Ritual Objects
The items in this gallery are used in the practice of Judaism - for holidays and/or special ceremonies.
Menorah
Brooklyn
My artifact is my Menorah. A Menorah is a traditional candle holder used during Hanukkah, the festival of light. My Menorah has a sports theme and was a gift from my parents. It is 12 inches long, 3.5 inches high and 2.5 inches in depth. It has 2 rows of sports figures. One row consists of 8 sports characters and the second row is of sports balls. A sports figurine and its ball each represent one day of Hanukkah. For example, the tennis player and the tennis ball candle holder represent a day. There is a trophy representing the “helper candle” position. The trophy is taller than the other candle holders. It sits in the middle of the first row. The Helper Candle helps light the other candles.
My Menorah was made in Brooklyn in 2004 by The Rite Lite Chanukah Express Company and designed by Susan Fischer Weis. The menorah was hand painted by Ms. Weis. The company used advanced technology to mold and decorate the menorah.
My menorah is very significant to my Jewish Heritage. It allows me to see the brilliant light, feel the warmth of the candles and remember the miracle of the Maccabees.
Ceremonial Scarf
Aleppo, Syria
Great grandmother, Salha Salem
This ceremonial scarf is approximately seven feet long and has metallic gold pieces woven between lace and mesh threads. There are three different geometric patterns in the scarf. It has been in our family since 1905 and was brought over to America from Aleppo, Syria by my Great Grandmother, Salha Salem.
This scarf has been worn several times in our family by several different family members. The Sephardic tradition is for the maternal grandmother to wear a ceremonial scarf over her head as she carries her grandson in the room for his Brit Milah as well as for his Pidyon Haben ceremony. My grandmother, Esther Salem Saka, wore this on her head while she carried me over to the Mohel at my Brit Milah. She also wore it at my Pidyon Haben. All of my aunts have also worn this scarf for their own grandsons' Brit Milahs and Pidyons.
Kiddush Cup
Poland
This Kiddush Cup is approximately 3 inches tall and was made in Poland. It is Sterling Silver and hand made. The markings are hand etched with the Hebrew letters: Bet Aleph Mem which stand for Bella A. Michels. It is also inscribed with Yiddish words: Mommy Yakouna Toyva which mean Good Old Mother! The inside of the cup looks burnt and blackened. The outside designs are a Jewish Star of David and bushes.
This cup is my Great Grandmother's wedding cup from her mother-in-law, Beckie Aptekars. The cup was used for the weddings and passed to my grandma. The cup reminds me that weddings are special and the best day of your life, and the cup is more than just a cup.
Menorah
Poland
Great Grandmother Helen
This menorah is 7 3/4 inches long and 7 inches tall with a crown and Star of David. The whole menorah is made of copper. There are two lions holding an oval with a picture of a lit menorah in it. The star is part of the Shamash holder with the eight candle holders below it. The menorah looks like a stool from the bottom and it is an old one because of the greening of the copper from old age.
This menorah was my great-grandma Helen's when she came from Poland. it was her mother's and it was the family menorah. My grandpa remembers lighting it as a child. This menorah was passed down from generation to generation and now my family uses it. It is special because it is the only thing that lasted from my great-great-grandmother!