Our Mesorah
Special Tefillin
Pshemish
Ari A.
Two years before World War Two, Ari A.’s paternal grandfather, Ari A., received a gift which he kept with him forever. That gift is something that every Jew receives at the age of 13, a tefillin bag. This tefillin bag followed Ari A. throughout World War Two, the most deadly war ever. Ari A. went to labor camps in Russia during the war from Pshemish, Poland. After the war, he moved to France where he got married to his cousin, Miriam A. Then they moved to Israel. He kept his tefillin bag with him during all that time.
Ari A.’s name Yehuda Aryeh Leib is stitched into his tefillin bag, and that is why Ari A., a Moriah sixth grader, is going to use this tefillin bag when he turns thirteen.
The Knowledgeable Keram
Europe
Circa 1850 Max G.’s paternal great- great- great grandfather, Harris G., received a pair of tefillin at his Bar Mitzvah that he used throughout his life. Harris G., later in his life known as Rabbi Harris G., wrote a commentary on the Torah. Max’s great grandfather, Harry G., had this commentary privately published and translated. This book is named the Keram Zivi. Max’s great- great- great paternal grandfather’s tefillin were passed down to his paternal great grandfather, who then passed them down to his father, Jay G. Max’s father had the tefilin re-done and used the tefilin for a few years. The book The Keram Zivi is used by the G. family to refrence things in the Torah, and at Max’s Bar Mitzvah in the year 2010, this commentary might be used to help write a speech and maybe even a D’var Torah.
The G. family treasures this pair of tefilin and the commentary that Harris G. wrote and hopes both the items will stay in their family for many more years and will be pasted down for many generations.
Small Item, Large Story
Hungary
A picture is worth a thousand words but heritage is worth a million memories. This small cup has little monetary value but has tremendous personal value. Solomon’s maternal great grandfather had a choice of what to take with him to America from Hungary. He chose to take this small Kiddush cup. This Kiddush cup is very important and special to the S. family because it is one of the only things they have to remember their maternal great grandfather.
The S. family has had this cup for 68 years, and they still use it every Shabbos.
The Sanctified Smicha
Chicago
Solomon R.’s maternal grandfather, Rabbi Solomon Miller, received smicha after studying hard for nine years. He studied in the Hebrew Theological Seminary which is now Skokie Yeshiva in Chicago, Illinois. Rabbi Miller’s smicha certificate has been in Solomon R.’s family for almost 70 years. Until two months ago, it was kept in Solomon R.’s maternal grandmother’s house. It is now kept in Solomon R.’s house. This smicha certificate is significant in Solomon R.’s family because it shows how determined his grandfather was. It also shows how intelligent and respected he was, as evidences by the people who signed it.
This smicha certificate has inspired Solomon R. to always try as hard as he can at achieving his goal.
A Kiddush Cup from the Past
Germany
Zacharias Eckstein, Ruthie C.’s maternal great – great – great grandfather, was given a sterling silver kiddush cup in honor of his wedding in Germany in 1878. Not much is known about Zacharias other than the fact that he gave the cup to his grandson, Ernst Voss. His name appears on the cup in Hebrew. Ernst moved to Palestine in the 1930s because he had a fear of Hitler, who was coming to power at the time. After Ernst moved, he wrote a letter to his girlfriend in Germany proposing to her, but telling her that the engagement ring was waiting for her in Palestine. Trudy came to Israel, they married, and started a family in Ramat Gan. The last inscription on the cup is from Ruthie’s grandmother, Ruth, and her sister, Renee Voss, who moved to Montreal in 1952. This cup is significant to Ruthie and her family because it was used at her, and her sister’s simchat bat, her brother’s bris, and her parents’ wedding.
This cup is used it today for Kiddush on Shabbat.
A Winning Trophy
Dinov, Germany
In the year 1929, Tyler S.’s paternal great-grandfather, Yisrael Goldman, snuck out of his town Dinov, Germany. He wanted to see a horse-racing tournament, but his parents would not allow him go there. So he snuck out of his house, and his parents did not catch him leaving. Although he was terrified and afraid that he would get caught, he still decided to do it. Yisrael had to hide under the bleachers, just in case one of his parents’ friends were there and saw him. There was one particular man whom he wanted to see win the race. After the race was over, that man came over and asked Yisrael why he was hiding under the stand instead of watching the race. Yisrael explained that he had to escape from his town because his parents would not let him go to see the race because of the money it would cost and the distance. The man was so honored by Yisrael’s obsession with horse-racing-tournaments, that he gave Yisrael his winning trophy. Yisrael was thrilled.
Now this cup is used by the Schwartz family every Shabbos.
A Unique Wine Cup
Germany
Imagine an object passed on for three generations and is one hundred fifty nine years old. Daniel B.’s paternal great-great grandfather owned a silver cup with his own signature on it. Daniel’s paternal great-great grandfather bought it at a very expensive Judaica store and used it for Shabbat and special Jewish holidays. When Daniel’s grandfather, Jacob B., and his family were in Germany and heard rumors about a dictator who will destroy the Jews, they immediately left to Argentina with this expensive wine cup.
Today, Jacob B. uses it for special holidays, and he will continue to pass it on.
