Circular silver 12 tone pocket watch style pitch pipe and case used by a cantor in early 20th century Berlin 1992.8.2_b front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Tuning device used to set a musical pitch used by Isaac Ossowski, who, as a hazan [cantor], would lead the congregation in musical prayers. Rabbi Ossowski was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin, Germany. He was head shochet [ritual slaughterer], mohel [practitioner of ritual circumcision], sofer [scribe], as well as hazan, at the Alte Shul [Old Synagogue]. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933, increasingly severe sanctions were enacted against Jews. Isaac was repeatedly questioned by the SS (Schutzstaffel; Protection Squadrons) who gathered intelligence on opponents of the Nazi state and policed racial purity. In 1934, he sent his youngest son, 14 year old Sally (Sol), to Lithuania to study at a yeshiva. In 1936, his sons, Joseph and Leo, left for the United States. In 1938, Isaac and his wife, Frida, and their daughter, Nettie, escaped Nazi Germany and joined Joseph in the US. Sol joined them there in 1939.
Tuning device used to set a musical pitch used by Isaac Ossowski, who, as a hazan [cantor], would lead the congregation in musical prayers. Rabbi Ossowski was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin, Germany. He was head shochet [ritual slaughterer], mohel [practitioner of ritual circumcision], sofer [scribe], as well as hazan, at the Alte Shul [Old Synagogue]. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933, increasingly severe sanctions were enacted against Jews. Isaac was repeatedly questioned by the SS (Schutzstaffel; Protection Squadrons) who gathered intelligence on opponents of the Nazi state and policed racial purity. In 1934, he sent his youngest son, 14 year old Sally (Sol), to Lithuania to study at a yeshiva. In 1936, his sons, Joseph and Leo, left for the United States. In 1938, Isaac and his wife, Frida, and their daughter, Nettie, escaped Nazi Germany and joined Joseph in the US. Sol joined them there in 1939.
- Title: Circular silver 12 tone pocket watch style pitch pipe and case used by a cantor in early 20th century Berlin 1992.8.2_b front
- Provenance: The pitchpipe with case was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Rabbi Sol Oster, the son of Isaac Ossowski., The pitchpipe with case was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Rabbi Sol Oster, the son of Isaac Ossowski.
- Subject Keywords: Cantors (Judaism)--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Jewish families--Germany--Berlin. Jewish refugees--United States. Jews--Persecutions--Germany. Rabbis--Germany--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States., Cantors (Judaism)--Germany--Berlin--Biography. Jewish families--Germany--Berlin. Jewish refugees--United States. Jews--Persecutions--Germany. Rabbis--Germany--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
- Type: Personal Equipment and Supplies, Personal Equipment and Supplies
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: a. Circular, silver colored metal pitch pipe with a raised border on the upper and lower rims. The front has a round central hole surrounded by 2 engraved, parallel, circular lines; around this is text and the letters of a 12-tone musical scale with flats and sharps, F-E. The back has an engraved central circle surrounded by a fleur de lis pattern. Around the side are 3 rectangular openings; the 2 on the sides are ½ open, ½ closed. The central slot has 2 base openings and a raised, moveable section that can slide to cover one hole at a time. At the top is a suspension ring attached to a ball shaped stem. b. Circular, silver colored metal case with a side pin hinge and notch at the top., a. Circular, silver colored metal pitch pipe with a raised border on the upper and lower rims. The front has a round central hole surrounded by 2 engraved, parallel, circular lines; around this is text and the letters of a 12-tone musical scale with flats and sharps, F-E. The back has an engraved central circle surrounded by a fleur de lis pattern. Around the side are 3 rectangular openings; the 2 on the sides are ½ open, ½ closed. The central slot has 2 base openings and a raised, moveable section that can slide to cover one hole at a time. At the top is a suspension ring attached to a ball shaped stem. b. Circular, silver colored metal case with a side pin hinge and notch at the top.
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