Stories Found In Boxes
Each and every one of us have a family with stories from their past. Some of us talk about it, others do not. Sometimes the box of stories is full of memories that are too difficult to reveal.
We embarked on this journey, not knowing where it would lead us and if it would have any change or impact on our lives. We thought we would just open a box and find some objects, letters and photos, never thinking it would lead us to where we are today. The most surprising part of our journey was finding out that we had family members we knew nothing about. The fact that we managed to find them on our own, was the most challenging and rewarding part of this journey for us.
Chaim Kobrin, 1930s
Looking back, our journey of discovery was not an easy start. It was an emotional rollercoaster with many ups and downs along the way. If someone would have filmed us behind the scenes, they would have seen a situation where I ask my father questions and he would get quite frustrated that he had no answers for me. Many of my father’s generation did not ask their parents any questions about their past and many parents did not volunteer to talk about it. Everyone just lived their lives as if there was no past, just focusing on the present and the future. Now no one is left around to answer these questions. Eventually we were left to work with my father’s memories and objects that were left behind. We were not sure if we could build a story with not much to work with.
Chaim and Malka Kobrin, Tel-Aviv
At some point, after collecting all the information we had, not really knowing how to connect the dots and complete the puzzle, we took a break from it. Every time I opened the computer, wanting to edit the video pieces together, it got too overwhelming and emotional so I would leave it alone. The thought of it waiting for me was always in the back of my mind, but I kept on working and left it neglected. Was there a story to tell?
Chaim and Gila Kobrin, Tveria
Five years after collecting all the pieces of the puzzle together, my father started summarising it all in a very scientific way, with dates and facts but with very little emotions. He felt overwhelmed by not being able to make a story out of it, and at some point he gave up.
The next idea was to create a site (blog) that would include different stories that were discovered, publishing them as one story each week. Objects, letters, photos, anything that we found. This helped us focus on what we were trying to write about, and the photos helped the story come alive. It also provided us with a kind of script to follow in order to try and create a short movie out of it in the future.
Chaim and Isaac Kobrin, Tveria
What changed as a result of this research journey was that we got to know Chaim Kobrin not only as a son, brother, husband, father and grandfather but also as a human being, a “mensch”. Someone you wish you could just sit and talk to over a cup of coffee and listen to his personal life story. A life full of changes, challenges, courage and new beginnings.
This journey helped us understand where our family came from and what they endured in life. The fact that they had to leave their home country in order to start a new life is extraordinary and courageous. Yes, there are so many family stories like this, especially in Israel, but this one is ours. It is a modest story that fits the personality of Chaim Kobrin. A story that began in Lithuania, traveled to Italy, emigrated to Tel-Aviv and build a new life in Tiberias. It is not a story of a famous person, or a famous event, just a life of a person who was able to save his family because of his intuition.
I got to know stories about my father that I never knew before. Every time we discovered something new I was full of joy. It was an incredible feeling to have been able to discover all of this unknown information and to get to know my father in a whole different way. - Isaac
These days we see the stories of people on social media, everyone posting their lives online for all to see. But what about the stories of people that lived here before us? Why not tell their stories? They deserve to be remembered too.
Chaim, Tamir and Idit Kobrin, Tveria
I did not know my grandfather, as he passed away when I was seven years old. All I have is one picture with him (above), but no memories of him. Now, I have a whole life story that I can cherish forever. - Idit
We hope our journey triggered something inside of you, to want to know more about your family’s past. To know what their lives were like. To get to know yourself and where your ancestors came from. And who knows, maybe, like us, you will find surprises on your journey of discovery.
The search never ends.
