Freeze Frame
Pictures of the Past
Cuba, USA, Austria
These striking pictures show the family and life of Jillian S’s paternal grandfather, great grandma and great grandpa (Uma and Uppa). One of these pictures is of Sarah S, Uma, in Vienna, Austria before she married Jillian’s uppa, Eli S. Another picture is of Jillian’s papa Jack, Uma and Uppa. It’s them in Antwerp, Belgium where papa Jack was born. During these times World War Two was starting, and they had to escape to Belgium. Getting the visa was very hard for Jillian’s Uma, and she had to go every day to beg for one. Finally they gave it to her only if she promised to not come back! Once she got it, they left for Cuba. In Cuba they were wealthy and lived a good life. They later moved to America because Jillian’s Uma didn’t like Cuba.
These pictures are a big part the family heritage.
The Pictures That Hang
United States
Michelle B’s maternal grandfather was born in the United States. Here he posed for two pictures. The first was in 1934 seventy-eight years ago as a baby and the other in March of 1935 seventy-seven years ago in a tuxedo at his uncles wedding. Marvin Rosen’s parents kept these two pictures in their house, and later passed it down to him. Then Marvin Rosen placed these memorable pictures in his house, and they are currently used for display.
Michelle B hopes to learn a lot more from these pictures, and she hopes to stay close with her grandfather.
Picture Full Of Memories
Germany
This picture is a copy of a collection of photos that are in the United States Holocaust Museum of an exhibit of a Displaced Persons Camps. Judah’s family did not know these photos existed until about eight years ago when his grandmother saw a publication from the museum and recognized his great grandfather in the picture. Judah’s grandmother contacted the museum, and they sent her copies of the picture. The picture was taken in Bad Reichenall, a Displaced Persons Camp, in Germany after World War II. Josef Lulinski, Judah’s great grandfather is holding a Torah in the picture, with Judah’s grandfather, Ira, behind him. Since most of the Torahs were destroyed during the Holocaust, the Jews in the camp were given this Torah and they were “dedicating it” that day. This is the same place where Judah’s grandfather, Ira Lulinski had his bar mitzvah. They lived in the camp with other Jewish refugees and Holocaust Survivors for two years until they came to America in 1949. The picture is of tremendous significance to Judah’s family. Despite the fact that most of Judah’s ancestors were killed during the Shoah, the remaining member still somehow believed in Hashem. They loved the Torah and passed this legacy to their children and grandchildren.
These photos are displayed in the family dining room so that people can see the great connection they feel to their ancestors and the legacy of their Emunah.
An Army Artifact
New York
Sophie’s W’s paternal great grandfather fought in World War II and made an album of his time in the military. This photo album is made out of leather, plastic, and canvas. His story is about his survival and accomplishments when he fought in the war and survived. Sophie W’s dad keeps it in his house, and they take it out sometimes to look at it. It is significant to his family because the war was hard for the family and a lot of people died, Sophie is also very proud of the family because it shows pictures in the album of the Nazi’s losing the war.
It’s important to all the Jews in the world.
Picture With A Savior
Belgium
Meir H’s maternal grandfather was a young child in Belgium. In 1939, during the Holocaust many elements of life were dangerous. Meir’s grandfather, Abe Stern, was trying to survive the Holocaust. Father Joseph Andre was a Catholic priest from Belgium, and he bravely helped many people during the Holocaust. He saved many Jewish children, by hiding them in a Catholic orphanage and monastery, pretending the children were Catholic. Luckily, they survived. In 1968 Father Joseph Andre was named Righteous Among the Nations by the government of Israel. Abe and his brother Jack were among these children. Father Andre always respected their Jewish values and never tried to convert them. He visited New York, as there was a celebration in his honor. That is when Meir’s grandfather, Abe Stern, posed for the picture with Father Joseph Andre. Meir and his family cherish this photograph very much and hope that it is never destroyed. Meir’s grandfather owes his life to this priest who risked his life to save others.
Thanks to him the family lineage continues.
Hiding in the Holocaust
Czechoslovakia
This photo exhibits Josh G’s paternal grandmother,Vera Goodman, (on the left) hiding in the woods of Czechoslovakia to escape the Nazis. In the photo, it is one month from Vera’s 7th birthday it is November of 1944, and Vera and her parents have been hiding for 2 years. Most of the time, they lived with other people in bunkers in the woods. Sometimes kind Gentile families would let them stay in their house or barns. When this photo was taken, they had already survived a few of their bunkers being blown up by always keeping one step ahead of the Nazis. There were other times they watched Nazis shoot their friends. They survived by hiding behind trees as close as 50 ft away. Through calculations and many miracles they managed to stick together as a family and survive the war. Somehow, through everything, Josh’s great grandfather Alvin managed to keep his camera with him and had the pictures developed after the war. One of the most amazing things about this photo is, despite her situation, the smile on Vera’s face. After the war, Vera and her parents moved to Vinland, NJ where they opened a chicken farm. When she got older she married Martin G. The photo is displayed in the den of their home in Teaneck, New Jersey.
The photo is displayed in the den of their home in Teaneck, New Jersey.
picture & hat
Poland
Maya Rubenstein’s great grandmother Paula Klein acquired this picture and hat after her brother Israel’s death. Israel and his parents Zysha Elimelech and Elka Klein were killed in the Holocaust in 1944. He was sixteen years old. They were taken to the Mechelin concentration camp in Belgium, and then to the concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland. Israel managed to survive the camp because he could work, and was therefore allowed to live. However, towards the end of the war, Israel was forced to take part in the death march from Auschwitz as the Nazis were trying to cover up the evidence of what they had done. Israel was marching next to his friend the whole time, but at one point his friend looked away, and when he looked back Israel was no longer beside him. After hearing this news, Paula waited for months in the hope that Israel would return, but he never did. The picture and the hat is all we have left of him.
This picture and hat are important to the Cappell family.
picture
czechoslovakia
Sigal B. received this picture from her maternal great-great grandparents. Sigal B. maternal great-great grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Moshe R. received this when their family took this picture in Czechoslovakia. It is a picture of the whole R. family. At one point the picture was sent to America. Sigal’s family has kept this object because her great grandfather is one of the people in the picture. It is still displayed in her grandparents’ living room today.
The B. family will cherish this for many generations.