Holidays
Our holidays are very important to us as Jews. They help us to understand many of the major events in Jewish history.
All of our artifacts have a story to tell about how a particular holiday is celebrated. In fact,
holiday traditions have often been passed down from generation to generation.
Having such a variety of holidays makes being Jewish fun and meaningful.
Book of Torah Portions
New York
Grandma
This book was my great grandfather's.
He passed it down to my grandma.
Learning about Judaism and practicing was very important to him.
The Torah is central to Jewish learning and tradition. It tells the story of the history of the Jewish people. This book contains the portions that are chanted several times a week which is one of the bases of Jewish communal life.
Mahzor
Russia
Great great grandmother
This book has been in our family for at least 5 generations,including mine.
My great great grandmother used it in services when she was my age. She also put dates in it to remember yahrzeits.
It is amazing how many people in my family have touched and used this Mahzor.
I know that since I now have this book they are all watching over me and my family.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the holiest days of the year for us as Jews.
They give each of us an opportunity for a new beginning.
Our synagogue is bursting at the seams on these days.
I fell good that I am part of a community which realizes the importance and significance of these Days of Awe.
My mahzor connects me to the generations of Jews that came before me.
Crystal Dreidel
New York
Step Grandma
This crystal dreidel was given to my parents by my step grandma, after they got married. It is important because it's really the only old thing that means a lot to my family.
I never met my step grandma, as she died about two to three months after my parents got married.
This dreidel is important to my Jewish heritage because my step grandma would always take it out on each night of Hanukkah to get everyone in the spirit of the holiday.
Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays because I get to be with my family and
have fun.
Hanukah celebrates religious freedom and that is what we want for everyone.
Plate
Russia
Mom
This plate was given to my great great grandma through family, and was used on many holidays.
When my great great grandma got old she passed it down to my great grandma and it kept on going from there.
It is special to my family because it was made a long time ago and there's a lot of family history behind it.
It is wonderful to keep the traditions of our ancestors.
When we celebrate the holidays and use the very same plate that has been used in my family for generations, it makes me feel really good.
This is how Judaism is passed down and survives.
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Hanukiah
Minneapolis
My parents
This Hannukiah is special to my family because it was passed down for generations.
It was a wedding gift to my great grandparents for their wedding in Minneapolis in 1921.
Even though Hanukah is not one of our major holidays, I think it is still important.
Our people fought for the right to be Jews.
Everyone should be able to practice any religion which they choose.
I hope that we continue to celebrate Hanukah for many years to come.
Seder Plate
Israel
Kaplan Family
Now that my great grandparents are no longer living, this Seder Plate travels across the USA to watch ever member of the Kaplan family that hosts the seder.
It is very important to my family because it keeps the memory of my great grandparents alive.
Passover is one of our most important holidays.
It celebrates our freedom from slavery. This was a very important event in our history.
First we got our freedom, then we got the Torah and then we got to the promised land.
I hope we celebrate Passover for many generations to come.
Menorah
USA
Grandma and grandpa
We often celebrate Chanukah with my grandparents at their home.
We use this menorah.
Whenever we light it we think about my great grandparents, who passed it down.
I love Chanukah.
Some people say that it is not an important Jewish holiday.
I think it's important because it stands for religious freedom.
Everyone should have the right to practice their religion.
High Holiday Prayerbook
Vienna (Wien)
My grandparents
These High Holiday prayer books were given to my great grandfather, Mayer, when he enlisted in the U.S Army in 1917. At that time he went to Germany to fight in World War I.
Fortunately, he survived, and brought the books back with him.
They are very important to us because they have been passed down to us to preserve.
These prayer books shows us that Jews participated in important events and practiced their religion even in very harsh circumstances.
My grandfather was a proud American (he became a citizen after the war)and a good Jew.
This can be said of the majority of Jews today who live in countries around the world.
Decorative Dreidel
Israel
My parents
We bought this dreidel several years ago because we thought it was interesting.
It has 4 words on it: "A great miracle happened here."
That tells us that the dreidel was made in Israel.
All of us love this dreidel, because it is unique.
This dreidel is used on Chanukah.
Chanukah is a much loved Jewish holiday.
It celebrates the fight for religious freedom.
Even though Chanukah is not considered a major Jewish holiday, it stands for some very important ideals.
We hope that everyone has the right to believe and practice their religion as they wish.
Menorah
Brooklyn, New York
Grandpa
This Menorah is important to me and my family because it was my grandpa's when he was younger and then, it was my mom's when she was younger.
My grandpa used it when he was little and my mom did too.
I hope it becomes mine someday.
We use this menorah to celebrate Hanukah.
Eevn though Hanukah isn't considered a major Jewish holiday, I think it teaches us some very important things.
Everyone deserves to be able to practice their religion in peace.
We are fortunate to live in a country where we can do that.
Seder Plate
Israel
My Mom
This seder plate belonged to my great grandma. When my parents got married my grandma gave it to them.
We use this seder plate at our sedarim and it always reminds us of my great grandma.
I hope that someday my mom will pass it down to me.
Passover is a very important Jewish holiday.
More Jews celebrate Passover than any other Jewish chag.
Passover celebrates our freedom from slavery.
As Jews we believe in freedom and equal justice for all.
Hanukiah
Grandparents
Dad
As a child, m dad would use this hanukiah every year on Hanukah. His mom would polish it to get it ready.
They took turns lighting it each night. It was placed by the front window of the house.
It has been in the family for over 50 years.
Hanukah is a joyful holiday.
It is a time for family and friends to celebrate together.
One of the things we talk about on Hanukah is miracles.
We all need to recognize the miracles each one of us sees in our daily lives.