Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Seder plate given to Nathan Abramowitz, Chaplain in the United States Army. It was used by Holocaust survivors post-liberation at Foehrenwald displaced persons camp, near Munich, Germany. The original 10 1/4" ceramic Passover Seder plate was manufactured with the help of the "Joint" in 1948 in the Foehrenwald displaced persons camp near Munich, Germany by some of the homeless Holocaust survivors then living in Europe. The hand-made pottery piece made of clay with the green glaze, containing streaks that the crafters controlled by dripping the glaze during application. The plate contains the names of the symbolic foods. The text on one side of the decorative motif on the rim reads "From Slavery to Freedom." The other text speaks of the determination that the survivors had for the opening of the gates of Palestine for Jewish re-settlement and reads "This year in Jerusalem" in place of the traditional text which reads "Next year in Jerusalem." One scene portrays laborers being forced to work in the shadow of a pyramid and another portrays an idyllic Jerusalem with its domed building and palm trees. Also included is the name "Joint" for the Joint Distribution Committee. She'erit ha-Peletah: "A considerable number and variety of Jewish agencies were active among the DPs. First to reach the Jewish survivors were the Jewish military chaplains, and it was they who established the first link between the survivors and the outside world. Of special importance was the work of Abraham Klausner, who introduced a system for locating survivors, publishing lists of their names and where they were to be found, under the title She'erit ha-Peletah (the first volume of which appeared in June 1945). Klausner also helped to establish the Central Committee of the She'erit ha-Peletah and to organize the Jews in the DP camps.
- Date
-
received:
1948
- Geography
-
use:
Fohrenwald (Displaced persons camp);
Waldram (Germany)
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of A. Nathan Abramowitz In honor of Dr. Barbara Hillson Abramowitz
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Category
-
Jewish ceremonial objects
- Object Type
-
Seder plates (lcsh)
- Physical Description
- Green, glazed soft earthenware plate. Written in Hebrew on front is "From Slavery to Freedom," and "This Year in Jerusalem." In English is the word "Joint" and in Hebrew, "Religious Office." Two scenes of two laborers being forced to work by a master in the shadow of a pyramid and a representation of Jerusalem. Includes six places, designated by Hebrew characters, for ceremonial food to be placed. Stamped on back, in Hebrew, "She'erit ha-Peletah; A product of She-erit ha-Peletah of Germany," inserted in the middle, in English, "Employment Board."
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 10.000 inches (25.4 cm)
- Materials
- overall : clay, ceramic glaze
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The seder plate was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz.
- Record last modified:
- 2024-02-21 07:11:15
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn6017
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