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."
Kiddush Cup
St. Paul, MN
Father
This cup was given to my dad at his birth. It has been used for all significant simchas in his life, such as his bar mitzvah, and many Shabbatot in his family and ours.
Wine is a pary of most Jewish celebrations, because it helps us celebrate.
From birth to Bar Mitzvah to wedding etc., we celebrate with wine and its blessings.
We are carrying on age old tradition when we celebarte in this manner.
Kiddush Cup
New York
Dad
My dad gave me this kiddush cup. he got it for his Bar-Mitzvah at Temple Beth Torah.
He became a Bar-Mitzvah in 1983 in Long
Island New York.
We use it weekly for Shabbat. we have had it in our home for about thirty years. It reflects the hard work my dad accomplished in his Torah studies and his becoming a Jewish adult.
Shabbat is important because since God rested on Shabbat we rest on Shabbat. Shabbat is also important because we go to synagoge on Shabbat and we go there because it is important to acknowledge God through prayer.
Shabbat is one of the things that keeps us Jewish.
Kiddush cup
Minnesota
mom
My mom was given this kiddush cup on her Bat Mitzvah. This was a big milestone in my mom's life.
The kiddush cup is a reminder that she became a Bat Mitzvah, a Jewish adult.
We sometimes use this kiddush cup on Shabbat.
I am looking forward to getting my own kiddush cup when I become a Bar Mitzvah.
Shabbat is a very important for Jews.
We celebrate important occasions with wine.
We chant the Kiddush. The word Kiddush means, holy.
Wine helps us "sanctify" this day as special.
Shabbat is one of the things that keeps us Jewish.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Israel
Dad
The significance of this artifact to my family is we have used these candle sticks for the past 15 years! They are special to my us because they were purchased in Israel.
Even when we try to clean them, it really doesn't work, and not just because getting wax off of stuff is so hard. It's because they have been used so much.
The significance of this artifact to our Jewish heritage is it is one of the things that makes Shabbat complete. Without the candles we would have an incomplete Shabbat.
Shabbat is very special to the Jewish people. God rested on the 7th day, so we rest. In this way, we imitate God and try try to be like God.
Shabbat Candle Holders
United States
My dad's parents
My grandma's grandma gave these candle holders to her to use for Shabbat.They are very important to our family, and they mean a lot to us.They have been in our family for a very long time.
Shabbat is a a very holy day. It is important because it's the 7th day. God rested and we rest also.
Shabbat is one of the things that has kept Jews Jewish.
Candlesticks
Hungary/Poland
Great Great Grandpa and Grandma
The story of my artifact is that my Great Great Grandma and Grandpa got these and thought they were so beautiful, that they wanted to pass them down in our family to my Great Grandpa. The candlestick holders couldn't fit in my Great Grandpa's suitcase when he was traveling from Poland to the U.S. He had to cut the legs off of the holders. Then he gave them to my grandma, who gave them to us when she died.
These candlesticks are important to Judaism because they are used for Shabbat which is observed by the Jewish people.
Ahad Ha'am, a famous Jewish writer, said: "More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has a kept the Jews."
Shabbat Candlesticks
Minnesota
My dad
My great grandma's candlesticks were lit every Shabbat.
They were passed down and are still used today.
They mean a lot to me because they are one of the only remaining things from that side of my family. They have been used for over 70 years and will be passed down in our family for more generations.
I like Shabbat because it celebrates the day of rest for the Jews. I relax eat the challah and watch the candles burn. In that time my dad brings the photos of everyone Jewish that passed away in our family. If I'd seen them I'd remember memories of them in my life and what their personality was like.
That always makes me feel part of the Jewish world.
Shabbat gives me the opportunity to do this.
Kiddush Cup
unknown
My Family
My artifact was given to my parents as a wedding gift. My aunt made a kiddush cup for every one on my dad's side of the family when they got married.She then painted the kiddush cup.
It is very important to us because it reminds us of my parents' wedding and the fact that my aunt made made this special gift for them.
We keep it on a shelf for everyone to see.
A kiddush cup is used on Shabbat and holidays.Lots of people use a kiddush cup on Shabbat and they drink wine out of it.
On our holidays we also drink wine.
It nice to have an atifact that we can use to celebrate Shabbat and our holidays.
Kiddush Cup
Cleveland
Mom
This Kiddush cup was given to Joel Sedley on February 28, 1959,the date of his Bar Mitzvah. Joel was Eli's grandfather who passed away in February
of 2014.
The Kiddush cup was a gift to Joel from his parents. Eli and Jonah, Joel's 2 grandsons, will drink from this cup on their B'nai Mitzvah.
We say Kiddush on Shabbat and holidays.
The word Kiddush means holy. We say it on holy days.
Wine is a symbol of joy and adds to the joy of these days for us.
Shabbat is very important and we get to celebrate it every week.
We begin Shabbat with the Kiddush, to set the tone for the day.