Everyday Life
The artifacts in this gallery are used in everyday life. An example would be a mezuzah which you see hanging on the front door everyday. The photographs in this gallery show us what our ancestors looked like and give us a glimpse into what their lives were like. This is significant because in some cases, we never met these people, but we've heard their stories from our parents. The artifacts and photos help us to feel closer to our relatives.
Necklace
Great-Grandma's House
My Mom
It's important because my mom would love to play with it at her grandma's house.
Family Photograph
New York?
These are pictures of some of my family members who came to America from Prussana, Poland in 1922. They came through Ellis Island and their last name was changed from Molodovsky to Miller. Pictured here in Hebrew/Yiddish and then English names are Henja (Anita) my Great Grandmother, Shmuel (Sam) - my Great Uncle, Szejna (Sonia) my Great Aunt, Aron (Aaron) my Great Uncle, Golda (Gussie) - my Great Aunt, Louis (Sam's son), Chana (Anna) - my Great Great Grandmother and Berko (Benjamin) - my Great Uncle. My Great Grandfather Isaac (who is not in the photos) was a Rabbi in Poland and became the Rabbi of Moodus Ct. My Great Uncle Aaron became a cantor and my Great Uncle Benjamin became a rabbi. There were nine children who emigrated with their parents from Poland. The names of the other three children who are not in the photos are Louis, Solomon and Bessie.
Through these photos I can remember my family members and hear stories of how they lived.
Painting of My Great Grandfather
Bronx
My Dad
My great-Grandfather Sam immigrated to America through Ellis Island in the early 20th century and he married my great grandmother Sara. They had portraits of themselves painted for their fiftieth anniversary by the Garfield Company in Riverdale.
If my great-grandfather Sam did not immigrate here, I would live in a different place and speak a different language. I am also named after him. He passed away a few decades ago so I never knew him, but he was an important person in my family and therefore is important to me.
College Baseball Championship Medal
Arizona, USA
Grandpa
My grandpa gave me this medal, when he won the baseball college championship. He played with Reggie Jackson.
It is important to me because he passed away and its a memory of him. It also makes me proud.
Golden Chain
Linda T.
It was given to my great aunt by my great grandpa and it is now mine,so it is a family heirloom.
It belonged to my great grandpa and my great aunt and now to me and we are all Jews.
Jewish Box
Israel
Peter Z. (dad)
My great great grandpa got it when the first people were going back to Israel.
It represents my family's connection to Israel. It's cool my great great grandpa went back just as Israel was becoming a country.
Photograph of Great-great grandmother, great uncle (Rolf), and great aunt (Senta)
Berlin, Germany
Anne M.
This photograph was given to my Grandma by her father. It's important to my family because it shows us how my ancestors lived during the Holocaust, and it shows me what my ancestors looked and dressed like. With this glimpse into the past, I can infer how brave and daring my family was, and even though I never got to meet them, I know that they were great people.
This photograph was taken during the Holocaust, and it shows Jews today what a horrible event the Holocaust was. Even though none of the people in this photo were murdered by the Nazis, it shows what other innocent people were killed from the terrible conditions of WWII.
Photo Of Family
Manhattan NY
Grandfather Norman
This is important to me because it reminds me of my old family members. It is one of the only one of these left, so it is very important to me.
This is a very old photo of many of my old family members, and the man in the middle is my Great-Grandfather, Wolfe, who is very random, and one of the little boys is my Grandfather Norman.
Photograph
USA
Larry S.
My grandpa got it when his mom died.
My great grandma and my great great grandma were Jewish and my family is still Jewish and proud.
Mezuzah
Israel
My mom
This mezuzah has been on my door since I was born and it was never taken down. It was made in the 1940s and is made of silver. And my grandfather got it when he was about 20.
This artifact is important to my family because it was my great grandfather's and he is no longer alive. He put this mezuzah on his door and to this day I put it on my door.
Photograph of Great-great grandmother, great-great uncle, and great-great aunt
Berlin, Germany
Anne M.
This photograph was given to my grandmother by her father. The reason this photograph is so important is because it shows what people looked like and dressed like in 1915. Also, it shows how many innocent people, such as my ancestors, were murdered during the Holocaust.
This photograph shows many people, Jews and non-Jews how terrible Hitler was to the Jewish religion, and that it should never happen again. Many Jews suffered in the Holocaust and this photo gives the present generation of Jews the history of where they came from.
Cup
Russia
Grandma
My great grandmother used this cup to drink wine in the war. The cup has been passed down.
It has been passed down to my grandmother and soon to my mom.
Embroidered Picture
America
My mother
To remember my great-grandmother. I keep this in my room and I look at it every day. Even though I have never met my great-grandmother, she seems like a nice person.
My great-grandmother came to America from Europe after hiding with her family during the Holocaust. When she came to America she had nothing. All the things she had she left behind. She taught herself needle point and made pretty things to decorate homes. Even though this is made in the 1970s for my mom, it still looks exactly like what it would be when my great-grandmother came to America.
Tray
Eastern Europe
Andrea F.
My artifact was passed down from my great grandmother to my grandmother and my family.
It was passed down for three generations, and shows Jewish artifacts from long ago.
The Living Museum is a project of the Education Department of the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
The Living Museum is made possible through the generous support of The Covenant Foundation. The statements made and the views
expressed, however, are solely the responsibility of the grantee.