Papers From The Past
An Extraordinary Postcard
New York
Sarah W.’s maternal great-great grandfather, Lewis Silverstein, wanted to take his wife and kids to America but couldn’t afford it. Lewis Silverstein went to America to earn money to bring the rest of his family. During the time period that Lewis Silverstein was not with the rest of his family, the Silverstein family wrote letters back and forth to keep in touch. This letter was written to Lewis Silverstein from his wife and kids. He received this letter by mail on November 12, 1925. Sarah W.’s family had this letter for 84 years and will keep this letter forever. Sarah W.’s postcard is significant to her family. It shows what a great father Lewis Silverstein was because he loved his family so much that he kept in touch for about ten years. This postcard was given to Sarah W.’s great-great grandfather to Sarah W.’s great-grandmother to Sarah W.’s grandfather and to Sarah W.’s mother.
Currently, the postcard is in Sarah’s home.
A Bittersweet Year
Germany
In circa 1930, Danielle A.’s paternal great grandfather, David Bochner, didn’t have a place to live. It was a bitter, depressing year. Hitler had come into power, and there was hatred toward Jews. Jews were being murdered, and having their houses set on fire for the crime of “being Jewish.” David Bochner was trapped inside Germany, and needed a true miracle. He decided to take a risk, and created forged identification papers. With these papers he was able to journey to America. On the journey to America, Danielle’s grandmother, Regina, was born, making it an even greater miracle. While many innocent Jews were losing their lives, a new life had been opened.
This is a miracle that will never be forgotten. The papers are now kept in the house of Danielle A., and even though Danielle never met David, all his great accomplishments are always remembered.
Key Passports
Germany
Jeremy D.’s maternal great grandparents tried to flee to England after Kristallnacht, the night of shattered glass. However, no passports were in their possession. They scurried to find passports and were able to acquire two. They noticed that the German government changed all the men’s middle names to Israel and all the women’s to Sarah. They also stamped a red insignia on them, which signified that passports with these signs belonged to Jews. Jeremy’s great grandfather was one of the luckiest Jews in Germany at the time. He was able to use his passport. He fled to glorious freedom and escaped the Nazis’ prejudice and wrath after interment in Buchenwald after Kristallnacht. Unfortunately, Jeremy’s great grandmother succumbed to Hitler’s bloodthirsty genocide. One couple. Two opposite destinies. Jeremy’s family remains puzzled as to how his great grandfather maintained possession of his late wife’s blank passport.
They will continue to cherish these two documents.
The Last Chance Out
Germany
Alex K.’s maternal grandfather, Ernest Wohlfarth, escaped Germany during the Nazi occupation to live in America. When Ernest Wohlfarth was living in Germany, it was a dangerous time to be a Jew. Ernest Wohlfarth and his family had to wear a yellow Star of David which said “Jude” – which means “Jew” in English – in the middle. Ernest Wohlfarth received the star from his father who got it from the German government. The Nazis also made certain restaurants forbidden to the Jewish people. They also made certain shops forbidden. In June of 1939, Ernest Wohlfarth finally escaped Germany by using this passport. On the cover of the passport there is an eagle with a swastika in the center. The swastika is the Nazi’s symbol. This passport has some personal information like Ernest Wohlfarth’s birthday, age, eye color, and his homeland.
The passport and star of Alex K.’s grandfather are important to his family since it shows the history and the route they took to America.
Changing The World
America
Jack T.’s paternal grandfather, Jack T., was a member of a very special organization, and personal secretary to a very special person. The Zionist Revisionists and its leader, Zev Jabotinsky, fought to save Jews from Germany. They strived to smuggle Jews into Israel, while helping to create the state of Israel. The organization gave Jack T. a membership card to show that he was one of its members. The membership card was signed by Zev Jabotinsky, the organization’s leader. Zev Jabotinsky was a great Zionist and military leader. He saved and protected many Jews by creating and leading the Haganah and the Irgun. Jack T. received this card when he was just eighteen years old on September 17, 1934. Jack T., later became personal secretary to Zev Jabotinsky. They were very close.
This object is very significant to the T. family and will continue to be cherished for generations to come.
The Passport to a New Life
Israel
It was right before World War II, and Geffen O.'s brave paternal great-grandfather Yizchak, ran away from home when he was 16. He was a Zionist, and he had always wanted to go to Israel. He took a long, rough journey on a boat to Israel. He didn't bring many things with him, but he brought his passport. With this passport, he was able to go to Israel. This passport saved his life because right after he left, the war started and his whole family died. Although Geffen never met him, she sees the passport and knows how brave he must have been. The passport is kept at Yizchak's daughter's home.
The O. family will treasure this forever.
Identity Book
Russia, Argentina
Elisa C.’s maternal great-great grandmother, Maria Zodocovitch Pilnik was wonderful woman who traveled from Russia to Argentina during the pogroms. She traveled to Argentina by boat and ran out of the kosher food while traveling. When she arrived in Argentina, she had to start a new life with nothing. In the 1960s, her identity book (known as Cedula in Spanish) was given to Maria from the government office.
This object is significant to Elisa’s family because it is proof that her great-great grandmother was born in Russia and immigrated to Argentina during the pogroms.
