Treasure Trove explores the curious case of a stamp from an imaginary land
This 1 V. postage revenue stamp from West Refaim was postmarked in Virikoso in South Giantsland 100 years ago. Problem is—none of these places ever existed. There is a second postmark for Nineveh, one of the great cities of antiquity, now called Mosul, Iraq. In the Bible, Jonah was ordered to go to Nineveh and […]
Treasure Trove reflects on the history of Jerusalem’s Western Wall
D. Appleton & Co., a publisher based in New York, released Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt in 1882, a series of 40 semi-monthly magazines with a goal was to bring the most complete description of Palestine and its surrounding area. Each issue cost 50 cents (about $15 today) and was richly illustrated with line engravings […]
Treasure Trove looks at the assassination of John F. Kennedy—and its legacy of distrust
Nov. 22 marks the 61st anniversary of the assassination of the 35th president of the United States. In his inauguration speech in 1961, John F. Kennedy famously said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” He also asked the countries of the world to fight the […]
Treasure Trove salutes the Jewish-Canadian woman who made the first Remembrance Day poppies
The poppies that we wear at this time of year are our visual pledge to remember the brave Canadian soldiers who served and sacrificed to preserve and defend our democracy. Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McRae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” in 1915 after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier. Inspired by […]
Treasure Trove: Bruce Springsteen touring Canada brings back memories of a Jewish political leader
Bruce Springsteen is playing multiple concerts across Canada this month. The Boss isn’t Jewish—but his E Street Band drummer of 50 years Max Weinberg is. Weinberg performed at bar mitzvahs in the New Jersey area starting at age seven, and even played at his own 13th birthday bash. He has publicly said that he embraces seriously the […]
Treasure Trove remembers Hannah Szenes, a Zionist hero executed by the Nazis 80 years ago
Hannah Szenes was a Zionist hero. Born in Hungary in 1921 to a wealthy and assimilated family, after experiencing antisemitism she became a Zionist and made aliyah to Palestine, arriving in 1939. In 1943, she approached the Jewish Agency to see if she could help the resistance movements in Europe. She was trained as a paratrooper […]
Treasure Trove remembers a Portuguese diplomat who was severely punished for saving Jews during the Holocaust
Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches (1885-1954) was the Portuguese consul stationed in Bordeaux, France who in May and June 1940 issued visas to thousands of desperate Jews seeking to escape to safety. Historian Yehuda Bauer said that Sousa Mendes’ actions were “perhaps the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.” […]
Treasure Trove: New York’s Polo Grounds saw some memorable moments in sports and Jewish history
New York’s Polo Grounds (1890-1964) hosted the New York Giants (both baseball and football), the New York Mets for two seasons, the New York Jets (then called the Titans), boxing matches and other sporting contests. What some say is the greatest baseball play of all time, “The Catch” made by Willie Mays in Game 1 […]
Treasure Trove: An Israeli artwork reflects the complex mix of emotions about Oct. 7
Michelle Shalmiev was born in a village in the Caucasian mountains and immigrated to Israel and settled on a kibbutz when she was 14. Her series “Putting Your Stamp on History” tells the history of Israel in 16 stamp artworks. The series includes this piece about Oct. 7, 2023, which she describes in her artist statement: “This […]
Treasure Trove wishes everyone a year of fulfilled dreams
This New Year’s card is from Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel), meaning it was printed before Israel was declared a state. After May 14, 1948, printed items such as these would say Medinat Yisrael– the State of Israel. The card features a serious Theodor Herzl and instead of wishing the recipient a Happy New Year or a Sweet […]
