Home Sweet Home
by Dina H.
Did you ever think about what some of the household items that you use everyday looked like 100 years ago? That is what this gallery is all about. Artifacts like pots and pans were collected by the seventh graders, and each item has an interesting story behind it. The artifacts in this gallery include a teapot, a ladle, a winemaker, tablecloths, a cookbook, salt servers, a radio, blanket, a coffee maker and even a cigarette lighter. These household items were found around the house in different countries and were eventually brought to the United States. All of these items have sentimental value to the seventh grade students and their families no matter how small or big they are.
Scrapbook
Israel
Adele C.
This scrapbook is significant to our family because it shows how much our family loves the state of Israel. It shows this because my grandfather, David L., made an entire scrapbook on all the good and bad times during the Yom Kippur War.
My great grandfather, David L, was in Israel in 1973. It was during the Yom Kippur War. He made a whole scrapbook reminding us of how all Jews are supposed to love each other.
Tablecloth
China
Morris M
My grandfather, Morris M. had a small business selling tablecloths. He bought the tablecloths from importers that were from places like Spain and China. This particular one, came from China. My grandfather bought it at a high price in 1953. He gave a few of them to his children,and he gave this white one to my mom. A few other people in my famiily have one of these too.
On some Friday nights, my mother would put this white tablecloth on the table instead of the one she usually uses. She said that a lot of times this would make her feel like my grandfather was actually there, since he is the one who gave it to her. Luckily my grandfather is still alive, but when he won't be, this tablecloth will be much more valuable to her. She will probably pass it down to her daughter and she will then give it to her daughter. This tablecloth will be used on many Shabbat nights in the future.
Drum
Kurdestan
Dorit K.
This artifact is very important to my family because it was passed down through many many generations. My great- great grandparents, Shelomo and Rachel brought this object with them all the way from Kurdistan. My ancestors had a large family. Each kid had some sort of wedding. In the wedding they had instruments; they must have used this drum to accompany them during the ceremony.
This object is also important to my family and me because it shows us that even though our ancestors had a hard time in Kurdistan, they brightened each day with music.
This artifact is important to Judaism because this was one of the many instruments that they used in the olden days. They used this artifact at Bar Mitzvahs and weddings.
Still - Arak Maker
Syria
Eli S.
This arak maker goes back 5 generations to my great great grandfather on my dad's side named Yom Tob S. Arak is a type of wine that was illegal to sell in the early 1900s. It is important because it was used for celebrations as it is a special type of wine.
This arak maker was special because people could not buy it because it was illegal. At that time the selling of anything related to alcohol was illegal. Whenever he needed arak he just made it, and then he had it for company or just for him and his family.
Teapot
Syria
Honey S.
This tea pot was given to my grandmother, Eva S., by her mother for her wedding gift. Before my great grandmother gave it to her my ancestors would use it in Syria. After work they would sit and drink tea. This tea pot is important to me because this artifact was really important to my grandmother. After her mother passed away it reminded my grandmother of her.
Every Shabbat dessert my great grandmother and her family would sit together and talk about their week. While they were talking about their week, they would drink tea out of this tea pot.
Cigarette Lighter
Newark New Jersey
Ruth C.
The story about my artifact is that my great grandfather, Herman C. acquired a box of used bullets from World War II and made stand up cigarette lighters out of them. He sold them at that time. In 1945 the main advertising was for smoking and cigarettes so it turned out to be a great invention. He did it to make money and support his parents, 3 sisters, and wife. This took place in Newark, New Jersey.
My artifact had a great significance in Jewish heritage. It signified the ambition the Jews had coming off a boat with nothing and came up with ideas to sell and make money. They did it to support families, parents, wives, and eventually children and great grandchildren. It enabled the building of Jewish schools and synagogues in the United States.
Kosher Syrian Cooking
Manhattan, NY
Marcelle S.
This cookbook belonged to Irwin's great grandmother Grace S. It is important to Irwin's family because his grandmother uses it to cook for the holidays and any other day. His mother uses it to cook for Shabbat and the holidays when they are not by his grandma's house.
This is important to Jewish heritage because without this cookbook most Syrian Jews wouldn't have the recipes of Syrian food that was originally made in Syria and continue to be made in Syrian communities in the United States.
Salt Servers
Japan
Grandma Tunee G.
