Personal Artifacts
Ketuba
North Carolina, USA
Own
This was my parents\' Ketuba.
A Ketuba is a Jewish marriage contract.
Ketuba
Scranton, PA, USA
Own
This was our Ketuba.
A Ketuba is a Jewish marriage contract.
Hebrew School Textbooks
usa
Own
These were my Hebrew school textbooks used in Scranton, PA.
Hebrew school books used in the 1920s - 1930s.
Humash
USA
Own
This was a copy (5 volumes) of my family\'s Humash.
The Five Books of Moses is the Torah, or Humash.
Siddur
USA
Own
I served in the US Navy during World War II and this was the Siddur given to me by the US Government to conduct our Jewish services.
A Siddur is a prayer book.
Hebrew School Textbooks
USA
Own
This was my Hebrew School textbook.
Jewish children learn about Judaism in Hebrew School.
Hebrew School Textbooks
USA
Own
These were my Hebrew School textbooks in Scranton, PA.
Jewish children learn about Judaism in Hebrew School.
Siddur
Latvia
Own
My grandfather\'s daily Siddur.
A Siddur is a prayerbook.
Wimpel
Southern Germany
Own
This was my wimple.
A wimple is a piece of decorated cloth used on the day of a boy\'s Brit Milah. It usually has a drop of blood from the circumcision. This wimple has my name and birthday painted on it. It also wishes me a life full of Torah, good deeds, and a wedding canopy.
Siddur
Przomysi, Lomza, Poland
Own
This siddur first belonged to my great-great grandfather, Moshe Zev, who was a shochet - a ritual slaughterer of kosher animals, and who led prayers for his community until he was very old. It later belonged to my grandfather, Zvi, who first lived near Lomza, Poland, and then went to live in Israel some time after 1905. Finally, after contracting malaria while working there, he came to the US in 1913. His first job was teaching Hebrew School in Fargo, ND.
A Siddur is a Jewish prayerbook. This Siddur is special because it was based on handwritten materials from Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero in around the 1500s. In addition to the commentary, the Siddur has \"reflections,\" mystical kavannot, or intentions, to be included in one\'s feelings and thoughts while praying.
Diamond Engagement Ring
Philadelphia, PA
Sharon Freedman
This ring was designed by Jody S at Grandpa Ben Horowitz\'s jewelry store. During the great depression, people sold their diamonds and this ring has been in our family for 70 years. It reminds us about a time where many people struggled.
My Dad gave this ring to my Mom when they became engaged.
Personal Documents
Poland
Susan L.
This document was created by the Polish government and given to my Great Great Great Great Grandparents when my Great Great Great Grandfather was born in 1836. My Grandpa\'s family came from a town called Wegrow.
This document tells us about life for Jews in the 1800\'s in a Shtetl. My Mother was able to discover names and details of the town dating back to the 1600s.
Family Photograph
Hungary
My Father
This is a photograph of my great grandmother\'s family. Every person was murdered in the Holocaust (except for the father, who died before the war began and two brothers, not shown in the picture, who had already emigrated to the USA.) There were 11 brothers and sisters.
This is a picture of a Jewish family destroyed in the Holocaust.