My great-great grandma made this shawl.  She was a Hungarian Jew, who moved to the United States, around the turn of the 20th century. She brought the shawl with her. More than that, she brought her knowledge of how to crochet and sew. She was also an excellent cook, and very meticulous about cleaning. In New York she met her husband, and gave birth to my great grandma—my Nana, to whom she passed on all her knowledge of cooking, cleaning and crochet. The shawl went from my Nana to my grandma to my mother to me.  Just like the shawl, my great-great grandma passed down her skills, but some things got lost in the transfer. I can’t cook like she did. My room is always a mess. Although my great-great grandmother was Hungarian, I don’t feel like I am Hungarian, and only barely consider myself Jewish. How can I connect to a woman whose identity has become so distant from mine? How am I meant to honor her memory?  When I was about nine my Nana sat me down and taught me how to crochet. My cousin wouldn’t sit still for it, so it felt extra special—like she was choosing me to carry on this part of her legacy. When I look at this shawl I imagine my great grandmother teaching my Nana how to crochet, just like my Nana taught me. She and my grandma passed away before I got the chance to ask them about my great-great grandma. There are so many things I still don’t know. Even though I can never meet her, our craft links us together. The shawl is a reminder of her story and our connection 

– AH

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more