May Their Memory Be For A Blessing 

Ginger Sedlarova | Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada 

“There is minimal Jewish material in the archive,” notes Ginger Sedlarova. Her collage seeks to draw out what material is there. Her focus is on a Jewish shopkeeper. She writes: “This collage celebrates the beginnings of what would grow into a strong Jewish community in Middlebury. It focuses on Harry Lazarus, shopkeeper, whose well-known department store, Middlebury Supply Company, opened in 1911. It incorporates an image of the Lazarus Department Store (as the store was later called), a map, a photo of Eugene Lazarus and handwritten notes from the Stewart-Swift Research Center at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History. “The scene portrays Lazarus walking hand-in-hand with his son Eugene towards the family store. An older Eugene (who would follow in his father’s footsteps by opening his own shop in Middlebury) waits for them at the entrance, showing the continuity of generations of Middlebury Jews. The Lazarus family were devout and believed strongly in giving back to the community. They adhered to the philosophy of “all your customers are your friends.” Harry, having fled discrimination and poverty in Galicia, was grateful for his new life in Vermont and taught his children the importance of being of service to their community. “My hope is that this collage will inspire the Jewish residents of Middlebury to donate archival materials to the Henry Sheldon Museum for future generations to discover.