Jewish Holidays
Our holidays are very important to us as Jews. They help us to understand many of the major events in Jewish history.
All of our artifacts have a story to tell about how a particular holiday is celebrated. In fact,
holiday traditions have often been passed down from generation to generation.
Having such a variety of holidays makes being Jewish fun and meaningful.
Hanukiah
Jerusalem
Dad
My great grandparents went to Israel and bought this menorah. They bought it in the late 1960\'s after the Six Day War. Later, when my dad moved into his townhouse, my great grandma gave it to him as a gift. We still use the menorah to this day.
Every year we have my mom\'s side of the family over for Hanukkah. We have exactly enough menorot for each cousin to light one menorah. We still use this menorah on Hanukah. It is the oldest one in the collection and very special.
Every year, I look forward to Hanukah because it\'s the festival of lights and the celebration of religious freedom.
Even though it is not one of our major Jewish holidays, I believe it is very relevant to all of us.
Chanukiah
North America
My Parents
This Chanukiah means a lot to me and my family because it has been in my family for a long long time.
A Chanukiah is a significant to our Jewish heritage because it is used every Chanukah. This holiday celebrates our religious freedom and our right to be Jewish.
Hippy Bus Hanukiah
Minnesota
It is my familys
We purchased this Hanukiah as a family and used it for the first time for Hanukah in 2010. We intend to use it for years to come.
This Hanukiah is used to symbolize the miracle that happened to our people.The Holy Temple had been defiled by the Syrian Greeks and when we returned to it, we had only had enough oil to last 1 day, but it lasted 8 days. So,that is why we light eight candles for the eight days of Hanukkah.
Hanukah symbolizes religious freedom, something that we value greatly.
wine pourer
Israel
mom aka Helen F
My grandparents got this for my family when they went to Israel and they also got my tallis.
We use this wine pourer on the High Holidays. My brother and I always fight over it to pour the wine.
We love hosting our family and friends on the High Holidays.
I hope that someday it will be mine.
The High Holidays are an important time for the Jewish people.
They are a time when each of us can get a fresh start.
It is great to have beautiful things with which to celebrate our holidays.
Dreidel
Jerusalem, Israel
My Grandpa and Bubbie(my dad\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s parents)
The significance of my artifact is that it was brought by my family from Israel.It has the Western Wall on it which makes it very special. It\'s really amazing to look at because every side you look at looks different. It\'s also a significant because my family gave it to me and that makes it even more special.
Hanukah is one of my favorite holidays because you get to spend time with your family and play games.
Playing dreidel is fun because it keeps the kids interested and competitive because they all want the big \"jack pot\".
The letters on the dreidel stand for \" a big miracle happened there.\"
We hope that there will be miracles in our time too. One miracle that I would like to have happen someday is that everyone will have peace in the state of Israel and many others too.
Etrog Box
Jeruslem, Israel
Jeanne Kaufman
This etrog box was passed down from generation to generation. It was my great, great, great uncle Chaim Asher\'s, who passed it down to my great, great uncle, who gave it to my grandma.
Sukkot is one of our most important holidays.
On Sukkot we use a lulav and an etrog. The etrog is very delicate. I am happy we have this etrog box to protect our etrog.
Brisket Server
Czechoslovakia
mom
This brisket server belonged to my great great grandma. It is special to us because it reminds us of my great grandma and my bubbie, who are no longer with us. Every time my mom uses it she thinks of her mom. All of my cousins,my aunts and uncles know it is the \"brisket server\".
Having family together for holiday meals and celebrations is an important part of Judaism.
These get togethers provide us with many memories about family and important traditions and celebrations.
Hanukiah
Israel
mom
My great grandpa had this Hanukiah. When he died, my mom got it.
My dad uses it every Hanukah.
We are so happy to have something of his.
Hanukah is a very happy Jewish holiday.
It reminds us that we are free to live as Jews, something we had to fight for in the past.
Shofar
Israel
my brother
This Shofar was given to my great great great grandpa who passed it down from generation to generation. It was given to my brother on his first birthday . When he has a a family of his own he can have something from his ancestors.
The Shofar is used on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is like an alarm clock. It wakes us up and reminds us that this is a very important time.We need to repent and make up our minds to do better.
Megillat Esther
Israel
My great grandfather
I got this megillah from my great grandfather. It then went to my grandfather, then my mom and my dad.
It is very special to my family and I hope I will get it someday.
Purim is a very fun holiday. We read Megillat Esther where Haman wanted to kill all the Jews.
Once again, G-d came to our rescue and we were saved from an evil fate. The story had a happy ending.
This has happened more than once in our history, but we are still here and thriving.
Wine Decanter
U.S.A
Grandma Helen
My grandma says that this wine decanter is very old.It has lots of good memories for her and it is very precious to her.
This wine decanter has been in my grandmothers family for almost 100 years. It is very special to my grandmother because it belonged to her grandmother who was my great grandmother. My grandma remembers the this was always on the table for Shabbat dinners and holiday meals.
This wine decanter is used every Shabbat and other holidays.
Celebrating Shabbat and holidays is a way to keep Judaism going and to help keep traditions in childrens\'lives.Then they can pass it on to their kids and future generations.
Chanukiah
Des Moines, Iowa
Shapiro Family
My uncle, Mick,had this made for our family. It is made by an artist in Des Moines. The company is called \"Sticks.\"
Mick also had a mirror made for our family by the same company.
The Chanukiah is special because it has all of our names on it.
The Chanukiah symbolizes the Festival of Lights.
Light is a symbol of joy and happiness. We are happy that we can continue to be Jewish.