Shabbat
Shabbat is very important to the Jewish people. It is the 4th of the 10 Commandments. We are commanded to rest because God rested after creating the world.
Shabbat has become a time for families to come together and celebrate and to enjoy a festive meal together.
Our artifacts represent Jewish ritual objects that have been used by families on Shabbat. Some of these have fascinating stories behind them.
Ahad Ha'am stated: "More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews."
Candle Sticks
Parents Wedding
parents
These candle sticks were a present for my parents' wedding.We use them every single Shabbat. Me, my dad, my mom and my sister light them together.
Shabbat is a very important part of the week.
We celebrate Shabbat as a day of rest because God rested on the seventh day.
Shabbat is a day we look forward to for the entire week.
Candlesticks
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grandma
It is the continuation of a tradition in our family, from my great-great grandma, to use these special candlesticks to help celebrate Shabbat and holidays.
Shabbat is very important to us as Jews.
This is the day that God rested after creation.
Ahad Ha'am said: "More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews."
Candlestick
Romania
Joyce and Ed P.
This candlestick belonged to my great-great grandmother. She had one for each person in her family. We only know were two of them are, this one is in the best condition. When I see this I think of my ancestors.
This candle was lit every Shabbat. It shows that no matter how old or worn something is, it does not change its value, or how good it is. Jews used this for more than one century, and I hope it will be used for many more, I hope it will be passed down from generation to generation. L'dor Vad'or. Shabbat is every Friday night to every Saturday night. Shabat is the day of rest. It was when God rested once he was done creating the world in six days. We light the candles to give it a special atmosphere so it is different than every other night. The end of Shabbat is called Havdallah.
Challah Cover
Poland
Mom
My Great Grandma made it and it has passed down to the daughters from generation to generation.
My sister will get it when she gets older.
Shabbat is a very special time.
Challah is one of the important symbols of Shabbat. It tastes good, too.
I like eating challah on Shabbat, and so does everyone else!
Kiddush Cup
Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
My dad
My dad received this silver kiddush cup on October 22,1983 for his Bar Mitzvah. It was given to him by his synagogue, Adath Jeshuran in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My dad keeps it on display in our kitchen next to the wine glasses. When I become a Bar Mitzvah on April 12, 2014 I want to put mine right next to his.
We use the kiddush cup on Shabbat and holidays, which are important events during the Jewish year. Celebrating Shabbat and holidays keeps the Jewish community together and strong. The kiddush cup is used to hold the wine which we drink during those holidays and Shabbat.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Russia
Sylvia
These candle sticks have been in my family for almost one hundred years. my Great-Grandma gave them to my Savta when she got married.
My family calls them traveling candlesticks because they first lived in Russia, then South Africa, then Israel, then Minnesota.
We use them every Shabbat and during all of the holidays.
It is a miztvah that G-D commanded us to light the Shabbat Candles. We light them every Friday night at sunset. This shows the beginning of Shabbat, the day of rest in the Jewish religion.
When G-D created the world, G-D rested on the seventh day of creation, which is Shabbat.Therefore, we rest on Shabbat as well.
When we light the Shabbat candles and say the bracha, we are welcoming in the Shabbat.
Challah Cover
Cleveland, OH
Mom
This challah cover is really old, and it's special because my great-grandmother made it a long time ago.
It helps my family remember her. Also, we use it every Friday night (Shabbat) to cover the challah before the motzi.
The challah cover is important because people are coming together as a family on Shabbat after a hard week of work or school.
Shabbat is important to the Jewish people because it recognizes the seventh day of the week as a day of rest, because God created the world and then rested on the seventh day.
Havdalah Set
Israel
Grandma
My grandma and grandpa got this havadalah set it in Israel.
It still belongs to them, but I hope that someday they will pass it along to us.
We say havdalah every week to usher out the Shabbat and to welcome a new week.
We are sad to see Shabbat go but we know that it will come again nthe following week.
A havahalh set includes a kiddush cup, a candle holder and a spice box.
I hope that someday this set will be passed down to me.
Shabbat Candle Sticks
England
Great Grandmother Beatrice
The Shabbat candlesticks belonged to my great grandmother, Beatrice. When my family has guests over for Shabbat or holidays we use them.
The candle sticks are important to Jewish heritage because they help remind us about how important Shabbat and holidays really are.
In Judaism, we light candles in order to separate between the normal life and the holy life, like Shabbat and holidays.
Shabbat Matches Box
South Africa
Uncle's GF
The box of Shabbat matches was a gift from my uncle's girlfriend. I am very close with my uncle, and it's nice to have a gift from him.
The Shabbat Matches would be only used to light the Shabbat candles, or candles for holidays. Having special matches only for Shabbat and holidays shows how important those are to Jewish heritage.
Kiddush Cup
Great Britain
My Parents
My Baubie and Zadie wanted to get my parents something special for their wedding so they could celebrate Shabbat.
We use the Kiddush Cup on Shabbat and other special holidays.
At this point, it's kind of a new artifact, but it will be passed down through generations of our family.
A kiddush cup is used for reciting the prayer over the wine or grape juice on holidays and then drinking it.
We drink wine or grape juice on all happy occasions.
When we say the Kiddush, we "sanctify" (make holy) the day.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Great Britain
My Parents
My Baubie and Zadie wanted to get my parents something special for their wedding, so my parents could celebrate Shabbat. We use the candles and kiddush cup on Shabbat and other special holidays.
At this point, they're kind of new artifacts, but they will be passed down through the generations of our family.
Shabbat candlesticks are used for lighting candles on Shabbat and other special holidays.
We light the candles and then the holiday officially begins.
Light is a symbol of joy, and that is how we feel on Shabbat and holidays.