalion, we are no where near a combat battalion so I am thankfully alive, but I pray for all those who got caught up in the mess. I love you Tamar, Talia, and of course Michael, I cannot wait to raise you from childhood to adulthood!
Love, Your Husband and Father Jamal