Holy days of light
Shabbat and the Chagim, as well as events marking Jewish milestones and events, have always been celebrated with joy and light. Here we have gathered artifacts that relate to these special times.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Sandra C, my Great Aunt
My Great Grandparents, Jack and Anita R, inherited these candlesticks from Anita’s mother when they married. They left England on the 19th February 1948 with two cabin trunks of clothing and these candlesticks, leaving everything else behind. My great-grandparents flew on a Comet via Brussels and Brazzeville, landing finally at Palmietfontein Airport to start a new life with their two daughters in South Africa. Anita gave the candlesticks to her oldest daughter, Sandra, before her passing in 1998.
The candlesticks are a family heirloom and sentimental treasure. My great-aunt Sandra uses these candlesticks every Shabbat and Yom Tov and the aura of the candlelight and the effect it has on the mood of the environment is most significant. I was named after my great-grandmother Anita, who I am told was a most special lady. She had a tremendous love of people and generosity of spirit –I am reminded of this each time I see the candlesticks. They will continue to be handed down from generation to generation.
Brass Candlestick (lamp)
Eastern Europe
My Grandmother, Denise S .
This brass candlestick is one of two candlesticks that my great-grandmother got from her mother. My great-grandmother brought these candlesticks from Eastern Europe to South Africa before the second world war leaving her parents behind. She gave one candlestick to my my great-aunt, and the other to my grandmother when she married my grandfather. My grandparents changed it to a lamp because it is only one candlestick and she already has Shabbat candlesticks. Whenever she uses the lamp, she is reminded of her ancestors and everything that the candlestick/lamp represents.
The brass candlestick (lamp) has been in my family for 3 generations and we would like to keep it in my family for longer. I never met my great-great-grandmother who owned these, but through this artifact I have had the opportunity to hear stories about my ancestors.
Tallis bag
Johannesburg
My grandfather
My great grandfather bought the tallis bag as an adult. When he died the bag was given to my grandfather. When I have my barmitzvah, my grandfather will give it to me. My great grandfather was a selfless man and a true gentleman.
A tallis bag is used to store a tallis when it’s not in use. Its significance for our family is that it is a symbol of our Jewishness and our love for my great grandfather.
3 pronged candlestick
Israel
My Mom
This is an old three pronged silver candlestick. This candlestick belonged to my maternal great grandmother & her name was Chaya. After World War II she moved to Israel & remarried. She was a Holocaust survivor. She used the candlestick her whole life, but before she passed on she gave them to my Safta who thank G-d she is still with us today. She then gave them to my Ima & she will (I think she will) one day give them to me. The candlestick is very tarnished but we will always keep them like that because it reminds my family of our history. It is like a everlasting story because it will be passed down to the next generation of our family but right now they are resting in a shiny glass cabinet where they have been since they were given to my Ima.
Through these candlesticks I have found out about my great grandmother Chaya and about the history surrounding these precious candlesticks which I will one day hopefully give to my child. Today I realised something: I feel closer to my family and our history. I think Chaya would want the whole world to know about the history & the incredible journey they have been through.
Candlesticks
The Freestate
My grandmother, Beila C.
These candlesticks were donated to the Bethlehem Shul in the Orange Free State by my great grandfather and his two brothers in 1940 in memory of their late mother Chaya Beila L. They were displayed on the bimah. When the shul was sold, Rabbi S. brought them to Johannesburg.
Shabbat candles are such an important symbol of our holy tradition. Every time I light my Shabbat candles, I think of my great grandmother.
Candlesticks
Lithuania
My mom
My mom's great great grandmother from Lithuania got these silver candlesticks.She gave them to my mom's gran who gave them to my mom and dad for their wedding.
These candlesticks are very sentimental to my mom because she got them from her gran who has passed away.She thinks of her every Shabbos when she uses them.
Embroidered Challah Cover
Israel
Gill-My grandmother
The Challah cover was passed down to my grandmother after it was used for 6 family bar mitzvahs. It was used at my great uncle's Bar mitzvah. It was then brought to South Africa and was used again 6 times at the Bar mitzvahs of my dad, cousins and uncles . It will also be used for my brothers and cousins bar mitzvahs.
It is a sentimental item to my family and is also a symbol of simcha to us.
Travelling Candlesticks
Poland
Zaida
These travelling candlesticks were given to my Zaida by his grandmother. The candlesticks were used by my great grandmother and the engraving on the candlesticks is worn down which shows they were used often.
