Jewish Rituals
In the following gallery, students have put together items that have helped them or their past and present family members celebrate Jewish rituals.
Tallis Bag
Ohio
Great Grandfather
My artifact for the living museum is a tallis bag that my grandfather used in his dedicated time in his temple. It’s a small blue plush, and has dreidels, menorahs, torahs, and Jewish stars. It also contains his original tallis which is yellowish because of its age. My artifact was used by my great grandfather, Sam, in his temple. He was so devoted to his religion and temple that he has an honor service for him made by the temple.
My artifact is used to hold the tallis of my great grandfather, and my Dad uses the tallis bag and soon I will.
Tallis and Tallis Bag
Great Grandfather
Great Grandfather
My artifact is my grandfather’s tallit. The tallit has many designs and blue stripes. It also has 613 fringes. The tallit bag is blue and has a design on it.
He received it from my great grandfather for his Bar Mitzvah. My grandfather held onto it for a while, and now I will receive it for my Bar Mitzvah. It is special to me because it has been passed down from generation to generation, all the way down to me.
Kiddush Cup and Music
New Jersey
Great Grandparents
My artifact for the Living Museum is a Kiddush cup and music from my great grandparents wedding. It is silver and has squiggly lines on it. It came from both my great grandparents’ weddings.
My artifact’s story is that a long time ago, both of my grandmas were best friends. They both played music at each other’s weddings. They used the music and the Kiddush cup at the weddings. When great grandma Bea died, she gave her violin music to great grandma, Stella. Today, Stella’s piano is in my piano room and both of their friendships will be remembered forever.
Kippah
Russia
Great Grandfather
This is my great-grandfather’s kippah. It is black with gold designs on it. It was worn by my great grandfather Louis when he lived in Russia.
He wore it to services and he brought it with him when he moved to America. He took his wife and children with him. The rest of the family stayed behind and got killed in the Holocaust. He had three sons, and his youngest is my grandfather, and my grandfather’s oldest son is my father. This artifact gives us a clue about my family’s blurry past.
Shofar
Israel
Cousin
My artifact is a shofar. When my cousin, Alana, went to Israel for her first year of college, she got me the shofar.
My family puts the shofar on top of our piano so we’ll always see it. I’m proud to say my cousin got this specifically for me.
Prayer Book
Great Grandfather
Great Grandfather
My artifact for the Living Museum is a prayer book. It is small and it is silver and gold and my great grandfather wrote in it to my mom. This artifact came from my great grandfather, that was passed down to my mom, and that will be passed down to me.
This is special because my mom got it for her Bat Mitzvah from her grandpa. We use this for holidays and Jewish rituals.
Kippah
Great Grandmother
Great Grandmother
My artifact for the Living Museum is my great grandma’s kippah. It’s white with an orange-ish and brownish border and a star shape in the middle. There are big spaces in between stitches.
My great grandma Ruth’s kippah is homemade. She made one for every man in the family and it was used for every special occasion such as weddings, brises Bar Mitzvahs, and holidays.
Tallis Bag
Great Grandmother
Great Grandmother
My artifact is a Tallis case. It looks red and silver on the edges. My tallis case came from my great grandmother to my dad.
This is special because my great grandmother died, and it’s one of a kind, because it’s hand-made.