At a Glance
- YIVO’s 100-Object book uncovers Otto Frank’s 1941 US visa appeal.
- A Nazi portrait painted on a Torah scroll is part of the collection.
- The archive also holds a glass menorah-bong and Lenci dolls from post-war camps.
- Why it matters: Readers gain a deeper look at overlooked Holocaust artifacts that shape Jewish memory.
In celebration of its centennial, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research released a book titled 100 OBJECTS from the Collection of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, showcasing items that span the breadth of Jewish history-from the Holocaust to everyday life after the war.
Celebrating a Century: YIVO’s 100-Object Book
The YIVO Institute, founded in 1925 in Vilna, now in New York, has curated a collection that reflects every facet of Jewish life.
Its executive director, Jonathan Brent, explained that the archive contains Zionist, anti-Zionist, anarchist, Bolshevik, immigration, and atheistic materials, showing the full spectrum.
To honor 100 years, YIVO selected 100 items for the book, emphasizing how archives can both preserve and erase history.
Otto Frank’s 1941 Appeal for American Refuge
Otto Frank wrote to Nathan Straus, Jr., a former Macy’s co-owner, seeking a deposit for a US visa in 1941.
His letter, dated April 30 1941, emphasized that the children’s safety was the priority.
Otto Frank wrote:
> “The only way to get to a neutral country are visas of others States such as Cuba.”
Cuba issued one visa in his name, but it was cancelled ten days later when Germany declared war on the United States.
- Date: April 30 1941 – Frank’s appeal to Nathan Straus, Jr.
- Destination: Cuba, the only neutral country at that time.
- Outcome: Visa cancelled after Germany declared war on the U.S.
A Nazi Portrait on a Torah Scroll
A striking oil painting of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, painted on a torn Torah scroll, is part of YIVO’s holdings.
The portrait, discovered by an American couple in a Vienna flea market, juxtaposes a bureaucrat with a desecrated religious text.
Brent noted:
> “Seyss-Inquart looks like an ordinary bureaucrat, a tax official or bank teller, except that the portrait appears on a piece of parchment ripped from a Torah, desecrating the text.”
He added:
> “It was really an act of tremendous, lethal hatred that inspired it, and which you have to somehow connect with that very banal expression.”
A Young Rothschild’s Talmud Manuscript
A 12-year-old Amschel Moses Rothschild copied a Talmud tractate in 1721-22, a manuscript later passed through his family for over a century.
The document is an early example of the Rothschild family’s engagement with Jewish law before their banking dynasty emerged.
Lenci Dolls from Displaced Persons Camps
In 1989, YIVO received 17 Lenci dolls, each dressed in traditional Siena contrada costumes.
The dolls were made by children in an Italian displaced persons camp after World War II, symbolizing hope for a future.
Brent said:
> “The dolls from the DP camps are extraordinary expressions of hopefulness about the future, about children playing, the idea that children actually could play.”
Antisemitic Letter from Mohonk Mountain House
A 1922 letter from Lake Mohonk Mountain House rejected employment for a Jewish couple, citing race rather than religion.
The letter states, “We do not employ people of your race,” reflecting the eugenics-driven racism of the era.
The current president, Eric Gullickson, wrote:
> “We regret that 103 years ago an employee of Mohonk took this action on behalf of the Smiley family.”
The Grossinger Photo of Taylor & Fisher
A 1959 photograph captures Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher laughing amid a crowd at Grossinger’s resort in the Catskills.
The image, taken during Taylor’s fourth marriage, illustrates the resort’s status as a celebrity hotspot.
The Glass Menorah-Bong
A unique glass menorah, actually a bong, was created by David Daily and artist Charlie Glass for a Hanukkah celebration.
The eight-bowl design was later produced for sale, adding a modern twist to a traditional symbol.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Otto Frank’s 1941 appeal | Letter to Nathan Straus, Jr. |
| Nazi portrait on Torah | Oil painting of Seyss-Inquart |
| Rothschild manuscript | 1721-22 Talmud copy by Amschel Moses |
| Lenci dolls | 17 dolls from Italian DP camps |
| Mohonk letter | 1922 antisemitic employment rejection |
| Grossinger photo | 1959 image of Taylor & Fisher |
| Glass menorah-bong | Hanukkah-themed smoking device |
These objects illustrate how YIVO’s archive preserves both the darkest chapters and the resilient spirit of Jewish life.
Key Takeaways
- YIVO’s 100-Object book uncovers Otto Frank’s 1941 US visa appeal.
- A Nazi portrait on a Torah shows the intersection of art and antisemitic desecration.
- The archive also holds a glass menorah-bong, reflecting modern reinterpretations of tradition.
Through its 100-object showcase, YIVO reminds us that every artifact carries a story-some of survival, some of hope, and some of the enduring fight against hatred.
