Special Items
We have some very interesting items in this gallery.
Some of these are closely connected to individual family histories.
We are delighted to have them in our exhibit.
French Children of the Holocaust
An exhibit at the Childrens Museum
Grandpa
This book is important to my family because my grandpa's sister is in this book. My grandpa's mom, dad and sister died in the Holocaust, but he and his brother escaped and were brought to America to have a better life. He was the only survivor in his family. He is still alive today.
The significance of my artifact to Jewish history is that it shows and talks about all the Jewish children that died in the Holocaust.
It brings back sad, unfair, and treacherous memories.
It reminds us never to forget this terrible time.
It also shows how much has changed for the Jewish people and how we are thriving.
Milk And Meat Towel Holders
Israel
Great Grandma
This artifact is important to my family because it was was passed down from my great grandma.
The towel holders help us remember her and how keeping kosher was very important to her.
Keeping kosher is something which separates us from others.
It is one of the things that keeps us Jewish and unites us with other Jews.
It makes the mundane act of eating a holy act.
Kosher foods are marked with kosher symbols.
Rose's Teapot, Sugar Pot and Creamer
England
My mom
This set belonged to my great grandmother. She came from Russia to the United States. Her first stop was Ellis Island.
It was a long, hard journey, but she was glad to get to the United States.
This set has been passed down for generations. It means a lot to us because it belonged to the matriarch of our family.
For many years, the Jewish people have been immigrants to different lands.
This has been the story of our people.
In spite of this, we have remained Jewish and we are thriving.
Brass Mortar and Pestle
Russia
My great aunt
The significance of this artifact is that it is about continuity,using it every Purim with your family.
My grandmothers family admired that concept, and we still do.
Even if you can't celebrate an entire holiday, you should try to celebrate the most important parts with your family.
This mortar and pestle crushed poppy seeds to make mun filling(poppy seeds), the center of hamantashen.
Many of my Hebrew teachers understood what it was for since they had used it in their childhood. Back then (when my teachers were children) they didn't have the mechanisms we had today, so this was vital.
Many families consider eating hamantashen a great tradition so this was important to lots of people, including my family.
This invention helped us through many generations and who knows, it might be useful again!
I look forward to my "mun" hamantaschen every Purim.
Diary
China and Japan
Michael Flicker
This diary tells the story of our family.One of the stories is about their trip to China and Japan. They got stuck in China because Japan bombed China.
It also contains a letter from my great great great grandfather to his future wife, about his life.
It is wonderful to have family histories from different eras.
This helps us to put together the pieces of our Jewish history.
I think that every generation should record their family history so that it can be passed down to future generations.
Pitcher
Russia
My Parents
This pitcher was used on Passover by my great great grandmother Devora Steinman. My great grandmother gave it to my mom and now we put on the the table at Passover every year.
I hope that this pitcher is passed down to me someday.
Passover is the most celebrated Jewish holiday.
It makes me feel good to know that I am celebrating Passover just like my ancestors did.
That is how Judaism survives.
Book: "From Generation to Generation"
Minneapolis
My Mom
This is the book that my great grandparents wrote, and it is about the story of my family.
It tells about my family history, and it has notes from my aunts,uncles, cousins, and parents.
I love reading from this book and looking at its pictures.
This book tells the story of my family. It makes it possible for us to preserve this part of our history.
Otherwise it might have been forgotten.
The Ruby Ring
Europe
My great grandma
This ruby red ring was given to my mother by my great grandmother (her grandma). She bought the ring in Europe and gave it to my mom on her Bat Mitzvah. It was made by an artist who lives in Europe. It is very special to my family because it is a very fragile yet beautiful piece of jewelry that my mom is very proud to have.
My mom and my great grandma had a very special relationship. She wore the ring every day until it got too small. She now keeps it in the box it came in which is in a bigger box with old photos and letters from my great grandma, her grandmother.
Becoming Bat Mitzvah means you have to take on more responsibility,as a Jewish adult. It's a big commitment .
Also, the word "Mitzvah" means commandment. Having commandments is a hard job with lots of responsibility so there's a celebration.
My mother recieved the ring as a gift for taking on the Mitzvot, commandments.
Performing Mitzvot helps Judaism survive.
Passport
Poland
Grandfather
This is the only item we have from Abraham Frajman, my great great grandfather.
It is one of the only things that shows our family's original name and that they came from Poland.
This passport belonged to my maternal great, great grandfather Abraham Frajman. He was born in Poland in 1862 and came to America with the help of his son, Ben Freeman, who was my,great grandfather.
