Special items
The items in this gallery are special to us in one way or another. They tell fascinating stories about our families and friends and are symbols of light.
The Foundation Of Judaism-book
Israel
Jeffery A.
My grandfather's first cousin wrote the book. He was 18 years old when his mother died and be became more and more interested in Judaism. He went to be a yeshiva in Israel and studied to become a Rabbi. He then wrote this book which explains all about Judaism.
Akiva Aaronson is the first and only Rabbi in our family. I want to learn from him and from what he did.
Tefillin
Tels, Lithuania
Belonged to my Zaida Abraham
The tefillin were given to my Zaida Abraham (who I am named after) for his bar mitzvah. When he was sixteen, he journeyed by ship from Lithuania to South Africa and he brought the tefillin in the tefillin bag with him.
This is the only item we have that links us to my Zaida. The tefillin would have probably also been held by his father and maybe his brother, both having perished in the Holocaust with his mother and two sisters. The tefillin therefore also links us to the whole of my Zaida's family.
To lay tefillin is an extremely beautiful and important mitzvah. It is very special that we have such holy items passed down in our family.
Running Soldier
Italy
Sandra Levine
This artifact was given my great Grandpa by an Italian prisoner during the 2nd World War in a concentration camp.He gave this to my great-grandpa because my great-grandpa showed him kindness. He brought it back with him to remind him of his military service during the 2nd World War. He always kept this safe as it was very special to him. This artifact was passed down to my gran who still looks after this priceless artifact. It is special to my gran because it reminds her of her late dad.
This is an item that attests to acts of goodness and kindness even during difficult war times. As Jews we believe that we are responsible for one another. It is also special that this item was given in gratitute and appreciation for kindness received. This reminds me of the importance of 'hakarot hatov'.
Koracha with Tefillin
Latvia
My father
The koracha and tefillin belonged to my great-great-grandfather who was born in Riga, Latvia on 15 February 1898. His name was Abraham, and he kept this holy possession throughout his journey from Latvia, to Paris, to Palestine, back to Latvia and eventually to Johannesburg in 1929. This was then handed down to his son Jackie, and from there to my dad on the occasion of his bar mitzvah. This will be handed down to me on my bar mitzvah. This koracha and tefillin has been a proud family heirloom through three generations.
The koracha and tefillin, signifies the closeness and sentimental values of our family and also,a koracha marks the turning point for the me as the oldest son. When I turn 13, I will get this heirloom and put my tefillin in it. I will use it always until I pass it down to my next generation. It is used every day except for Shabbat and some holidays. It is used in the first prayer of the day. To our family, this marks the beginning for a Jewish boy, and therefore a religious possession that we will carry to our generations to come.
Gold Coin
Matula, Israel
My Father
This rare coin was found in Israel a few years ago. My Dad got it as a present from his friend. It is a very rare coin. It comes from the Byzantine Empire. It is dated between 602-610AD. This coin would have been used in the Eastern Roman Empire. This coin has a the face of Emperor Phocas.
Emperor Phocas was known as being the worst and nastiest of the Emperor's to the Jews. Under his rule many Jews were forced to convert to Christianity. If they refused they would either be persecuted or killed. It is a very special coin, as it depicts a period in time when the Jews showed that they would never give up their religious beliefs. We as a Jewish Nation are alive today because of the strength of these Jews from the past.
Siddur
Printed in London, England. Bought in Petoria, South Africa in 1942
My grandfather
When my grandfather was eleven years old, in preparation for his bar mitzvah, he was given this siddur. Just prior to his bar mitzvah, his father had a disagreement with some of the shul officials and the family left the shul and became founding members of another shul in Pretoria. Nevertheless this siddur was still used for his bar mitzvah.
This siddur has been passed down for three generations to myself. Sometimes on Shabbos, we use it to say Kiddush. It is a very old siddur that contains a lot of history of our family.
Torah
France
Eskel J. (grandfather)
This miniature Torah belonged to my grandfather's family in Paris, France just before France was occupied by the Germans in World War II. The family hid their Jewish artifacts in a bag next to a tree in their garden and ran to hide in the country where no-one could find them. They all survived the war and came back to rescue the hidden bag next to the tree. This Torah was then sent to my great grandfather in South Africa and now belongs to my grandfather. It is very precious to our family as it reminds us all how lucky the family was in France to survive the war.
The Torah is very important to us and the Jewish People. It contains all our laws and mitzvot and is like an instruction manual teaching us how to live meaningful, holy lives. It is a privelege to have a Torah as part of the story of our family's survival.
