Sacred Seforim
Siddurim
United States
Ben H brought these siddurim for the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair. These siddurim once belonged to Irvin H, the paternal great grandfather of Ben H. The siddurim were given to him by the United States government because he was in the United States Army.He kept them with him during the Holocaust. Every single day he would use them to daven. This object is very precious to Ben H's family because it survived the Holocaust. When he fought he kept the siddur with him and never let a German take it away from him. These are special objects in the H family.
These are special objects in the H family.
Prayer Book
Morocco
Naomi B brought this book for the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This song and prayer book was written by Naomi B’s maternal great grandfather. It was passed down to Naomi’s grandmother, then to her mother, and now to her. This book has songs that Sephardic Jews sing every Shabbat. All of the songs were written by Naomi’s great grandfather. It is significant to Naomi and her family because it makes them feel connected to their Jewish heritage and to their culture.
This object will be cherished by Naomi and her family for many more years.
Siddur and Tafillin bag
Russia
Elias S brought this tefillin bag and siddur to the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair. The object that is on display is a siddur and tefillin bag on loan to Elias S. The tefillin bag and siddur date back to 1901. They once belonged to Elias’ great grandfather who received it at his bar mitzvah in Russia. Elias’ great grandfather’s name was Louis Lei and in Hebrew his name was Lav. He was born in Vetbiz, Russia on March 4,1879. This tefillin bag was made sometime after his bar mitzvah and was brought here with him when he came to America through Ellis Island in the early 1900s, after he was married. He spent the rest of his life as a builder raising his three children in Brooklyn, NY. Lav loved davening and never missed a chance to daven. He had so much Kavanah (dedication) and was a great man.It was then he passed it down to his grandfather Morton B Sorkin. It was found among his things when he died and was given to Elias’s brother Alexander Louis who was named after his great grandfather. Alex’s Hebrew name is Lav.
Alex’s Hebrew name is Lav.
A Machzor and a Book of Slichot
Austria, and Poland
Brooke K. brought these prayer books for the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair. These prayer books have an interesting story. The books once belonged to Rachel Billig, the maternal great-great grandmother of Brooke K. One of the prayer books was bought in
and taken from Przemysl, Poland, and the other bought in and taken from Vienna, Austria. Brooke’s grandmother kept the prayer books because the original owner was her husband’s grandmother and a loved and well-respected woman. The objects were so
important to Rachel Billig that they were two of the few things she brought to America. Although the prayer books aren’t used today, they can be used. Brooke’s family kept them as they are important heirlooms to the family. To Brooke, the message from the object is that religion meant so much to her great-great grandmother that she chose them as two of her few objects to bring to America from Europe.
These are special objects in the B. and & K. families.
Siddur
Israel
Gabrielle S brought this siddur for the 2016 Moriah School Herritage Fair.This siddur once belonged to Gabrielle S's maternal great grandparents whose names were Alexander and Roza Kohn. They purchased this siddur in Israel in 1974. It was their first trip to Israel. It is important to Gabrielle’s family because Gabrielle’s maternal great grandparents were Holocaust survivors so visiting the Jewish homeland was significant for them. The siddur was given to Gabrielle’s
grandfather, Thomas Kohn, who then gave it to Gabrielle’s mom, Debbie, as a bat mitzvah gift. Gabrielle and her mother use the siddur to daven with on Shabbat. Gabrielle feels a connection to her great grandparents when she uses this siddur and it makes her davening more meaningful.
This object is significant to Gabrielle and her family.
Siddur
Israel
Ofek I brought this siddur for the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair This siddur has a special story. It once belonged to Ofek I mother’s cousin named Yosi. Yosi received this siddur when he was thirteen years old as a gift for his bar mitzvah from his father. This siddur is significant to the I family. It has been passed
down through the generations as a reminder of their Jewish heritage. After Yosi died of cancer, sadly, his house burned down. Fortunately, though, the siddur was saved by a family member.
This object means a lot to the I family because this is the last memento from this special man.
Machzor
Iran
Daniella brought in this leather machzor for the 2016 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This machzor once belonged to the paternal great-great-great grandfather of Daniella M.
This object was originally from Iran and is over 100 years old. Daniella’s family was not allowed to bring this machzor from Iran so they had to smuggle it! This is one of the reasons why it is very special to the M family.
What it means to the M family is that we should never stop having faith in being Jewish.