Jewelry
The Silver Necklace
Yemen
Aaron K’s maternal great grandmother was a very special woman. She was born in Yemem about 110 years ago. Aaron K’s great grandmother gave the Silver Necklace to Aaron K’s grandmother and she gave it to Aaron K’s mother, Ofra K. The necklace is made of silver. Also, the necklace at times was placed on hats as decoration.
This necklace has been in Aaron’s family for many years.
Heirloom Earrings
Vienna, Austria
Maia Z’s maternal great-great grandmother, Yehudit Weidenfeld was a great woman. On Maia’s great-great grandmother’s birthday, Maia’s great-great grandfather gave her these earrings. She would wear them all the time. Then, when Hitler came to power, she had to give her earrings to the Nazis because people had to give in their money and valuables if they were a Jew. Maia’s great-great grandmother did not have a visa. But Maia’s great grandmother, Hilde Zauderer, had one. Maia’s great- great grandmother sent the earrings to her daughter, Hilde Zauderer with a non-Jewish Diplomat, The Nazis let the diplomat send the earrings to her daughter, Hilde. These earrings were passed on to Maia’s mother, Elaine.
These earrings will get passed on from generation to generation and the story behind it will always remain.
The Ring That Survived The Holocaust
Germany
Jake L’s maternal great grandmother Molly owned this gold engraved ring. The ring was from the time of the Holocaust and has been in Jake’s family for 82 years. Molly got the ring from her mother for her Bat Mitzvah. She was able to smuggle it out of Germany without the Nazis finding it and taking it away. After she escaped from Germany, she went to Cuba, and from there went to America.
The ring is special to the Lasher family because of the amazing story behind it.
A Necklace to Bite On
Montreal, Canada
A precious gold locket was given to Rebecca R’s maternal great grandmother. Rose’s husband Joe gave it to Rebecca’s great grandmother for their wedding. Rose always wore the locket around her neck. When Rebecca’s grandmother Sheila, was born she would bite and teethe on the locket, but Rose didn’t want to take it off. Sheila has it in her house today and when you look at it you can see all the teeth marks on it. The locket was also engraved on the back “Joe to Rose December 25, 1938.” This was the day of their wedding. It is a very treasured object for Sheila and her family today
It is a very treasured object for Sheila and her family today
A Ring to Remember
Brooklyn, New York
Jessica S’s maternal great-great grandmother, Vera Rochkes, gave Jessica S’s grandmother, Barbara Kuritzky 14- karat gold bow ring. The ring was given to Barbara in the year 1949, when she was seven years old on the holiday of Chanukah. Years later, Barbara misplaced the ring and often spoke about it with Jessica’s mother, Jennifer. After Barbara’s parents passed away, she went to Florida and found the ring while cleaning out a drawer in the apartment. Barbara was so excited and called Jennifer immediately. She told her she would give the ring to her first daughter. When Jennifer gave birth to her first daughter, Elizabeth, Barbara brought the ring to the hospital. She gave it to Jennifer to hold for Elizabeth until the Chanukah of her 7th birthday. Since finding the ring, Barbara had copies made for every granddaughter, which she gave them when they turned seven. When Elizabeth turned seven she got the original bow ring.
Jessica’s sister Elizabeth cherishes the ring, and the Schechter’s and Kuritzky family hope the ring remains in the family for many generations.