I had a Safta Sabina who lived in Dzialoszyce, Poland. She died almost two years ago — she was 100 years old. She was a sweet, nice lady and a nice gift from Hashem. I think of her a lot, and I feel she is still with us everywhere.

When Safta was about 24 years old, before she was married, World War II started and the Germans were headed to Poland. The family was very scared and worried. The three daughters and everyone else in the house were running to hide all of their valuables like jewelry and silverware. They buried the items under coal in the cellar, and they all went to hide in the forest. Then the German soldiers attacked and broke all the windows, and ripped down the houses, and knocked down buildings. My Safta ran away to the Russian side of Poland. She met my Sabba there, and they got married during the war. Then the Russians sent her to Uzbekistan and she had a baby, my father Arie.

When the war was finally over, five years later, my Safta, who was the only one alive, went back to the house to find the valuables. Deep in the cellar she dug with a shovel, finally finding one of the two candelabras. And now my family has it! We light it every Shabbat, and I think of my Safta and my whole family.
The candelabra is silver-plated and has five branches. My mother lights a candle for each of us, and I light the one on the very top and center of the menorah.

I think that this is a very nice and special story — and hope it will encourage more Jewish girls and women to light Shabbat candles.

 

—  Shoshana Ferber, Age 11
Homeschool
Connecticut, USA