Mati Agam, once a college freshman at the University of Southern California who ran a barber service from his dorm room, had the bright idea to place his hard-earned money in this donation box, or tzedakah. He found the item at an event sponsored by the local Jewish Federation, and in looking at its inscription, “Six Million Lives, Six Million Names, Six Million Coins,” he was reminded of his grandfather who survived the war in Nazi-occupied Poland. The Tzedakah was donated to the museum by his mother Sami Oberlander.
Transcript of the letter sent to us by Sami Oberlander, mom of Mati Agam, MD:
Dear OJMCHE,
My son, Mati Agam, is a frugal sort who buzzed his curly hair into a crew cut in the interest of saving both hard-earned dollars and time. As a freshman at University of Southern California, after he’d given haircuts to a few guys on the hall, he became a popular, skiller barber. He learned to use different blades, do a smooth fade, and follow the vagaries of curls and waves.
As word spread of his cuts, he realized if he charged $5 a head, he’d make a little money. The bills and coins amassed in a drawer.
Around the same time, he attended an event sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. He picked up a cardboard tzedakah box printed with the words, “Six Million Lives, Six Million Names, Six Million Coins.” Mati’s grandfather was born in Lvov, Poland, the very week that the Nazis stormed the city, and survived along with his parents in the Nazi-occupied town of Mielec, Poland.
Mati went home after the event and put his haircut money in the pushke. In time, there was about 40 haircuts worth.
Eight years later, Mati is a neurosurgery intern in Atlanta, and has entrusted me to deliver his Tzedakah to the OJMCHE.
Enclosed is the much-worn box and the sock in which he stored the coins. Please earmark the donation to the Oregon Holocaust Memorial and Education Endowment.