1930s and 1940s
Our artifacts in this gallery all come from a very difficult time in our Jewish families' histories - the period of the Shoah and World War II. Whether or not they are directly related to these events, each artifact has an important story to tell and they are cherished by our families.
Strainer
New York City
Ellen K.
During the 1940's-1950's my great-great grandmother would strain the noodles for chicken noodle soup every Friday for Shabbat. My grandmother grew up watching her cook, and it was passed down to my great-grandmother then to my grandmother.
This strainer is significant because it is an old strainer that was my great-great-grandmother and is still used today. It makes my grandmother think of Friday night celebrating the Sabbath and enjoying Shabbat with her family.
Austrian Passport
Vienna, Austria
My great-grandma
This passport allowed my great-grandmother to leave the country of Austria and come to America. This was just before the war broke out and she and her family did not feel safe. They wanted to come to America to start a better life.
This passport is from Vienna, Austria. My great-grandmother got this in August 1939. She used it to come to this country during World War II. My great-grandma went with her mother to apply for this passport. Once she got the passport, she and her mother took a train to Belgium. From there they took a boat to NY and into Ellis Island. My family has kept this for around 78 years, so far, as a family heirloom.
L'Ergot
France
Grandpa Ernie
This artifact is significant to my family in more than one way. My great-grandmother was strong and kept fighting to keep her family safe during WWII. So many Jews and many of her family members were killed by the Nazis. I am named after Rose. The R in my middle name makes me proud to be a Jew.
This artifact is important to Judaism because it represents the many Jews that fought and lost their lives against the Nazis. It shows the commitment that many Jews made would to fight to all extremes to keep their heritage alive.
Ben and Pauline K.'s Candelabra
Bronx, NY
My Grandma, Ronnie K.
My great-grandparents, Ben and Pauline K., met in the Bronx when they lived in the same neighborhood. They got married in 1939 and received the candelabra as a wedding gift. I am named after my great-grandma.
The candelabra is significant because my great-grandparents lit the candles every Friday night in their Jewish home and my grandma has that memory of growing up in a Jewish home.
Travel Trunk
Berlin, Germany
Edna M.
This trunk which belonged to my great-great-great aunt Minna D. She was born in 1897 in Poland. During World War II they were in Germany. The trunk was purchased in Berlin somewhere around 1936 and was used to bring all of her belongings to Shanghai, China. She lived in China for approximately nine years and then went to Palestine and eventually America.
This trunk has been in my family for generations. My grandmother's mother, my great-grandma kept it in her house in the Bronx and then Yonkers, New York. My grandma, Edna, my mom's mom, had it in her house and painted over the original wood and metal and used it as a blanket trunk. My mother Sherri used it in her first appointment as a coffee table.
WW II Prayer Books for Jewish Soldiers
Issued by US Army
My grandfather Arthur S., son of Frank S.
These small prayer books were my great-grandfather's. He was a soldier in World War II. The books were given to him by the US Army when he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands, by the Alaskan Peninsula. This was in the early 1940's. These books are important because my great grandfather was able to read Hebrew prayers to help him be more comfortable and peaceful while he was in the Army and away from home during the War.
These books are important to Jewish Heritage because it helps to continue the connection to the Jewish people and our traditions. It shows that even during times of war, the prayer books were needed to help the Jewish soldiers continue practice their religion. It also shows that the US Army recognized and respected the Jewish religion during this war, while Jews were being killed in eastern European countries. It was helpful to have the United States support to provide prayer books to the Jewish people during this time in our world history.
Johns Hopkins 50 Year Alumni Medallion
Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
Grandma Myra K.
My great-grandfather received the medallion 50 years after he graduated from Johns Hopkins. He was the first member of the family to graduate from college. The family was very proud of his accomplishments but because of world events he was never able to fulfill his dream of going to medical school.
This artifact is a reminder of the anti-Semitism in our world that prevented my great-grandfather from going to medical school. In the 1930s anti-Semitism was on the rise round the world and American medical schools had quotas and would only allow a small number of Jews in. As a result, he enrolled in medical school at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. However, due to the rise of Hitler, his parents would not let him return to Europe to complete medical school.
Coming to America
Poland and France
Grandmother
This is a photograph of my mother's extended family. This picture is of my great-great-aunt, great-great-uncle, great-grandmother, great-great-grandparents. This picture is important because not everyone was together when it was taken. My great-great-grandfather was in Paris, France. The rest of the family was in Poland. My great-great-grandfather went to France to make money so he could move the family to America.
The significance to Jewish heritage is that these family members were able to escape Poland before the Holocaust began while others were not as fortunate.
War Crimes Trials Nuremberg (Nurnberg) Germany
Nuremberg, Germany
Linda S.
This War Crime Trial informational packet (note the German spelling - "Nurnberg") was given to the father of Linda S. - a friend of mine - who was a journalist attending the trial. It contains a seating chart, 'bios' of the Nazi defendants & a piece of primary source evidence. It is significant to my family (and so many other families) because this trial provided some level of justice for those murdered, tortured & enslaved during the Shoah.
The material in this packet is significant to our Jewish heritage because it serves as a reminder - and evidence - of the Holocaust. At least some of those responsible for crimes against humanity & genocide were held responsible. In spite of their efforts, Jews and Jewish heritage continue to survive and thrive.
Grandma Selma's Candlesticks
England, UK
Grandma Selma F.
We always lit candles Friday night Shabbat dinners with my Grandma Selma. My grandma would have everyone over for dinner on Friday’s and she would gather us around the candles and we would say the shabbat prayer together. The candle sticks we use came from England and were first used by my great-grandma Eve. Like my grandma, my great-grandma Eve used to light the Shabbat Candles every Friday night...even in England. We have the Shabbat candles now in our home and we light them and say the prayer when we are all together.
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. The word Shabbat means cease or rest. It is the seventh day of the Jewish week and is the day of rest from work and school. It is a day of spiritual enrichment. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments.
Shabbat candles are lit on Friday evening before sunset to welcome in the Jewish Sabbath. Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandating law. After lighting the candles the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes and recites a blessing. After the candles are lit on Friday night we say “Shabbat Shalom” to everyone and eat dinner together.
Daily Prayers according the the Custom of the German and Polish Jews
Austria
My Grandma Harriet
The prayer book was held by my Great Grandma Hannah at her wedding to Max S. My Grandma Harriet also held at her wedding. My mom held it at her’s too.
This prayer book has been used for three generations so far. The prayer book reminds my Grandma Harriet of her Mother Hannah.