For more than a year, many intergenerational families could not spend quality time together due to the pandemic. But over the past few weeks, as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 guidelines, the world watched grandparents reunite with their grandchildren in some incredibly heart-warming videos.
Grandparents play a special role in their grandchildren’s lives because of the traditions they pass down, the stories they share and, most importantly, the unconditional love they provide.
Now, grandparents in Baltimore’s Jewish community have the opportunity to create a book of memories as a gift to their grandchildren. “The Heart-Shaped Window Book” is a project through the Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education and The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore for the Saba-Ba: Grandparents on the Go! program.
Ann Abramson, coordinator of the Saba-Ba program, is compiling and editing the stories while Judy Schlossberg, a local artist and teacher, is illustrating the book.
Jmore recently spoke with Abramson and Schlossberg about the project.
Jmore: What is ‘The Heart-Shaped Window Book’ project?
AA: This exciting book of autobiographical vignettes will provide grandparents an opportunity to gaze into their own ‘Heart-Shaped Window’ to recount a story, a memory or a family tradition that impacted their lives as children.
As grandparents, we may tell many stories to our grandchildren, but this is an opportunity to write them down and create a keepsake for them and future generations.
Why did you want to create a book like this?
AA: These stories illustrate how we experienced our families, traditions and the uniqueness of our times. ‘The Heart-Shaped Window’ opens up the stories of the lives of the grandparents, stories that should be told and shared.
They are what unites us and brings tradition and joy.
How did come up with the name?
JS: My grandmother emigrated to Baltimore from she was about 15. The rest of their family followed a few years later bringing with them many household items, some of which my grandmother took with her when she married.
I remember my grandmother taking me and my younger sister into the attic where we’d play with these mementos. A favorite was a small, heart-shaped mirror. She would take it off of the hook and hold it up to the ceiling light. It reflected a bright, dancing heart onto the wall.
Mesmerized, we watched this shimmering heart as we listened to her memories of her childhood. This reflection, she would always say, was like a heart-shaped window through which her stories would find their way forward and deep into my heart.
What do you hope grandchildren and grandparents get out of this project?
AA: To have a book to hold, pages to turn, and grandparents’ stories inside to reach and touch one another will be a delight to read and share. ‘The Heart-Shaped Window’ will open our grandchildren’s minds and hearts and bring joy through a journey of memories that will reach forward.
How can the community participate in this project?
AA: Stories are now being accepted through April 23, 2021, and can be submitted to gburger@cjebaltimore.org. Each story will be written by the grandparent, illustrated by the grandchild, and a simple explanation/dedication will be made by the grandparent to their grandchildren.
This will be an extraordinary, collaborative experience.
For information about Saba-ba, visit cjebaltimore.org.
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