Jewish Artifacts
These items have been passed down through many generations. Some are for holidays, or rituals, and others could be used daily.
Small Daily Prayer Book
New York
Jay B.
This little prayer book belonged to my grandfather when he was my age. He carried it with him in his pocket! As a boy, he went to temple with his father every day. It is important to me because I feel connected to my grandfather when I think about him in Hebrew school just like me. It is important to my family because it has been passed down from generation to generation. My grandfather gave it to my father. My father gave it to me.
This little prayer book is a symbol of freedom of religion in America. My grandfather carried it in his pocket when he was a boy in San Francisco in the 1940s. It represents a time in Jewish history when Jews were free to practice their religion openly.
Special Decorative Siddur
Jerusalem
Sandy S.
My great grandmother found this in a Jewish store. When my Nana and Papa bought their first home my great grandma thought it would be a special gift to wish them luck. This amazing siddur has been displayed for 55 years!
My family always took this with them when they moved. Having this in my grandparents home is an example of leading a Jewish life. I hope this is passed to me next in the family.
Bible
Vienna, Austria
Maternal Grandmother
This bible was given to my great grandmother (my mother\'s, mother\'s mother) for her wedding. She carried it on her wedding day in 1930. Now my grandmother has it.
It is a Jewish bible and was sent from family in Austria to my grandmother who had come to New York with her family.
Handmade Torah Ark and Megillah Case
Denver, Colorado
Marlene G
My great-grandfather frequently went to garage sales whenever he could, and bought day-to-day items. He collected these many various \"keepsakes,\" which the rest of his family called junk, and made a ton of creative projects with them. Two of these are an Ark and a Megillah case, that were given to my mother, designed specially for her Torah and Megillah. These two beautifully crafted cases are wonderful displays that showcase the talent of my great-grandfather, whom I am named after.
The cases are a folk art representation of carrying on old traditions of giving consecration Torahs, and my great-grandfather just gave the scrolls a place to stay so they wouldn\'t decay away, or be forgotten. They force my family to never to forget about studying Torah, and reading Megillah. The displays remind my family about one of the commandments, the study of Torah.
Shabbat Table Cloth
Poland
my mother
This handmade lace Shabbat table cloth was handed down through my mother\'s family. It was my mothers, great grandmother\'s (Grandma Rose) table cloth. When Grandma Rose remarried her new husband gave it to her as a wedding gift. He got it from his deceased wife who made it in Poland.
This table cloth was used by my great great grandmother, my great grandmother, my grandmother, and now my family for Shabbat dinner. This table cloth was passed down from all the women in the family and will one day be mine.