94-year-old Israeli recreates his German childhood in miniature

Mosche Samter has brought his memories to life with his own hands in hundreds of handcrafted miniature models.

The 94-year-old Israeli spent more than 30 years to craft miniature models of scenes from his childhood. The miniature models include a classroom straight out of the 1930s, an authentic shoe shop with German advertisements hanging from the walls, and a scene from a synagogue as a community begins to pray.

He built a tiny replica of the shoe shop where his father had worked. The store's name, Schuhwaren-Haus S. Hamburger, is clearly inscribed on the front and an advertisement in German hangs on the wall bearing the words "SchwarzeWoche - JetztSchuhekaufen!", which means "Black week - Buy black shoes now!"

Two years ago, the widower decided to open a showroom to show off his treasures. His private museum Great Mini World in Yokneam Illit in the north of Israel currently has dozens of his models on display to the public.