Personal Artifacts
All of our artifacts are from relatives. Even though they are not religious items, they remind us that we are Jewish and teach us something about our heritage. When we look at them we think of our family members some of whom are alive and some are no longer with us. Some of these items are just for display and some are still used today.
Naming Dress and School Patch
Athens, Greece
Rachelle M.
The dress was worn when my Nona was named. That was an important day of my Nona's life. The dress was made by her Aunt Esther who is 100 years old and still alive. My Nona survived the Holocaust and so did these artifacts.
The school patch was from my Nona's school, Leaion Tychopoulou. She didn't go to school in Kindergarten because she was hiding in an attic in Greece during the Holocaust. This patch was worn on her clothing. This dress is my Nona's naming dress. It was made by her Aunt Esther.
Lamp
Austria to Cleveland,Ohio
Shirley Y.
My artifact is a lamp. It was lent to me by my grandma. The artifact had been passed down by my grandma's uncle. The lamp came from Austria to Cleveland, Ohio. It is made of copper and was originally a samovar but my great great uncle Max converted it into a lamp. I hope you understand how important this lamp is to us. My Uncle Max used it as a teapot with his family in Austria and decided to bring it to America when the family relocated to establish themselves.
My family felt it was a significant part of their heritage. In later years after it was handed down to my grandma, the lamp finally broke but she kept it for us a reminder of our Jewish heritage.
Tablecloth
Brooklyn
My Mom
This tablecloth was given to my grandmother by her mother. My grandmother's mother loved to sew and gave friends and family beautiful sewn gifts because she thought homemade gifts were better than gifts bought from a store. So every Jewish holiday my family takes the tablecloth out of the closet and sets up the table.
This tablecloth was used on many Jewish holidays. My grandmother's mother is a crafted and talented person.
Tablecloth and Napkins
Brooklyn
My Mom
This tablecloth and napkins were given to my grandmother by her mother. My grandmother's mother loved to sew and gave friends and family beautiful sewn gifts because she thought homemade gifts were better than gifts bought from a store. So every Jewish holiday my family takes this tablecloth and napkins out of the closet and sets up the table.
This tablecloth and napkins are used on many Jewish holidays. My grandmother's mother is a crafted and talented person.
napkins
Brooklyn
my mom
These napkinswere given to my grandmother by her mother. My grandmothers mother loved to sew and gave friends and family beautiful sown gifts because she thought homemade gifts were better than gifts bought from a store. So every Jewish holiday my family takes these napkins out of the closet and sets up the table.
These napkinswere used on many Jewish holidays. My grandmothers mother is a crafted and talented person.
Great Grandma's Tea Pot
American
Mother
This teapot was used by my great-grandmother Clara (Chasia). She came to America at age 19 from a small shetl in Russia. This teapot was used in her home in Seagate, Brooklyn when my mother was a young girl. My mother is unsure as to the date it was made or purchased. She just remembers her grandmother using it in her home and then her mother, my grandmother Anna, using it as well.
This teapot represents my connection to my great-grandmother. My mother would tell me about her grandfather, my great-grandfather Sam, drinking chai (tea) from a glass with a sugar cube between his teeth, the Russian way. It has found its way from my great-grandparents table, to my grandparents table, and now to my home. I hope to take it with me and use it in my home, when I am an adult.
Jewelry Box
Israel
Mom & Dad
This artifact was given to my mom by my grandma who got it from my great grandma. It was important to my mom because she remembers seeing it on her grandma's dresser [my great grandma's dresser]!
It was important because it was used to hold my great grandma's Jewish star and heart!
Rug
Romania, Europe
Brenda L.
This rug was given to my grandmother by her mother. When my great grandmother escaped from Europe, it was one of the few belongings that she brought. It's important to my family, because its one of the few things we have left of my great grandmother. It's still hanging in my grandmother's home, and hopefully will continue being passed down.
The rug is very important to my family's Jewish heritage. It shows that my great grandmother was one of the Jews that escaped safely.
Cigarette Case
Russian
Lee G. (father)
It was passed down in my family from Grandpa Leo to carry cigarettes. My grandfather died from smoking. Now we just keep it as a family artifact instead of using it.
Grandpa Leo emigrated from Europe, during a time when Jews could not practice Judaism freely. Only a few of his belongings were able to come to America with him. He brought the cigarette case because it was given to him by a Jewish professor from his hometown. It meant something to him and it was compact enough to travel with it by sea.
Medal
Israel
Great Grandmother
This artifact is important to me because this is the only thing that my great grandma has in hand to prove to the world that she took part in this heroic event of building the State of Israel. I am proud of my great grandma that she was one of the strong pioneers who fought not only with enemies but with harsh conditions as well. Despite the hard life she had had, she took part in building Eretz Israel with love and pride.
It is important to Jewish heritage because it is proof that the world was indifferent to what was happening to the Jews. However G-d helped those who survived and they immigrated to Palestine and with nothing they built the State of Israel.
Cigarette case
Russia
Lee G. (father)
It was past down in my family to cary cigarettes. Untill my grandfather died from smokng. Now we just keep it insted of using it.
none
Painting of a Rabbi
origin unknown
Edith Osoff
It is a meaningful gift given to my mom by my great grandma after my great grandfather passed away. My grandfather was a man with great integrity and goodness. He was very religious, and prayed every morning. My family is very proud of how he lived his life. He is remembered by my family every day, especially when we see this painting.
This painting reminds me of our Jewish heritage and helps us remember my great grandfather.