Jewelry
These items of jewelry have special meaning for their owners.
Chai Necklace
Iran
My Grandfather
This 18k gold Chai was purchased in Tehran, Iran in the 1930s. It is gold with scrollwork inside the letters Chet and Yud. \"Chai\" in Hebrew means \"living\" or \"life.\" It also represents the number 18.
This artifact was given to me by my grandfather who I call \"Babaee\" when I was three years old. My great grandmother had purchased this for my grandfather in the 1930s in Tehran, Iran.
This artifact is very important to me because it is a reminder of what Jews in some parts of the world go through to hold on to their faith. Iran is a Muslim country and Jews are a minority. Jews who lived in Iran were not allowed to practice Judaism openly. My great grandmother felt that in Iran, everyone recognized the Star of David and associated it with Jews, but not everyone would recognize the Hebrew letters of the Chai. My grandfather wore this necklace everyday under his shirt. The necklace was to remind him of his Jewish faith and Judaism\'s focus on the importance of life. I hope to one day pass this on to my child.
Chai Necklace
Germany
My Jewish family artifact is my Chai necklace. It is made of 14-karat gold. The chain is 13 inches long and the pendant is one inch by one inch. The Chai is made of two Hebrew letters: the Chet on the right and the Yud to the left. Chai could mean one of two things -it could mean #18, but it really translates to \"life\".
I wear my Chai necklace throughout my whole day, every day. I wear it for good luck and believe it or not, that actually is what it brings me. It is very special to me.
This artifact actually has a story that goes along with it. The Chai belonged to my great grandmother, Anna Rockowsky. She lived during the Holocaust and when she was trying to hide from the German Nazis, she would always count on it to bring her good luck for her dear life. Luckily, she did survive, and from that time, she thought that her necklace brought her good luck. She safely arrived in America and lived in her new home. She passed the necklace down to her daughter, and she (my grandmother) passed it down to my mom, and my mom passed it down to me. One day, I hope to give it to my kids.
Star of David
USA
This Star of David pendant is handmade of white gold and diamonds. Each triangular section has three small diamonds in it. The center section has one larger diamond.
This Star of David is really a family heirloom - but in an unusual way. My Nana and my mother both had wedding bands with small diamonds in them. These rings were no longer being worn and my mother gave them to me. Then, my mother-in-law passed away, and my husband gave me one of her diamonds. So I took all these diamonds to a jeweler and asked him to make this Star of David. I treasure this necklace so much that I\'m afraid to lose it, so I keep it in a safe deposit box, except for special occasions. I plan to give this to my daughter someday, and I hope she will keep it in the family forever.