Between the Lines
by Morris A and Albert S
When you read words it might show someone’s expression or feelings, how life is, or it might just be communication between people. We are very lucky that we live in a place that we can use words freely. Language can be expressed orally and in written form such as in songs, poems, books, letters and documents. In this gallery of our Heritage Fair you will find documents and certificates to understand and letters to read. Documents can give us information what our ancestors did for a living, their immigration experiences and their time in the army. Rebecca B. is extremely lucky to have a book that honors her ancestor who served in the military. Ralph A. acquired a certificate that belonged to his grandfather who was also in the army. Rebecca G's artifact tells the story about how her ancestors came to America and how and when they became American citizens. Ronni K. has special papers from the military that show how brave her ancestors were. Terri S. has a letter that her grandfather wrote while he was serving in the American army. Morris A. has a giant newspaper from the year his grandfather was born, and Albert has a letter about his grandfather’s Bar Mitzvah speech. This section of the Heritage fair will intrigue most readers who have the curiosity and interest to read “between the lines” in order to learn more about members of our Jewish community’s lives.
Bar Mitzvah speech
Israel
Morris S.
This artifact is a Bar Mitzvah speech. It was created in 1953 and written by Albert's Great Great Grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak D. He sent it to America from Israel for Albert's Grandfather, Morris S.
This artifact is significant to Jewish heritage because at a Jewish boy's Bar Mitzvah, the boy says a speech that includes a Dvar Torah. A boy becomes a bar mitzvah is when he is thirteen years old and he becomes a man. From that day and on he has to keep all the mitzvot. Some people like to have a piece that a rabbi wrote and Morris wanted it written by his great great grandfather who was a rabbi in Israel.
Letter
San Francisco, CA
Gloria A.
Terri's great grandfather, Joe A, wrote a letter to his friend in 1942. He wrote this letter while he was in the U.S. Army during World War II. He wrote to his friend telling him how much he missed all of his friends who were sent home from the army.
In the letter Terri's great grandfather, Joe A, wrote about how he missed spending the Jewish holidays with his friends. He wrote that he was so thankful for his friends at home saying Tehillim for him. He really needed people to say Tehiliim for him because he was in war.
New York Times
United States
Morris A
The significance of this artifact to Morris's family is that it's a New York Times Newspaper. This paper shows information about the time in which Morris's grandfather was born. He was born in 1936 and it showed information that fascinated Morris. It showed prices of items at the time, such as grand pianos going for $700 and mink coats going for $100. He searched the newspaper and found information about the Nazis and what was going on at the time. Morris's grandfather, Morris, received this for his 60th birthday 15 years ago. He will forever cherish it although it is not an early, historical item but it does show information that is historical. Every time Morris's father or grandfather reads this they think about what their family's life was like back in 1936.If older people in their 90's or 80's viewed this artifact, they would reminisce about what had happened when they were kids.
Back in the 1930's it was a real luxury to have mink coats and roller skates and other luxury items. At that time people would get entertainment by reading the newspaper and all of the information in it. Many families were focusing on earning a living and could not afford luxuries. If a member of the Syrian community saw somebody walking around with a mink coat at that time, she might be jealous and amazed at how that person had a great deal of wealth. Back then every Syrian loved music and always liked to listen to piano. Judging by the advertisements in the newspaper, people would buy different pianos such as baby grand and upright pianos, as well as organs.
Also in this newspaper The Nazis are mentioned. It tells us that the people in the US knew something about what was happening in Europe in 1936.
Stamp Collection
Manchester,England
Rosine B.
This Stamp Book was given to Isaac\'s mom by her father.When she was little she collected stamps from all over the world.This was important to her because it was memorabilia from when she was little.
This Stamp Book was used to collect stamps from many different places.This is an important artifact because it shows different stamps from around the world during the 1950s -1970s.
Book: Britain's Homage to American Dead
England
Sandra B
This book is Britain's homage to the American dead, and was given to the great grandparents of Rebecca B. by the government when their son died during World War II. This book was written about him and was sent to his family. A note for his family was included and the family then sent a note back to the government.
This book shows that Sandra B's great uncle served in the army to help defeat the Nazis. Because he was Jewish it was important for him to fight against the Nazis.
Citizenship Papers
America
Arlene A
These citizenship papers belonged to the great- grandparents of Rebecca G. Their names were Isadore and Yetta I. Both of Rebecca's great-grandparents came to America illegally. They had to do this because there were a lot of anti-Semites in Poland at that time. One day Isadore I was protecting his father against an anti-Semitic police officer. The police and Isadore got into a fight. The police wanted to arrest Isadore, but he escaped to America. Isadore was able to escape because, at one point he had sold meat to the American Army so people in America helped him get into the country illegally. Once in America, Isadore changed his last name from Igla to Silver. He chose that name because Igla means silver or tin in Polish.
A few years later Isadore's wife wanted to come to America. She and a man got a fake marriage so that he could sponsor her. Yetta came in using the last name of this man- Drugowitz. Yetta couldn't come in with the name Silver because then they would be able to find Isadore.
Yetta got a citizenship papers right away when she came to America in 1934. Isadore got his papers a long time after he came to America, in 1951.
There was a lot of anti-Semitism going on in Europe during this time period. Many Jews had to leave Poland and either went to America or Israel which was then Palestine. Because of the anti-Semites Rebecca's great grandparents really wanted to become US citizens so they did everything they could to become citizens of America. On Isadore's citizenship paper it says that his complexion was dark even though he was very light. The reason is because even in America there was some anti-Semitism and they did not want Jews to have true, accurate and valid identities.
Military Papers
USA
Al B,
These Military discharge papers are very important to Ronni's family because it reminds them of her grandpa and how hard he worked. These papers were given to her grandfather when he completed his service in the US Army. This artifact was passed down to his wife, Joyce and she passed them down to Ronni. Ronni always remembers him by looking at these papers. She never met him before because he died before she was born but Ronni has heard many great things about him. That's why it's important to the family.
These papers showed that Al B. served in the American army, and received an honorable discharge.
Certificate
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Jack G.
My grandpa, Jack G, is a really generous and selfless person. He was especially loyal to America. He even served in the Air Force in World War II in 1945. He served in Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas.
To show their appreciation,the Air Force sent him a certificate of appreciation, and a medal.