Life Cycle
Jewish "life cycle" events celebrate rites of pasage in Judaism. They help us remember parts of a Jew's life from when they are born to when they die.
Life cycle events include: birth, brit mila, weddings, and B'nai Mitzvah.
These events connect us with our religion and our people. They have been celebrated by previous generations of Jews and will continue to be celebrated by future generations.
Wooden Yad
Minnesota
Dad
This yad is my dad's. He made it out of wood when he was twelve. Then he used it to read Torah at his Bar Mitzvah.
We use a yad when we read the Torah because if we touch the Torah it might get damaged from the oil on our skin.
I am learning to read from the Torah for my Bar Mitzvah. I hope to use this yad when I read from the Torah as I become a Bar Mitzvah.
Kiddush Cup
Adath (Synagogue)
Sister
This Kiddish Cup was lent to me by my sister. She got it on her Bat-Mitzvah. It is special to her because it was a time when our friends and family got together. Around the bottom, the are some Hebrew words with the blessing. On the sides it has her name engraved with the date of her Bat Mitzvah.
We say kiddush on Shabbat and holidays. We also say the blessing over wine on special occasions. Wine is a symbol of joy and we are grateful to God that we can celebrate happy occasions.
Siddur
Israel
Eve Kaplan
This Siddur was a gift for my mom for her Bat Mitzvah. When I have my Bat Mitzvah she will give it to me.
A Siddur has all of our prayers in it. We can go to any synagogue in the world and hear the same prayers. I am learning many of the t'fillot for my Bat Mitzvah, so that I can lead the congregation in prayer.
Tallit
Europe
Gary K.
My great-grandfather had this tallit made for his Bar Mitzvah and he gave that same tallit to my dad, who wore it at his Bar Mitzvah. My father wanted this tallit since his Bar Mitzvah, but my grandfather wanted him to wait. He said this beacause he wanted to be alive to see my father get married. He was alive to see my father get married and on his wedding day he got to wear the tallit that was made for his grandfather's Bar Mitzvah! After his wedding, he moved to Texas, and 2 days later he got a phone call saying that my great-grandfather had died. He was living to see the happiest moment of my father's life and after that he knew that, it was his time to pass away. And that is the story of this tallit!
This tallit is very special to my Jewish heritage because it is what all the boys and girls begin to wear when they become Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Wearing a tallit at the synagogue is very important. The tzizit remind us of the mitzvot, the commandments. The 613 commandments help all of us lead Jewish lives.
K'tuba and Wedding Video
Johannessburg, South Africa
my saba + my safta
My grandparents got married in Johannessburg, South Africa on November 7, 1954. My grandparents now live in America. It is nice to have something to remember their wedding and their lives in South Africa.
A Jewish wedding is a very important event. Getting married is the beginning of a new Jewish home and children.
It is following the 1st mitzvah in the Torah, "pru urvu," "be fruitful and multiply." It is also the fulfillment of God's brit (covenant)with Avraham, where he is told his descendants would be numerous as the stars.
Without this, Judaism would not survive.
It will be interesting to see if my wedding will be anything like this one.
Kiddush Cup
U.S.A
My Mom
This kiddush cup was given to my parents by my Papa Jeff and my Grandma Darryl. My grandpa engraved their wedding date and their names onto the wine glass in his shop. This cup was used in their wedding and was given to them on September 25,1994 four years before I was born!!! We keep it in a special place.
Kiddush cups are used at many Jewish celebrations like weddings, baby namings and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Wine is an important part of Jewish celebrations. I hope I get this cup when I grow up.
Ketubah
United States
My Mom and Dad
This Ketubah is the marriage contract for my parents. It represents the beginning of their new life together. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them.
The Ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract which goes back many generations. It describes the obligations of a husband to his wife. It is signed by the Rabbi and two witnesses.
Every Jewish couple gets a Ketubah when they get married.
Mezzuzah
U.S.A.
Wedding Gift
This Mezuzza cover is filled with the glass shatterings from my parents wedding. Whenever I look at it I am happy that my parents had a traditional Jewish wedding, where breaking the glass is part of the ceremony.
At a Jewish wedding they break the wine glass to symbolize that in life there is both happiness and sorrow. A husband and wife support each other through both.
At my wedding I also plan to save the glass shatterings from the broken glass.
Kiddish Cup
Minnesota
Lea B.
This Kiddush cup belonged to my father. My father got the cup for his Bar Mitzvah in 1974. He passed away when I was 3 years old.
It is very meaningful for me to have this cup. He didn't have a chance to teach me about Judaism, but it lives on in me anyway.
Wine is an important part of Jewish celebrations. I hope to use this cup to celebrate Shabbat and other Jewish holidays.
Tallit
New York
Dad
This tallit is significant to our family because it was worn at two different, very important, Jewish life cycle events. My dad wore this tallit to his Bar Mitzvah as well as his wedding. The tallit may be passed down to me when I become a Bat Mitzvah.
The fringes of the tallit represent mizvot. When I become a Bat Mitzvah I will begin wearing a tallit. It will remind me that i am obligated to perform mitzvot.
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