Holiday
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.
Matzah Cover
Israel
grandma
Just as we cover the challah on Shabbat and holidays, we cover the matzo at our Pesach seder. It has 3 compartments for the 3 matzot.
This matzo cover is special to my family because it was given to us by my grandma.
We use it evry year at our seder.
Pesach is the most celebrated Jewish holiday.
More Jews celebrate Pesach than any other day on the calendar.
I like celebrating Pesach with my family and I hope to continue this tradition when I have my own family.
Machzor
synagogue
paul
We found this mahzor when we were cleaning out my Uncle Marve's house after he passeed away.
It is very important to our family because my uncle Marve was the last living person on my dad's side except for his brothers and sister.
When we look at the mahzor it reminds us of him.
A mahzor is a prayer book Jewish people use on the high holidays. The high holidays are Rosh Hashana which is the new year for Jews and Yom Kippur which is when we fast and ask for forgiveness.
They are very important days on our Jewish calendar.
The word mahzor means cycle. A mahzor is called cycle because the festivals come annually.
The Levy Family Haggadah
Minnesota
Sheree C(my mom)
This Haggadah was made for my family by my mom.
It is very special to us, because she made it.
Someday it mught get passed down to me.
Pesach is a very important Jewish holiday.
But this Haggadah does not only tell the story of Pesach, it also tells the story of the African American slaves and how their struggles were similar to those of the Jews.
Hanukiah
Jerusalem
Allen (dad)
When my dad graduated college, my grandma Fran wanted him to keep their tradition of lighting candles on Hanukah. So, she gave him his own special hanukiah for him to light by himself in his own apartment. This particular menorah was my dad's first very own menorah ever.
On Hanukah, we light one candle every night. We light the candles in a hanukiah. This candle holder holds 8 candles plus one helper candle, the shamash.
On each night of Hanukah we add one new candle. We light candles to remember how the Macabees won the war against the Syrian Greeks. There was hardly any oil left to light the menorah in the Holy Temple.There was only enough for one night,but,the oil created a miracle when it lasted for 8 days instead of one.
Family Hanukiah
u.s.a.
grandparents.
My great grandparents received this hanukiah as a wedding present.
When they died, it was passed down to my grandparents.
Someday they will pass along to my mom or one of her siblings.
Hanukah is a holiday when we ceelbrate our religious freedom.
Another name for Hanukah is the Festival of Lights.
We remember the miracle of the oil that lasted for 8 days.
I love celebrating Hanukah.
Chanukiah
Russia
grandparents
This Chanukiah belonged to my mom's parents. It was a wedding gift for her. My mom grew up using it every year. Her parents died when she was a teenager and she still uses it all of the time.
When she uses it, she thinks of them.
This Chanukiah illustrates how important it is to pass on items from one generation to the next. It also shows the significance of tradition.
Chanukah teaches about the fight for religious freedom, the right to live as Jews.
We are so lucky to live in a country where we are free to practice our religion.
Hanukiah
Minnesota
Grandmother
My grandmother requested that this hanukiah be made out of crystal. She first gave it to my papa and then to my cousins, and so on, and eventually to my family.
I'll alays treasure this and it will be in my family forever.
I am happy to have in the Living Museum.
Hanukah has a very important message.
On Hanukah we remember the fight of our people to remain Jewish.
We are fortunate to live in a country where we are free to practice our religion.
Celebrating Hanukah shows how proud we are to be Jewish and it is also fun.
When we put the hanukiah in our window we proclaim the miracle to everyone.
Seder Plate
U.S.A
Grandma
This seder plate is significant to my family because it brings good memories to my grandma.
One of the memories is that her uncle memorized the whole hagaddah and led the seder even when he was blind.
We still use it at this point and are happy to have it.
Passover is one of the best and most important Jewish holidays now celebrated.
Seder plates are used for displaying the important symbols of the holiday.
Passover is the holiday of our freedom and we are fortunate to live in a country where we are free to be Jews and celebrate our holidays.