Illuminations
Candelabra
Germany
Ronny Z.
Yoav Z's paternal great grandmother carried this candelabra while traveling through Europe and finally to Israel in 1948. Yoav’s great grandmother received this candelabra as a wedding gift in 1921. She used it every Shabbat in Germany. Eventually, the dark cloud of Nazism passed over her. Despite the fact that she had to leave Germany quickly, she refused to leave the candelabra and took it with her. She took it to Belgium, France, through Germany again, and finally Israel. When she died, Yoav’s grandfather took the candelabra with him to Switzerland. Yoav’s father eventually brought it back to the United States, and it was used by Yoav’s mother until recently.
It is now a proud item of the Z family.
Menorah
Israel
Adam A's family Menorah was donated to Adams paternal great grandmother Edith A. Adam’s great grandmother Edith donated a lot of time and money to several charities in Israel. This menorah was donated at the Amit dinner.
Edith donated a lot of money and time into this foundation in Israel.
Candlesticks
Romania
These candlesticks belong to Abby L’s maternal great-great grandmother. Before she died she passed them down to Abby’s great grandmother, Judy P. When Judy was forced to work in concentration camps, she had to leave the candlesticks behind and she buried the candlesticks. About fifty years later, a friend of Judy’s was going to visit Romania, where the candlesticks were buried. She remembered the story of candlesticks and miraculously dug them up. She sent them to Judy who was so grateful. Judy thought it was only fair to give them to Abby’s mother, her oldest granddaughter who recently became engaged.
The L family hopes to pass these candlesticks from generation to generation.
Menorah
Essex, England
This menorah belonged to Aimee R’s paternal great grandfather, Joseph R. He lived in London, England. When London was being bombed during WW II, he escaped to Essex. At that time, in 1943, a German airplane was on its way to bomb London again. The plane was not successful in bombing the village, and it crashed into a field in Essex. Joseph took his two sons and went to the crash site. They took the pieces of metal as a souvenir and later built a menorah with it. This menorah is important to Aimee’s family because it is a memory of the miracle that happened to Aimee’s great grandfather and his family.
It now belongs to Aimee’s great Uncle Monty who still uses it every Chanukah.
Menorah
Russia
The F's Chanukkiah was given to Esther F's father, Jeremy Jacob F's. It was his great grandmother Nechama C’s. She bought it in Russia in the late 1800’s. When she and her six children came to America in December of 1909 she bought it with her. Her husband David C's was already living in Nashville,Tennessee. This Chanukkiah was passed down through the generations until it was finally given to Jeremy F's by his second cousin. She gave it to him and his family when they moved to Englewood, NJ. She felt it was time for the younger generation to have it.
Esther and her family will always treasure their beautiful Chanukkiah.
Candlesticks
Ukraine
Jessica L's maternal great-great grandmother, Hudel B., originally owned these candlesticks. She was born in 1865 and grew up in Zashkov, Ukraine. Hudel received these candlesticks when she got married. She was married at the age of 16 in the year 1882. Hudel emigrated to America with her husband and children in 1923 to escape persecution from the Pogroms. Jessica’s great grandmother, Laura U., married Jessica’s great grandfather, Ephraim B. in 1940 at the age of 27. These candlesticks were given to Laura on her engagement in 1939. Jessica’s mother, Melissa, married Jessica’s father, Robert, in 1997 and Laura passed down the candlesticks to her. These candlesticks are a symbol of Jessica’s family’s lineage and are over 100 years old.
They will one day be passed down to Jessica.
Candelabra
Romania
The candlesticks belong to Jake F's great-great grandmother. Her name was Rudich, and she was from Bukovina which is now part of the Ukraine and Moldova. The R's came from towns called Spipnitz, Czernowitz, Krasna, Likouitz, Chudin, Beaila, Costanitz, Radouti, Storozynitz, Kostesti, Straja, and Ban Homeh. Jake’s great-great grandmother, Malua, married Jake’s great-great grandfather who emigrated to Quebec, Canada and that is where they bought the candlesticks.
The candlesticks remind Jake of his great-great grandmother.
Candelabra
America
This candelabra belonged to Rebecca C’s paternal great-great grandmother, Gussie L. Gussie purchased this candelabra in America circa 1935. When she got married, she would use this candelabra on Friday night to light Shabbat candles. She passed it down to Rebecca’s great grandmother when she became ill. Gussie died in July of 1984 when she was 95.
The C family will continue to pass this candelabra down to many generations.
Menorah
Iran
For Nicole B's heritage fair item she brought in a menorah. This menorah belonged to her great-great grandfather Chacham Chaim Moreh who lived in Iran. He was a prominent Jewish educator at the time. Chacham Chaim Moreh is mentioned in the Hebrew encyclopedia. He had over thousands of students that until today his students follow his way. He lost his eyesight at the age of two, due to measles.
Because his blindness, Chacham Hayim Moreh began learning the Torah and Talmud by heart at a young age and he eventually went on to teach Hebrew and religious studies.