Sosinsky Family
As related by Ben Sherwood:
“Our father, Rev. Hirsch Sosinsky, came to Calgary around 1905 in answer to an advertisement from the Calgary Jewish community for a shochet and cantor. Hirsch was born in Russia and was employed by the Jewish community in Owen Sound, Ontario, before coming to Calgary.
“Shortly after coming to Calgary, Hirsch Sosinsky married Etta Sair, a member of the Sair family of the Hirsch Colony in Oxbow, Saskatchewan.
“Hirsch’s duties were, as you can imagine, quite extensive. In addition to his duties as shochet and cantor he was also the baal keriah and the mohel, performing this duty for many families outside of Calgary.
“He also officiated at the marriages of the time. One of these was the marriage of Frank and Nellie Tucker. Mrs. Tucker always reminds me (Ben) that I attended their wedding at our parent’s house at the gentle age of 2 years. Our oldest brother Lewis was born here in 1909, Ben in 1914 and Alec in 1917.
“Despite the many duties which Hirsch carried out for the community, they did not provide a satisfactory standard of living. About 1910 he resigned from his position with the House of Jacob Congregation and opened a grocery store at 328 – 4th Avenue E. in Calgary. He operated this store until his death in 1957, after which the store was operated for a few years by our mother and Alec.”
