|
|
 |
Toy Bank (1914) This toy bank was recently given to the Museum by a former Philadelphia resident whose family joined a local synagogue, Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in 1914. To teach the value of tzedakah (charity), Keneseth Israel and other Philadelphia synagogues distributed these banks to Sunday school students on behalf of the Federation of Jewish Charities, now known as the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Children were instructed to save two pennies each week, beginning on their birthday and continuing for the next 50 weeks. When 100 pennies were deposited, the bank could be opened by pushing the door at the bottom. The dollar saved was to be brought to the Federation office as "your birthday gift to the poor children." Instructions warned children that failure to follow the rules would annul their membership in Junior Federation and require them to return the bank. Copyright 1998-2000 by the National Museum of American Jewish History |