The Bronfman family is a Canadian family, known for its extensive business holdings. It owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman (1889–1971), the most influential Canadian Jew of the mid-20th century, who made a fortune in the alcoholic

distilled beverage Liquor ( , sometimes hard liquor), spirits, distilled spirits, or spiritous liquor are alcoholic drinks produced by the distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. While the ...

business during American

prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...

, including the sale of liquor through organized crime, through founding the

Seagram The Seagram Company Ltd. (which trade name, traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational beverage and during the last few years of its existence, entertainment Conglomerate (company), conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. ...

Company, and who later became president of the Canadian Jewish Congress (1939–62). The family is of Russian-Jewish ancestry; the patriarch, Yechiel (Ekiel) Bronfman, was originally a tobacco farmer from

Bessarabia Bessarabia () is a historical region in Eastern Europe, bounded by the Dniester river on the east and the Prut river on the west. About two thirds of Bessarabia lies within modern-day Moldova, with the Budjak region covering the southern coa ...

. According to ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' staff reporter Nathaniel Popper, the Bronfman family is "perhaps the single largest force in the Jewish charitable world".

Family tree

*Ekiel Bronfman (1852–1919) ⚭ Mindel Elman (1861–1918) ** Abe Bronfman (1882–1968) ⚭ Sophie Rasminsky (1886–1967) *** Zella Bronfman (1910–1988) ⚭ Jack E. Butler *** Rona Lee Bronfman (1912–1993) ⚭ Alfred E. Brunswick (1901–1974) *** Mildred Bronfman (1913–1911) ⚭ Bernard Julian Lande (1909–1992) **** Neil Bronfman Lande (1938–2016) ⚭ Myrna Bregman **** Eric Lande **** Ruth Lande **** Margot Lande *** Beatrice Bronfman (1915–2008) ⚭ William M. Doniger (1908–1972) *** Ruth Bronfman (1924–2014) ⚭ Stanley Berns (1917–2005) ** Harry Bronfman (1886–1963) ⚭ Ann Gallaman (1884–1970) *** Allan Bronfman Jr. (1906–1944) **** Marion Ruth Bronfman (1932–2003) ⚭ Chris Kirkham *** Samson Bronfman (1909–1910) *** Gerald Bronfman (1911–1986) ⚭ Marjorie Meta Schechter (1917–2012) **** Joanie Bronfman ⚭ Neil McMillan **** Corrine Marcia Bronfman (1947–2022) **** Judy Bronfman ⚭ Isaac Thau **** Jeffrey Bronfman ⚭ Stacey *** Rona Retta Bronfman (1916–2001) ⚭ Irving Levitt (1911–1998) **** Marilyn Levitt ⚭ Al Yunis **** Allan Levitt ⚭ Judi Fish ** Laura Bronfman (1888–1976) ⚭ Barnett Aaron (1888–1981) *** Ellswood Mellor Aaron (1920–1941) *** Arnold Aaron (19??–2002) ⚭ Felicia Werner (19??