Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Apron used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
- Date
-
received:
approximately 1945
- Geography
-
received:
Eisiskes (Lithuania)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Yaffa Eliach
- Contributor
-
Subject:
Yaffa Eliach
- Biography
-
Yaffa Sonenson was born on May 31, 1936, to Shalom Ben-Shemesh (Moshe) and Zipporah Katz Sonenson in Eisiskes, Poland (Lithuania). Her older brother, Yitzhak Uri, was born in 1932. Yaffa's maternal grandparents, Yitzhak Uri and Alte Rahel-Yehudit Katz, were professional photographers. Alte also owned a bakery, was a pharmacist , and served as director of the school education committee. Eisikes was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, two days after Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union. The Jewish residents were harassed and humiliated by the soldiers. Moshe, who was a member of the volunteer fire department, was ordered to hose down his brother with the fire hose or he would be shot. A few days later, attack dogs were set upon members of the Jewish council, including Moshe. About the same time, Zipporah gave birth to another boy; the brit milah was held in secret. The Jewish council was told to organize men for forced labor units. Then, a few days later, Jewish residents were told to surrender all their valuables. The Germans announced that Jews had permission to hold High Holiday services. Moshe was suspicious and wanted the family to flee, but his mother-in-law, Alte, refused. Moshe sent Yitzhak and Yaffa to live with Zozia Aliszkewicz, their Polish housekeeper. On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Lithuanian collaborators began rounding up Jews. They were held in the main synagogue and two adjoining buildings. Four days later, on September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians joined with German Einstazgruppe (mobile killing units) and began systematically killing all the Jews. Alte was among the murdered. After the shooting stopped, a peasant boy came to Zozia's house to fetch the children and bring them to their father who had fled. Once they met their father, they had to continue walking to a safer hiding place, passing the bodies of murdered friends lying in the snow. They went to Vassiliosk and stayed with a former business acquaintance. That night, Moshe was arrested and jailed. He escaped and, badly beaten, fled again with his children. After two days of walking, they came to Radun where they reunited with Zipporah and the infant.
The Germans had established a ghetto in Radun, and the Sonensons lived there for about six months. Yaffa attended a clandestine Hebrew school, and her father and brother went out to work. On May 10, 1942, Moshe heard that the Germans planned to liquidate the ghetto and decided the family should flee again. He brought the family to a carriage house used to store fodder for horses. There were already other Jews hiding there who feared that the baby would give them away. Moshe negotiated to allow his family to remain; the baby was smothered and died. When they came out of the hiding place, they saw streets filled with dead bodies. Only sixty Jews remained, assigned the job of cleaning up. Moshe's family temporarily joined this group, and then fled to the forests on May 28. Moshe next took his family to the home of Kazimirz Korcucz, a Polish Catholic aristocrat who Alte and Uri Sonenson had assisted during World War I (1914-1918). He was reluctant to help, but eventually agreed for a sum of money and found them a spot in a cave under a pigsty. As rumors spread in the village that Kazimirz was hiding Jews, he told them they had to leave. They stayed briefly with another Polish friend who also became fearful and asked them to leave. By this time Zipporah again was pregnant. The family had nowhere else to go and returned to Kazimirz in desperation. He hid them again. After the baby's birth, Moshe left him in a basket outside the church with a note saying the baby was born out of wedlock to a member of a prominent Polish family and requested that he be baptized and adopted. On July 13, 1944, Soviet troops liberated the region.
The family returned to Eisiskes. Jews had lived in the town for over 900 years. From a prewar Jewish population of 3500, the Sonensons were among only 29 who had survived. That fall, Moshe went to the priest and managed to retrieve his youngest son. A party was held on October 20 to celebrate the return of the boy who they named Chaim. Soon after the party ended, the family heard an uproar and hid in a closet. A band of young members of the Polish Home Army barged into the home and found the hiding place. They shot and killed Zipporah and the baby at close range, but they did not notice Yaffa, Moshe, and her brother Yitzhak. The police arrested the assailants, but freed them almost immediately. After the funeral, Moshe left with the children for the neighboring town of Aran. Two months later, in December 1944, Moshe was denounced by other Jewish survivors, arrested by the NKVD (Soviet secret police), and sentenced by the courts to forced labor for life in Kazakhstan. Yaffa and Yitzhak went to stay with a group of Jewish former partisans. After a while, Yaffa found her uncle Shlomo, Moshe's brother. He had a British passport since he had lived in Palestine before the war. Claiming Yaffa as his daughter, they left the Soviet Union and made their way to Palestine, arriving in April 1946. Yaffa attended a religious Zionist Mizrahi high school. It had a young principal, David Eliach, and they fell in love and married in 1953. Moshe finally was freed and permitted to leave the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s. He came to Israel and became a farmer.
