The Magic Potion

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"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." – Albert Einstein
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Shabbos Candlesticks- A Story of Courage

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I love this Retrospect site, and was especially touched by this prompt. When I saw Betsy’s posting, with the photo of her grandmother’s candlesticks, I wanted to share a photo of my own: the candlesticks I have from my own grandmother. They’re almost identical.

My grandmother was given these Shabbos candlesticks on her wedding day in Poland/Ukraine- around 1905. During a pogrom, the Cossacks were confiscating all their valuables, including the candlesticks. When my aunt, around 8 years old, saw that the Cossacks were beating her grandfather to death in the other room, she ran over and demanded that they stop. The Cossacks were so shocked that they laughed, stopped, and asked my grandmother if they could take her with them as a mascot. My grandmother said the family needed her on the farm, and the Cossacks were so impressed by my aunt’s courage that they said that she and my grandmother should go to the police station the next day, where they could take one item that the Cossacks were stealing back home with them. They stayed up all night, worrying that this was a trap, but with no choice, they went to the station and chose to take back the Shabbos candlesticks. Three years later, they carried it with them on the boat to Ellis Island, and to their new home in Hartford. I watched them “bench lichts” (light the candles) often during during my childhood. Since I inherited these candlesticks, I’ve lit them often- at ceremonies including my son’s bris, his Bar Mitzvah, and on many Shabbos evenings/Shabbats- and recall their stories of courage and hope with gratitude.

Thanks for sharing these stories, Suzy.

Warmly,
Sharon