Shabbat
These items are used during Shabbat observance, which occurs every week from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. Shabbat is the day of rest.
Siddur
Israel
My father
This is a small silver and blue siddur. It is 2 7/8 by 3 3/4 inches. It has turquoise gems on the cover and has old pages that are yellow and folded. On the cover it says Ma Tovu and Ohalecha Ya’akov. Also there are the Ten Commandments on the cover. On the back it says Jerusalem and there is a menorah on the back. On the binding it says Siddur.
This Siddur was passed down from my great-grandmother to my grandma, then to my dad, and to me! It was used by many generations of my family and is very important to me. My great-grandma and grandma used it in Israel.
In the inside there is a note from my Grandmother to my dad from when she gave him the siddur. It was the day he bought his first house. It states: Dear Oded, much happiness and good health to you in your new house. With love, mom and dad.
When you hold the siddur it makes your hands smell like silver. I hope this siddur lasts for many more generations to come!
Candelabrum
USA
My father, Elliot
This artifact is a sterling silver candelabrum with a very distinctive design that I have never seen before. Its design is supposed to be a river of dripping wax. It has three candle holders and looks like a head and two arms. It has a round circular base and the arms are curved. On the bottom of the base, it has green felt so it doesn\'t scratch furniture. It is approximately 22 1/2 cm wide and 21 1/2 cm high. This candelabrum looks very interesting and if you would take the time to see its features, you would see something very cool.
The way my artifact came to be was that my grandmother Lola came to America after the holocaust mostly empty handed. She needed to get a lot of things for her new life in the USA. First, she wanted to get a Shabbat candelabrum because she liked celebrating Shabbat with her new daughter and years later, her new son. My grandmother Lola, my granddad Roman, my dad Elliot and my aunt Ruth celebrated Shabbat and used this candelabrum every week. Then my dad got it, and every time my family celebrates Shabbat, we use this candelabrum. I hope I will get it someday and use it every Friday hopefully.
Kiddush Cup
New York
My mother Joy
This kiddush cup is silver plated and has designs of fruit and leaves around the outside. The cup is on a thin stem with a flat base. To me, this cup looks very old, but my mom is not sure how old it is or exactly how long it has been in our family.
This kiddush cup belonged to my Nana. She purchased the cup many years ago in a Judaica shop in Brooklyn. It was given to my mother, Joy, when she married my father, Mike. It means a lot to me because it was a gift from my Nana who passed away years ago. The cup is special because it will be given to me by my mom on my wedding day.
Kiddush Cup
Unknown
My artifact is a small silver Kiddush cup with decorative engravings around the sides. The top curves out. It is about six inches tall and three inches around. It has been stained from drinking wine, and has a dent from sipping from it so much.
This artifact is my great-great-grandfather\'s Kiddush cup. It is around 150 years old. This cup was used on Shabbat and also on holidays. This cup holds many memories for my grandma. She had this cup since she got married.
Candlesticks
Unknown
My artifact is my Grandmother Helen\'s Shabbat candlesticks. They are 8 inches tall and made of bronze. The stems are made of different shapes, and they have a square bottom and a round top. They are over 50 years old and extremely tarnished.
These candlesticks are special to me because they were my great grandmother Helen\'s. She would use them every Shabbat. Grandma Elaine always told a story about these Shabbat candlesticks. She said that every Shabbat when Grandma Helen would take out the candlesticks, her parrot would yell out \"Good Shabbos Mama Good Shabbos\". I wish I could have seen the parrot do this! This artifact is special to me. What\'s an artifact that is special to you?