Yaffa and David emigrated to the United States. The couple has two children. Yaffa received a doctorate in history and founded the first Center for Holocaust Studies in the US. The Tower of Faces exhibit in the USHMM permanent exhibit was created from the Yaffa Eliach Shtetl collection. It contains nearly 1000 reproductions of prewar photographs of Jewish life in Eisiskes that Yaffa gathered from more than 100 families. Most of them were taken by her grandparents, Yitzhak and Alte Katz, and their assistants, Ben-Zion Szrejder and Rephael Lejbowicz. Dr. Eliach, 79, passed away on November 8, 2016.
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Dress Accessories
- Category
-
Protective wear
- Object Type
-
Aprons (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- White cloth apron with an eyelet top and a small apron front.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 58.500 inches (148.59 cm)
- Materials
- overall : cloth, thread
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The apron was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Yaffa Eliach.
- Funding Note
- The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
- Record last modified:
- 2024-10-03 12:22:14
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn5971
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Also in Yaffa Eliach Shtetl collection
The collection consists of artifacts related to the experiences of Yaffa Sonenson and her family in Ejszyszki, Poland (Eisiskes, Lithuania) and the Radun ghetto (Belarus) before and during the Holocaust when, as a child, she lived in hiding, and also artifacts collected by Dr. Eliach relating to Jewish life in the shtetl before the war.
Date: 1936-1942
Star of David badge with a blank center worn in the Radun ghetto
Object
Star of David badge worn by Moshe Sonenson in the Radun ghetto in Poland (Belarus) from October 1941-May 1942. Jews were required to wear the badges displayed on their clothing at all times, to mark them as undesirables. On June 23, 1941, the town, Eisiskes, where Moshe lived with his wife Zipporah, newborn son, 5 year old daughter Yaffa, and 9 year old son Yitzhak, was occupied by German troops. When the Germans encouraged celebration of the Jewish New Year that September, Moshe was suspicious and sent Yaffa and Yitzhak to their Polish housekeeper. A few days later, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jews. On September 25-26, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units slaughtered all the Jews. Moshe, Zipporah and the baby escaped. Moshe retrieved the children and reunited with Zipporah in Radun. On May 10, 1942, Moshe learned of German plans to destroy the ghetto. He found a hiding place, but those already there said the baby put them at risk of discovery; he was smothered and died. When they emerged from hiding, the streets were littered with dead bodies. Moshe moved his family from hiding place to hiding place until July 1944, when the region was freed by Soviet troops. They returned to Eisiskes. Soon after, young members of the Polish Home Army invaded their home and killed Zipporah and their 1 year old son. That December, Moshe was denounced by other Jewish survivors to the Soviets and sentenced to forced labor for life. Yaffa later located Moshe's brother, Shlomo, and was able to go with him to Palestine in April 1946.
Star of David badge with a blank center worn in the Radun ghetto
Object
Star of David badge worn by Moshe Sonenson in the Radun ghetto in Poland (Belarus) from October 1941-May 1942. Jews were required to wear the badges displayed on their clothing at all times, to mark them as undesirables. On June 23, 1941, the town, Eisiskes, where Moshe lived with his wife Zipporah, newborn son, 5 year old daughter Yaffa, and 9 year old son Yitzhak, was occupied by German troops. When the Germans encouraged celebration of the Jewish New Year that September, Moshe was suspicious and sent Yaffa and Yitzhak to their Polish housekeeper. A few days later, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jews. On September 25-26, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units slaughtered all the Jews. Moshe, Zipporah and the baby escaped. Moshe retrieved the children and reunited with Zipporah in Radun. On May 10, 1942, Moshe learned of German plans to destroy the ghetto. He found a hiding place, but those already there said the baby put them at risk of discovery; he was smothered and died. When they emerged from hiding, the streets were littered with dead bodies. Moshe moved his family from hiding place to hiding place until July 1944, when the region was freed by Soviet troops. They returned to Eisiskes. Soon after, young members of the Polish Home Army invaded their home and killed Zipporah and their 1 year old son. That December, Moshe was denounced by other Jewish survivors to the Soviets and sentenced to forced labor for life. Yaffa later located Moshe's brother, Shlomo, and was able to go with him to Palestine in April 1946.