Tanach
Vienna, Austria
my dad
My great-grandpa bought this Tanach with him to central or Eastern Europe between the 1900 and 1903, before or after the Boer War. My great, great grandparents were also in World War 1. Their names were Avraham and Devorah S.
Our Tanach is very precious as all my family's history is recorded in it. For example: weddings, deaths, births and important family events. It is a holy object which contains so much family history. That's why it was passed down from generation to generation.
Ketubah
London, England
My mom, Shana
This Ketubah is the original Hebrew marriage contract between my paternal great great grandparents. they came from London. They were married at the Great Synagogue. My great great grandfather was originally from Kovno in Lithuania.
This is a very precious family document. Firstly, it proves my great grandmother's kosher Jewish origin. Secondly, it uphold the traditional Jewish marriage rites. Thirdly, it document my Jewish heritage and origin and fourthly, it is a valuable genealogical document.
Siddur
New York
Brian B
This was given to my dad on the occasion of his bar mitzvah by the Emmarentia Hebrew Congregation. This is very precious as this shul no longer exists.
This is significant as my dad davens from this siddur and it has been in my family for nearly 50 years. My dad would like to pass this down to me on the occasion of my bar mitzvah and so it will continue to be passed down.
Siddur Avodat Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel
My Mom
My great grandmother went to Israel and received the siddur as a gift from her cousin. It was then given to my grandmother and from my grandmother to my Mom and from my Mom to me.
It has been in our family for many generations and hopefully for many generations to come. It makes me think about the prayers of my ancestors, and I, too, will use it to pray.
Tefilin
Pardes Chana, Israel
My Dad, Amir N.
These tefilin were bought by my great grandpa for my grandpa's bar-mitzvah in 1929. My grandpa passed them on to my father for his bar-mitzvah.
These have been in the family for over 83 years. I am so proud to have such holy articles in our possesion. These tefilin make me feel proud of my heritage.
The Jewish Book
Poland
My Dad
This Jewish book was given to my great grandparents by Rabbi Isaac Herzog on the day of their wedding. Rabbi Isaac Herzog was the chief rabbi of Ireland at the time and later he became chief rabbi of Israel. The book that was given was written by my ancestor, Rabbi Ephraim Eleazar who was a famous commentator and rabbi. His line goes all the way back to King David. Many of his works are published under Midgent Eliezer.
It is significant to my family because it shows how my family once formed and that I come from a line of rabbis. I also one day hope to learn his commentary.
Ketubah
London
My Mom
This ketubah is the original Hebrew marriage contract between my paternal great great grandparents. They came from London. They were married in the Great Synagogue in Johannesburg. My great, great grandfather was originally from Kovno in Lithuania. Their names were Solomon F. and Sadie B.
It is a very precious document. Firstly, it proves my great grandmother's kosher Jewish origin. Secondly, it upholds the Jewish traditional marriage rites. Thirdly, it documents my Jewish heritage and origin. Fourthly, it is a valuable genealogical document.
Chumash
Chevron, Israel
My Mom
This leather bound chumash was given to my great grandfather by his brother-in-law, Ronald, when he visited Israel. On the cover there is a stone carving of Moshe holding the Luchot. Ronald visited Me'arat Hamachpela and Rachel's tomb in 1943 during WWII. He passed this chumash down and that is how I got it.
This chumash connects the past to the future. It is our Jewish guide-book for living a meaningful and purposeful Jewish life.
Inkwell set
England
My gran
My great, great grandmother, Sophie D., came to South Africa where she was qualified as a teacher on the 30th July 1903. She taught at a Jewish government school in Doornfontein. She taught for 2 years and married Hirsh L. In December 1905 she had to leave the school. As a parting gift, her pupils gave her an inkwell-set accompanied by a letter.
This inkwell is special to our family as it reminds us that my great, great grandmother devoted her life to education and charity work. The Hirsh Lyons School in Orange Grove is named after my great, great grandfather and the hall was named after my great, great grandmother for all their dedication to Jewish education and charity.
Tefillin from the Holocaust
Berlin
My great, great grandfather, George, received these for his bar mitzvah. He fought in World War II in Germany. During that time it was very risky to show them around so he gave them to my great grandfather, Hunse. George was captured and taken to Auschwitz where he was killed. Hunse and his mother escaped to South Africa. They brought with them these tefillin.
These tefilin are special as they are something by which to remember my great, great grandfather who died 'Al kiddush Hashem' as a Jew.