Holiday Ritual Objects
The items in this gallery are holiday ritual objects, many of which were passed down from our family members. They help tell the story of our family history. The artifacts help us identify that we are Jewish and help connect us to our family’s history.
Kiddush Cup
New York, New York
Mom, Dad, and Grandma
This kiddush cup is important to my family because it's from my grandpa and he is no longer alive. It's sort of like a memory of him and my grandma(who is alive). It's also my mom's family memory.
The story of my artifact was it was a gift to my Grandma Myra from my grandpa Stanley for their 25th anniversary. Then they made similar ones for my mom and aunt. They labeled it with their anniversary, birthday and children’s birthdays, as well as their own marriage date.
Jewish Candlesticks From Iran
Iran
Eliana J, My Mother
I never got to meet my grandfather before he died. These candlesticks are one of the few real connections we have. After the Holocaust, my grandfather was shooting a movie in Iran. He went to a Jewish artisan and he bought the Jewish candlesticks because he thought that they were pretty, and they were handed down to my mom.
These candlesticks have a significance to Jewish heritage because you can use them for Jewish holidays.
Menorah
New York
My grandma
On Chanukah, I light this menorah knowing my family also lit it. I hope my children and grandchildren light this thinking of me.
My grandma bought this menorah in the 20th century. She needed one to light on Chanukah. She passed it down to my mom. After that, she passed it to me and now I light it.
Hanukkah Plate with Menorah in the Center
Los Angeles- Skirball Museum
Spencer C. L
The significance of this artifact to my family is that every day of the Festival of Lights, my family uses this plate to hold our gelt, candles, matches, and chanukiah.
As a Hanukkah present for Hanukkah 2004, my grandmother sent this to me. Now, my whole family has used this plate for Hanukkah every year.
Kiddush Cup
Unknown
My mother
It was my mother's and grandmother's and her mom kept it for her. My mom used it for her wedding.
It was used at various Jewish holidays and special occasions.
Candle Holders
Gorlece Poland
Hillary S (Mother)
They were passed down from my great great grandpa in Gorlece Poland. They were retrieved from Poland around 1850 with my great great grandpa before it was conquered by Hitler.
We use them on Shabbat and they remind me/us of our heritage.
Menorah
Washington DC
My great-grandfather gave it to my grandfather and he polished it especially for my parents. My father has it now, but it is very important to my family, so I want to have it too someday.
We light the menorah on Chanukah as a family tradition every year.
Menorah
Unknown
The story of this artifact is that my grandfather's family was using it every Hanukkah until World War II happened and they luckily escaped England.
The significance of this menorah to my family is that it has been passed down from generation to generation and it has been in the family for a long time. When we use the menorah, I think of how my relatives made it through World War II.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
Dalia
My great uncle got it from his friend's store and bought it for my grandmother. They used to live on a kibbutz so everyone was very close. My grandmother cherished this kiddush cup for many years and eventually gave it to my mother and my mother gave it to me.
On the holidays we use the kiddush cup and it reminds me of my great uncle and grandmother when we use it. I hope to pass it down to my grandchildren so they can use it and remember me by it.
Kiddush Cup
Belarus
Mark I.
My great-great-grandfather had it. It later got passed down to my dad when he became a Bar Mitzvah. He’s had it ever since.
It is very important to my family because it has a lot of family history.
Kiddush Cup
New York
Great Grandfather
My grandfather's dad used this kiddush cup at his bar mitzvah and has passed it on. My great grandfather drank wine out of it which completed his bar mitzvah.
This is significant to my family because it has been passed on and as it gets passed on it keeps the same tradition.
Shabbat Candlesticks
United States
Jennifer K.
The story of this artifact is that my mom's mom, Julie K., gave it to my mom and now it sits on our table every Friday for Shabbat dinner. I hope to give this artifact to my kids and have the same tradition that I have now.
The significance of this artifact to my family is that they were my mom's mom Shabbat Candlesticks. She died before I got the chance to meet her. Every Friday it feels like her spirit is at the table with us.
Bernice L's Brass Candlesticks
Brooklyn
Bernice L.
My Great Great Aunt Bernice L. won these candlesticks in a Purim Quiz at her temple. She passed them down to my mom, who will someday pass them down to me.
These candlesticks represent the two most important things to my Great Great Aunt: being a woman, and being Jewish. My Great Great Aunt feels warm and happy when she welcomes Shabbat, and she hopes that I will light the Shabbat candles and feel the same feelings while doing it, when I grow up.
Menorah
Russian
Unknown
This artifact is important to my family because it has been passed down from my great grandmother and that's how we remember her.
It's a menorah and we use it on Hanukkah.
Shabbat Candlesticks Owned by Bessie S
Russia
My grandma Jackie G
My great-great-grandma brought these candlesticks over from Russia and lit them for the first time in America. On the brim of the candlestick is a man reading a Torah. They have been at all of my family's weddings and my great-grandma had them in the Holocaust.
To my great-great-grandma they were a sign of a new life, and for me they are a way to connect with my Jewish roots.
Bris Cup
Israel
Myself
It is significant to me and my family because a bris is a Jewish celebration for a baby boy and having a bris, for me, keeps my Jewish identity while I still have my American identity.
My artifact is a cup that was given to me as a gift from my aunt and uncle at my bris. It is a small silver cup made in Israel. I don't use it now, but maybe I will give it to my grandchildren and they will remember their Jewish identity.
Menorah
Springfield, Massachusetts
Father
This hanukkiah was used in four generations in my family. Originally, my great-grandmother owned it, then my grandmother, and then my dad, and eventually, me. The importance of this to my dad is that it is one of the few things that my dad has left of his grandmother, my great-grandmother.
This hannukiah was lit many Hanukkahs in four generations for my family.
Chanukiah
Germany
Dad
My great great grandmother got the chanukiah in Germany and kept passing it down until it got to my Dad and he will continue to pass it down.
We light it every Chanukah, no time else, to remind us how important it is to our life.
Kiddush Cup
East Coast, America
Dad
My dad used this kiddush cup at his Bar Mitzvah. He drank sweet, smooth wine from it as he recited the kiddush.
The significance of this artifact is that it is special to know about the tradition as the bar mitzvah from our fathers and our fathers before him.
Candle Holder
Rodger Sterling
Great Great Grandmother
My great great grandmother and grandfather got them as a wedding gift then passed them down to my father as one of the few things she left for him. We use them during Shabbat.
Though they just look like candlesticks they have a lot of significance because my family uses them every Shabbat. Every time I use them I smile because they remind me of my great great grandmother.
Hannukiah
NYC
Burt (my dad)
It's special to me because it belonged to my grandmother.
Well it was from my dad's mother Bella. She bought this Hannukiah when dad was a little boy. My dad gave it to me to keep and to use it.
Shabbat Candlesticks
U.S.
My Mother
My artifact are Shabbat candlesticks. They were made by my papa. He gave one pair of candlesticks that he made to my mother. My mother keeps them and uses them every Shabbat.
My family use the candlesticks every Shabbat to light the candles.
Kiddush Cup
India
Ron C. (my dad)
It was given to my father by his parents, and was used at his bar mitzvah and on other occasions to follow.
We use it on Shabbat sometimes and plan to pass it along for another generation to have eventually.