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by Joyce Zekaria, Francine Serouya,
and Raquel Arakanchi.
Each artifact in this historical collection was used in a useful and different way. This gallery contains many artifacts that one would find in a home. All these artifacts are at least two generations old and are precious to the owners because of the memories they hold. Included in this gallery are many different objects, like musical instruments, mortars and pestles used to crush spices, a shaver used to get ready for Shabbat or special occasions, and a tea set used everyday. These artifacts come from many different parts of the world and give us clues about how our ancestors lived.
Hand Globe
Ukraine
Renata M.
After the Holocaust my great grandfather and his wife decided to visit their old synagogue,and when they arrived the synagogue had been destroyed. This non-Jewish guy came up to them and gave them a hand that was used to read the Torah. It had been used at their synagogue. Later my great grandfather built a globe on top of it.
It is significant to my Jewish heritage because it was from the Holocaust and it was a hand from a pointer used for reading a Torah. Now that I am going to be a bar mitzvah I will be reading from the Torah and using something similar to what my great grandfather made.
Oud
Syria
Barbara S.
My grandfather had an oud so that means he loved music just like my uncle and me. He would play it to relax and for enjoyment, and I play guitar to relax and for enjoyment. Also he would sing at Bar Mitzvahs and I love to sing. I love how I inherited my love for music from him.
The oud was sometimes used to celebrate Bar Mitzvahs.
Kanoon - Arabic Instrument
Egypt
Morris M.
The Kanoon holds a special significance to my grandfather Morris M. He always had a passion for Arabic music. He became very good friends with Muhammad El Akad. He was a Arab who played for the king of Egypt for 3 generations. He also played with Abdul Wahab, who was the greatest singer in Arabic music. My grandfather was fortunate enough to know both of them, which only made his love for Arabic music stronger. He was also able to go and visit Abdul Wahab in Lebanon when it was a very dangerous time there.
The Kanoon was a gift from a very special friend. It is the hardest instrument to learn how to play. Muhammad El Akad used to play for my grandfather all the time. Arabic music has encouraged my family to understand their heritage, which comes from Egypt and Syria. My grandparents for many years would have "haflas", which is a party in Arabic, and share their love of Arabic music with friends and family.
Tea set
Lebanon (sold in Morocco)
Rochelle N.
This tea set is important to my family because it was passed down many generations. There are three pieces to this set. The first piece is the tray. It has a lion engraved in it, with a design around it. The second piece is the pot, it has Arabic lettering. The third piece is a little container that held tea leaves. It has green, red, and blue coloring on it. All three pieces are made of copper. The tea set was made in Lebanon, but sold in Morocco. They used it everyday, except for special occasions and Shabbat.
The Jewish significance is that it was made in Lebanon, but was sold in Morocco where many Jewish people lived, including my grandparents.
Crown Jewel Shaver
USA
Grandma Joyce Z.
This artifact, the shaver, belongs to my grandma Joyce Z. This was made in the USA in about the 1960s. The Schick Company made it, and my grandma got it from her father who bought it for her. The significance of this artifact to my grandma was that her father bought it for her so it reminds her of him, so she will never throw it away. The background of this artifact was that my grandma’s father made a trip to America and her father bought it and brought it back to Caracas, Venezuela. My grandma used this shaver to shave her legs. She was around 11 years old when this was given to her, in 1960. The historical significance of this artifact was that my grandma kept it during all her years of living in Venezuela, and brought it back to America.
The Jewish significance of this artifact is my grandma used it before Shabbat so that she would be all ready for Shabbat. This was used by my grandma only on weekdays and Sunday because it was electric and couldn’t be used on Shabbat. Also this was used before holidays when she got all dressed up and wanted to look nice, but it definitely wasn’t used on the holiday.
Glass clown
Venice, Italy
Norma B.
In my great grandpa Jack's factory he made many different things. He made bowls, he made ashtrays and he made figures such as clowns, fish, animals. These were gift and decorative items in the 1960s. These glass items are hand blown glass. My great grandpa Jack was one of the first to put color in this hand blown glass. Before most items used to be clear.
Today this glass is famous as Murano glass.
Demitasse coffecups
Syria
Grandmother
When my relatives were caterers, in their house they used to serve Turkish coffee in these mini coffee cups. They catered outside of their house and they also had a shop inside of their house. Turkish coffee is a strong coffee, similar to espresso.
The custom in Syria was to drink Turkish coffee served in these small cups.
Sculpture
New Jersey
Sophia S.
This artifact is very important to me because my great grandma, Gladys S, made this for my mom Sophia as a house gift. This holds great memories of her. This sculpture is especially precious since she made it by hand.
This was given to my mom at her "hanukat habayit" which was a celebration and blessing that people have when they move to a new home.
Smoke Pipe
Texas
Susan E.
The significance of this family artifact is the history. According to my grandma, after he got home from work, my great grandpa Jack would sit in his chair in the corner of the living room with his smoke pipes and his newspaper. Whenever anyone came into the house it smelled like cherry from the pipe. Whenever my grandma smells something like cherry, it would trigger her brain to the smell of the cherry flavored pipe.
Also, a well known line in my family "mark of distinction" is a quote from my great grandfather when he was smoking his pipe.
Coffee pot and a cup and saucer
England
Sylvia D.
After meals, Becky and Harry S. would make Turkish coffee which was a strong coffee for the family. Now it's a tradition in my family.
After the Jewish holiday meals, my relatives make coffee for their guests and family.
Mortar and pestle
Syria
Francine S.
My artifact is a mortar and pestle. It was used for crushing spices. It was used by my great great grandma, Molly S.
She would press garlic with it and prepared typical Syrian foods, like kibbe and lahmagine, which is like a meat pizza.
Silver plate
Iraq
Anis S.
The silver plate was a wedding gift. The significance of this artifact to my grandparents and my family is to remember the times when they were young and getting married.
The significance of the artifact to the Jewish heritage is the fact that this plate has been treasured and passed on from generation to generation.
Mortar and Pestle
Egypt
My Grandma
When my great-grandparents lived in Egypt, there weren't any pharmacies to buy medicine. They used this mortar and pestle to grind herbs to make remedies.
They also used it to grind spices, like allspice and cumin. These spices are often used in traditional Egyptian and Syrian foods.
Turkish Coffee Set
Egypt
Henrietta , my great grandmother
My great grandmother, Henrietta, would often use this set to serve visitors Turkish coffee. My grandmother always loves looking at and remembering this great artifact used long ago.
This set would be used when the family gathered together.
Pilon et Mortier
Haiti
Micheline C.
This Pilon, spice and herb masher, was in my grandmother's whole childhood. My Sito would use this Pilon to mash the herbs and spices for the delicious meals she made. All the spices would be in whole form so this Pilon was used very often to mash the spices into a powder substance.
This Pilon would be used for every holiday. From Pesach to Rosh Hashana, my Sito would use the Pilon when preparing meals.