We can see four hand prints with names underneath them. We can also see a black and white photograph of a man under the name Moshe Nurtman.

Look closely- what can you see?

Moshe’s family square features a rainbow which represents the life and hope that was born from so much hate.  Look closely to see the names and ages above the rainbow. These are Moshe’s parents, brothers and sisters who perished in the Holocaust. Israel (44 years old), Sarah (38 years old), Benjamin (18 years old), Esther-Brandel (16 years old), Samuel (11 years old) and Rose (8 years old).  Their names shall never be forgotten.

The doughnuts in the Tree of Life represent Moshe’s memories of his mother buying doughnuts for the family whenever there was a special occasion. The six candles on the square commemorate the 6 million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.

The middle section of the square tells about Moshe’s life in London. He enjoyed going to the Turkish Bath, playing cards, and worked in the textile industry.

The rest of the square represents Moshe’s pride and joy.  The names of his three sons – Howard, Saul and Mickey and the handprints of his grandchildren, Alex, Lexie, Joelle and Samuel.

We might wonder how Moshe felt when he arrived in England? We also might wonder why Moshe decided to make this square with his family?

What do you wonder?

Object name: Memory Quilt Square

Date: 2014

Material(s): Textiles & Paint

Artist: Victoria Jossel

Size: 30cm x 30cm

On display in the Jewish Museum? No

The Boys Memory Quilt

After World War II in 1945, Britain agreed to take in 1,000 Holocaust survivors under the age of 18.  However, only 732 children could be found. The children and teenagers who were brought to Britain came to be called “The Boys” as there were only 80 girls in the group.

Many of The Boys remained in the UK, although some later moved abroad. They formed their own organisation, the ’45 Aid Society, to provide support to members in need and raise money for good causes. The ’45 Aid society continues to meet each year to celebrate their liberation and survival.

The children and grandchildren of the Boys have set up their own second generation group to keep the stories of their parents and grandparents alive. Second Generation organises community events, educational activities and fundraising.

To mark the 70th Anniversary of their Liberation in 2015, the children and grandchildren of The Boys created a Memory Quilt to commemorate their parents and keep their memories alive. The individual squares talk of lost families and communities. They allude to unimaginable horrors that cast indelible marks on their lives. There are incredible stories of survival, success in creating new families and businesses, and making a contribution to British society. Above all, the squares tell the stories of the love of family that lives on.