Precious and poignant mementos tell treasured tales at Reutlinger Community

The mementos from the exhibit "Our Precious Memories" are encased in glass. But the memories are encased by flesh.

The exhibit, the second of its kind produced by residents of the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville, was both nostalgic and educational.

Who knew, for instance, that the real Quaker Oats Man — that archetypal symbol of Protestant culture — was Jewish?

"What a romantic story these mementos tell," remarked Nonnie Fluss, gazing at two small replicas of the composers Bach and Verdi. Fluss, a member of Reutlinger's activities staff, commented that the figurines, which belong to resident Minnie Barban, represent an epic romantic saga.

"On Minnie's first date [with her late husband Sam], he invited her to the opera, but he neglected to mention that he only had one seat, so he gave it to her and sat on the steps," Fluss said. "That was the beginning of their romance, but you'd never know it to look at the statues.

"To me, that's a love story."

Although some of the "precious memories" displayed in the building's common area required a backstory, many did not.

Such was the case with Evelyn Kalman's shtassel. The shtassel, a solid brass spice mortar, was originally owned by her late husband's great-grandmother.

"When I came here, the shtassel was the only thing I wanted to take with me, because it's so precious in my memories," said Kalman.

Hers was hardly the only item to evoke memories of a bygone era.

Meriam Anker displayed pictures of her parents from when they immigrated to pre-state Israel, and Lillian Horn brought her parents' wedding invitation, circa 1899, written in both English and Yiddish.

Shirley Gedacht's contribution to the exhibit was a picture of her and her brother from 80 years ago, preserved in a bottle.

Irene Wilkenfeld displayed some pearls that she said were among the last of their kind from the Soviet Union.

Other displays were less the result of nostalgia than pragmatism.

"Being a Leo, I've collected lion memorabilia my entire life," said resident Doris Levine. "When I came to the Reutlinger community, I had to pare down some of my possessions, so I had to leave behind either some of the lions, or the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"I chose to leave behind some of the lions, and I never regretted my decision," she said with a laugh.

Not far away from Levine's lions is a display of Lucille Upin's baby book. Upin, who grew up in Blue Earth, Minn., and was a member of the town's sole Jewish family, said baby books were common during that era and often listed comprehensive information, including a list of childhood illnesses.

When reminded that her book listed such ailments as whooping cough, influenza and scarlet fever, Upin shrugged it off with a laugh.

"Well, you have to understand, we didn't miss much in those days," she said, adding that she later became her town's Girl Scout leader.

Charles Bernstein, a former writer and full-time raconteur, contributed a wooden model of explorer Thor Heyerdahl's ship. Along with it, he gave an inquiring reporter an impassioned lecture on the nature of wanderlust.

Teema Simons, who came from a theatrical background, included a picture of her brother, who was one of the original Quaker Oats men pictured on the container. She recalled entertaining at hospitals and senior centers with her family when she was in her teens.

Some of the items, such as the shtassel, forged a generational link to some of the staff members at the residential community, which houses older adults.

"When I saw the shtassel, the memories just started gushing out," said Judith Markowitz, Reutlinger's director of marketing and community relations.

"I could tell you exactly where the shtassel was in my mother's house. The memories of my childhood were so strong that I was on the verge of tears."

"Me too!" chimed in Carol Goldman, Reutlinger's director of programs, who organized the exhibit. "Immediately after I saw the shtassel, I called my mother, and it brought back all the memories of her mother."

When asked how the show had impacted her and other residents, Upin said she made several new friends as a result of the exhibit.

"This lovely young lady was very curious about my upbringing," she said. "She's a new resident here at the community, so I think the show has been very helpful in bringing people together."

When the 91-year-old Upin was asked about the age of her youthful new friend, Doris Levine interrupted with a laugh.

"Well, the thing to remember is that we're all lovely young ladies around here."