My Grandmother and her grandparents came to America in the early 1900’s. The Spanish Flu was  ending at that time. My Great-Great Grandparents, Sam Haratz and Esther Medeloff came from different parts of Russia. Throughout history Jewish people have been persecuted for no reason other than they were Jews. In the early 1900’s, Cossacks in Russia would come and steal, burn down the homes and often kill Jewish people for no reason. The Jews wanted to practice their religion and live in freedom. Many people had heard that America was “The Land Of The Free" and they decided to risk their lives to make the journey to America. When Esther came here, she arrived with her parents and one sister and four brothers. Still all but two young nephews of Esther perished in The Holocaust. Sam Haratz arrived in America a few years after Esther, he escaped Russia and went through much danger to arrive in America at the age of 17 years old.The families coming to America had only their clothing, the little money they had and some very special family heirlooms. Esther’s mother, my  Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Rebecca, brought two sets of sterling silver candlesticks. She ultimately gave each set to her two daughters that arrived in America with her. The set that Esther had was eventually given to her own daughter, My Grandmother's Aunt Stella and my  Great Grandfather Frank's sister. These Shabbat candlesticks have been in my family for over six generations and they are still used every week!

– EC

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