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Challah Bowl
Germany
Maya B brought this Challah bowl for the 2019 Moriah School Heritage Fair. Herrn Jakob B. received this bowl as a gift when being honored for serving as the president of a synagogue in Germany. His family then used this bowl in Germany every Shabbat. The object was passed down to Maya’s great-great grandmother, and her name was Rachel B. She then took this object to Argentina in 1928. Following that, she traveled to Israel with this bowl in 1951. In 2016, Maya’s grandfather, Jacob B, gave it to Maya’s father, Meir, and now Maya’s family uses the bowl on Shabbat.
The B. family cherishes this object.
Candelabra
United States
Michael S brought this candelabra for the 2019 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This candelabra was owned by Michael’s great- great grandparents. They had created the candelabras themselves and presented it to the shul that they helped build. These objects, the candelabras, became a symbol of unity for all the families in the neighborhood, for their customs and traditions. Michael’s great-great grandparents took pride in being involved in making this all happen, and the family is blessed to still have these candelabras in their possession.
The S. family cherishes this object.
Cook Book
United States
Ava K. brought these dishes and cookbook for the 2019 Moriah School Heritage Fair. Ava K.’s great-great grandmother, Rebecca, lived in Brooklyn when she received and used these objects. She got these items in 1944. Ava K.’s great grandmother kept these items for her entire life. When she passed away, they were given to Ava K.’s mother as a wedding gift. These objects will always be a part of Ava's family history.
The K. and K. families cherish these objects.
Book
America
Alexander S. brought this book for the 2019 Moriah School Heritage Fair. The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus (referred to as Josephus) was published in the ancient Roman Empire. However, this translation was published in Philadelphia in eighteen fifty-four. Alexander S.’s father inherited it from his great uncle (who is Alexander’s great-great uncle) around 1980. It belonged to Alexander’s great-great uncle, Abraham Hager, who all his life, even as a child, was known as “Zayda” because he was the first boy born after two sisters. When he was born, his mother said he should live to be a zayda. It is unknown where and when Alexander’s great-great uncle got it. This is significant to Alexander’s family because Alexander’s great-great uncle left his collection of Jewish books to his father, and this book is the oldest one. Alexander’s great- great uncle never had children and he spent lots of time with his books, and this is one of them. He worked as a furrier in Brooklyn, as an egg farmer in Vineland, New Jersey, and then again as a furrier in Brooklyn, and found time to study Talmud and other Jewish books. Although many ideas in this book are contradicted by the Talmud, Alexander’s family appreciate the book because it was Alexander’s great-great uncle’s oldest book.
The S. and Hager families cherish this object.
Painting
Poland
Josh M. brought this painting for the 2019 Moriah School Heritage Fair. This beautiful painting was from Krakow, Poland. It belonged to Josh’s great-great grandmother. His grandmother does not know how her grandmother got it. Josh’s family kept this object because it’s a beautiful piece of art and the family loves Jewish art. Secondly, it connects them to their Jewish heritage. Thirdly, it is a meaningful object because it was on display at Josh’s great-great grandmother’s home even when she was hiding during World War II. Plus, it survived World War II while other family members did not survive. There is a mystery about this painting. Was it painted by the famous Jewish Polish artist Maurycy Gottlieb who lived in Krakow, Poland around this time? The reason there is a room to believe that the painting was indeed done by Maurycy Gottlieb is because of the subject matter and also the signature at the bottom left corner. This painting is more than 100 years old.
Josh M's family cherishes this object.
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