Art and Jewelry
Although jewelry can be worn as a fashion statement it also has a historical significance to our Jewish heritage. Necklaces, pins and rings are some of the articles in this gallery. Art is also important as it reminds us of stories and people that are important to us.
Coin
Israel
Gal N.
This beautiful item is my father’s coin; he received it at his bar mitzva from the Israeli Minister of Defense. This item is his prized possession ever since he was a boy becoming a bar mitzva. It is crafted from silver and it is an important item in my family.
My brother and I will inherit this item later on in our lives. On the first side of the coin it shows a boy reading from the Torah wearing teffilin, symbolizing a thirteen year old boy becoming a bar mitzva. Around it in Hebrew and English it says, "at 13 for the fulfillment of the mitzvoth." On the second side of the coin it illustrates the twelve tribes of Israel and the symbol of Jerusalem- a menorah with olive branches surrounding it. This item is very special to my father and my family.
This coin was given to my father for his bar mitzva. Many know or will know how important this day is in their lives. This is one of the few things my father has from that time other than his tallit and his teffilin. This item is like an award for being a bar mitzva and because of this coin he will always remember that day.
Wedding Ring
Rhodes Island of Greece
Louisa G.
My great-grandma received this ring for her wedding. She was born on the island of Rhodes in Greece. She married her first cousin, so she had the same last name for her whole life.
In the ring are her initials, the Jewish year and Hebrew writing. Her initials are L.R.G. and the Jewish year was 5675. The regular year was 1914, when she got married.
Eilat Pin
Copper mines along the Red Sea in Israel
Nina B.
This pin shows my family's love and appreciation for Israel. As a child my mother rarely attended religious services. But one of the few memories she does have is of wearing this pin. My mother dressed as Queen Esther in celebration of Purim. She remembers this pin fondly. It helps her to strengthen her Jewish connection when Purim falls every year.
The Eilat stone is a gemstone that is found in copper mines along the Red Sea near Eilat, Israel. My great maternal grandmother, Betty, of blessed memory, bought this Eilat stone pendant/pin during one of her trips to Israel. It was given to my grandmother (her daughter), then to my mother, and next it will be given to me. Jewish heritage was very important to my great grandmother, and she instilled in her family a genuine love and appreciation for Israel. I hope to visit Israel one day and visit the same places she did, such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
Necklace
jewelry store
Dale (my father)
This artifact is important to my family because my dad got it on the day of his Bar-Mitzvah as a present from his parents who are my grandparents. His two sisters also have the same necklace. It is gold with their birthstones in the middle of a Jewish star. My dad has kept this artifact for many years and will continue to keep it for many more.
This has significance to the Jewish heritage because it shows one way that Jews celebrate. Also it has the symbol of the Jewish people in the middle. This shows that we as Jews can celebrate for many years and will continue to celebrate life cycle events for many more.
Wedding Ring
Russia
Joan K.
The significance of this artifact is that it is a wedding ring that belonged to my great-great grandma Bessie Midda! It now belongs to to my grandmother. When my great great grandmother got married she received this wedding ring in honor of the marriage. Her husband was Ruben Midda. The ring was made in Russia where they lived. This reminds my grandma of when her grandma would cook and tell fun stories.
The significance of this artifact to Jewish Heritage was that they were a Jewish couple. They were married by a Jewish rabbi. She would also cook Jewish food and such!
Rabbi Portrait
Miami, Florida
Natalie Zaplin
Great Grandmother Natalie Zaplin embroidered the canvas of an Orthodox Rabbi as a reminder of the rabbis in our family from the past. Our family came from the small town of Marramorish Sigick in Hungary.
When my great, great grandmother's brother, Uncle Harry (Heschel) Heimowitz was a rabbi in an Orthodox Synagogue in New York City, he supported his family by being an Orthodox butcher, since the Jews in the neighborhood needed a kosher butcher shop to buy their meats and chicken from. To this day, over 30 years after his death, the synagogue still celebrates his birthday in remembrance of their rabbi.
Mezzuzah Necklace
Israel
Loren M. (Dad)
This gold mezzuzah necklace is significant to my family because it was given to my dad by his grandmother, my great grandmother, in 1978.
My dad received this mezzuzah simply as a gift from his grandmother because it was her first and last trip to Israel. My dad always wears this mezzuzah! Always! He never takes it off! Every time I look at the necklace, I think of my great grandmother, Sadie.