Early Years - Aleppo to Japan

Aleppo- Syria Circa.1926

My grandparents living in Aleppo Syria are pictured here

My grandmother Sleigh, uncle Albert, Aunt Sarine, my mother Grace and grandfather Isaac. 

My mother Grace was no more than 5 ~ 6 years at the time. Being the first child, grandfather Isaac holds her wrist as if to guide and hold her closely. Grandfather ISaac was mother's preferred parent. 

 

Some years later, pictured here are my grandparents from my mother's side of the family.  I never met my grandparents. This photo was taken in Sept. 29th 1945 in Aleppo, Syria. My grandfather Isaac was an accomplished and trusted accountant to the Syrian community in Aleppo. 

Seated from Left to Right; Grandfather Isaac, Grandmother Saluch.
Back Row from Left to Right; Uncle Selim, Aunt Susan,
Aunt Sarine, Aunt Yvo & Uncle Albert. 

My grandmother Saluch was a homemaker and cared for her 6 children, kept the family together and made sure each of their needs were met. She was a tough task master, and a had a very strong sense of discipline, etiquette, manner and protocol. 

My parents, Cesar and Grace were engaged and married in 1947. Pictured here-under is their engagement portrait. 

In late 1949, my parents left Egypt and arrived to Japan .They left for Japan to join their uncle who was a silk trader pre-world war II.  Their first destination was Kobe where they lived for close to 1 year and then picked up and relocated to Tokyo. Uncle Basha lived in Japan through World War II. After the war, my father joined Basha in a business partnership which did not fare very well. As Cesar went his way, he slowly succeeded and ended up living in Tokyo until the early 1990's. Pictured here is Uncle Basha; the reason for my father and mother's move to Japan from Egypt.  Basha passed in 1976. An unmarried bachelor, lonesome, and humbly. Basha had his ashes dispersed over the Pacific Ocean. 

Uncle Basha -1950's- Tokyo.

Both Cesar and Grace made their way out of Egypt by means of a Laissez Passer (travel Document). Their passports were confiscated by the Egyptian authorities. 

The "Laissez Passer" allowed for travel to; Turkey, France, Great Britain, USA, Spain,Japan, Argentina & China. 

Post their arrival to Japan, my parents  quickly settled in Kobe, and then relocated to Tokyo within a year.  The US Occupational Forces were still in Japan, General Douglas MacArthur at the time,made the Imperial Hotel as a part of his headquarters. Many opportunities existed post WWII, 37,000 US occupational forces, rebuilding of Japanese industry and economy.  

Here under is a photo of permit as issued to my father by the Headquarters of the 8th United States Army and endorsed by the Tokyo Bureau of MITI ( Minstry of International Trade & Industry) 

My parents saw the Japanese economy rocket and explode thru the late 1980's until Japan went into their economic malaise which has lasted over 25 years and more.They  relocated to New York, NY  in the early 1990's.

Pictured here are my parents amongst few "gaijin" friends in Tokyo at a local Tempura House, enjoying an evening meal.  This photo was taken in 1951.  Seated to the left of my mother is O. Newland and his wife. 

Tokyo- Early Years
Right handside of Pillar; My Father, Mother, B. Nuland & Mrs. Nuland

In 1952, Cesar and Grace bought their first home in the Shinjuku Ward of Tokyo. A small shack, at a dead end street gave way to pedestrian path and stairs to the local "jinja" or shrine. A small backyard where my brother and myself played, rode our tricycles, hide n seek, Cowboys and Indians. 

Charles, Raymond circa 1957

Some years later, this photo was taken at the (TAC) Tokyo American Club on June 25th 1957, attending a soiree of dinner and dancing. 

Soiree at the Tokyo American Club 1957

In 1960, my parents moved from Shinjuku to Gotanda in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo.This home is where I spent my memorable years from 6 year until I graduated college at the age of 22 in 1976. Our Gotanda home hosted countless dinner, cocktail parties, overseas guests & clients, friends and family. 

My father, as he proudly poses in front the front entrance of  our Gotanda home. 

Higashi Gotanda 3-Chome 11-12, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo 104 Japan. 

Pictured hereunder, 1964 Barmitzvah of my brother Charles, the young rascals as gathered at the JCC ( Jewish Community Center of Tokyo)  We were all privileged to grow up in Japan during those early years. 

From Left to right; Charles, D Citrin, Raymond, Ron Stoliar, Claude Amram.

We constantly were getting into trouble with the general manager of the JCC, parents and amongst ourselves. With only no more than 140-150 families, all our mischief could not be covered or hidden from all the members of the JCC. 

As the years wore while in Japan, my parents slowly integrated themselves into the "gaijin" community. Their social life centered around the Jewish Community Center of Tokyo, The Tokyo American Club, The Tokyo Lawn Tennis Club.  Here they are pictured at one the social events in Tokyo sometime in the early 1960's. Many party receptions were held at the Embassies of Western countries where they mingled about with Ambassadors, the diplomatic corps, Japanese Royalty, commoners, and many businessmen transiting thru Tokyo on their way onto Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia. 

Party Reception 1960's Jewish Community Center Tokyo

We spent our summers in Karuizawa amongst many other "gaijin" families who owned or rented villas over the summer. Herewith is a  family shot, circa 1970 in celebration of my tennis tournament win of boys doubles in the Karuizawa Lawn Tennis Club. 

Dad, Raymond, Mom, Charles
Karuizawa, Japan - circa 1970

My parents during one of their European travel tours in Geneva, Switzerland. Hotel Richemont

Geneva, Switzerland 1981 

In 1988, I was married in Sao Paulo, Brasil. My mother had several family members living in Brasil since the late 1940's early 1950's.  Hereunder is pictured my parents showing off their happiness, smiles all the way; 

Cesar & Grace Sassoon.  Oct.1988, Sao Paulo Brasil
Wedding Raymond & Sandra Sassoon 

Here is a photo of my parents in their New York City residence sometime in 1991,  their first and only residence in New York City located on the East side, 5th Avenue overlooking Central Park. They maintained homes in Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Tel Aviv. 

Cesar and Grace Sassoon - 1991 NYC,  NY. USA

In their later years, whilst still  in good health, enjoying children and several grand children, 

here is a photo picturedof them in their NY residence in 1996.  They had by then already left Japan and chose to live between Europe and NY. 

 Cesar and Grace always dressed elegantly & impeccably.  This is how we remember them.

Years later, my mother passed in 2012 and my father in 2014.  They lived  the world from; Syria, Egypt, Tokyo, Jerusalem, Paris, Tel Aviv, New York. They have been laid to rest in Kiryat Shaul, north of Tel Aviv. Cesar and Grace are survived by their 2 sons, 5 grand children and 5 great grand sons, 2 great grand daughters as of Jan. 2020.  We miss them dearly and forever. 

Kiryat Shaul Cemetery, Tel Aviv, Israel.