Sacred Seforim
Haggadah
Hungary
Rachel Z received this haggadah from her maternal great grandfather, Menachem Tzvi. Menachem Tzvi bought the Haggadah in Hungary after the Holocaust to use on Pesach. Menachem Tzvi was the only member of his family who survived. Menachem Tzvi would use it every Pesach until he passed away. When he died, this was passed down to Rachel Z's maternal grandfather, Joshua G. It has been kept in the family for many years because Menachem Tzvi cherished it. Pesach seders wouldn't have been the same without it.
Rachel’s family cherished this Haggadah and will pass it on to future generations.
Chumash Dvarim
Germany
Bella G’s grandfather, eight generations ago, Isaac Ben Ahron O, donated money to print four sets of chumashim. The publisher’s name was Wolf Heidenheim, a famous, Jewish publisher. He went to several towns searching for people to donate money to print important books. He printed everything in Roedelheim, Germany. Isaac Ben Ahron O donated money to print four sets of Chumashim. Isaac’s name was written in the back of the books because of his donations. Isaac’s chumash was passed down for generations until Betti O-T, she had one of them stolen from her and burned in Kristallnacht by the Nazis. This was a tragedy because the chumash was cherished by the O and T families. Bella G’s Opa (grandfather), David G bought several books that belonged to his family. David bought the chumashim to restore the chain of passing down the sacred books down for generations to come.
The chumash will stay in the G family for hundreds of years to come.
Teshuva
United States
In Atlanta, Georgia, Chani K's maternal great-great grandfather, Rav Tuvia Geffen wrote a teshuva, an answer to the question: “Is Coke kosher for year-round use and on Pesach?” The
recipe for Coke is a secret recipe, and Rav Geffen had to sign a legal document that he would not reveal Coke’s secret formula. Rav Geffen in his answer wrote “M” for one of the ingredients
because he could not say what it was. Rav Geffen needed to change one of the ingredients and was able to do this because he knew the head lawyer of Coke, Harold Hirsch.
This object will be cherished in the K's family forever.
Gemarah
Russia
This gemara is part of a set that belonged to Noah M’s paternal great grandfather Avrahom M from 1858. Avrahom lived in Russia before the Holocaust even happened. When he heard the Holocaust was about to happen, he chose to bring a set of gemarot and several glass cups to America, both of which were passed down to Noah’s family.
They are significant beause it proves that the M family has been learning gemera for at least 157 years.
Megillot
United States
Jonathan K received these two megillot
from from his maternal great-great grandfather, Joseph Wolf, and great grandfather, David Wolf. Jonathan K’s
maternal great-great grandfather got a job here in the United States and bought a megillah. The megillah is special because it was the
only megillah in the city. When Jonathan K’s maternal great-great grandfather made enough
money, he bought his son one too.
The K family will always love and cherish these megillot.
Porcelain Siddur
Russia
This siddur belonged to Ethan M’s maternal great-great grandmother, Ida L. She immigrated from Russia circa 1912. Ida’s parents gave this siddur to her as a goodbye present before she immigrated to the United States Of America.
Ida L passed away in 1975, and the M family cherishes this object.
Siddur
Austria
Noam B received this siddur from his maternal great-great grandfather Max P. Max received the small siddur for a special bar-mitzvah present from his parents in Austria in May of 1902. Later, Max’s father became unemployed, and his father traveled to America to find a job.
Then Max was able to travel to America as well, but he couldn’t bring many items on his boat trip. Max decided to bring the siddur with him, and the siddur was one of the objects he brought to America.
Siddur
Austria
Michal B received this siddur from her maternal great-great grandfather Max
P. Max received this siddur for his bar mitzvah in May 1902 from his parents. It was special to him because it was a gift for a special occasion. Michal’s great great grandfather brought this siddur from Austria to the United States.
This siddur is special to the B
family because they don’t have a lot of items from their ancestors
Part of a Torah Scroll
Afghanistan
Jonathan K’s father, Jordan, received this Torah parchment from his friend George Blumenthal in the year 1978. George came across this parchment when he was hitchhiking in Afghanistan, and spotted it in a flea market. When George studied the scroll carefully, the merchant took note. He realized that George was Jewish because few people would recognize this parchment as being part of the Torah or have interest in buying it. The merchant charged him a significant amount of money because he knew that Jewish people have an obligation to save a Torah at any cost. It is not known who the original owner is, or where the rest of the scroll can be found. The scroll is significant to the K family because Jonathan’s father has taught
boys how to layn (for 30 years), and Parshiot on parchment are meaningful. It is also valuable because it reminds Jonathan that Jews all over the world have been persecuted, since no Jew would willingly cut up a Torah scroll and allow it to be sold at a marketplace.
Currently, the scroll is on display in the K’s living room.