Sacred Seforim
The Traveling Siddur
Czechoslovakia, Germany,
Eli E’s paternal great grandfather carried with him through the Holocaust and many years after, a Traveling Siddur. He carried it with him starting in Czechoslovakia, and throughout Hungary where the siddur remained for a long period of time in the concentration camps. The siddur even traveled to jail because his great-grandfather was sent there for being a Jew. On the way Eli’s great-grandfather had to jump off a train just to avoid the Nazis. He also escaped the concentration camps and fought the Nazis in the forest. After the war the siddur finally ended up in the United States.
Although his Great-Grandfather died in 2004 the Traveling Siddur lives on.
The Stamp To Freedom
Poland
Mia L’s paternal grandfather received this megillah in 1937. Jack L was bringing this megillah from Poland to America during the war. In order to do this he had to give the megillah to the secret police. The police read it to see if there was any information in the megillah that the American government wouldn’t approve of. The government allowed the megillah to go into America. They stamped it to let everyone know that it was allowed.
Jack L still uses the megillah today on Purim to follow along with the megillah reading.
The Rescued Book
Vilna, Lithuania
Matias’ maternal great grandfather Rabbi Ezra Mishanieh, also known as “Chacham Ezra,” loved and rescued Jewish books. One of the books he rescued from Geniza was the Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish law). Chacham Ezra felt it was his job to restore the book. He covered it with construction paper and taped the ripped pages. Chacham Ezra was so close to the books he rescued that he commented on them himself and wrote brachot inside.
This Shulchan Aruch reminds the family of Grandpa Ezra’s passion and love for Tovah.
The Book of Survival
Wallerstein, Germany
Noam F’s maternal grandfather from thirty-five generations ago, wrote a story about his life. He was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and he was imprisoned. Rabbi Yom Tov Lippman Halevi Heller was Rashi’s grandson. He wrote this book because the Germans were going to kill him. Luckily, he was saved. Noam’s family calls this book Megillah Evah. Megillah Evah was handed down to all of Rabbi Yom Tov Lippman Halevi Heller descendants and Noam’s family has a copy as well. Noam’s family reads Megillah Evah each year on the first day of Adar.
This has occurred for the past 400 years.
The Beautiful Bencher
Poughkeepsie, New York
For the Heritage Fair Hannah S decided to bring in an engraved bencher from her maternal great grandfather Martin Weisberger’s wedding. He was born on March 9, 1897, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He was the oldest of 11 children and graduated from New York University. He was then drafted to serve in the United States army. Upon his tour of duty in the army, he met and married a woman named Edith Eichler who was born in 1905. This bencher was made by Martin’s parents on the occasion of his wedding on June 7, 1928-5668. Soon after his wedding, he became the president of his shul, Shomrei Emunah for 5 years. Hannah’s great grandmother was the president of the Brooklyn chapter of Amit for over 60 years. Hannah’s grandfather keeps this on his night table to remember his parents’ wonderful and happy marriage. They were married for 38 years until Hannah’s great grandfather died at the age of 68.
This bencher is a symbol of the continuity between each generation.
Menorah
Germany
Adam N. received this menorah from his maternal great-great grandfather. Adam N.’s maternal great-great grandfather Benjamin Strauss received this menorah from his wife as a birthday gift. This valuable object will remain in the N. family as decoration.
This menorah helps them remember their great-great grandfather.
Magillah
Switzerland
Reed Leibowitz received this megillah from his parental paternal grandfather. It was originally from his great grandfather who bought it in Switzerland before WWII.The megillah took one year to write by hand. Reed’s great grandfather was able to bring it back to Poland. Once he arrived back in Poland, he became aware the Jews were being harassed and punished. Eventually, his family was forced to leave their home and became prisoners of Russia, specifically in Siberia. The megillah had to be hidden because the Russians did not allow any religious items. When the war was over, they were allowed to return to Poland. The Russians checked any books people had, to make sure there was no anti Russian writing. The megillah was checked and still has the Russian stamp approving it to leave Russia. The Leibowitz family will cherish this object for many more generations to come.
This Magillah was used for learning in the L family.