Jewish Lifestyles
by Ellen H. and Claire S.
Remembering Jewish traditions is important to all Jewish families because it helps us learn about our past. A major part of Judaism is learning the mitzvot that only we, the Jewish people, do. On Shabbat, we light the Shabbat candles, on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar, and the men always wear kippot on their heads. Some people find these things as ordinary but they are actually very special. We are fortunate enough to learn these mitzvot at a young age and do them for the rest of our lives. During the Holocaust, children had to hide out and could not learn. It was difficult for the Jewish people to keep the mitzvot and the religious laws. Therefore we should be grateful for being able to use all the artifacts in this category, “Jewish Lifestyles”.
Candlesticks
Russia
Lisa W.
These candlesticks were brought to America from Minsk, Russia by my great great grandparents, Aaron and Faigy P. when they escaped from Czar Alexander III. They were forbidden to take anything with them so she hid them under her dress. The candlesticks were important to them because it was the last thing Faigy had from her mother.
Shabbat kept the family together.The candlesticks were made specifically for the Jews to use to light Shabbat candles. They are made out of silver plated brass because Jews were forbidden to own solid silver by the Czar. He did this to steal valuables from the Jews. This is a symbol of how badly the Jews were treated and how the Jews were able find a way to follow our religion.
Tefillin
Brooklyn, NY
Sam C
On the day my great grandfather, Sam C, became a bar mitzvah he wore his tefillin for the first time. From then on my great grandfather wore them everyday. Once Sam C started to get sick he stopped wearing them because he didn't have enough strength to put them on. Instead, he put them next to him. He eventually passed away and we were all very sad. My family was thinking about what we were going to do with the tefillin. My grandfather, David C, had an idea. His idea was to take the tefillin and give them to someone who needed tefillin and couldn't afford them.
We learn from the mitzvah of tefillin on Mount Sinai that a 13 year old boy should wear his tefillin from the day he became bar mitzvahed until the day he isn't able to wear them.In the tefillin it says the Shema prayer that Jewish people say every morning and night. In the Shema it talks about when Hashem took the Jewish people out of Egypt when they were slaves.
Book: Kiddush Hashem
Pennsylvania, Penna
Sally S.
My grandmother, Sally S. gave me a book about making Kiddush Hashem. The significance of this book called "Kiddush Hashem" by Sholom Ash, relates to my family and other Jewish families because we're always supposed to do kiddush Hashem. A Kiddush Hashem is a way of doing the right thing, showing good behavior, to glorify the name of Hashem. My grandma, Sally S, gave this book to my mother, Eve because she wanted the family to read it. The book was made in Philadelphia, PA, 1936, and it's very interesting.
The significance of my artifact relates to my Jewish heritage because the book is all about making a kiddush Hashem which all Jewish people should strive for.
Ancient Syrian Lace Scarf
Aleppo, Syria
Esther A.
This scarf is significant to my family because it is 100 years old! This scarf was bought and first used by my Great-great-great grandmother, Sarah S. She put this scarf over her head while she would carry the new born baby boy to the rabbi before he got circumcised. This has been a tradition of good luck in my family for 100 years! In fact, my grandmother wore this while she was carrying me before I got circumcised.
This scarf is very significant to my Jewish heritage. This scarf has been used by all of the grandmothers in my family while they were carrying their grandchildren to the Rabbi to be circumcised. This scarf is amazing because this was so important to my Great-great-great grandmother, Sarah S, that she brought it here from Syria! Ever since then it is still being used by my grandmother today!
Candlesticks
Aleppo, Syria
Vicky N.
These candlesticks were made in the 1900's. They were from my great grandma,Vicky N. in Aleppo, Syria. She gave them to my grandma, Theresa S. who then gave it to my mom, Cynthia G. The candlesticks are still used today.
Candlesticks are used the night before holidays to start the holiday. They are used on Friday night by women. Women say a prayer and light candles and to start Shabbat or a holiday.
Kippa
Russia
Alexander A.
This embroidered kippa came from Russia and originally was owned by Michael, my grandfather from my father's side of the family. This kippa was my grandfather's for a long time and he passed this item down to my father. Now it is owned by my father, Alexander.
This Kippa is a skullcap that is used to cover the heads of Jewish men. That is important because Jewish people must cover their heads. The kippa is worn by Jewish men all the time, every single day. We wear it because the G-d that Jewish people worship commanded us to cover our heads.
Seder Plate
New York, NY
Sandy E.
My mother's family has been using this beautiful Seder plate ever since my grandma, Sandy E, was married. This holder is very delicate, old and colorful.
On Passover Jews eat matzah. There is a custom that Jews must have 3 pieces on the table and they should be covered up. The matzo is placed in the lower part of the server. The top of the plate holds all the other foods needed for the seder.
Kimineye
Turkey
Linda R.
This "kimineye" belonged to Linda R's grandmother. It lasted through the Ottoman Empire in Kilos, Turkey. It was handmade by Linda R's great grandfather. It was given to her mother and passed down to her. It's also very sentimental. Linda's family were Sephardic Jews from Syria.
Linda's grandmother believed that the prayer inside could help her get better. The people who had this were very superstitious about it.
Shofar
Syria
Raymond L.
My great grandfather, Raymond L, used this shofar to go from house to house and blow it for people who were sick on holidays. This shofar is important to my family because it shows how good my great grandfather was to other people.
A shofar is used on two Jewish holidays. These holidays are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper. The shofar is blown and sounds like a horn. The Rabbi of the shul blows it for the whole congregation to hear.
Tefillin
Cairo, Egypt
Michael G
In 1935 my grandfather, David G. received his tefillin from his father, Matouk G. He wore them at his Bar Mitzvah in Cairo when he was 13. The leather straps of the tefillin wrap around the arm and the other part of the tefillin goes on the forehead, just below the hairline. The tefillin symbolize protection and religious law. My grandfather David G. brought the tefillin with him when he came to America in 1949.
According to Jewish law, at the age of 13 a Jewish boy becomes a 'man' at a ceremony called a Bar Mitzvah. At this age is when they start wearing the tefillin.My grandfather, David G, wore it as a sign of protection according to religious law.