SHARING HISTORY — Sharon Mark Cohen, MPA, UN Representative for IHAN

A WhatsApp text sent to our family group stated, “Yesterday, on our walk, we met the young family who moved into Mae Federbusch's house on Varsity in Tuxedo Park [South Orange, New Jersey]. They wanted us to know that they found mezuzot on the doorposts painted over.*

I introduced myself to the young family now living in the house, built and owned by family friends from our ancestral Chudnov, Ukraine, and spoke of the house's history. They asked to see the articles I’ve written about Mae and her family’s house.

I sent an email to Jack, the man currently living in the Schnoll/Federbusch house:

“Subject: Article and blog post as promised

Thu, Apr 16, 2026 8:53 PM

Hi Jack,

So nice to meet you earlier!
Welcome to town!!

All the best in your new home.

Link to my article about Schnoll/Federbusch:

https://jewishlink.news/who-remembers-mae-schnoll-federbusch/

Link to my blog post after contacting members of the Scholl/Federbusch family:

NOT JUST ANY FAMILY — Sharon Mark Cohen, MPA, UN Representative for IHAN

~Sharon

sharonmarkcohen.com

*new blog every Tuesday”

The following morning, he replied:

“Hi Sharon,

Thank you so much for sharing these articles and doing this research! It’s so cool to learn about Mae and her father Max, and the history of the family that lived at 573 for so long. We ended up reading both articles aloud to our 4 year old.

If you have any other photos of the house or the Schnoll/Federbusch family from inside the house, we would be so interested to see them. We really want to honor them and the Taylors who lived here after the Schnolls.

Thanks!

Jack and Kaitlyn”

You could say that’s what I’m all about, sharing and caring. Amen.

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*From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

“A mezuzah (Hebrew: מְזוּזָה 'doorpost'; plural: מְזוּזוֹת‎ mezuzot) is a piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah, which Jews affix in a small case to the doorposts of their homes.[1] These verses are the Biblical passages in which the use of a mezuzah is commanded (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21); they also form part of the Shema prayer.

“According to traditional Jewish law, a mezuzah must be placed on every post-and-lintel entrance to a residence, courtyard, or city.[2] Since the time of Meir of Rothenburg (c. 1215–1293), religious Jews have increasingly also placed mezuzot on the entrances to non-residential buildings such as synagogues and offices, and on each internal doorway of the home or building, with the exception of bathrooms (where the name of God is forbidden) and small closets.[3]

“The klaf is prepared by a qualified scribe ("sofer stam") who has undergone training, both in studying the relevant religious laws, and in the more practical parts—i.e., carving the quill and practising writing. The verses are written in indelible black ink with a special quill pen made either from a feather or, now quite rare, a reed. The klaf is then rolled up and placed inside the case.”

Interestingly, my husband comes from a line of scribes on his father’s paternal side.

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