War Tokens
Flashlight
israel
Eitan S brought this flashlight for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This flashlight once belonged to Eitan S’s paternal great uncle, Rachamim. The flashlight is originally from 1973, and he was a soldier in the
Israel Defense Force. He used the flashlight in missions and training. On Rosh Hashanah he went home because soldiers take turns for different holidays. He wasn't feeling well at all, and his mom told him to stay home. He didn't want to stay home because it wasn't fair to the other soldiers. He bravely went back, and he kept getting shot at and sadly his tank got blown up with him in it.
The S family cherishes this object.
Epaulette
United States
Zachary C brought this epaulette for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This object is from the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Brooks Air Force base Texas in 1968. This object belonged to Elias Herschmann during the Vietnam War, and he wore it because he was a flight surgeon in the air force. This object is significant because it shows that Elias Herschmann participated in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. When Elias finished his medical training, he had to serve in the Air Force. His arrangement was that he wouldn't be drafted until he completed all his training, then he had to serve in the Air Force for an additional two years.
The C and Herschmann families cherish this object.
First Aid Kit
Battle of Normandy
Noah F brought this First Aid Kit from the Battle of Normandy, for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This object is extremely special to everyone in Noah’s mother’s family. Noah’s great grandfather, Willy, was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and fought for the United States against Germany in World War II. This object specifically was strapped to his helmet when he parachuted into Normandy which was located in Northern France. This horrific battle started on June 6, 1944. The first day of this battle is known in history as D-day. There were unfortunately many lives lost in this battle, but gratefully, he survived. The family has this special object as a memento.
The F & f families cherish this object.
Bronze Medals and Plaque
United States
Jeremy B. brought these Bronze Star Medals and the plaque for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. These medals and plaque used to belong to Jeremy B's maternal great grandfather Jack Weinblatt. He was awarded them on April 19, 1956, because of his heroism in ground combat during World War Two. The family keeps these objects to remind them how great of a man Jack was. He was willing to risk his life for others. For example, one time he jumped on an ammunition truck to stop it before it harmed some of his troops. Another time he drove a jeep onto train tracks to stop a train that was taking Jews to the concentration camp.
The Weinblatt and B. families cherish these objects.
Census Form
United States
Rikki A. brought this census form for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. When Rikki A’s maternal great-great grandfather was younger, he and his brother were orphans. They were raised by two rabbis in Austria. When the rabbis felt that the situation for Jewish people was too dangerous, they sent Rikki’s great-great grandfather and his brother to America. This is when Rikki’s great-great grandfather was counted as a U.S. citizen. Rikki A's great-great grandfather and his brother were the only survivors from his family in the Holocaust because their other family members stayed in Europe.
The A and B. families cherish this object.
Army Uniform and Haggadah
United States
Gabriel brought this United States uniform and this Haggadah for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This set of United States Army chaplain/captain uniform and Passover haggadah belongs to Gabriel's maternal grandfather. The captain patches are on the shoulders and the silver ten commandments pins with the star of David are the Jewish chaplaincy symbol. Gabriel’s grandfather as a newlywed was stationed with his wife Barbara overseas on the largest United States army base (outside of the U.S.), in Landshtuhl, Germany in the early 1970’s. In fact this was where Gabriel’s mother was born. Gabriel’s grandfather worked hard as a rabbi for the Jewish soldiers who were stationed overseas far from home. Rabbi Schneider would lead services for the Sabbath and Holidays and host holiday gatherings and be there for all the soldiers needs. Gabriel’s Grandpa also had to train as an officer in the army and learned many things like to shoot a gun and protect himself. Gabriel’s grandparents together traveled all over Europe at this time and have many interesting stories of their travels and the people they met along the way. Gabriel’s grandpa is still an active chaplain today at the hospitals in New Jersey and enjoys doing chesed and caring for others as he has been doing his whole life!
The Schneider and V families cherish this object.
Army Uniform and Medals
United States of America
Kayla Y. brought these United States Army uniform and Silver Star for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This United States Army uniform and Silver Star once and still belongs to Kayla Y’s maternal great grandfather, Jack L. Scharf. Kayla’s object was originally from the United States Army and was given to Private First Class Scharf in the 1940s during World War II. This is significant to her family because he wore this uniform while in a fox hole, where he spent a lot of time. It was also a place where he developed a love of Judaism and G-d. His mother would send him wine in a medicine bottle and salami. He would dig a side hole in order to light the shabbat candle where it would not be seen, and say kiddush and eat salami. During the week he would store two candles in the place of two grenades. The Silver Star was given to Jack because of his gallantry actions in battlefield while serving in Hatten, France. When his company was surrounded by enemy soldiers in a building, Private Scharf volunteered to clear a path of evacuation for the wounded soldiers. He ran out and braved a hail of machine gun and tank fire, and ended up in a barn where he encountered a force of enemy soldiers. He wounded and killed so many of the enemy group that they were forced to retreat. As a result of his actions, 50 men were able to escape from the besieged buildings. He later explained that as a Jewish soldier he never wanted to become a prisoner of war, and therefore he decided to risk his own life for himself and his men to escape.
The Scarf, Hoenig, and Y. families cherish this object.
WWI Hat
USA
Asher W brought this WWI army hat for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. Asher’s object originated from his great uncle Louis W as an award for being a Jewish War Veteran of World War I. During WWI, he was one of the best soldiers. The W family kept this object because it reminded them of their extended family. Also, Asher’s grandfather enjoyed the company of his uncle Louis.
The w family cheriches this object.
Basic Training Manual
United States
Ariella W. brought this Basic Training Manual for the 2018 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This Basic Training Manual belongs to Ariella W. paternal grandfather. Gregory W. who received the Basic Training Manual from the United States Army Training Center in July 1962. The W family has kept his army book because Gregory is proud that he served in the U.S. Army.
The W family cherishes this object.
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