Clothing
Go Wear It
United States
Jonnie L’s maternal grandfather, Andrew Weiss worn this hat as a part of his uniform in 1950. Jonnie’s grandfather formed his own agency called the CBI which stood for Citizen’s Bureau of Investigation. Jonnie’s grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, the only survivor in his family. He was a courageous man who wanted to build a new family. He had a mission to become a detective in the United States. Andrew Weiss solved many mysteries and cases. This hat represents a great man who accomplished what he set out to do.
Jonnie is very proud of his grandfather’s talents.
Mommom's Jacket
United States
Aviva R’s maternal great grandmother was a very special woman. Before she was born her father moved to America, hoping to make enough money in America to send back boat tickets for his wife and two children. Unfortunately, as soon as he sent back the money, World War I broke out. By this time, Mommom-Mary was an infant. After the war, Mary’s mother bought tickets for a boat to America. Now seven years old, Mary, who still had not ever met her father, got sick on the boat. Mary’s mother knew that Mary would never be allowed to enter America if she was sick. Right before their inspection on Ellis Island, Mary’s mother covered Mary’s face with a mixture of butter and flour to make her face seem pale, and told her other children; “When they come to inspect Mary, start to cry and scream.” When the inspector called Mary to the front of the line, the inspector, who hated the noise, let them go and told them to move along. In America, Mary met her father for the first time, and soon her mother had another baby. Mary had always loved beautiful things, but growing up so poor, she never owned more than one dress at a time. When she was old enough to earn money herself, and eventually to marry Poppop Moe, a dentist, she only bought the best of everything until she died. Mommom-Mary lived to see three of her great grandchildren and was a happy, funny, and beautiful person all her life. This jacket that Mary bought in America is very special to her family because it was her favorite.
It reminds her offspring of the wonderful person that was Mommom-Mary.