Around the House
by Rina H. and Bella S.
In this gallery you will see bowls, plates, art work, instruments, pots, etc. These essential tools were used and can still be used around the house today. Each of these artifacts have a meaningful historical background that can connect to our lives.
One artifact is a Turkish coffee pot. The wonderful taste and smell of the Turkish coffee brought everyone together. This recipe was passed down for generations and is still used today. It’s only good in this specific pot! A tangine is another way food was prepared in Morocco. There is furniture from Sophia's grandmother. Another artifact is an accordion used to play music. The beautiful sound of the music was enough to bring a smile to the faces of everyone around. The songs played were passed down generations and are still sung today. This specific accordion was one in Bella’s family for a century and everyone who was there still have exciting stories to tell about it. These artifacts really brought people together.
These artifacts were all used around the house and all mean so much to their owners. These artifacts were used so many years ago and we must treasure them.
Accordion
America
Grandma
This accordion originally belonged to Marcus, a blind boarder. It was given to my great grandpa, Sammy M., by a boarder who came to his house, and is part of my heritage. It also shows that music has always been part of my family. My great grandpa played it with his siblings during the Great Depression and after. I think music is important and hope it will continue to be part of my family.
Even though my great grandparents, Leba and Louis, were poor and could barely feed their own family, they still invited many boarders into their home. This is just like Avraham Avinu, because his door was always open to guests, even when he was weak. This accordion came from a boarder and that’s why it is significant to my Jewish heritage.
Wood Sculpture of Alexander Pushkin
Ukraine
Renata M.
This is a story about my great grandpa who made my grandpa a sculpture of his favorite poet Alexander Pushkin. My great grandpa made it in 1965 in Ukraine when he was a child. He would carve wood such as a vase, people and other things. When my whole family was immigrating to America for a fresh new start they brought this item along.
This artifact is connected to my Jewish heritage since my great grandpa was Jewish and it was one of the things the family brought with them when they immigrated to America for a better Jewish life. Every Friday when we light Shabbat candles I look at the carving and it reminds me of him, as if he was still here with me today.
Enamel Turkish Coffee Pot
Syria
Great Grandma Millo D.
This artifact was bought by my Great Grandma Millo in Syria. It is a small orange coffee pot to mix and boil coffee in. My great grandma and grandpa moved to Italy with this pot, and then traveled to America. When they moved into a house in Brooklyn, New York. This coffee pot made them feel comfortable in a new house. It made them feel at home, and they made the delicious Turkish coffee using the recipe every Sunday morning. Friends and family came over to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, pita with cream cheese, pickles, kaak, etc. My great grandma always said that the coffee had to be made from this pot to taste good. This coffee pot made their Sundays complete. Making the Turkish coffee every week became a tradition that filled everyone with joy.
The significance of this artifact to my Jewish heritage is that they came from Syria with this small pot. It was a tool from their old country that they brought to their new home in Italy, and to their next house in Brooklyn, New York. My great grandma and great grandpa were Sephardic Jews, and this uniquely made coffee brought the community at the time together.
Maliech-Silver Tea Pot
Morocco
Elazar A.
The significance of this tea pot to my family is that it was my great grandpa's from Morocco. This tea pot was the only thing that he brought from Morocco when he moved to Israel, and with it, he remembers his family.
My family used this tea pot to make tea on many occasions, such as Jewish holidays.
Mortar and Pestle
Middle East
Grandma Reggie Arakanchi
This mortar and pestle is important because it was the only artifact my grandma had.
It was used for Shabbat and holidays to ground spices to prepare meals. It was common in the Middle East.
Morocan Tangine
Morocco
Rachel N.
My great grandma used this tangine to cook for her family while she was in Morocco. When she left she brought it to Israel where she continued the custom of cooking in it .
My artifact is used for cooking, and my mom uses it especially for the holidays. It has a very unique shape and it has two pieces. The base is wide and shallow and the tall lid fits perfectly. The foods you can make in it are meat, and vegetables, along with spices, oil, and water.
Spoon
Syria
Paula A
This is a spoon that my Grandma Pauline N. used to cook. To me it represents family because the family always got together on holidays.
They always remember the delicious meals that she prepared for Jewish holidays.
Furniture- Mirrored Buffet
Brooklyn, New York
My Grandma Sophie H
My Grandma Sophie studied the history of Art Deco. She liked how this style design looked so she decided to make one. This art design was first popular in 1923 in the Paris Exhibition. She liked how it was traditional and modern, and not just one plain color. In 1971 she designed her buffet and gave it to the furniture builder to create.
My Grandma Sophie designed it to store two sets of dishes, meat and dairy. She lights her Shabbat candles on it. On Hanukkah she puts her menorah on it. On the holidays she uses it to entertain. Now she puts Siddurim and Birkat Hamazon booklets in there.
Clay Pitcher
Kurdistan
Dorit K.
My great grandparents used this to get water from wells in Kurdistan. They never had a sink and had to draw water from the well. They always kept it with them while traveling.
My great grandparents were Jewish and left Kurdistan for better lives with more freedom.
Photo
Massachussets
Grandma Rose A.
This photograph reminds me that my great grandparents' marriage is the reason that I am alive today. Theirs was the first wedding in the new ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in June, 1946.
My great grandparents, Rose and Jack, were dating for six years before they married. After they married they lived in Quincy, Massachusetts and then moved to Brooklyn, NY in 1964.
Book on Magic
USA
My father, Jay H.
This artifact is an 80 year old book on magic, written by my great grandfather, who was a magician. He performed all over the world. He even performed with another famous Jewish magician, Houdini.
His family was Jewish and kept Shabbos.
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