Family History
Every family has its own individual history. Families keep objects that tell the story of their past experiences. The artifacts in this gallery reflect our families\' histories. These artifacts tell the stories of the people we are descended from and give an idea of the lives of Jewish people in the past.
Micro Diorama
Russia
My Grandmother
My artifact is called a micro-diorama. It is about 1-2 inches and is made out of silver. My great, great, great, great grandfather, Chaim A., invented this in St. Petersburg, Russia. When you look into the micro diorama you see a person. It can be worn by the chain. We’re not exactly sure who is in the picture. It is very old and precious. This artifact is important to me because Chaim A. was a very creative and smart man and this artifact reminds me of him.
My artifact is important to Jewish heritage because it shows how creative we can be.
Polish Passport
Poland
My father, Charles S.
This is the passport my paternal grandmother used when she left Poland for America. The passport documents my grandma’s journey from a small village in Poland to Warsaw, then to Germany, before arriving at Ellis Island. She left Poland in 1920 and arrived in America in the spring of 1921. This artifact is important to me because I never met my Grandma Bela, but I was named after her. I was pleased to find her passport picture as a teenager about 15 years old. I learned that her family name was Frydlander. The eagle on the front with Polish writing intrigued me. I can’t read Polish, but I liked seeing the different stamps which documented her journey. It must have been hard leaving her family and traveling alone to the New World.
This artifact is important to Jewish heritage because it documents the difficult journey our ancestors made in order to remain Jewish and create a new life away from the anti-Semitism of Europe.
Family Photograph
Canada
Diane M.
This photograph takes place at a family Bar Mitzvah in 1941. The ceremony was in Canada, and at the time my grandfather was 18 or 19 years old. He is pictured with all of his brothers, his cousins, his parents, his aunts and uncles and his grandparents. They were dressed in fancy clothing because of the Bar Mitzvah.
The Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish ceremony to mark an individual Jewish child becoming an adult. It shows that the person is becoming an adult and responsible for their actions. It symbolizes that they will not always be with their parents, but will one day live alone. It is a time for celebration with family and friends.
Story Book
California
Matthew R.
This artifact was a story told by my great-great-grandfather, made into a book by my uncle. My great-great-grandfather wrote this story because, when relatives came to visit, since he couldn\'t walk, he made stories up. The name \"Chubbalabubbala\" came from my great-great-grandmother who they called \"Bubbala.\" They said that she was chubby or \"chubbala.\" If you say chubbala bubbala it sounded like \"Chubbalabubbala.\" \"Uncle\" Alan learned the story on the farm and told it to his children. They told him to make it into a book. He published it in 2008 and it is the story of my great-great-grandmother\'s childhood.
Stories are told all the time in Jewish tradition. They are told to recall our history and memory, and sometimes just for fun. This story includes a little bit of everything, just like our Jewish heritage.
Book
St. Petersburg, Russia
My Grandmother
My great, great, great, great grandfather, Chaim A., wrote a book called, \"A Jewish Life Under the Tsars\". This book explains how difficult life was for Jews living in Russia. I thought it was very interesting and it is a source of pride for my family.
This book is important to Jewish heritage because it shows first-hand how hard life was for Jews living in Russia under the Tsars.
Framed Photograph
Poland
My Mother
My artifact is a framed picture of my great-grandmother\'s house in Poland from 1907. It is special because she died when I was only ten months old. The house in the picture signifies the beginning of a very large and successful family that came to the United States in 1920.
This is a Jewish artifact because it came from a Jewish community in Russia (what later became Poland) where she was raised with eight other brothers and sisters. My great-grandmother and her family were Jewish, and generations later we\'re still Jewish!