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 […]
Treasure Trove looks at the enduring and international appeal of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Fiddler on the Roof opened on Broadway on Sept. 22, 1964. The musical, based on a story by Sholem Aleichem, is about the life of Tevye the milkman, and his three daughters in the town of Anatevka. Although Anatevka was a fictional place, it’s now the name of a village for refugees outside Kyiv and has Jewish […]
Treasure Trove has comes to life at an exhibit in New York City
Why would the Oriental Fisheries Co. of Chicago name a brand of the finest Norwegian brisling sardines after Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement and the visionary of the State of Israel? The truth is, I don’t know. Although some might say that branding tiny fish with Herzl’s name and likeness discredits his memory, […]
Treasure Trove: If you own a share like this, Israel could owe you some money
The Jewish Colonial Trust was established on March 20, 1899. The first Zionist bank was the brainchild of Theodor Herzl who understood that funding would be required to make his vision of a Jewish homeland a reality. Each share cost one English pound, the equivalent of $280 today. (Herzl bought the first 1,000 shares which was a […]
