United States
All of these artifacts come from the United States of America. They are all very old and come from the family members who came before us. There is a variety of artifacts including photos, documents and religious items. As different as they are, all of these artifacts have a place in the history of our families' lives. They tell the story of our families' journeys to America in search of a better life.
Bar Mitzvah at 83 years old
Philadelphia
My Mom
My Great Grandpa did not become a Bar Mitzvah in Poland when he was 13 years old. Since he lived to be 70 years older he had his Bar Mitzvah ceremony at 83 years old.
Harry G. was very poor growing up in Poland, was not allowed to practice Judaism and decided to come to the USA to have a better life. He made sure all of his sons had a Bar Mitzvah and now it was his time to become a Bar Mitzvah at 83 years old.
Picture of my Great-Grandmother, Paula Hyman
New York
My Mom
My great grandma was very stylish and did many things ahead of her time. That is what my grandmother told me about her. In this photo, she is wearing her horse-riding outfit. She did many, many activities.
My great-grandma came to America when she was just about 3 years old. When I see this picture, it reminds me of my Jewish heritage and that it is special to me.
Photograph of My Great Grandparents
New York
My Grandparents
The photograph was given to my Grandparents by my Great Grandparents. The photograph was from my Great Grandparents wedding which took place in New York City. My Great Grandpa Jack was from Romania and came to America in the late 19th century. My Great Grandmother was born in Wilmington, Delaware. This is an important photograph because I was named after my great grandmother Freda. This photo symbolizes the start of the Abraham's family.
This picture started the chain link of my family. First it was my great grandparents, then my grandparents, after that my Dad and then finally me. This artifact is important to me and my family because if I didn't see this then I wouldn't know what my past relatives looked like.
EZRA 1951 Yearbook
Philadelphia
My Mom
My great grandmother was the Chairwoman of the Board for the EZRA, Women's Division Philadelphia Relief for Polish Jews.
My grandmother's family came to Philadelphia from Prussia around 1910. She had been a past president when the Eleventh Annual Donor Dinner took place at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia on May 27, 1951. The EZRA raised funds for the Children's Home in Brunoy, France and the EZRA Orphans Home in Charbrol, France. The funds helped to rehabilitate the children and assist them relocating to Israel.
Ration Book
Brooklyn, NY USA
Grandma
Even though my grandmother was here in the U.S., this was significant to our family as it represented the means by which our family was able to buy essential goods needed to get through each day.
This was a part of my grandmother's childhood in the U.S.A. while the Holocaust was going on during WWII. Even though nothing was ever said to us, I'm sure my grandmother and the rest of the family were aware that terrible things were happening in Europe and that rationing was a small price to pay by comparison.
Tallis
United States
Barbara K.
This tallis was given to my great-grandfather, Jack P., by my grandmother and grandfather, Michael and Barbara K. They bought the tallis on the lower east side in the Jewish section of Manhattan, for Jack's 80th birthday in 1981. This tallis is important to my family because my great-grandfather used it for synagogue.
The significance of the tallis to Jewish heritage is that my great-grandfather and my father used it whenever they needed it in synagogue.
Machzor
Brooklyn, NY
Stuart H. (grandfather)
My great-grandfather (Poppy Julie) used this Machzor prayer book for over 20 years when he went to temple on the High Holy Days. My grandfather (Pa), my mother's father, went to temple with his father in Brooklyn, NY.
This Machzor prayer book is significant because my great-grandfather used it on the High Holy Days and my family followed his tradition. My grandfather continued to go with my mother and now my mother and father go to temple with me.
Great Grandpa's Hanukkah Menorah
U.S.
Dad
This menorah has been in the family for four generations and has been used every Hanukkah for about 85 years.
My Dad's grandfather, Seymour H. came to the United States just before WWI. After the war, my Dad's grandfather and his siblings, who were also in the United States, arranged for their parents to emigrate from Germany to the United States. After their parents arrived, my Dad's grandfather gave the menorah to his dad as a gift. When his dad passed away, my great grandfather kept the menorah and used it for the rest of his life.
When he was about 82 years old, he was living in a nursing home. My Dad's grandmother (Dora H.) gave it to my Dad because she knew he would use it. Since then, my Dad has used it every Hanukkah since around 1978.
This artifact is significant to Jewish heritage because for centuries, Jews have been lighting menorahs every year to symbolize religious freedom. This menorah has been in the family for a long time.
Family Bris Dress
United States
Sophie F.
This outfit, consisting of a petticoat, dress and cap, was purchased by my grandmother for the bris of her first son, my uncle. She began a list in the cover of the box, naming the baby, the parents, and date of the bris. It was then worn by several of her nephews, as well as her second son- my father. It was worn by my brother at his bris, and was passed down to me when my first son was born. He wore it at his bris, as did my second son, and each time a name was added to the list in the box top and bottom. The dress will be passed down to my children, to be worn by Grandma Sophie and Grandpa Abe's great-great grandchildren.
This bris dress is important to our family because it represents not only our tie to the Jewish people and our covenant with G-d, but also to each other.
The ritual of Brit Milah is among the oldest traditions observed by Jews today. It connects the children and their families to both G-d and the Jewish People. The Brit Milah ceremony is often a first step to connecting with the Jewish community. Some families have the tradition of dressing their babies for the occasion in beautiful outfits such as ours.
US Naturalization Certificate
USA
Aunt
Many members of our paternal great-grandmother's family left Romania in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century and the early 20th century for a better life in North America. They originally settled in Canada because they were not allowed to enter the United States. Entering the US from Canada was much easier. This artifact is significant because it documents our great grandmother's decision to become an American citizen.
This an example of how Jews have spread all over the world in search of freedom and security. As a result, Judaism and Jewish communities have been able to flourish in foreign lands since Biblical times.