–2018) *** Miriam Aaron ⚭ Sam Roland ** Samuel Miles Bronfman (1889–1971) ⚭ Saidye Rosner (1896–1995) *** Aileen Mindel Bronfman (1925–1986) ⚭ Alain Francois Jacques de Gunzburg (1925–2004) *** Phyllis Barbara Bronfman (b. 1927) ⚭ Jean Lambert *** Edgar Miles Bronfman Sr. (1929–2013), m. 1953–1973 to Ann Margaret Loeb; m. 1973–1974 to Carolyn Townshend; m. Rita Eileen Webb; m. 1994 to Jan Aronson **** Samuel Bronfman II (b. 1953) ⚭ Melanie Mann **** Edgar Miles Bronfman Jr. (b. 1955), m. 1979–1991 to Sherry Brewer; m. 1993 to Clarisa Alcock San Román ***** Benjamin Zachary Bronfman (b. 1982), engaged 2009–2012 to and had a son with M.I.A. ***** Hannah Marcina Bronfman (b. 1987) ⚭ Brendan Fallis **** Matthew Bronfman (b. 1959) **** Holly Bronfman ⚭ Yoav Lev **** Adam Rodgers Bronfman (b. 1963) **** Sara Rosner Bronfman (b. 1976) ⚭ Basit Igtet (b. 1970) **** Clare Bronfman (b. 1979) *** Charles Rosner Bronfman (b. 1931) , m. 1961–1982 to Barbara Baerwald (1938–2021); m. 1982–2006 to Andrea "Andy" Brett Morrison Cohen (1945–2006); m. 2008–2011 to Bonita Roche; m. 2012 to Rita Mayo **** Stephen Rosner Bronfman (b. 1964) ⚭ Claudine Blondin **** Ellen Jane Bronfman (b. 1969) ⚭ Andrew Hauptman ** Bessie Bronfman (1893–1981) ⚭ Harry Louis Druxerman (1887–1948) *** Jacqueline Blanche Bruxerman (1917–2008) ⚭ Hyman Norman Bernstein (1913–1972) ***Alven Druxerman (1918–2008) ⚭ Ruth Devries (1923–2014) ** Jean Bronfman (1894–1983) ⚭ Paul Matoff (1887–1922); ⚭ Peter Groper (1898–1957) *** Muriel Beatrice Matoff (1915–1984) *** Millicent Camille Matoff (1921–2004) ⚭ John Starr (1917–2006) *** Irving Maurice Groper (1926–2015) *** Shayla Groper (1930–2002) ⚭ Edwin Rosenberg (1922–1971) **** Michael Foster Rosenberg (1951–2014) *** Pat Earle Groper (1932–1983) *** Zelda Groper (1933–2024) ⚭ Phillip Smith ** Allan Bronfman (1895–1980) ⚭ Lucy Bilsky (1897–1983) *** Mildred Mona Bronfman (1923–1950) ⚭ Edward Sheckman (1917–2007) **** Zoe Sheckman *** Edward Maurice Bronfman (1927–2005) ⚭ Beverly Chertkow (1934–2014) **** Paul Bronfman (1957–2025) **** David Bronfman **** Brian Bronfman *** Peter Frederick Bronfman (1929–1996) ⚭ Diane Sorrel Feldman (1931–2002) **** Linda Bronfman **** Brenda Bronfman **** Bruce Bronfman *** Arthur Julian Bronfman (1936–1936) ** Rose Bronfman (1898–1988) ⚭ Avraham Rady (1893–1964) *** Mindel Rady (1924–2001) ⚭ Thomas Olenick (1921–2007) **** Gail Olenick ⚭ Arne Wagner **** Debby Olenick ⚭ Brian Hirsch **** Roberta Olenick *** Marjorie Rady (b. 1929) ⚭ Morley Blankstein (1924–2015) **** Carol Blankstein ⚭ Barry McArton **** Daniel Blankstein ⚭ Sara Israels **** Linda Blankstein ⚭ Mesut Senoglu **** Leo Blankstein ⚭ Mary **** Max Blankstein

Early history

The name '' Bronfman'' (

Yiddish Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...

בראָנפמאַן ''bronfman'') comes from Yiddish בראָנפֿן ''bronfn'', 'liquor, whisky/whiskey, spirits', which is

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

with German ''Branntwein'' (in Germany the term refers to any distilled spirits), Dutch ''brandewijn'' (which became English ''brandywine'', i.e., 'brandy'), and

Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

''brandewyn'', plus Yiddish מאַן ''man'', 'man'; it coincidently translates to ' spirits-man', referring to one who makes or sells whiskey. The Bronfman family in Canada began with tobacco farmer Yechiel Bronfman (aka Ekiel Bronfman; 16 November 1855 - 24 December 1919) and his wife, Mindel (née Elman; 25 May 1863 - 11 Nov 1918), who emigrated from

Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...

to Canada with their children in 1889, escaping the anti-Semitic pogroms of Imperial Russia. In addition to Samuel Bronfman, Yechiel and Mindel's children at the time of emigration included Abe (15 March 1882, Russia - 16 March 1968, Safety Harbor, Florida), Harry (15 March 1886, Russia - 12 November 1963, Montreal, QC), and Laura Bronfman (1 Jan 1887, Russia - 1976); in total they had 8 children. The family settled at a homestead near Wapella, Saskatchewan, but soon moved to

Brandon, Manitoba Brandon () is the second-largest city in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the southwestern corner of the province on the banks of the Assiniboine River, approximately west of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, and east of the ...

. In 1903, the family borrowed money to buy a hotel (the Anglo-American Hotel) in Emerson, Manitoba, which turned out to be profitable due to

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

construction. In 1906, the family moved to

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

. With the advent of Prohibition in Canada, Samuel and his brothers turned their energy toward selling mail-order liquor. Following the government's crack-down on the business, the brothers took another route: As it was still legal to sell alcohol as medicine, the brothers rebranded their liquor using names like "Liver & Kidney Cure", "Dandy Bracer-Liver", and "Rock-a-bye Cough-Cure". Samuel took control of the business after

came to an end in the United States, and was known as "Mr. Sam".

Business and philanthropy

According to ''

'' staff reporter Nathaniel Popper, the Bronfman family is "perhaps the single largest force in the Jewish charitable world". The family owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman (1889–1971), who made a fortune in the alcoholic

business during American

through founding the

Company, and who later became president of the Canadian Jewish Congress (1939–62). Saidye Bronfman, Samuel's wife, was president of the Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA) beginning in 1929, and later founded the women’s division of the Combined Jewish Appeal. In 1952, the couple formed The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation to make grants primarily in support of education, the arts, heritage preservation, and Jewish community initiatives. Their daughter, Phyllis Lambert, founded the Canadian Center for Architecture. For years, Seagram was run by Samuel and Saidye's sons,

Edgar Edgar is a commonly used masculine English given name, from an Anglo-Saxon name ''Edgar'' (composed of ''wikt:en:ead, ead'' "rich, prosperous" and ''Gar (spear), gar'' "spear"). Like most Anglo-Saxon names, it fell out of use by the Late Midd ...

and Charles Bronfman; and their grandson Edgar Bronfman Jr. oversaw the sale of company to

Vivendi Vivendi SE (stylized in all lowercase) is a French investment company headquartered in Paris. It currently wholly-owns Gameloft as well as a number of investments in several companies, primarily involved in content, entertainment, media, and t ...

. Charles was also co-founder of the Historica Foundation of Canada and

Heritage Minutes ''The Heritage Minutes'' is a series of sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in History of Canada, Canadian history. Published by Historica Canada the ''Minutes'' integrate Canadian history, Canadian folklore, folklore ...

, as well as chairman and principal owner of the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...

. The youngest daughter of Edgar Sr., Clare Bronfman, was a benefactor of Keith Raniere and has been sentenced to almost seven years for her role in the NXIVM case. Samuel's nephews

Edward Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

and Peter Bronfman (sons of Allan Bronfman), founded Edper Investments (now Brookfield Asset Management). In 1994, the Bronfman family in collaboration with

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

in Montreal, Quebec, supported the establishment of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC), a nonpartisan Canadian research institute. In 1922, Samuel's younger sister, Rose Bronfman (3 February 1898, Manitoba - 31 May 1988), was a substitute teacher and community activist. She married physician Maxwell Rady (born as Avraham Radishkevich, 24 November 1899 - 3 March 1964) - himself a Russian Jewish immigrant, who moved to Manitoba in 1893 - and the couple remained notable philanthropists in

. The

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...

named its health sciences faculty and its College of Medicine in Rady's honor. The Rady Children’s Hospital in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, and its Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, are named after the Rady family in honor of its largest donor, Ernest S. Rady (b. 1937), Rose and Max's son. Jeremy and Eli Bronfman founded Lincoln Avenue Capital, a real estate investor and developer in

affordable housing Affordable housing is housing which is deemed affordable to those with a household income at or below the median, as rated by the national government or a local government by a recognized housing affordability index. Most of the literature on ...

