By Aliza Flug, Layout Editor and Social Media Manager
Artifacts retell a part of history. People tend not to pay attention to the meaning and life that lies within them. During a recent trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage with Professor Sari Sheinfeld’s Cultural Preservation class, students witnessed how Holocaust artifacts can connect us to the people who once owned them. Museum curator Charlotte Apter guided us through one of the museum’s exhibits: The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do.
I have always viewed pictures as one of the most sacred items preserved from the Holocaust, but failed to pay much attention to artifacts. Although people say that a picture is worth a thousand words, artifacts can tell a story that a picture will never be able to portray. Artifacts themselves have been in the very places as those who owned them too.
“It’s only if you really think about why every small dent is there, will you understand the true essence of the object’s history,” Bella Gottlieb (SCW ‘26) told the YU Observer after viewing the exhibit. With an understanding of the artifact’s history, viewers can develop a true appreciation for what they represent; artifacts were once critical parts of the everyday lives of those who owned them.
Children who lived through the Holocaust were forced to grow up quickly as a result of the violence they saw and suffered. In addition to being separated from their families, many children also witnessed the unparalleled mass murder, destruction and terror of the Holocaust. There is nothing that could fully soothe this pain, but many children were able to find comfort in the familiarity of their personal belongings.
On her fourth birthday in 1940, Eva Bas had been gifted a doll that she named Durdica. In 1941, her family, who lived in Croatia, left for Italy. Bas’s uncle printed a passport for the doll which her parents used to help Bas keep track of her own. The Bas family journeyed through the Alps towards Switzerland in 1944. Durdica’s head fell off as they approached the border, but they would not leave it behind. Risking their opportunity to enter Switzerland, they reversed course down the mountain in order to retrieve the doll’s head. The Bas family, along with Durdica, gained refuge in Switzerland.
Artifacts such as this were on view at the exhibit, including a toy Torah scroll that belonged to a young girl, Yocheved Farber. Upon reading the artifact’s description, I learned that unfortunately Farber had been separated from her family and was killed in a Kinderaktion, a Nazi massacre of Jewish children. This felt even more striking as our tour guide had shown us an image of Farber earlier in the tour and mentioned that her name would come up again later on. Seeing her own personal belongings that were preserved helped me feel a deeper connection to Farber. Learning about her death became personal. Although I had never heard of her previously, I was able to gain a connection and understanding through a simple toy.
These toys are just two examples of over 750 artifacts at this exhibit. There is much to be said about the various religious objects, clothing and personal belongings, but there is truly nothing that would compare to seeing these items in person.
In the museum’s mission statement, they write that their responsibility is to make sure the Holocaust is not forgotten. As we are living in the last generation where we will be able to hear the testimonies of Holocaust survivors from them, it is crucial to preserve the artifacts that remain. But artifact preservation can only go as far as to reach the people who view these artifacts. When we look closely, we realize that the history of our nation lies deep within them, right before our eyes.
Photo Caption: Artifacts in the Museum of Jewish Heritage
Photo Credit: Bella Gottlieb