Back to Shabbat and Holidays
In this gallery, you will see many artifacts that were used on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. There are siddurim, a beautiful case from a megillah, a megillah that opens in an unusual way, a mini torah, candlesticks and more. These were special to our ancestors because they prayed, learned and studied with these artifacts, and now are very precious to us. Their owners had a love for Hashem, for Jewish laws and traditions. The fact that our ancestors kept these artifacts with them throughout their lives shows that Shabbat and Holidays and their connection to Hashem was very important to them
Shofar
Syria
My grandfather, Eli H.
My mother's father, Eli H., gave this shofar to my father; that's why it's important. My grandfather used to make shofars from rams' horns to earn his living while he lived in Damascus. My father chose it because my grandfather wanted our family to remember for what he did for a living.
A shofar is used for religious purposes.
Megillah Case
Mogodor, Morocco
My Mother's Father
This beautiful megillah case was passed down from father to son until recently. It means a lot to my family because it survived wars, and moves from Morocco to Paris, to Canada, to the United States. It traveled by horse and buggy, by train, by car, and by airplane. Somewhere in all the travels the parchment got destroyed or lost. My grandfather only had daughters so that's how my mother got it. It's in our home. My mom polishes it from time to time because it tarnishes. We love to look at it and think of each family member who actually used it in the past.
This Megilah case is important to my Jewish heritage because it shows me that my ancestors were observant of Jewish holidays. I especially love it because Purim is my favorite holiday. Since my grandfather passed away before I was born, I feel connected to him with his artifact.
Siddur
Syria
Grandpa Teddy S.
This Siddur is important to my family because it's been passed down for three generations. In the Siddur it has the words that my great grandpa, Eddie, would say as he read tehillim for his parents, wife, brother, and sisters. I think this is really interesting because my great grandpa gave it to my Grandpa Teddy as a gift. This is really valuable to my family.
A siddur is a book from which Jewish people speak to God. It is a set of order of daily prayers. The word siddur comes from the Hebrew root meaning order. Every Jewish person uses this to pray to our God.
Megillah
Syria
Grandfather Albert T.
The significance of this megillah is that my family cared so much about it that we still have it today and it was cherished for many years.
The significance of this Megillah to Jewish heritage is that it dates back so long and that we still have it today. It was never damaged by non-Jews and that is amazing. The Megillah tells the story of Purim that we read every year on the holiday.
Kiddush cup
Brooklyn
Grandma Estelle B.
This artifact symbolizes a very special and important tradition. The kiddush cup was used for holidays like Passover, Shabbat, Rosh Hashana, Succot and more. The kiddush cup was used for certain beverages, for example, wine and grape juice. The kiddush cup was passed down to my family from my Grandma Estelle B. who inherited it from her mother Rachel S. The cup was bought early on in my great grandmother's marriage. It was used when her family was still small.
The cup was used for wine or grape juice during holidays and Shabbat for the blessing. The cup was very small and eventually we stopped using it as the family grew. Everyone in my family eventually had to get new ones because it was too small for everyone to use.
Mini Torah
Aleppo, Syria
Charles A
This mini Torah was given to my grandmother by her father-in-law. He brought this mini Torah with him from Aleppo, Syria and gave it to my grandmother when she got married to my grandfather. This mini Torah is important to my grandmother because it was a gift from her father-in-law that the family has had for so many years.
This mini Torah was used to teach my father and his brother to learn to love Torah, and how to keep proper halacha according to the Torah. It also linked my father to his grandfather and other religious family members, which taught him the principle of respecting his elders.
Megillah
Israel
My Grandpa Abe S.
It was the first Megillah that had a wood case and pulls out from the side. It was from my Great Grandpa Charles S. My Great Grandpa Charles used the Megillah for 50 years straight for Purim. My Great Grandpa Charles S. passed it down to my Grandpa Abe S.
A Megillah is a Judaic object. The scroll contains the biblical story of the book of Esther, traditionally read in synagogues to celebrate Purim. It shows how we keep the laws of Purim which has been passed down over 2,000 years.
Candle holders
North America
Great Grandmother Ann G.
These candle holders were given to my great grandmother, Ann G., by her mother and was passed down to my mother. She used these candle holders to celebrate the Sabbath when she got married. These truly showed her excitement to celebrate the Sabbath.
The significance of my artifact in relation to Jewish heritage is that these candle holders were given to celebrate the Sabbath when she got married.
Jewish women all over the world light candles to begin the Sabbath on Friday evenings.
Kiddush cup
Egypt
Ron C.
The significance of my Kiddush cup is that it is from one of my ancestors who was in the Holocaust in the 1940's in Poland. This cup is important to my family because it was one of the few possessions that my family has from the family members who were lost in the Holocaust.
A Kiddush cup is what Jews use on the holy Sabbath day and on special events and other holidays. It holds wine and a prayer is said before we drink the wine.