Works or publications

Works about the Bronfman Family

* Faith, Nicholas. 2006. ''The Bronfmans: The Rise and Fall of the House of Seagram''. New York: St. Martin's Press. * Gittins, Susan. 1995. ''Behind Closed Doors: The Rise and Fall of Canada's Edper Bronfman and Reichmann Empires''. Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall Canada. * MacLeod, Roderick, and Eric John Abrahamson. 2010. ''Spirited Commitment The Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation, 1952-2007''. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, for the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Foundation. * Marrus, Michael R. 1991. ''Samuel Bronfman: The Life and Times of Seagram's Mr. Sam''. Hanover: University Press of New England, for Brandeis University Press. * Newman, Peter Charles. 1978. ''Bronfman Dynasty: The Rothschilds of the New World''. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. ** Republished: 1979. ''King of the castle: the making of a dynasty : Seagram's and the Bronfman empire''. New York: Atheneum. * Bronfman Family Dynasty (video), on ''

Biography A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curri ...

'' *''Whisky man inside the dynasty of Samuel Bronfman'' (video). Kelowna, BC: FilmWest Associates, distributor. 1996. ** Video abstract: "Documents the rise to success of the Bronfman Family, who came to Canada as poor immigrants and became rich and powerful through selling (through Prohibition) and distilling whisky (Seagram Company). Family members recall the tough and determined character of Samuel who strove for social acceptance and respectability while alienating many of his family." The novel '' Solomon Gursky Was Here'', by

Mordecai Richler Mordecai Richler (January 27, 1931 – July 3, 2001) was a Canadian writer. His best known works are ''The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (novel), The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'' (1959) and ''Barney's Version (novel), Barney's Versi ...

, has been described as a thinly-veiled account of the Bronfman family.

Works by the Bronfman family

* Bronfman, Charles, and Howard Green. 2016. ''Distilled: A Memoir of Family, Seagram, Baseball and Philanthropy''. *Bronfman, Charles, and Jeffrey Solomon. 2010. ''The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan.'' San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. * —— 2012. ''The Art of Doing Good: Where Passion Meets Action''. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. * Bronfman, Edgar M. 1996. ''The Making of a Jew''. New York: Putnam. * —— 1998. ''Good Spirits: The Making of a Businessman''. New York: Putnam. * Bronfman, Edgar M., and Beth Zasloff. 2008. ''Hope, Not Fear: A Path to Jewish Renaissance''. New York: St. Martin's Press. * Bronfman, Edgar M., and Catherine Whitney. 2002. ''The Third Act: Reinventing Yourself After Retirement''. New York: G. P. Putnam. *Bronfman, Edgar M., and Jan Aronson. 2012. ''The Bronfman Haggadah''. New York: Rizzoli International Publications. . . * Bronfman, Saidye. 1982. ''My Sam: A Memoir''. Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill. rivately printed; one thousand copies have been printed.* Lambert, Phyllis, and Barry Bergdoll. 2013. ''Building Seagram''. New Haven, CT ; London, UK : Yale University Press.

References

External links

Bronfman Family
at

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; ) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with financial support by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and Society of Com ...

Seagram Museum Collection RG 490
Brock University Library Digital Repository {{DEFAULTSORT:Bronfman Family Anglophone Quebec people Canadian business families Canadian socialites Canadian drink distillers Canadian people of Moldovan-Jewish descent Canadian people of Russian-Jewish descent Bronfman Canadian people of Moldovan descent