Whereas many people's families may cherish an object from their country of origin, my family values an object that was bought right after they immigrated to America- a tallis. A tallis is a fringed garment traditionally worn by Jewish men. Typically it is worn over a man’s clothing while praying. When my great-grandparents traveled to America from Poland, they settled in Brooklyn, which is where they bought my family´s tallis. My great-grandfather got the tallis from a small shop where he lived in Brooklyn. The tallis was the first special object my great-grandfather bought when he moved to America. Since my parents did not have any boys my father passed the tallis down to my sister and me. The tallis is passed down from each generation when the person it is given to turns thirteen. Although my sister and I share the tallis, my sister received it first, since she is older. When Jewish youths turn thirteen, they typically have a bar/bat mitzvah. This symbolizes when the child enters adulthood. Knowing my great-grandfather, grandfather, and dad all wore the tallis and owned it makes it special that I am able to cherish it. The tallis is important to my identity because it represents my religion and symbolizes where my family has come from and what they have gone through to get to where we are now.

– JL

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