Illuminations
Candle Holder
Germany
Menachem K’s paternal great grandmother bought these candle holders, and she used them to light Shabbat candles. Menachem’s great grandmother lived in Germany before the Holocaust. In 1939 she was sent to an occupied territory in France. Her husband escaped from the occupied territory in France and went to Lyon, France. His great grandmother and her child, Shoshana, stayed together in the occupied territory. A couple days later after the escape, Shoshana was going to be sent to a concentration camp. When she heard this news she took Shoshana and escaped. While hiding, a truck drove by and Menachem’s great grandmother stopped it. She paid the truck driver with gold jewelry to take them to her husband in Lyon, France. From Lyon, France the whole family traveled to Switzerland where they were sent to a refugee camp. In the refugee camp there was not much for kids, so Shoshana was sent to a Jewish family in Basel, Switzerland to live with until 1945. In 1945 the family met up in Brussels, Belgium with her husband’s cousin, Yankel. Yankel was being held by a non-Jew. A suitcase was sent to him with the candle holders and many other items the W family had before the Holocaust. These candle holders are important to the K family.
This object is significant to the K family.
Candlebra
Czechoslovakia
Isabella L ’s paternal great grandmother received this candelabra from her mother as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, she had to live through the Holocaust for two years, and then she left Europe to live in Cuba. She lived there for a few years and then moved to the United States. Isabella’s grandmother passed it down to her son, Isabella’s dad .
The L family uses it every Shabbat.
Menorah
Sweden
Isaac G received this Menorah from his paternal great grandfather. Isaac G paternal great grandfather Marek S bought this object in Sweden 1948 right after he survived the Holocaust. This is significant to the G family because it is the first Jewish object Isaac’s great grandfather owned after the Holocaust. Also, it is a symbol of not having to hide his Judaism anymore. Isaac G great grandfather survived Auschwitz and lost all the Jewish possessions he had. After the Holocaust he moved to Sweden and got married to Isaac’s great grandmother Manci. This menorah is used every Chanukah and is lit by the G family. The G family will cherish this menorah for many generations.
The G family will cherish this menorah for many generations.
Menorah
Israel
Sarah B’s family received a menorah that originally belong to their paternal great grandparents. This menorah came from Israel. This object is special to Sarah’s family because her grandparents gave something that was special to Sarah’s family. Although the object is not used today in the B’s family home it is still on display in Sarah’s dining room.
This menorah is important to the B family.
Menorah
Germany
Adam N received this menorah from his maternal great-great grandfather. Adam N’s maternal great-great grandfather Benjamin Strauss received this menorah from his wife as a birthday gift. This valuable object will remain in the N family as decoration.
This menorah helps them remember their great-great grandfather.
Menorah
Kielce, Poland
Jordan P received this menorah from his maternal great-great grandparents. Jordan P’s maternal great great- grandfather David K received this menorah and has passed it down in his family. The menorah has a lot of history. It survived through the Holocaust, while he hid it in a concentration camp. As of now Jordan’s maternal grandfather has the menorah in his house. The menorah is 120 years old and is not used anymore. It will still be passed down in the future.
This menorah is important to the P and K families.