These salt servers were aquired when Tunee G. moved to Japan for a year after marrying Laura's grandpa in 1951. Her Grandmother loved to experience new cultures and her favorite was Japanese culture. Her Grandma Tunee loved to collect silver salt servers and other silver. When she came back to Brooklyn from Japan, she brought back a lot of sterling silver items.
These salt servers were only used on Shabbat and holidays because they were very expensive and special and the family used them only on special occasions. When her grandmother, Tunee G., passed away she gave these salt servers to her family. They used them only for a few years, and then they stored them so they wouldn't get ruined.
Knitted Blanket
America
Joseph M.
This handmade blanket is important because my great grandmother Eva S. only made these blankets for her family. It is also important because we all love this blanket, and we always fight over it. Whenever I see this blanket it reminds me of my great grandmother. She used the colors white, red, and blue. My great grandmother used these colors because she loved these colors together. We have had this blanket since 1970, and still cherish it today.
Eva S. loved to knit blankets for her family. Now these blankets are very important to my family because she passed away. This blanket makes me feel like I still have a piece of her today.
"Kanun"
Syria
Morris M.
A kanun is a string instrument that is played in the Middle East. A famous musician gave this kanun to my grandfather, Morris M. in Aleppo, Syria. My great grandfather Mike M. and grandfather Morris always listened to Arabic music. They enjoyed it. My grandfather gave it to my uncle.
The "kanun" is important to my family.
Turkish Coffee Pot
Turkey
Lizet C. B.
This hand-painted coffee pot is very special to my grandmother, Lizet C. B. She was born and raised in Turkey and when she lived there she loved Turkish coffee. She bought this coffee maker and she brought it with her from Turkey to America in 1981.
This coffee maker has been in our family for many years. My grandmother was religious, so she couldn't make coffee on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, but my grandmother did use it very often.
Radio
Brooklyn, New York
Liela R.
This Emerson radio has been in the R. family since my Grandfather's early childhood. It was purchased by his father Isaac, on the Lower East Side of NY, in the 1930s.
This radio was very important to my grandparents, Liela and Abraham R. because it was given, to them by my great grandfather, Isaac R. Then after it was given to my grandparents it was handed down to their daughter, Lisa M.
Toleh Set
Aleppo, Syria
Charlie D.
This toleh set was given to my grandfather by his father. When my great grandfather, Charlie D., came to America from Syria in the late 1800's, he used this game for entertainment on the ship. Some other people on the ship played with him for money.
"Toleh" means backgammon in Arabic. This artifact is important to my family because it's one of the only things from Syria we have. It shows us what my family did for fun in Syria. No one in my family knows more details because it was my grandfather's and he passed away a few years ago.
Camel
Israel
Isaac K.
When my grandfather, Isaac K, went to Israel he got a silver camel for his house. He kept it in his room for many years. When he died it was passed down to my father. Now it's in my house.
The camel is an animal which is commonly seen in Israel. It's important to my family because it belonged to my grandfather.
Nile Rock with Hieroglyphics
Nile River, Egypt
Edmond D.
My great-grandfather, Edmond D. bought this rock by the Nile River in 1982 when he took a trip to Egypt with his wife Virginia D. for their twentieth anniversary. This rock washed up from the shore of the Nile contains many interesting hieroglyphics on the underside. It is black with some wave marks and white streaks on the side. This rock was one of the only thing Edmond brought back with him. He kept this rock with him for many years and in 2013, he gave it to his great-grandson, Nathan B.
This rock was found and carved in Egypt by the Nile River. This rock reminds me of the Jewish people when they were slaves in Egypt. It reminds me of all the hard work they had to do as slaves to Pharaoh. When I look at this rock, I see a unique Egyptian language from ages ago, and I wonder what it was like as a slave in Egypt.
Sterling Silver Ladle
Kazakhstan (now Russia)
Debra G.
This ladle belonged to my great grandmother. It was special and was only used on holidays and Shabbat. My great grandmother gave it to my grandmother, Barbara F. K. who gave it to my mother, Debra A. G.
My great grandmother would use it to serve chicken soup on Shabbat and holidays.
Photo
Ukraine
My Grandmother, Pearl U
This picture was taken right before the Holocaust. It's the last picture of my Great Great Grandparents alive.I never met my Great Great Grandparents, so it shows me what they looked like and it's very important to me.
This picture was taken in 1939 right before the Holocaust.My Great Great Grandfather died before the Holocaust, but my Great Great Grandmother died during the Holocaust and was never found.