Religious Artifacts
Our artifacts are all related to our Jewish religion. Some of them are very old and were used at very special times in the lives of our parents & other family members. Some of the objects are still used today. Each artifact has a story and is important to the family that owns it.
Bronze Menorah
Russia
Great Great Grandma
This menorah is something my grandpa grew up with and it's extremely important to my family. It is the only artifact that I have from my mom's side of the family. It is lit for Hanukkah and the candles burning remind our family of the relatives who came to the USA before I was even born.
My grandpa's grandma came to the USA from Russia and went through Ellis Island with this menorah. Then this was passed down to grandpa. She came here to escape anti-Semitism, looking for better life & to live free as a Jew. Thanks to her coming to the USA I am able to discuss my Jewish artifact freely & openly only because of the arrival of my grandpa's grandma at Ellis Island.
Tefillin
Russia
Grandpa Stuart B.
My great-grand-gather brought this tefillin from Russia. The tefillin has been used by three generations in my family. I too will use them when I become a Bar Mitzvah.
Tefillin is a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. It is worn during weekday morning prayers.
Kiddush Cup with Base
United States
Grandparents
This Kiddush cup was one of 11 cups that my Grandmother and step-Grandfather gave to their grandchildren. They wanted to start a tradition with us and pass down a Kiddush cup to us, then to our children, and our grandchildren. At each Seder, we bring our Kiddush cups with us, and we drink out of them. This Kiddush cup is important to my family because it was something that my Grandparents could pass down to all of us together. One day, my grandchildren will have this Kiddush cup.
This Kiddush cup is used on holidays. A Jewish holiday ritual is to drink wine (or grape juice) out of a Kiddush cup. When we drink out of a Kiddush cup, we say prayers for the holiday. At Seders, we get to drink from it 4 times and dip our finger into it.
Kiddush Cup
Poland
My Parents
My great-great-grandmother (Bubbie) and grandfather (Poppy), Minnie and Albert, drank from this Kiddush cup at their wedding in 1915. It was passed down from generation to generation to other family members. My great-Bubbie Ruth and great-Poppy Sam drank from this Cup at their wedding on February 5, 1944. It was then used at the wedding of my great-aunt Toby and great-uncle Joey on June 3, 1944. My Bubbie Iris and Poppy Barry drank from this Kiddush Cup at their wedding on May 30, 1968. My mom and dad, Lisa and David, drank from this cup at their wedding on November 14, 1998. I will also drink from this Kiddush Cup at my wedding!!
Kiddush means sanctification and is the prayer recited over a cup of wine. The Wedding Kiddush cup is used for the Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings). The first benediction, Kiddushin, recited over a cup of wine, sanctifies the joy and abundance of the Jewish marriage ceremony and the bride and groom sip from the Kiddush Cup.
Bible
Israel
My Grandma
My great-grandmother was given this bible on June 16th, 1967 when she stepped down as the president of her chapter of Hadassah. My parents held it when they got married.
This Bible is significant to Jewish heritage because it was presented to my great-grandmother for her dedication and efforts to help Israel prosper during the early days of its existence! The printing inside is in Hebrew and it of course, contains the Biblical stories of the Torah! It was actually made in Israel.
Sabbath Candlesticks
Kiev
Great-grandmother
My great-grandmother got these Shabbat candlesticks from her mother and father who brought them over to America from Russia. They are among the few things that they saved from Europe.
Candles are lit on Friday evening before sunset to usher in the Jewish Sabbath. Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites a blessing.
Kiddush Cup
The smaller Kiddush cup is from Russia. The larger Kiddush cup is from the USA.
Grandma Linda
The Kiddush cup was given to me by my Grandmother Linda to use for this project. It is a tradition in my mother's family that when someone gets married, the bride's parents give a Kiddush cup to use at the wedding and on all special occasions and holidays. My Grandmother provided me with two Kiddush cups, one that she received at her wedding, January 7, 1973 and one provided to her mother that had been passed down for several generations.
The significance of this artifact is the family tradition being passed down from generation to generation. Jewish occasions and holidays are very important to my family and we always use the same Kiddush cups, Sabbath candles, plate for the Challah.
The Joining-Kiddush Cup
Connecticut
Judith G.
This Kiddush cup was made by my Grandma's friend Judith G. The Joining-Kiddush cup is the name that Judith gave the cup because my Mom's name is on one side & my Dad's name is on the other. It actually says Chaim and Ahuva, their Hebrew names. She made the cup for their wedding. This Kiddush cup has been used multiple times at very, very, very special occasions, like when my Mom & Dad were being married. The cup was not used just at the wedding, but also at my bris, my sister's baby naming and Bat Mitzvah.
This is a Kiddush cup that is significant to my Jewish heritage. Kiddush cups are used on Shabbat, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, a bris or baby naming, and weddings. All of the events are happy events.
Kiddush Cup and Tefillin
Prussia
Merrick and Michele S.
The Kiddush cup is always the center piece on our Passover table, it's been that way since my grandfather was a child. The Tefillin was worn by my grandfather before his Bar Mitzvah in honor of his grandfather and used during morning prayer when he was a boy attending Hebrew school. My grandfather grew up in Brooklyn, NY attending an orthodox synagogue.
