Eastern Europe
The artifacts in our gallery are all from Eastern Europe. Our artifacts vary greatly - religious items such as candlesticks, a violin for pleasure, even an article of clothing. However different they may be, the all help tell the story of our immigration to America.
Tapestry
Lithuanian
Grandmother
This was given to my mother from her mother. It came with my great-grandmother from Lithuania. She came to the United States around 1920. The tapestry was always special to my mom. She likes her smile, and that she may be a Queen. She thinks her name was Anastania.
My great-grandmother left Lithuania just as many other Jewish families left - or tried to leave - to find security and freedom in America. This tapestry which was brought on that journey from Europe symbolizes the experiences of my family and other immigrants.
Candlesticks
Russia
Barbara K.
These candlesticks were given to my great-great-grandmother, Jennie Gross, by my great-great-great-grandmother. These were the only belongings that Jennie brought to America when she came from Russia. She used these candlesticks every Friday night. When she died she passed them on to my great-grandmother, Sara Portnoy. When Sara died,they were passed on to my grandmother, who now lives with me and we use the candlesticks on special occasions.
These candlesticks were used every Shabbas and holiday for two generations.
Baby Dress
Romania
Rita M.
This artifact belonged to my Great-Grandmother Geri S. who I call "Bubbie". She is from my mother's side of the family. This was her baby dress that she wore on a boat that brought her and her mother to New York through Ellis Island in 1913.
The significance of the artifact to my family is that it helped me to learn about my Great-Grandmother and her family and how she came from Romania to America. Her family came to New York to try to make a better life for themselves.
Candlesticks
Eastern Europe
Ruth L.
Although my grandmother was not raised religiously she thought enough of the candlesticks to keep them throughout the years, and even if they were not used often in her childhood, keeping them shows the Jewish religion was important to her. She now uses them much more often as she has become more religious and I think the fact that she is the member of the family who really began using them after all these years, shows the importance of them to our family
Candlesticks are used on Shabbat, and my grandma used them later in her life but not much in her childhood and now sometimes we use them.
Silver Cup
Kiev
Grandma Molly
This cup was used at the Passover Seder in my mother's great-grandparent's house. It was given to my grandmother by her uncle when she visited the Soviet Union in 1972.
This cup was filled with wine each Passover and was used as Elijah's cup. Jewish families always leave the door unlocked so that Elijah could drink a sip form each cup on the table of each Jewish family.
Picture of My Great-Great Grandparents
Unsure - Russia?
My Nanny (Grandmother)
This is the only photo that we have of my great-great grandparents. We think they came from Russia. My Nanny (grandmother) gave the picture to my Mom and I want to pass it on to my kids when I grow up.
This photo reminds me that I come from a Jewish Heritage and that is special to me. It makes me feel happy when I see it and it makes my family history real, not just a story.
Violin
Hungary
Rita G.
My grandmother found this violin in her basement. My great, great uncle Bella - my maternal grandmother's uncle -used it to teach my aunt violin. The story is unclear, but during the Holocaust he was caught in a deportation and was witness to the murder of his very young daughter near Budapest, Hungary. He had numbers on his arm so he obviously survived time in Auschwitz -the only camp that used the number tattoos. My family is unsure when he obtained the violin but he did bring it with him on the ship to America. Ironically my sister & I were both assigned the violin when we joined the music program in our school. Being able to play violin, I now have a greater connection to my aunt and my great, great uncle.
My great, great uncle may have had this during the Holocaust. Music was often played while Jews were murdered. His music skills may have kept him alive but we're not sure. He was the only one in his family to survive. Even his young daughter and two year old nephew were killed. He played the violin on the ship coming to America to immigrate. This violin is a symbol of Jewish survival.
Wallet with Documents
Poland
My Dad
This wallet belonged to my Grandfather, Benzion T. During World War II, he fled Poland with the clothes on his back and this wallet given to him by his father. The wallet traveled through the Holocaust, World War II, Israel's War of Independence and finally to the United States. This is all he had from his past. My father found this in my Grandfather's effects just before he died. The documents inside are some of the papers he used to travel through this very dark and remarkable time in our history.
This artifact is important because it really shows the struggles in our history during the 20th century. Jews went from the horrible times of the Holocaust to freedom and the establishment of the State of Israel. This is not only important to me but to all of us because it symbolizes everything that my Grandfather and many other Jewish people experienced through those years.