Red brushed velvet tefillin pouch with a Star of David found in postwar Berlin
Object
Red velvet bag found by 9 year old Yaffa Sonenson in Berlin in 1945. It stored a set of tefillin, 1992.169.3 b-c, prayer boxes worn by Jewish males during services. On June 23, 1941, the town, Eisiskes, where Yaffa lived with her parents Moshe and Zipporah, a newborn, and an older brother, 9 year old son Yitzhak, was occupied by German troops. When the Germans encouraged celebration of the Jewish New Year that September, her father was suspicious and sent Yaffa and Yitzhak to their Polish housekeeper. A few days later, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jews. On September 25-26, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units slaughtered them. Moshe and Zipporah, with the baby, escaped. Yaffa and Yitzhak were retrieved by Moshe and reunited with Zipporah in Radun. On May 10, 1942, Moshe learned of German plans to destroy the ghetto. He found a hiding place, but those already there said the baby put them at risk of discovery; he was smothered and died. When they emerged from hiding, the streets were littered with dead bodies. Moshe moved his family from hiding place to hiding place until July 1944, when the region was freed by Soviet troops. They returned to Eisiskes. Soon after, young members of the Polish Home Army invaded their home and killed Zipporah and her 1 year old son. That December, Moshe was denounced to the Soviets by other Jewish survivors and sentenced to forced labor for life. Yaffa later located Moshe's brother, Shlomo, and was able to go with him to Palestine in April 1946.
Betar patch with an embroidered menorah worn by an internee at a displaced persons camp
Object
Betar badge worn by Evelyn Kahn Landsman when she was in a displaced persons camp in Germany in 1946. Betar is an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor, an activist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia. It aided many refugees who wished to emigrate to Palestine in the postwar period.
Betar logo patch worn by an internee at a displaced persons camp
Object
Betar logo badge worn by Evelyn Kahn Landsman when she was in a displaced persons camp in Germany in 1946. Betar is an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor, an activist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia. It aided many refugees who wished to emigrate to Palestine in the postwar period.
Betar epaulet worn by an internee at a displaced persons camp
Object
Betar epaulet worn by Evelyn Kahn Landsman when she was in a displaced persons camp in Germany in 1946. Betar is an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor, an activist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia. It aided many refugees who wished to emigrate to Palestine in the postwar period.
Betar epaulet worn by an internee at a displaced persons camp
Object
Betar epaulet worn by Evelyn Kahn Landsman when she was in a displaced persons camp in Germany in 1946. Betar is an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor, an activist Zionist youth movement founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia. It aided many refugees who wished to emigrate to Palestine in the postwar period.
Handkerchief embroidered with American flags given to an internee at a displaced persons camp by a US soldier
Object
Embroidered handkerchief given to Evelyn Kahn Landsman by an American soldier in 1946 when she was in a displaced persons camp in Germany.
Handmade linen band
Object
Small wallet handmade from red paper from the German occupation
Object
Small wallet handmade from red paper from the German conquest.
Cleaver used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Cleaver used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Kitchen pestle used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Kirched pestle used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Fork used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Fork used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Fork used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Fork used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Spoon used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Spoon used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Glass bottle handcrafted prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Handblown bottle made in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Loom shuttle used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Shuttle used in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Tambourine used by kindergartners prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Tambourine used by kindergartners in Ejszyszki, Poland (Eisiskes, Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Cymbals used by kindergartners prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Tambourine used by kindergartners in Ejszyszki, Poland (Eisiskes, Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Copper cooking pot used prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Copper pot used in prewar Ejszyszki, Poland (Eisiskes, Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Green canvas knapsack taken from a German soldier by a partisan
Object
Knapsack taken from a German soldier by Reuven Paikowski from a German soldier during an ambush by his partisan unit in a forest near Ejszyszki, Poland [Eisiskes, Lithuania]. Reuven and his wife, Zahava, both partisans, used the knapsack during the Brichah [escape], in Cyprus, and later in Israel. It was later used by their sons while serving in the Gadna. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Framed needlepoint tulips made prewar in the Eisiskes shtetl
Object
Framed needlepoint tulips made in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar of stones from the river near Eisiskes
Object
Jarred containers of stones from the Olkieniki river near Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar containing wheat seeds from Eisiskes
Object
Jarred container of spelt from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar containing rye seeds from Eisiskes
Object
Jarred container of rye seeds from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar containing rye seeds from Eisiskes
Object
Jarred container of rye seeds from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar containing barley seeds from Eisiskes
Object
Jarred container of barley seeds from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Jar containing horsefeed from Eisiskes
Object
Jarred container of grain for horsefeed from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Set of tefillin found postwar by a young Polish Jewish survivor
Object
Red velvet bag found by 9 year old Yaffa Sonenson in Berlin in 1945. It stored a set of tefillin, 1992.169.3 b-c, prayer boxes worn by Jewish males during services. On June 23, 1941, the town, Eisiskes, where Yaffa lived with her parents Moshe and Zipporah, a newborn, and an older brother, 9 year old son Yitzhak, was occupied by German troops. When the Germans encouraged celebration of the Jewish New Year that September, her father was suspicious and sent Yaffa and Yitzhak to their Polish housekeeper. A few days later, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jews. On September 25-26, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units slaughtered them. Moshe and Zipporah, with the baby, escaped. Yaffa and Yitzhak were retrieved by Moshe and reunited with Zipporah in Radun. On May 10, 1942, Moshe learned of German plans to destroy the ghetto. He found a hiding place, but those already there said the baby put them at risk of discovery; he was smothered and died. When they emerged from hiding, the streets were littered with dead bodies. Moshe moved his family from hiding place to hiding place until July 1944, when the region was freed by Soviet troops. They returned to Eisiskes. Soon after, young members of the Polish Home Army invaded their home and killed Zipporah and her 1 year old son. That December, Moshe was denounced to the Soviets by other Jewish survivors and sentenced to forced labor for life. Yaffa later located Moshe's brother, Shlomo, and was able to go with him to Palestine in April 1946.
