These beautiful silver candlesticks first came into my family when they lived in Poland in the 1800s. They are used on Shabbat, or “Shobbus,” as we call it. My ancestors brought the candlesticks with them from Poland to England when they moved in the late 19th century. There they were constant symbols of home and of their Jewish faith. The candlesticks were continually passed down, and in 2011, my grandparents gave them to my parents to take back with us to New York, where we moved in 2000. It’s funny how all these years later, they still remind my family of home, even though that home is now England rather than Poland. The candlesticks mean a lot to me as they remind me of what has changed and what has always been the same throughout my family history. They help bridge my identity to my ancestors’ across national and linguistic differences. The first Shabbat we used the candlesticks in New York, I remember thinking how strange it was that objects so old could feel so new. Since then, walking by the candlesticks every day has unfortunately somewhat numbed the novelty and meaning that they once held. I want to make an effort to remember and celebrate them as the important symbols of family that they are, so that even in a city like New York, where there are so many nationalities and religions, my own identity can be strengthened. 

 

– Lauren

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant