There is always a good reason for why Jews have the customs we have as a religion. At the same time, however, there is almost always a real reason for the customs we have as well. And when it comes to the dreidel and the latke, two particular objects

Yosef, Marek and Sidonia Wallach, early 1930s Mark Wallach was born on September 2, 1930 in Lvov, Poland to Joseph and Sidonia Wallach. In 1939, the Germans invaded Poland and the Strauss family ended up in Soviet-controlled Poland until the Germans invaded the Soviet Union In 1941. After the invasion,

Israel Zoberman 1947 Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman was born in Kazakhstan on November 12, 1945. His father, Yechiel Zoberman, had been studying in Warsaw in 1939, but escaped to the Soviet Union with his parents and brothers. They were exiled to Siberia, and Yechiel spent five years in the Soviet

Joe and Theo, 1931 Theodore Brenig was born on July 17, 1927 to Baruch and Gittel Brenig. In 1938, after Kristallnacht, Baruch was arrested and taken to Dachau where he was released after three months. In 1942, the family was taken to Camp des Milles and in August, Baruch and

Hella and Lies wearing the star of David In 1931, Lina Simons moved to Utrecht, Netherlands with her new husband, Ben. In 1940, the Germans invaded and occupied the country. Shortly thereafter, the Simones were required to wear the yellow star. Students sympathetic to Hella and Lies, Lina's daughters, warned

Edward Spanier was born on April 13, 1910 in Enger, Germany to Max and Adele Spanier. On November 9, 1938, the police arrested Edward and his brother, Arnold, and cousin, Werner. The three men were taken to Buchenwald. Sometime near the end of November or beginning of December, the men

Jack Fayman was born on March 8, 1926 in Zawiercie, Poland to Joseph and Selma Faiman. He was one of six children, and his parents' only son. In 1943 his hometown was ghettoized and his family was forced to move into the Zawiercie ghetto. While there, Jack was assigned work

Henri with parents Sarah and Charles (1941-42) Henri Maizels was born in Paris, France December 4, 1939. His father was Charles Maizels, born in 1913 or 1914, in Kraschnik, Poland. His mother was Sarah Kirshenblatt (Sura Kiersenblat), born 1918 in Pulawy, Poland. The two married and lived in Paris. Sarah

Edna and Israel after liberation Eta Ipp (Butrimowitz) was born in Butrimantz, Lithuania in 1911. She eloped in 1933, marrying Isroel Ipp, a young lawyer. The couple had a son, Yacob Ipp, on June 5, 1935. Eta and Isroel raised their son in Viliampole (Slobodka), Lithuania near both Eta's and