Memorable Manitobans: Moses Finkelstein (1873-1939)

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Moses Finkelstein
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Fur merchant.

Born at Radishevka, Ukraine, Russia on 11 January 1873, son of Tevel and Rytsa Finkelstein, he arrived in Winnipeg with his father and sister in June 1882 and was educated at Carlton School. In 1900 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace then, in December 1904, he was elected a Winnipeg City Alderman, serving from 1905 to 1906, the first Jew to hold an elective office. In 1900, he established the North West Hide and Fur Company and was prominent in the raw fur business. He retired from its management in 1937.

On 29 July 1890, he married Sarah Rosen (1873-1937) at Winnipeg. They had five children: Edith Rose Finkelstein (1896-?, wife of Lionel Rosebourne), Manly Finkelstein, Kenneth Finkelstein (1900-?), Noel Finkelstein (1903-?), and Pearl Francis Finkelstein (1909-?, wife of Arthur J. Silverstone). In 1925, the family lived at 1185 Wolseley Avenue. He served as President of the Young Men’s Literary Society (1890), a trustee of the Jewish Orphanage, and President of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (1912-1913).

He died at Los Angeles, California on 24 March 1939 while visiting his sister, and is buried in Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Birth, marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 and 1906 Canada censes, Automated Genealogy.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

“Former alderman dies Friday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 March 1939, page 5.

We thank Paul Silverstone and Stan Carbone for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 4 July 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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