These candlesticks are important because my great great grandmother was able to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting shabbos candles wherever she was and now my mother is able to fulfill this mitzvah when she travels.
Siddur
Tel Aviv
My Mom
My great grandmother went to Israel and received the siddur as a gift from her cousin. It was then given to my grandmother, who gave it to my mom, who gave it to me. It has been in our family for many generations and hopefully for many more to come.
Prayer is such an important way in which to connect with Hashem. I hope that Hashem will fulfill all of the prayers that are said using this siddur.
Candlesticks
Russia
My great grandmother
These candlesticks have travelled a long journey from their origin in Russia to their arrival in Woerster in the Northen Cape, then up to Mayfair and Emmarentia in Johannesburg, and finally to their current home in Sydenham, Johannesburg.
These candle sticks have been used to usher in every Shabbat and yom tovs through many different generations.This shows how the Jewish faith has carried on from generation to generation.
Menora
South africa
My dad
This artifact was given to my great grandparents Benny and Polly on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary in 1951. It was passed on to my bobba on the occasion of her wedding. It was passed down to my dad.
This menorah is my dad's family heirloom which has been passed down from generation to generation for three generations. We will continue to use this menora every year on Chanuka and will always remember our ancestors.
Kiddush cup
Palestine
My mother
This kiddush cup belonged to my great great grandpa who lived in Palestine in 1882. He gave it to his son who gave it to my grandmother who gave it to my mom.
We use this kiddush cup every Shabbat like our great grandparents and their parents. In this way we are keeping the Jewish tradition of Shabbat.
Candlesticks
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My grandmother, Fay
These candlesticks belonged to my great, grandmother. She got them as a wedding gift.
They have been in my family for many years. They were passed down to my grandmother and will be passed down to me one day. They symbolize the holiness of Shabbat and the light that we bring into our homes and into the world.
Siddur
South Africa-Middelburg
My dad
This siddur was given to my dad when he was thirteen. It is special because it is an item from the time when my dad became a man.
It is used for Shabbat and for the parsha that my dad read at his bar mitzvah. It is a holy item which we treasure.
Shabbat Candlesticks
England
My Grandma
On Sunday September the 5th 1954, my grandparents got married at Berea Synagogue in Johannesburg. My great grandparents gave my grandparents a significant and traditional wedding present: a set of silver candlestick holders. From that day on, these candlesticks have been lit to usher in every Shabbat.
Lighting Shabbat candles is a special mitzvah and a true symbol of Jewish light. I hope that these candle sticks will continue to be passed down for many generations to come.
Kiddush Cup
Lithuania
My mom
During the Holocaust, my Zeida Dave and his five brothers escaped on a boat. They used this kiddush cup to celebrate Shabbat.
My Zeida passed this kiddush cup on to my mom, and she is passing it on to me. I am so happy that I can use it every Shabbat.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Russia
My mom
My great great gran owned a general-dealer store. She and my great great grandpa had an amazing pair of Shabbat candlesticks that were brass with silver plating. They kept these candlesticks and passed them on to my great gran in Poland. During World War II, my great gran had to move to South Africa to be safe. She could take very few things with her , and she chose to take these candlesticks.
These candlesticks were the only things that my great gran had as a symbol of her Judaism when she moved to South Africa. She passed them on to my mom and they will be passed to my eldest sister. We use them every Shabbat at home. They are a symbol or light, of courage and of our precious tradition.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Russia
My grandmother
My great grandmother received these candlesticks on her wedding day in 1927 in Romania. The candlesticks were kept in her house and were used to usher in Shabbat. The candlesticks survived World War II and eventually made it all the way to Israel in 1953. My great gran continued to use them in Israel. When she passed away, my grandmother inherited them and gave them to my parents when they got married. They are lit in our home every Shabbat.
These candlesticks remind me of our heritage and our history. I love the thought that we light our Shabbat candlesticks using the same candlesticks that my great gran did eighty years ago.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
My dad
This kiddush cup was made in Israel and bought by my Bobba and Zaida for my Dad's bar-mitzvah. It was engraved with my dad's name and date of bar-mitzvah. He uses it every Friday night.
It tells the story of the important milestone in my dad's life. It will be passed down from generation to generation.
Candlesticks
Russia
My grandmother, Ruth
My great, great grandmother bought these candle-sticks at a market in Russia. She used them for Shabbat. She gave them to her daughter, who gave them to her daughter, my grandmother.They have been in my family for many generations, and are still being used today.
They bring light to my family's Shabbat table.