This is a very special object to my family. In addition to the Torah being a sacred book, this specific Torah has stayed with us through wars, oppression, and eventually, freedom. This Torah comes from a shtetl in Ukraine near the Russian border. My family fled this shtetl in a hurry after the Soviet Union, led by Stalin, wanted to destroy all shtetls. This is one of a few objects that was taken with my great grandfather and still remains in our family today. It has been handed down from generation to generation and is now in our possession. This Torah has lived more years and experienced more struggle than many people alive today. It has seen two world wars, the inside of many bags and suitcases, hundreds of seasons, and sat on many shelves. Yet it lives. 

-Sawyer Jennings

– SJ

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant