Frank Meissner family collection

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37632
• English
• overall: Height: 69.250 inches (175.895 cm) | Width: 4.375 inches (11.113 cm)
• Updated 7 months ago

Long, narrow belt for a kittel, a ceremonial robe worn by a Jewish male, used by Norbert Meissner, who was president of the synagogue in Trest, Czechoslovakia, before and during the Holocaust. He and his wife, Lotte, and son, Leo, were deported to Theresienstadt in 1943. A year later, they were sent to Auschwitz death camp where they perished. The belt was preserved by his son, Frank. Frank, age 16, left Czechoslovakia in October 1939 because of the increasing Nazi persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he ...

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37629
• English
• overall: Height: 59.500 inches (151.13 cm) | Width: 17.000 inches (43.18 cm)
• Updated 7 months ago

Embroidered tallit gadol, a prayer shawl worn by Jewish males during morning prayers, used by Franz Meissner. Frank, age 16, left Trest in October 1939 because of the increasing Nazi persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he left for Denmark with members of Youth Aliyah, a organization that helped people to emigrate to Palestine. In 1943, the Germans began to deport all Jews from Denmark. Frank was warned that the Gestapo was looking for him and he was smuggled on a fishing boat to Sweden. He had been recei...

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37631
• English
• a: Height: 6.250 inches (15.875 cm) | Width: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) b: Height: 4.750 inches (12.065 cm) | Width: 4.500 inches (11.43 cm) c: Height: 9.250 inches (23.495 cm) | Width: 5.500 inches (13.97 cm)
• Updated 7 months ago

Tefillin set and green velvet storage pouch used by Franz Meissner who left Czechoslovakia for Denmark in October 1939. Tefillin are small boxes that contain prayers that are attached to leather straps and worn by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Franz, age 16, left Trest in October 1939 because of the increasing persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he left for Denmark with Youth Aliyah, a organization that helped people to emigrate to Palestine. In 1943, the Germans began to deport all Jews ...

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37627
• English
• 1906
• Updated 7 months ago

Prayer book carried and used by Franz Meissner with an inscription dated 1912 inside the front cover. Franz, age 16, left Czechoslovakia in October 1939 because of the increasing persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he left for Denmark with Youth Aliyah, an organization that helped people to emigrate to Palestine. In 1943, the Germans began to deport all Jews from Denmark. Frank was warned that the Gestapo was looking for him and he was smuggled on a fishing boat to Sweden. He had been receiving weekly le...

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37630
• English
• overall: Height: 4.000 inches (10.16 cm) | Width: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm)
• Updated 7 months ago

Cigarette holder used by Franz Meissner. Frank, age 16, left Czechoslovakia in October 1939 because of the increasing Nazi persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he left for Denmark with members of Youth Aliyah, a organization that helped people to emigrate to Palestine. In 1943, the Germans began to deport all Jews from Denmark. Frank was warned that the Gestapo was looking for him and he was smuggled on a fishing boat to Sweden. He had been receiving weekly letters from his family, even after their deport...

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• irn37625
• English
• a: Height: 33.000 inches (83.82 cm) | Width: 75.750 inches (192.405 cm) b: Height: 8.500 inches (21.59 cm) | Width: 13.250 inches (33.655 cm) c: Height: 10.750 inches (27.305 cm) | Width: 13.000 inches (33.02 cm)
• Updated 7 months ago

Black striped silk tallit gadol, a prayer shawl worn by Jewish males during morning services, and two storage pouches used by Franz Meissner. Frank, age 16, left Czechoslovakia in October 1939 because of the increasing Nazi persecution of Jews as Czechoslovakia was dismembered by Nazi Germany and its allies. With the encouragement of his family, he left for Denmark with members of Youth Aliyah, a organization that helped people to emigrate to Palestine. In 1943, the Germans began to deport all Jews from Denmark. Frank was warned that the Gestapo was looking for him and he was smuggled on a ...