Ritual Objects
When walking into a home, one can often tell right away that a Jewish family lives there. The reason for this is that we see an array of religious and ritual objects connected with Shabbat, holidays, life cycle events and Jewish rituals.
These objects are reminders of Jewish laws and traditions which can go back centuries in time. These objects are precious to their owners, whether they be individuals or synagogues, and, in
many cases, are passed down from generation to generation.
Our display of ritual objects connect us to synagogue, prayer, and the Jewish home. Many of these artifacts are priceless in terms of sentimental and spiritual value to their owners.
Tefillin
Russia
My Father (Peter S.)
These were given to my father from his father's father, my great grandpa.
In Judaism we are supposed to wear tefillin. The tefillin have portions of the Shema inside. We wear them on our heads and on our arms, close to our hearts. They remind us to serve God with our hearts and our minds.
Grampy's Siddur
Israel
My Mom
My mom told me that her Grandpa, my Grampy, used this siddur each morning when he davened. That is why it is so worn. My mom told me she used to watch Grampy put on his t'fillin and pray.
A siddur has all of our prayers in it. We use it to pray and connect with G-d, like my Grampy did.
Jews all over the world share the same t'fillot.
Tallit
Israel
my dad
This artifact means a lot to my family because my dad loved his great uncle very much and says he was a wonderful man. My great uncle was a rabbi which makes it even more special.
This tallit was given to my dad by his great uncle.
My dad passed the tallit along to my brother for his Bar Mitzvah.
The fringes on the tallit remind us about the mitzvot and what it means to be Jewish.
Siddur
Israel
It's mine
My great grandma bought this siddur in Israel. My family is going to pass it on from generation to generation. It's really valuable to my family.
This siddur was used by my great grandma and grandma for Shabbat and other holidays. We don't use it anymore because we have new ones, but we still keep it safe. The Siddur has the prayers of our people going back many years.
Bible
My Great Grandma's House
My Mom Got It From Someone Passing It Down
When my mom was in her grandma's house she saw this bible and she asked her grandma if she could have it. Her grandma said yes. Later on she died so my mom uses this to remember her. It is passed down to me now and this is how I will remember my great grandma.
The Bible has our history,laws, stories, mitzvot, and everything we need to know to be Jews.
This book is a treasure.
Sam S.'s Tallit
U.S.A
My mom and grandma
The significance of my artifact to my family is my parents had it under their chuppah in their wedding as a symbol of peace, and remembrance of our ancestors.
It was my great grandfather's tallit, and my papa (grandfather) wore it at his Bar Mitzvah and to synagogue through the years.
The tallit has tzizit on it. These tzizit remind us of all the mitzvot.Performing these is what make us Jewish.
Tallis Bag
United States
Dad
My Grandma gave the tallis bag to my dad for his bar mitzvah. She needlepointed it for him. It is so special because she made it.
My artifact is a tallis bag that my Dad uses at services. It is also used for bar-mitzvahs.
A tallis reminds us of all the mitzvot we should do that makes us Jews.
Teffillin
St. Paul Minnesota
My Grandfather
These t'fillin are special to us because they belonged to my great grandfather.
They were given from my great-grandfather to my grandfather, to my uncle, to my dad, to me, and then to my sister.
T'fillin remind us to serve God with our hearts and our minds.
A Jew begins to use them after Bar/Bat Mitzvah, because that is when we take on the responsibility of the commandments, mitzvot.
Mayim Aharonim Set
Syria
Irving (my great grandpa)
My great grandpa brought this Mayim Aharonim set all the way from Syria when he came to America by boat.
This is used to wash one's fingertips after a meal to symbolize that you are done eating and about to say the Birkat Hamazon. It makes the act of eating holy.
Tefillin
Russia
Grampa
This artifact was passed down from my great grandpa to my grandpa to my dad to my brothers and it will be passed down to my cousins.
Tefillin are used for praying in the morning.
They remind us to serve God with our hearts and our minds.
Tallit Bag
Israel
Marve R.
My Grandpa's dad had this tallit bag. When he went to the synagogue he carried it around with him. When he was done davening he put it back in the bag. When he walked out of the synagogue he kissed it.
You get a tallit at your Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It shows you are taking on the commandments.
You wear it during services and you kiss the tzizit during the Shema.
When you are done using it you fold it neatly and put it in the bag.
Siddur
Origin Unknown
Father
This artifact was given to my dad at his Bar Mitzvah. That is why it is so special to him.
The reason it is important to our family is because we can pass it on for generations and generations.
The Siddur has all of our prayers, some of which go back hundreds of years.
I know that if I walk into a synagogue in the world, I will hear prayers which are familiar to me.