Sparking the Jewish Story: The Objects That Define Us

Aurora Zinder grew up in Odessa, Russia, surviving under oppressive Soviet rule. In 1942, her father died fighting fascists in Ukraine. By the late 1970s, antisemitism in the USSR had grown so severe that Aurora and her family were forced to flee. Mindful of the corrupt whims of customs officials, they made difficult choices about which items they could bring with them on their journey to New York. A suitcase containing rare china survived the journey and these precious heirlooms still connect Aurora to her history. Her story is brought to life by artist Jacqueline Nicholls.

So much in the world feels overwhelming right now but we have a moral responsibility to amplify the voices of those in Afghanistan — particularly women and children. The scale of the problem may seem hopeless, but we don’t have the luxury of standing back. Our small actions can make a difference. They must. Big journeys begin with small steps.

Vienna-born Hedi Argent was bullied at school for being Jewish. As a child, she thought of her doll Susi as a friend. Anti-Jewish laws forced Hedi’s family to flee Austria for England in early 1939, just six weeks before the borders closed. Told by her parents that she could only take one toy, Hedi realized that she could not fit Susi in her suitcase, so she instead took Little Susi, an identical smaller doll which “belonged” to Susi. For more than 80 years, Little Susi has remained a trusted friend and confidant to Hedi throughout her life in England. Hedi’s story is brought to life by animator Stivens Luyo.

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