A Honor Student
Hungary
Kailah K.’s maternal great grandfather, Elter Zaidy, received this diploma from high school along with this report card. He received this in 1938 from the Royal Hungarian “Tisza Istuan” University of Debrecen. The report card is navy blue and very delicate. Almost every page has a black line going down the middle, and it is written in Hungarian. The diploma is framed in wood. He kept his report card and diplomas for a long time, to remember that he was an honor student. He was the only Jewish student of that class to survive the Holocaust.
The diploma and report card will always be cherish and kept safely with the Neumann and K. families.
Escaping Germany
Berlin, Germany
Ami R.’s maternal great-grandfather, Fritz Bender, was a very important person. He received this Immigration Visa so that he could get out of Germany before the Holocaust. He used it to travel to America. Fritz Bender got this Immigration Visa from the German government. The journey that Fritz Bender took began in Poland and continued to Italy until he finally arrived in America. The boat that Fritz Bender went on was called the Rex. This visa enabled Fritz Bender to survive while the rest of his family perished in the Holocaust.
It is a symbol of survival and courage to Ami R. and his family. They will always treasure it.
The Unknown Birthday
Poland
Alexa M.’s maternal grandmother, Celia Stern, wanted proof of her real birthday. Celia grew up in Poland and survived the Holocaust. After the Holocaust ended, she wanted to leave the country. It was easier to leave when you were younger, so Celia lied and pretended she was six years younger. Celia traveled and lived in Argentina for 15 years, to be closer to her cousins. Then she moved to Israel to be near her brother and sister. While living in Israel, she met and married Alexa’s zaidy, Simon Stern. Later, Simon brought Celia to the United States. Celia never really remembered her real birth date because she lied about it so many times. She wanted to know it so badly that she called up the Polish consulate in 1987. They happened to have a copy of her birth certificate and sent it to her.
Today Celia knows and has proof of her real birth date, February 25, 1927.
Papers of Survivors
Lechevitch, Poland
Matthew C.’s paternal grandfather, Michel C., received this testimonial after surviving the Holocaust. Michel was living in Lechevitch, Poland when he asked the Polish government if he could go to America to learn in a yeshiva. After asking, Michel was sent to jail. While in jail, the Nazis invaded Lechevitch, his hometown. Michel was let out of jail, and spent the rest of the war in a refugee camp. After the war, he learned that Lechevitch was destroyed and his family was killed. He later received this memorial document, which was compiled by other survivors of the town. After the war, Michel walked all through Europe and traveled to get to New York and learn in yeshiva. He settled in Queens, New York and married Zelda. Michel still lives in Queens, and the testimonial is still in his possession today. Michal and his son David have begun to translate the document from Yiddish to English.
This object is very important to the C. family because of all its importance, memories, and sorrow that it brings them when they read this important document.
A Novel That Will Be Cherished Forever
North Carolina
Lily L.’s paternal grandmother wrote a book about her life called The Silence. It is a story explaining her life from age 3 all the way until a few years before she passed away. Lily Gluck L. was a survivor of World War Two. The book describes her horrifying experience in the Holocaust. This book means a lot to the L. family because none of Lily’s immediate family knew her except Lily’s mother and father. Lily is named for her dear grandmother Lily Gluck L. Lily’s paternal grandmother died when her father was 19, so her name means so much to her father and his family.
Through this book, Lily L. knows more about her grandmother that she would ever know.
If There’s A Will There’s A Way
Buenos Aires
Do you know the saying “If there’s a will there’s a way?” Imagine growing up in a city, making friends, and being forced to leave that all behind. That is what happened to Benjamin W.’s maternal great grandmother, Rachel Samanowitz. She was forced by her father to immigrate to New Jersey because he got a good job. In Argentina, at that time, the government was corrupt and the jobs were not paying well. As a direct result, Rachel’s father couldn’t support his family. She was then given this passport and she left her country.
Benjamin’s great grandmother had a lot of strength to persevere and start a new life in New Jersey.
Papers for a Journey
Austria
Don F., Alexandra’s paternal great grandfather, was a Holocaust survivor. Don F. lived in Hungary when the war began. Hungary became a very dangerous place to live in. Don had six siblings, and four of them were killed by the Nazis during the war. His two sisters, Fanya and Penina, left Austria to live in Israel as a result of Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. Don and his wife Leiche, also left Austria, and went on a journey to America. The passport is from when they visited Don’s sisters in Israel.
A few years ago Sandra F., Alexandra’s paternal grandmother, was going to move and started packing. She called her son Gersh F., Alexandra’s paternal uncle, to see if he wanted to take some of her old belongings. While he was searching through Sandra’s belongings, Gersh found the papers and the passport inside a box. The papers are very important to the F. family because they are all they have left of their Zaydie Don. When Don came to America, he had a smile on his face, as did he every day.
He also cherished every single day of his life.
A List of Safety
Hungary, Europe
Chana T.’s great-great grandmother, Laura has a passenger list from a ship that sailed from Hungary to America. This passenger list led many people from the danger of Hungary to the safety of America. A passenger list is a small book with a list of the passengers going to another place to live. Chana T.’s great-great grandmother and her family were in Europe at a perilous time, so they needed to come to America. They only had money for one person to go to America, so Chana T.’s great- great grandfather Klonymus (Kalmon) went to America to work and get enough money to send for the rest of his family. Chana’s family was lucky and they all lived. It must have been distressing for Chana’s great-great grandfather to work, not knowing whether his family was alive!
Chana’s great-great grandfather showed outstanding courage as did the rest of his family.