Special Occasions
In this gallery, photography, important documents, and Jewish accessories are featured. They each capture important, often once-in-a-lifetime occasions like weddings, bat mitzvahs, and immigration. They are highlights in the a timeline in the story of our families.
Boat Document
New York
Gail S.
The significance of this to my family is that my great aunt Gail found the original copy of the boat document from Holland to Ellis Island that listed my whole grandmothers family at the time.
This is important to my family because it is the original document and it shows the journey. The document shows all the information of their travels.
Picture from Ilana's Bat Mitzvah
Manhasset, NY
Ilana M.
The synagogue in the picture used a Quaker meeting house for their services. In present time, my family's services are also held in a rented room. It reminds her and shows her how important Reconstructionist Judaism is to our family, mostly because a very important leader (Rabbi Ira Eisenstein) was her rabbi in a Reconstructionist synagogue.
It is a bat mitzvah. It also has the husband of the first woman to have a bat mitzvah in the picture.
Wedding Photo
New York, NY
My Grandmother- Paula H.
When my Great Grandpa Jacob immigrated to America from England, he was looking to start a family in New York, in the hopes that his children would make it in America just like he did when he settled down with a stable job, a wife, and two kids. The groom is my Great Grandpa's son, my Great Uncle David, who was the first of Jacob's children to get married.
My Great Uncle David married Judy who is now my Great Aunt. She was also Jewish, which meant when they had children, there would be another generation of Jews in our family. This also shows that my Great Grandpa was able to stay loyal to his Judaism and raise his kids Jewish even after he had started a new life in America.
Receipt for $300
New York, NY
My Grandmother- Paula H.
When my great Grandpa Jacob's wife Rose passed away, my Great Grandfather sent $300 to the Jewish National Fund to have 100 trees planted in Israel in honor of his wife Rose. Jacob loved Rose so much and wanted to do something big to honor her.
This artifact is significant to my Jewish heritage because my Great Grandpa chose to honor his wife in a way that also showed that he was loyal to his Jewish heritage, because he decided to have all these trees planted for her in Israel, a very Jewish place.
Accounting Certificate
New York
My Grandmother- Paula H.
This artifact is significant to my family because this certificate belonged to my Great Grandpa Jacob who immigrated from England. Jacob had always been very good with numbers, so he decided to become an accountant.
This artifact in significant to my Jewish heritage because it's a sign of success in America. When my Great Grandfather immigrated, he didn't have much, and he needed a way to make a living. Leaving his family in England, my great Grandfather wasn't sure if he would be able to carry his Jewish heritage to America with him, but when he got a steady job, he was able to focus more on his religion, and worry less about how he was going to make it in America.
Tallit
Israel
Leon G.
This Tallis was given to my Grandfather Leon on his Bar Mitzvah by his father in Iowa. My father enjoyed wearing it that day and continued wearing until he inherited his fathers.
Tallis is used during services and only married men wear them. My grandfather enjoys wearing one when he is in temple. It reminds him of the days when he went to temple with his Dad and Uncle.
Wedding Ring
USA
Susan S.
This was a ring that my Grandmother Susie bought for herself. She wore it all of the time. When she passed away my Dad gave it to my Mom and she wears it ocasionally and I really like it.
The ring is large and gold and made by an artist and my grandmother wore to signify her marriage to my grandfather.