Mystery of Fashion
The Mystery of our
Jewelry and Clothing
by David Torkieh and Loren Panetz
The mystery of our ancestors’ clothing and jewelry is almost solved. This is an important mystery, because if we know what our ancestors wore, we know about the climate where they lived, we can learn about their style, and we know how it changed. This year in our heritage fair we wanted to show you what people wore back then because it tells an amazing story about our ancestors. This gallery includes a necklace, bracelets, a ring, a pocketwatch, dresses and more! One of these artifacts was taken from an enemy during a war. One was worn as a disguise.
I think these clothing and jewelry artifacts can help us solve the mystery of our ancestors’ lives.
Gold Necklace
Egypt
Morris A.
When my grandfather, Jacques A. left Egypt, he lost everything except for this necklace, and it's the only thing my dad has from his father.
My grandfather, Jacques A. used this necklace to hide that he was Jewish, because in Egypt they didn't like Jews. The necklace has the word "Allah" in Arabic. In Egypt my great grandfather, Mounir Mourad A. was a famous actor and singer, and he pretended to not be Jewish because he didn't want to leave.
Gold Pocket Watch
Minsk
My father, Sergay
This artifact is a memory of my ancestors. They've had this watch for their whole lives. It was then passed on to their children for future generations. My great great grandpa purchased it for his son before he left Russia in the Soviet Union. He give his son the watch to remind him that he will always be there for him any time, any place. The son then passed it on to his son and the tradition went on and on. My grandpa gave it to my dad when he got married to my mom.
This artifact has some Jewish significance in my family because when my ancestors were young they couldn’t observe any Jewish holidays or any Jewish religion in an obvious way. But they would always try to keep this family heirloom. They would use the watch to tell the time and know when the holiday would begin and end.
Gold Bangles
Venezuela
My grandmother, Lynn D
These bangles are from my Great Great Grandmother, Vicky. They are 18 carat gold bangles from Venezuela. She traded Venezuelan money for golden bangles to have value in America. She hid the bangles in her girdle so that she could sneak them into America.
The bangles are traditional jewelry, and represent the life my family lived in Venezuela, reminding me of the unbroken chain of our family.
Bangles
Egypt
Danielle B.
These bangles belonged to my great grandmother, Sally F, and she gave them to my mother Danielle B. as a birthday gift. It is a special tradition in my family for grandmothers to give bangles to their granddaughters.
My mother wore them on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and every other day.
Dresses
New York
Grandma Freda C.
These dresses were used on special memorable occasions in my grandmother's life. One was worn by my grandma at her engagement party. The other two were designed and sewn by my great great grandmother who was a very talented designer and seamstress. My grandmother wore them when she was a very young child. The engagement dress is an off white color and one of the baby dresses is light pink and the last one is red.
These dresses are a reminder of Jewish occasions that we had and still celebrate.
After the engagement party my grandparents had their wedding according to Jewish law and tradition. The rabbis recited all the blessings and prayers as they stood under a chupah.
Ring
Korea
Grandpa Ronnie
This ring is important to my family because it is very valuable and rare. My great grandfather who was in the US Navy has an amazing story about how he fought to get it during World War II.
He shot down a Kamikaze who is a Japanese pilot and kept his ring.