My great grandfather bought this menorah in 1925. During this time, the immigrants were coming to America from Europe. He used it every Hanukkah with his family until he passed away. He only used this menorah as he could afford only one. My Grandmother started using it next. This was the only menorah she grew up with as a child. Whenever she lit all the candles, the top one would burn all the other ones out because of all the heat and wax.
My great-great grandfather, Nathan A. had these candlesticks in Russia before he came to America. He came from Russia on a boat with his family through Canada and brought the candlesticks with him. He probably brought these candlesticks to remember Russia and the family Shabbats.
These candlesticks have traveled a long way starting in Russia, going through Canada and then to Detroit. They were passed down from Nathan A. to his son, then to his daughter (my grandmother). She has used them for many Shabbat dinners since then.
One day, my great grandma was escaping from the Nazis during World War II. She searched her house and took everything important she could find before escaping. One of those things happened to be a small, silver Kiddush cup. She ran out of the house onto a small bridge and then onto a small boat that escaped just in time. That boat took her and her son to Ukraine to be safe. To this day, I still have the cup which brings back great memories every time I look at it.