Holiday Heirlooms
Will's Channukiah
Germany
Great Grandfather
My Great Grandfather took this channukiah with him when he was forced to evacuate his home in Germany during the Holocaust. He chose it so that when he came to America he would be able to celebrate Channukah. When I light the candles with my Grandfather, who is still alive, I think of the pain that his family endured and how lucky I am to be able to celebrate with him.
The channukiah is used on the holiday of Channukah. One candle is lit for eight nights to remember the small amount of oil that was found in the temple that was destroyed and the victory of the Maccabees.
Matt's Matzah Box
origin unknown
My Dad
This is important to my family because we use it every year and it was given to my family by my grandmother.
It is important to my Jewish heritage because I want to pass it down to my children so they can pass it down to theirs and keep the tradition of Passover alive.
The matzah box is used at the seder on Passover to hold matzah. Matzah is one of the symbols that remind us of the hardships of the Jewish slaves and their escape from Egypt.
Taylor's Moses Sculpture
Israel
My dad
This Moses sculpture is from a little shop in Jerusalem. In 1973, during the Israeli war, my Dad took a trip to Israel and got this Sculpture. Later on, my dad passed it down to me. It is important to my father because it reminds him of his trip to Israel.
This statue reminds me of Moses and how he led the Jewish people out of slavery, the basis of Passover. Some people believed Moses had horns like in the statue but we know that it's not true.
Emily's Siddur
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mom
This family artifact was given to my Mom in 1992 by my Great-Uncle Moses R. My Uncle was one of 9 children. He lived in Lima, Peru before WW2. This was one of the few siddurs to be printed only in Hebrew. My Great-Uncle Moses was very important to our family and will always be.
This sidur reminds us/everybody that it is always good to go to services/pray. It will also remind us/everybody that you need to worship G-d wherever you are.
Abby's Siddur
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mom
This book was given to my mother by my great-great uncle Moses. It is written in Hebrew and in Spanish. It is one of the few prayer books available in Lima, Peru. They were very hard to come by. The siddur is for The New Year and it was made by: Eritorial Estreyas SRL in Argentina.
The siddur is important to the Jewish people.