Pocket knife with leather case carried by a Jewish refugee 1992.8.29_b front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Folding knife and case that belonged to Isaac Ossowski, a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin who left Germany because of the targeted persecution of Jews by the Nazi government. Rabbi Ossowski was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin. He was head shochet [ritual slaughterer], mohel [practioner of ritual circumcision], sofer [scribe], and hazan [cantor or musical prayer leader] at the Alte Shul [Old Synagogue]. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933, increasingly severe sanctions were enacted against Jews. The Ossowski family was repeatedly questioned by the SS (Schutzstaffel; Protection Squadrons) who gathered intelligence on opponents of the Nazi state and policed racial purity. In 1934, Isaac sent his youngest son, 14 year old 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.
Folding knife and case that belonged to Isaac Ossowski, a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin who left Germany because of the targeted persecution of Jews by the Nazi government. Rabbi Ossowski was a prominent member of the Jewish community in Berlin. He was head shochet [ritual slaughterer], mohel [practioner of ritual circumcision], sofer [scribe], and hazan [cantor or musical prayer leader] at the Alte Shul [Old Synagogue]. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933, increasingly severe sanctions were enacted against Jews. The Ossowski family was repeatedly questioned by the SS (Schutzstaffel; Protection Squadrons) who gathered intelligence on opponents of the Nazi state and policed racial purity. In 1934, Isaac sent his youngest son, 14 year old 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: Pocket knife with leather case carried by a Jewish refugee 1992.8.29_b front
- Provenance: The pocket knife and case were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Rabbi Sol Oster, the son of Isaac Ossowski., The pocket knife and case were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992 by Rabbi Sol Oster, the son of Isaac Ossowski.
- Subject Keywords: Jewish families--Germany--Berlin. Jewish refugees--United States. Jews--Germany--History--20th century. Jews--Persecutions--Germany. Rabbis--Germany--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States., Jewish families--Germany--Berlin. Jewish refugees--United States. Jews--Germany--History--20th century. Jews--Persecutions--Germany. Rabbis--Germany--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
- Type: Tools and Equipment, Tools and Equipment
- 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. Rectangular pocket knife with a slight curve and rounded ends. The dark brown wooden handle has a silver colored metal piece riveted to the hinge end. There are side compartments from which utensils can be pulled: a corkscrew from 1 side and 2 blades, one small and one large, from the other. The blades have a manufacturer's stamp at the base and nail marks at the top. b. Long, rectangular, dark brown leather case with a silver colored, metal frame clasp., a. Rectangular pocket knife with a slight curve and rounded ends. The dark brown wooden handle has a silver colored metal piece riveted to the hinge end. There are side compartments from which utensils can be pulled: a corkscrew from 1 side and 2 blades, one small and one large, from the other. The blades have a manufacturer's stamp at the base and nail marks at the top. b. Long, rectangular, dark brown leather case with a silver colored, metal frame clasp.
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