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
Israel
My papa
This kiddush cup used to belong to my great grandfather, I call him Papa Papa. He brought it from Israel. After he passed away, my grandfather (Papa) inherited it. My mom, aunt and uncle all used it at their b'nai mitzvah. My mom and aunt both used it at their weddings and my parents have the image included in their ketubah (which is a Jewish marriage certificate).
A kiddush cup is a Jewish symbol and we use it on Shabbat and other holidays. Shabbat is our most important day. Ahad Ha’am said: “more than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
Kiddush Cup
Minnesota
My dad
My great grandfather (a Holocaust survivor) gave this kiddush cup to his friend, whose initials were JBB, in 1957. When the friend passed away they gave the cup back to my great grandfather. My dad, whose initials are also JBB was given this kiddush cup when my great grandfather passed away.
Shabbat is important to the Jewish people because it reminds us that G-d created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. The kiddush cup is used on Shabbat to thank G-d for creating the fruit of the vine and for sanctifying the day. When my family celebrates Shabbat we use this kiddush cup because it is so significant to Jewish history and to my family.
Kiddush Cup
United States
My Mom
This kiddush cup was given to my mom by friends with whom she went to summer camp.
A kiddush cup is used for wine (or grape juice) on holidays and Shabbat. We say the Kiddush before we drink from it. Shabbat is a very important part of Judaism and making Kiddush with the wine adds to the holiness of the day.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
Myself
This is a kiddush cup that I use at my house on Shabbat.
It helps us start Shabbat. We fill the cup with wine/grape juice and we thank god for the fruit of the vine.
Wine sanctifies Shabbat as a holy day.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
Baubie and Papa
This kiddush cup was given to me by my grandparents. They purchased it when they visited Israel many years ago. We celebrate almost every Shabbat with family. When we host Shabbat we use this kiddush cup for the kiddush.
The Kiddush praises G-d who is the creator of the fruit of the vine. The kiddush cup is used in the home or synagogue on the Sabbath, festivals, weddings, B’nai Mitzvah, Bris and baby namings. These holidays, celebrations and life cycle events are integral parts of being Jewish.
Kiddush Cup
St. Louis, MO
Mom and dad
This Kiddush cup was given to my mom and dad for their wedding by my grandmother. It was made by an artist in St. Louis that designs kiddush cups with cool designs. There is a dent in the cup from when it fell to the ground. We use it on Shabbat.
Friday nights are very special in my family. This is where we welcome Shabbat. It is a wonderful time when family and/or friends can be together to celebrate Shabbat in joy.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
My Aba
This kiddush cup was my Great Grandfather’s. He brought it as a gift to my Aba and Ima one Passover.
We use this kiddush cup on Passover. On Passover we remind ourselves of being slaves in Egypt. This is significant because my great grandfather was pretty much a slave during the Holocaust. Fortunately, he survived. Freedom is a universal value. Free people can rest on Shabbat as well as observe Passover.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Israel
Grandparents
These candlesticks were given to my parents by their parents, after a trip to Israel. They were given to my parents as a way to pass along the tradition in our family of lighting Shabbat candles.
Lighting Shabbat candles is an Important part of our history and traditions. Shabbat makes us take time together as a family, and reminds us to take a deep breath because life can be busy. In the Torah, after creation, God rested on the 7th day. That is why we rest on the 7th day as well.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Romania
Great Grandparents
My mom's dad was from Romania. When they came to the US in the early 1900's they brought these Shabbat candlesticks with them.
They are important because we light candles every Shabbat. Lighting the candles reminds us that Shabbat is beginning and that just as God rested on the 7th day, so do we rest.
Sabbath Candlesticks
Russia
Jennifer, my mom
This candle stick is one of two that belonged to my great great grandmother, Jennie Kravetz, who passed them on to her son, Alen H., who gave them to his daughters, Jennifer and Devorah H. Each has one candle stick.
The significance of this candle stick is so you can bring light to Shabbat. Jennie's family immigrated from Odessa, Russia and we still light the candle stick every Friday night. We light these candle sticks to show that the Jewish tradition has been passed down from generation to generation by celebrating Shabbat.
Silver Kiddush Set
Russia
Parents
This kiddush set was given to Aviva's parents by her bubbie. It had been in her family for many years and had been used by bubbie's father (a rabbi) for Shabbat evening Kiddush in their home in New York.
Bubbie gave the set to Aviva's father just before his wedding
This artifact has been used for generations to recite Kiddush. It looks lovely on the Shabbat table.
Shabbat is a very special day and we are supposed to do what we can to make it beautiful and special.
Candelabra
America
My Baubie
The candelabra was from my great great grandmother and she used it every Friday night for Shabbat. She would have her head covered and she would put her hands over her face while she lit the candles and sing all the Shabbat blessings. My Baubie used to go to her house on Friday night and light the Shabbat candles with her and celebrate Shabbat. This was very special to my Baubie, because she was very close to her Baubie.
There is a lot of significance of this candelabra to our Jewish heritage. We have been lighting the Shabbat candles for thousands of years and that is a very important part of our Jewish history as well as our Jewish life today.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
Parents
This kiddush cup and plate was a gift to my parents in 1998 from my paternal grandparents, Julius and Phyllis B. At this time, my parents and sister were living in Israel and my grandparents were visiting them.
We use this kiddush cup to celebrate Shabbat and say the blessing over wine. My grandfather was a survivor of the Holocaust and he passed away in 2003, so this gift connects us to him, as well as to Jewish traditions going back many years.