The Surviving Tefillin
United States
Adam Z.’s paternal great-great grandfather, Toviah Nametsky, was given a pair of tefillin for his Bar Mitzvah. He wore them almost every day of his life. When he died, he gave them to Adam Z.’s great grandfather who wore them for the last 15 years of his life. When he died, Adam’s father took them from where they had been in his great grandparents’ house. This special religious object was used almost every day in Adam’s family.
This item has been treasured by the Z. family for over 100 years and the tradition of this Jewish object will live on. Adam will wear these tefillin when he becomes a bar mitzvah.
The Marrige Hunters
Czechoslovakia
Imagine you were a survivor of the Holocaust and you wanted to find your true love. She was a woman you knew before the Holocaust. This is what happened to Michael R.’s maternal great grandfather Martin Grossman and great grandmother Gloria Jacoby who each searched desperately for the other, right after World War Two. They ended up finding each other and getting married on February 10, 1946. This ketubah was handwritten by Martin Grossman and is stored at Michael’s grandmother’s house in Cedarhurst, New York.
Michael’s family has had this ketubah for sixty three years.
The Last Present
Poland
At age six, Josh W.’ maternal grandfather received this teffilin bag. In January of 1939, he left on the second to last boat out of Poland, called the Stephan Batory. His uncle Yehoshoa gave him a pair of teffilin with an embroidered bag that had his name sewn on it for him. At the time his uncle knew he would never see him again because he was in the Polish army. He gave him this teffilin as a gift for his bar mitzvah. The teffilin is significant to Josh’s family because it was the last gift Josh’s uncle and aunt gave him. Josh’s grandfather used the teffilin until he got married. At age six, Josh W.’ maternal grandfather received this teffilin bag. Josh’s grandfather used the teffilin until he got married.
The teffilin will be cherished by the Pruzansky family forever.
The Sofer's Yad
Oran, Algeria
Naomi B.’s paternal great-great grandfather, Haim B., was a great sofer. Haim owned a beautiful yad. He was a sofer, specializing in writing Torahs and gets. On the yad there are many intricate designs including a crown on the top of the yad. This yad is important to Naomi B. because it reminds her of her great-great grandfather. Naomi B. never knew that people could create such magnificent objects.
Naomi B.’s great-great grandfather’s yad will be cherished forever.
Tefellin
Israel
In the G. family, tefellin is treasured. It is treasured because of the way they are wrapped which is called nusach sefard. This set of tefellin was worn by Abe’s paternal grandfather, Elliot G., and bought in 1958 in Israel by Abe’s great-great grandfather, Aryeh Leb G., for Abe’s grandfather’s bar mitzvah. Tefellin is put on by every Jewish boy at the age of thirteen.
Abe will put on tefellin when he turns thirteen.
Putting the Pieces Together for the Ketubah
Germany
Judah B.’s maternal grandparents, Abe and Itza Stern, received this ketubah when they were married. They found each other after Auschwitz when Judah’s grandfather was running away to the nearest town. He saw a house with candlesticks in the window. It was Friday, and he knocked on the door. A group of women, who had also recently been liberated from Auschwitz, answered the door. He went inside the house and met a woman who would soon become his wife. Once they decided to marry, she wanted to make herself a dress, but fabric was hard to find after the war. She used a parachute she had found made out of heavy silk, and sewed herself a wedding gown.
They kept their ketubah when they went to America, and they passed the ketubah on to Judah’s mother who passed it on to Judah.
The Tales of Our Fathers
Brooklyn, New York
This small Torah once belonged to David B.’s great grandfather Nathan Spivack. David’s family has owned this object for about 66 years. This very special Torah came from the Bar Mitzvah of Dale M. Long. The covering of the Torah has blue and white stripes. There are no vowels just like a regular Torah that is used today. This object is no longer used today because it is too delicate.
This object is significant to David’s family because it was given to his mother.
Counting Down the Days
Berlin, Germany
This Sefirat Ba’omer counter belonged to Keren P.’s paternal great grandfather, Shraga Feival Senft, who lived in Germany in 1938 with his family right before the beginning of World War II. It had been a staple in his family for many generations before him and was a very sentimental object. When he got the notice that Hitler and his armies were coming to take over Germany and kill each and every Jew, he had no choice but to pack up and flee with his wife and four kids before Hitler attacked. They had very little time to prepare for his departure, and could only bring two personal items per person without making people suspicious at the border. He was considering what item he should take and after much deliberation, he decided upon a sentimental item that was very close to him, the Sefirat Ba’omer counter. It had been in his family for over 150 years and was the only object he had left from his great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
This Sefirat Ba’omer counter is currently displayed in Keren’s living room so when friends and family walk by they will know the amazing story behind the man and the object.
The Savior of the Torah Scroll
Afghanistan
Avi K.’s father received this priceless and rare piece of parchment of Parshat Bahalotcha from a Torah scroll as a present from his friend George Blumenthal. A merchant in the market had this Torah in his stall when George Blumenthal passed by. When George Blumenthal came over to bargain, the merchant knew he was Jewish because no Arab would take notice of a piece of parchment from a Torah. The merchant wouldn’t change the price because he knew that a Jew has an obligation to save a Torah at any cost. Once George Blumenthal realized that he would not win, he ended up paying $35, which at the time was a lot of money.
Currently, this artifact is displayed in the dining room of Avi’s house and is used for decoration and a source of admiration.