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A room in Hillel Yeshiva Day School was transformed into a historical treasure trove Jan. 6-7, with items dating as far back as 1796 on display at the school's fourth annual Jewish Heritage Fair.

Enthusiastic 7th graders served as "curators," explaining the importance of their artifacts to family and friends. Adela Cojab was particularly excited to display her great-grandmother's gold bangles, given to her in the 1940s as an engagement present in Syria.

"I got them from my grandma, and they are important because she just passed away," Adela said. "I wear them every day. I wouldn't leave them alone (in the exhibit)!"

Each year, students in the 7th grade class at the Ocean elementary school trace their genealogy by interviewing a grandparent or older relative, researching the origins of their first and last names, and conclude the three-month project by turning a school room into a "museum" of treasured family heirlooms.

"One of the goals of education is to be exciting -- how does this relate?" Rabbi Daniel Davis, assistant principal of Hillel's middle school, told The Jewish State Jan. 6. "Once the lesson relates to them, it completely changes the game."

Adela and classmate Rochelle Goldman introduced the program with a short presentation, where they talked about the importance of knowing one's heritage and passing Judaism down from generation to generation. Goldman's artifact was her grandmother's sketchbook from Cairo, on display at the "Arts and Music" table in the "museum."

"The sketchbook is from my grandmother in Cairo when she was in high school," Goldman said. "She brought it with her to America. The first few pages are math notes, and then she turned it into a sketchbook."

"When I saw the sketches, I told Rochelle, 'Those were done in school!'" Davis added. "When she turned to the front, she saw her grandmother's math notes, taken in French in Cairo, Egypt."

Davis and Dr. Ruth Katz, head of school, agreed that bringing family heirlooms in to share as artifacts is an integral part of the program, both for its teaching ability and the personal touch it brings to the lesson.

"It's something that you have and you give it a history," Davis said. "What can you tell about a person's life from it? It gives kids insight in putting the whole picture together."

"These items serve as a springboard for future conversation (about family history)," Katz added. "It's something that's going to serve as a vehicle between generations, not just the latest song or the latest movie."

Katz came up with the idea for the program with co-creator Susan Rishty in order to bring the 7th graders' Jewish identity to life.

"I came to Hillel with the intent to implement the program," Katz said. "There needs to be a concept of Jewish heritage in order for the kids to recognize who they are. There's a diverse community of Syrian and Ashkenaz (Jews) here, and it's important for them to know, 'how did I get here?'"

"This project really made them aware of their heritage, and they're only 12!" Rishty said. "The school librarian brought in his own artifacts with family albums, and (the enthusiasm) was contagious... once they knew their family tree, they looked online at the Ellis Island Web site."

Rishty explained that the 7th graders could learn about their family's naming customs by their location or profession; an entire wall was dedicated to the explanation of last names. For example, the class learned that "Cohen" was after the high priests in the Jewish Temple, and "Tawil" means "tall" in Arabic.

"If they knew their naming customs, they saw their grandparents' lives," Rishty said.

Eva-Michaele Wasser's son, Jacob, brought a Kiddush cup owned by his great-great-grandfather, which was presented to him in the Yeshiva of the Bronx in 1897. While researching for the project, Wasser stumbled upon other treasures: an Internet search turned up a copy of his obituary in the New York Times.

"This is enjoyable for parents as well as students," Wasser said. "It was really nice because it was a bonding experience for Jacob and his grandfather, who lives in New York."

For Sam Sitt, a Hillel parent with two children who have done the program, finding out about his father's escape from Syria was a learning experience for his daughter, Stella, who brought her grandfather's passport for the "Welcome to America" section of the exhibit.

"My father escaped Syria in the 1940s, when Jews could not leave because Israel was being created," Sitt said. "He ran out of Syria with help from an Arab who agreed to help, and they made their way to America."

Sitt said that this is the first time Stella heard the story -- and she took it to heart.

"Sure, she was excited (to hear the story); it's her only grandparent that immigrated," Sitt said. "She doesn't have to read about it; she lives it. She knows she's a product of that escape."

Stella's description of her grandfather's passport reflected her father's observations; it read, "If he didn't have that passport, I wouldn't be here right now!"