Treasured Items
Chuppah
United States
In circa 1990 a chuppah was purchased by Jordan F’s maternal grandfather, Alvin W and his siblings. It was made for Jordan’s great grandparents as a present from their children because they could not afford one when they got married. The chuppah is for each family members wedding. The family wanted something special to be in memory of Jordan’s great grandparents and had it specially made by an artist chosen by Jordan's great aunt Reba W. To make it extra special Jordan’s great aunt, Rivki W sews on a star onto the chuppah each time someone in the family gets married. Inscribed on the star is the names of the man and woman who are getting married.
The family all hope to continue to cherish this chuppah.
Fan
United States
This fan once belonged to the paternal great-great grandmother of Dara B. Her name was Gertie M. The fan was originally from Troy, NY. Gertie got it as a gift from her aunt. She used it when she went to parties and fancy balls. This fan is special to Dara and her family because it reminds them about Gertie.
The fan will remain in the B family for years to come.
A Wooden Red Chair
United States
JJ F’s object is a handmade red chair that was built for his maternal grandfather, Howie K. Aaron W, Howie’s father built it for him. The red chair was made in Aaron’s apartment on the Lower East Side. Aaron loved his grandchildren so much that even though, as he aged, he became ill and weak, he made the chairs as presents. His grandchildren loved their red chairs so much that they are all still intact.
Two of his grandchildren worked together to make new red chairs for the next generations.
Comb
Israel
Daniel K received this comb from his maternal great grandmother, Tzipora. Tzipora used this comb to make herself look put-together and beautiful by always having her hair and makeup
done. She cared a lot about beauty and looking perfect for her husband. It is important to Daniel's family because his maternal great grandmother died 2 years ago and Daniel’s mom kept some
of his great grandmother’s possessions.
This object will be cherished by the K family for many generations to come.
Suitcase
Bolivia
Jack S received this suitcase from his maternal great grandparents. Originally from Poland, Lucja and Adolf B were both Holocaust survivors who lost their families. After only knowing each other for a little while, they suddenly decided to get married. When the war
was over they lived in Germany for a year. They initially were going to move to Australia, but, at the last second, they decided to move to America. Unfortunately, this plan did not work, and the Bs with their newborn son Leon, Jack’s grandfather, moved to Bolivia. While there, they decided to wait until they could move to America. The Bs lived in Bolivia for a while, and then they tried to move to America again. This time they were successful! They bought a suitcase that they can barely afford and bought a ticket on a banana boat importing bananas in
Jersey City using almost all of their money.
The death of Adolf B will always be remembered with this suitcase that his great grandson, Jack, has now received.
Keychain
United States
David M received this key chain from his paternal great-great grandfather. David M’s great-great grandfather was born in Morocco and gave this key chain to the M family. He told them to pass this object down from generation to generation. David M’s great-great grandfather worked for the בית דין back in the time of 1900. This key chain is from Morocco where almost all of David M’s family lived. It was given to David M’s grandfather and then passed on to David M’s father. There are two pictures people on this key chain. One of them is David M’s great grandfather and the other one is David M’s great-great grandfather. He was an important rabbi in Morocco.
They are both very important people to the M family.
Yellow Holocaust Triangle
Poland
On October 26, 1939, Solomon L’s Maternal great grandfather was forced to make and wear a yellow triangle on his back. He lived in the first town where all Jews had to wear something on them to show that they were Jewish. This town was Wloclawek, Poland. Solomon L’s great grandfather Solomon S. passed it down to his son, and now Solomon L’s grandfather Mori S. lent it to him. This artifact is very significant to the L. and S. families because it is a very painful heirloom representing the suffering of Solomon S. during the Holocaust. There are not many of these in the world, and it was most likely kept as an emotional
connection of Solomon S’s old family who ended up in a death camp called
Chelmno, while he escaped by fleeing to to Russia.
Nobody in Solomon L’s family
will really know the exact experience that Solomon S. had in the Holocaust or
why he kept that little triangle because he did not talk about the Holocaust often, but this triangle is one of the most important possessions that the S family has, and it represents a little part of Solomon L’s great grandfather that was left behind for the S and L families to cherish forever.
Suitcase
Belgium
This valise was passed down to Leora H. by her maternal great aunt, Esther C.
This belonged to Esther C. and her family during the Holocaust. This was one of the only objects they salvaged when the Nazis sealed their apartment building. During the Holocaust, they used this valise to get food from people. When they were hiding, they
would beg people for food, and when they got the food they would put it in the valise to keep everything safe. This object is significant to the S. and H.families because it is the only thing left that their relatives have from the Holocaust.
This valise will be kept in
the family for many more years.
Whistle
Israel
Shiraz I’s maternal great grandfather received this whistle when he was employed as a police officer in Israel. The journey of his life began in Turkey when he was born. His name was Vitali C. He soon moved to Israel where he got married. Fortunately, he got a job of being one of the first police officers in Israel. When he moved to Israel his name was changed to Haiim B. When he was a police officer, he received a whistle that was imported from London.This whistle was used to signal for help or stop a person from running away. During Haiim’s times there were no cell phones. Haiim gave the whistle to his granddaughter who is Shiraz’s mother when she was in 6th grade. This is very special to Shiraz’s mother because when Haiim gave it to her he said that she will always remember him with this whistle. Whenever Shiraz’s mother looks at the whistle she thinks of Haiim. This artifact is very special to Shiraz because she is receiving the whistle in 6th grade as her mother did.
This whistle will always be treasured
by Shiraz and her family.
Invitation
United Kingdom
Ezriel V’s maternal grandmother who had been born in a D.P. camp, received
this invitation to a children's party aboard the Queen Mary on her way to America. She came on the RMS Queen Mary in 1951.
This is very important because
it is a memento of her emigration to the land of opportunity.