Great-grandfather Samuel S. brought these items to America when he escaped from Prussia. Tefillin are the cube-shaped black leather boxes, containing four scriptural passages, attached to the head and a arm and worn during the morning prayers. Shabbat and the Jewish holidays meals begin with the blessings over a cup of wine. Many families have a special glass or goblet specifically for the purpose, often an heirloom that has been passed down through the generation, but any cup can function as a Kiddush cup if necessary. Either wine or grape juice may be used for the blessing, and some families stand for the Kiddush, while others sit.
Matzah Cover
Lower East Side of Manhattan
Grandmother
This matzah cover was passed down from my great-grandmother, who emigrated to the United States from Hungary in the early 1920's. She passed it down to my grandmother, who then passed it to my mother. Today my family carries on the tradition by continuing to use this matzah cover during our Passover Seders.
Having a matzah cover for Passover is an important part of the Seder dinner. Matzah covers are important as they are used to hold the symbolic three matzot. The three matzots are then put inside of a special matzah cover. The matzah cover for Passover is only used once a year during Passover. It is then put aside for the next Passover. Our matzah cover is embroidered with Hebrew inscriptions. It has the prayer over the matzah, which is read during the Passover Seder, and it has various embroidered pictures in the middle, such as the wine cup and a Seder plate containing the symbolic foods used during the Passover Seder.
Torah Scroll, Kippah and Baby Items
Brooklyn, NY
Great Uncle Jerome
This Torah scroll and Kippah belonged to my Great Uncle Jerome . He was my grandfather's brother. It was given to my Great Uncle when he became consecrated in Hebrew School and when I was born, it was given to me. I am my Great Uncle's namesake. Ashkenazi custom is to name a child after a family member who has died. Parents hope that by receiving the name, the child will take the qualities of the person. Learning about the person who they are named for is a way to identify with the history of our Jewish family. I was named for my Great Uncle Jerome. He was a kind and generous man who my family loved very much.
These objects were given as part of a consecration ceremony. This ceremony marks the beginning of formal Jewish education. I have a torah scroll that was given to me when I started Hebrew School.
Candle Sticks
Russia
Grandma Ellen C.
These candle sticks were passed down from my great-great-grandmother who lived in Russia. They were not very wealthy but on their wedding day, they put candles in these candle sticks and lit them. They have been passed down from generation to generation and now belong to me.
The candle sticks were used in the Jewish wedding ceremony of my great-great-grandparents. Candle sticks are a staple in all Jewish homes and can be seen every Friday night being lit to start the Sabbath. They are an special item that ties all Jewish families together.
Five Books of Moses
Israel
Uncle Adam
This artifact was given to my Uncle Adam when he was born in 1965. He died at 28 years old and was very ill. This was then passed onto my brother Zachary who is named after him. It is valuable because of its significance to Jewish heritage and also my mother's brother Adam. It has the date he was born on the front cover. The Five Books of Moses are sacred.
This artifact was made in Israel. The Five Books of Moses are the biblical books of Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus. These books are known as the Torah. This is a collectors piece from Tel Aviv, Israel. It is important and significant to Jewish Heritage as one of the most important books ever written for the Jewish people. Honoring Uncle Adam and Jewish tradition, we cherish this collection.
My Cousins' Bar Mitzvah Kippah
USA
My first cousins Adam & Jacob
This Kippah is important to me because it was from my cousins' B'nai Mitzvah. It is special to me because it was special to them and I love them very much. I had a blast celebrating their B'nai Mitzvah with them!
This kippah is important to Judaism because I wear it every Friday night when we light Shabbat Candles in our home. I have worn a yarmulke since I was young boy whenever I go to temple, celebrate a Jewish holiday, and say
a Jewish prayer. Many Jewish men wear yarmulkes all of the time. The yarmulke/kippah is important in the Jewish religion because Jewish men and boys wear them as a sign to show their respect toward God. The tradition of wearing a yarmulke is a custom that means there is someone "above" us who watches our every act.
Tefillin and Bag
Vilnius, Lithuania
Grandpa Marty
The Tefillin and bag were originally my great-great-grandpa Joseph B.'s who lived in Lithuania which is very far away, close to Poland & Russia. He gave the Tefillin to my great-grandpa Max B. who lived in Brooklyn, NY and passed it down to my grandpa Marty B. who lives in New City, NY. Grandpa Marty is my dad's dad.
This Tefillin is important, not only because it was handed down from generation to generation, but also because of its spiritual meaning in connecting the brain, hands & heart to God. For those that practice this ritual it serves as a reminder of their connection to God.
Menorah
Israel
My Mimi (my grandma)
This menorah was given to my mom when she was marrying my dad. My grandmother got this when she went to Israel on a vacation. It caught her eye as soon as she saw it.
This menorah is important because we light it every December during Hanukkah. We celebrate the holiday with my entire family and it is a special time for us all.
Menorah
Israel
Dotty K.
This menorah was given to my grandmother by my great-grandmother. It was it was important to my grandmother because it was used during Chanukah every year while she was growing up. The menorah reminds her of the special times she had with her mother and it is so special to her because it is one of the few things she has left from her mother.
A menorah is significant to Jewish heritage because it symbolizes the miracle of the Chanukah oil that lasted for eight days instead of one. It also bonds all Jewish people because Jewish people use them around the world.