Poster announcing a rally to support Zionism
Object
Poster advertsing a rally sponsored by a Zionist organization in Cologne, Germany, on February 1, 1936. It features a choir and speakers on the cultural aspects of Jewish life, including Dr. Kaleko, head of the Culture Department for the Zionist Organization of Germany, Rabbi Dr. Phillipp, and a Hebrew Choir.
Program for a Jewish cultural event in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany
Object
Original program for a Jewish cultural event, Ethnic tongue/National tongue, on Monday, May 18, 1936. The event was titled Hebraischer Abend with speaker, Dr. S. Kaleko. It was sponsored by the Zionist Community of Stuttgart, Ethnic tongue/National tongue. Monday, May 18, 1936.
Program for a Jewish cultural event in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany
Object
Program of events for a Jewish cultural event in Nazi Germany on March 21, 1936. Among the featured speakers was Dr. Kaleko, the head of the Culture Department for the Zionist Organization of Germany.
Insert from a program for a Jewish cultural event in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany
Object
Program of events for a Jewish cultural event in Nazi Germany on March 21, 1936. Among the featured speakers was Dr. Kaleko, the head of the Culture Department for the Zionist Organization of Germany.
Program for a Hebrew Celebration of Shabbat in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany
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Program for a Jewish cultural event in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany, with the participation of Dr. Kaleko. The event was sponsored by the Zionist Community Group of Mannheim, as billed as a Hebrew evening, Sunday, May 17, 1936, 8:30 pm with lecture by Dr. S. Kaleko on the subject of ."..because they didn't change in their language."
Program for a lecture series on Jewish life by a Zionist organization in pre-Kristallnacht Berlin
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Schedule for a lecture series offered in Berlin, Germany, in November 1935 by the Zionist Organization of Berlin. It also announces a Hebrew Literature Seminar by Dr. Kaleko, the head of the Culture Department for the Zionist Organization of Germany. There is Yiddish inscribed on the reverse.
Program for a Hebrew Celebration of Shabbat in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany
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Program for a Hebrew Celebration of Shabbat in pre-Kristallnacht Nazi Germany, with the participation of Dr. Kaleko.
White tablecloth with blue and yellow needlepoint flowers saved from the Eisiskes shtetl
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Small tablecloth with embroidered flowers saved by a Jewish family from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Dental scaler used to sew up sacks of wheat, flour, and sugar by a Jewish family in prewar Eisiskes
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Dental scaler used by the Farber family to sew up sacks of wheat, flour, and sugar in prewar Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Pressed flowers saved from the Eisiskes shtetl
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Pressed flowers from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
Pressed flowers saved from the Eisiskes shtetl
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Pressed dried leaves or botanical specimens from Ejszyszki (Eisiskes) Poland (now Lithuania). Jews had lived in Eisiskes for over 900 years. Prewar Eisiskes, circa 1939, had approximately 3500 Jews, the majority of the population. The town was occupied by German troops on June 23, 1941, days after the surprise invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. The German authorities issued a proclamation in September that gave Jewish residents permission to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Just before the holiday, Lithuanian collaborators rounded up the Jewish residents and detained them in the synagogue and two adjoining buildings. They were joined by 1000 Jews from neighboring villages. On September 25-26, 1941, the Lithuanians and German mobile killing units began the systematic slaughter of the captives; only 29 escaped the massacre.
