Home Sweet Home
by Ruth T, Celia C, Sarah S
A person's home is a reflection of that person's lifestyle, hobbies and interests. In this gallery you will see many items that can be found around the house. These artifacts were used by ancestors of students. For example, there is a self-portrait painted by someone's grandfather who enjoyed painting. There is also a wooden elephant brought home as a souvenir from a trip. A lighter used for cigarettes can be found in this category. There is a camera that originally belonged to prisoner guard in Egypt. Also included is a record of Syrian music that was enjoyed by a family for many years.
Camera
Egypt
Jeff T.
Marc's grandfather's camera is 65 years old, but it still works today. Marc's grandfather got it when a German prisoner gave it to him in Cairo, Egypt, when he was a prisoner guard. Marc's grandfather worked in an Egyptian prison for about a year in the 1940's.
It is really old and it is delicate. It came with a leather pouch with a manual.
It is really special to Marc because it was the only thing Marc's grandfather left to his family.
Self Portrait
Brooklyn, New York
Nathan B.
This oil painting was painted by Sharon's grandfather, Nathan B. in 1963. He made many paintings of himself but this was his only self portrait. He said the hardest part to make were the hands because they were so detailed. This picture took him 6 months to paint. He made it at home in his basement studio in Brooklyn, New York. At the time,he was taking oil painting lessons.
This painting is over 47 years old and is hanging up in his house ever since.
Record
Aleppo,Syria
Laura D.
This record called, Sultan of Bagdad, by Mohamed El-Bakkar, is important to Sara D's family because it is Syrian music. It is the original record that her great grandfather, Isaac D, brought with him from Halab, Syria in 1922. It was passed down to her grandfather, Jack D, then to her father, Isaac D. Her great grandfather and her grandfather used to listen to the music together every Sunday afternoon. Her father even listens to the music today. `
This record is significant to Sara's Jewish heritage because she is a Syrian Jew. This is the type of music that her ancestors used to listen to.
The music is special because it's something that many American Jewish people today have never even heard before.
Wooden Elephant
Africa, probably Kenya
Avraham T.
This handmade elephant was given to Shprintza Toibes by Amnon Halperin as a gift from his sailing trip back from Kenya. It was given to Avraham T and Avraham is letting his son Jonathan T borrow it.
The elephant with his trunk down has no Jewish significance, but in other cultures it is believed that it dispenses good luck.
Lighter
Boston
Saul G.
Saul G, the grandfather of Isabella G, gave this artifact to Avi G, her father who gave it to his daughter, Isabella. This artifact represents the time that Saul G. smoked. This was a very short period of time. After Saul G. had his first of six children, he immediately quit smoking.
Smoking was very common in 1945. People did not know the dangers of smoking.