The Wandering Jew

The Wandering Jew Mementos A Method to Remember

Part II

By Hershel Lieber

Over the years, we have traveled to many countries, especially in Europe. We have been to almost every state in the United States. We experienced various Jewish communities and encountered countless people. During the process, we gained a world of insight and understanding about others and about ourselves. We deem it important enough to remember the places, the experiences, and, most of all, the people. True, I am an avid photographer. Though I am not a professional, I am very passionate about recording our travels through photos and our home abounds with albums about our trips and about everything that happens in between.

Another way to recall our journeys is through mementos. Pesi does not like the word “souvenirs,” so I deferred to her wishes to call them mementos. We bought various items during our trips, and they are displayed throughout our home. They remind us of the places we visited. Rarely have we bought expensive items, since the main objective was that we remember where we were, and the price tag did not make a measurable difference. As long as the object was pretty or unusual and not kitschy, we added it to our collection.

I had an idea to present the readers of “The Wandering Jew” with a photo collection of the mementos that we collected over the past fifty years. Pesi thought it may be too irreverent as a subject for my article. I did consider her concern but decided that remembering our journeys by way of mementos is very normal. Recalling experiences by way of keepsakes is a valuable way to keep memories alive. L’havdil, Moshe Rabbeinu was told by Hashem to take some maan and put it in a flask in the Mishkan as a keepsake of Hashem’s benevolence in providing sustenance to the Jewish people in the desert. Our rabbis direct us to keep an unfinished “Amah al Amah” in our homes as a remembrance to the Churban of Yerushalayim. We have other objects that are kept as a form of communal memory of our history and as a segulah. I know that my mementos are in no way comparable, but the point that they are the means of recalling and, at times, reliving our experiences are somewhat similar.

Istanbul, Turkey, 2000 – Ornate silver scroll holder used to send messages. It only cost us $180, and we use it for besamim.

Kishinev, Moldova, 1996 – Ceramic house which can be lit up by inserting a tealight. This was from the very few souvenirs available in Moldova. Krakow, Poland – I bought this on my first trips to Poland in the mid 80s. It is a carved brass replica of the matzeiva of the Ramah by a known sculpturer. It has a special meaning to me.

Dublin, Ireland, 2001 – Decorative tiles of street scene objects (phone booth and street light) that we saw in Dublin. Hebron, Israel, 1973 –

We bought this vase at a time when we were still comfortable to walk in the Arab shuk of Hebron.

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Bratislava, Slovakia, 2007 - Handmade replicas of century old houses and watch tower in the Old Town.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 2003 - Leather flower wall hanging. Cordova, Spain, 2000 - Pewter frames which we use to display photos of grandparents. Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1980 - Decorative vase with hand painted flowers.

Moscow, Soviet Union, 1982 – Memento that was given by a Refusenik to Pesi after a Melave Malka in Moscow. Sarajevo, Bosnia, 2007 – Metal vessel bought in the Muslim bazaar. Toledo, Spain, 2000 – Geometric designs etched in gold on a metal plate in the style of the Moorish Muslims that ruled Spain for hundreds of years. Riga, Latvia, 1982 –Ceramic bottle.

Kotor, Montenegro, 2019 – We bought this in Kotor, a walled medieval town, because we loved it. It was created by peasants living in the surrounding mountains. Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Hex signs are commonly seen by the Amish on their barns and houses. This is a quilted wall hanging with that motif. Valetta, Malta, 2018 – Handblown glass vase portraying the ocean scenery surrounding this island country.

Laramie, Wyoming, 2018 – Western Art commonly depicts animals, cowboys and Indians that are part of the local heritage.