My mom's family name was changed from Frajman to Freeman when they came to America.
This was the story of many Jewish immigrants who came to America for a better life.
Israeli Passport
Israel
grandma\ grandpa
This passport important because it is a memory that connects my grandparents to Israel. It's their second home where they can feel comfortable being Jewish.
My grandparents each got a passport from Israel because they are Israeli citizens.
They came to Israel in 1957.
Israel is the Jewish homeland.
Under the "Law of Return," any Jew can return to Israel and automatically be a citizen.
It is great to know that we have a homeland and that we can become citizens of Israel at any time.
Marc Chagall Book
Russia
My grandma
My great grandma Anita was from Russia and she bought this book because she was moving to America. She wanted to bring something to remember Russia.
Her mom really liked art and dancing, so did Anita. I think that she liked Chagall's work because of similar birth places.
Chagall's work is at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Chagall's work is also at the Art Institute in Chicago.
Whenever I look at Chagall's work I think of Anita.
Marc Chagall was a famous Jewish artist. He liked to draw things but with organic shapes. He was born on July 16, 1887 and died on March 28, 1985.
Art is an important part of Jewish culture. It often tells us about our history.
Chagall is one of many Jewish artists.
I like Chagall's paintings.
Photo
Kiev, Russia
My bubbie
This is a photo of my Great Grandpa's family. He was born in Russia in 1895. He left his family because Jews were being treated poorly and he wanted a better life, so he traveled on a boat with his brother to stay with their uncle who was in New York. He never saw his family again and he heard that his family had been killed by the Russians.
When my great Grampa escaped from Russia, he could not take a lot of stuff with him so this picture is the only thing we have from the family.
Family memories are so important.
They help us to connect to our ancestors and our history.
Knowing about our past can guide us into our future.
Family Picture
Romania
Dad
This photo has been passed down from generation to generation.
It shows my family from a long time ago.
They lived in Romania.
The people that were in it were my great great grandpa (Vladamir),my great great grandma (Sophia),my great aunts (Susan, Hannah and Anna)and my great uncles, (Pesach and Pcucit)and my great grandpa (Daniel).
This photo shows what a Jewish family looked like about 100 years ago.
It is important to preserve our Jewish memories and heritage.
Bookends
Israel
Great Grandpa and Great Grandma
The artifact I have chosen are my great grandmother and great grandfather, Sue and Lou Gershman's, bookends. They were given to me recently when my great grandmother moved from her apartment at Knollwood Place to Shalom Home West. She and my great grandfather traveled to Israel in 1967 and purchased these gold bookends at the Wailing Wall. They are special because they show that people go to this holy place to pray and write notes to G-d and place them in the wall in hopes that their prayers are heard.
I hope to have these bookends someday.
The Western Wall is the holiest place in the world to Jews. It is the only remnant we have of the Beit Hamkikdash.
It is wonderful to have such a holy place where Jews from all over the world can go to pray and remember a time long ago.
Pan & Photos
Brooklyn, New York
Grandma Mimi
This pan was owned by my great great grandmother, Minnie. She passed it down to my great grandma, Sadie. Now it belongs to my grandma.
Many hundreds of latkes have been fried using this pan.
To this day, my grandma uses this pan to make latkes.
I hope it gets passed down to me in the future.
Hanukah is a great holiday. Even though it isn’t considered one of our main holidays, it has many important messages.
Latkes are a traditional Hanukah food.
When we make them and enjoy eating them, it makes me think of my great great grandma Minnie and my great grandma Sadie. They are part of the earlier generations who celebrated Hanukah the way we do.
Food Document
Moscow
Grandfather
When my great grandfather went to fight in World War II he was given a document that listed his 4 dependents, so they could get food while he was at war. The four family members listed on the document are: my great great grandma, great great grandpa, great grandma (now 96) and my grampa(now 76).
Jews have participated in many wars.
We have been loyal citizens of all the countries in which we have lived.
Most people don't know this, but,
Jews even participated in the American War of Independence and in the Revolutionary War.
Kenyan Statue
Kenya
Mom
My grandparents got this statue while on a safari in Kenya.
Recently, they gave it to my mom and it makes her happy.
It brings together both sides and cultures of my family.
Judaism teaches us to respect all people.
My family is a blend of 2 different religions and culture.
My dad was born Jewish and is Caucasian and my mom is an African American.
Being raised in this family I have learned a lot about tolerance and about all people being created equal.