Jewish Ritual Objects
In this gallery, you will find items that are used on Jewish holidays. Some examples of objects include Kiddush cups, menorahs, and candlesticks. All of the items have a story to tell about a person’s Jewish heritage. The objects represent the Jewish ways of living and perpetuate Jewish traditions.
Hanukkiyah
Israel
My Grandma and Mom
There are sad memories with this hanukkiyah because it brings up memories of my Grandpa's parents who have died. There are happy memories because of the good memories from using it.
On Hanukkah, we put candles in the candle holders, light the shamash, and light the others with the shamash. This artifact first belonged to my Great-Grandma Julia. Then, she gave it to my Grandma Elyse. Finally, she gave it to my mom.
Shofar
Lithuania
My Grandmother
This shofar is one of three that has been passed down in my family. It is significant because it has been handed down for five generations so that now, God willing, I will be able to hand it down to my children. I am proud that I own something this old and that it has survived through all this time so that I have been able to actually hold it and blow it.
This shofar, along with the other two, were passed from my Great-Great Grandfather to my Great-Grandfather, to my Grandmother, to my father, then to my brother and me. This shofar is blown on special holidays.
Hanukkiyah
Israel
My Grandma and Mom
There are sad memories with this hanukkiyah because it brings up memories of my Grandpa's parents who have died. There are happy memories because of the good memories from using it.
On Hanukkah, we put candles in the candle holders, light the shamash, and light the others with the shamash. This artifact first belonged to me Great-Grandma Julia. Then, she gave it to my Grandma Elyse. Finally, she gave it to my mom.
Candle Sticks
Unknown
My Grandmother
The candles are important because they are used for Shabbat. They belonged to my great-great grandmother and have been passed down for many years.
The candles originally belonged to my great-great grandmother.
Menorah
Venice, Italy
My Mother
This artifact makes me feel happy because it reminds me of my parents. It makes my mother feel happy because it reminds her of a special trip, and it reminds her of the decision made to raise a Jewish family. It is a symbol of marriage, and although she did not know that they would have kids at that time, it projected a future with a family and Jewish rituals. It is also significant because it shows that my parents have been married for nineteen years.
My parents bought this menorah on their honeymoon in Venice, Italy in 1998. It has been in our family since then.
Shabbat Candlesticks
Providence, RI
My Grandmother
The candlesticks are important because we can remember my grandfather since he designed them. They are also important because of the joy that my grandmother feels when she sees us using them sustaining our family, even for a few minutes of spiritual togetherness.
My grandfather made four candlestick sets and gave them to his four kids. We use them on Friday nights to light the candles and say prayers.
Kiddush Cup
Israel
My Mother
Every Friday night when my family has a Shabbat dinner, my brother and I take turns using the cup. This was my grandmother's cup, who I called Gram, and she passed away nine years ago. In honor of her memory, we use this cut and call it the Gram Cup.
My grandparents got this Kiddush Cup in Israel on a trip, and passed it down to my mom so my family now uses it.
Havdallah Spice Box
Hungary
My Grandfather
This artifact reminds my grandfather how religious his parents and grandparents were. He hopes that I keep it in the family and pass it on to the next generation.
The spice holder was given to my grandfather in America.
Kiddush Cup
United States
My Mother
This artifact is important because it shows a continuation of life. It helps to keep a memory of a grandpa who I never got to see.
My Great Grandpa Alfred made this cup. He passed it down to my Grandpa David who gave it to my mom to give me.
Silver Cup
Austria
My Mother
This artifact makes me feel pride because a small part of my family's history survived multiple world wars. It represents a piece of my family's history. It is a true piece of living history. It makes me think of a more simple time, when my family lived quietly and peacefully in Austria. My family's Judaism was a core aspect of their lives.
My grandfather gave it to my mother who gave it to me. It was used as part of my family's Shabbat dinner.
Kiddush Cup
Bucharest, Romania
My Mom
My great grandfather used this cup with my Pop-Pop every week for Shabbat. When we use the cup, we think of love and tradition. We have memories of people who aren't here and we keep the tradition alive by using it.
My Great-Great Grandfather Jules owned this cup, then gave it to my Great Grandfather Carl. When he died, my grandparents took it and gave it to my mom for her wedding.
Candlesticks
Brooklyn, NY
My Mother
My Grandma Jennie lit these candles every Friday night and would have her four children and eight grandchildren over for dinner most Shabbats. When she died, she gave the candlesticks to her daughter, my Bubby. When my Bubby died, she left the candlesticks to my mother because she knew that we would light them on Shabbat.
These candlesticks are important to me because they belonged to my Great-Great Grandma Jennie, who gave them to my Bubby. My Bubby was really my Great-Great Aunt Bunny, who died two years ago. I loved her very much. They were purchased in Brooklyn, NY probably in the 1950s.
Kiddush Cup
United States
My Mother
This artifact makes me happy. I will use it throughout the rest of my life and I will pass it on for generations to come.
My mother purchased this Kiddush Cup a few days after I was born. I will use it at my Bar Mitzvah and my wedding one day, and hope it will be used many more times by other family members.
Kiddush Cup
Germany
Om Opi
The Kiddush Cup reminds me where my family came from. My great-grandmother came from the city of Frankfurt, but it also was in the possession of relatives in many towns around Frankfurt.
It came from my great, great, great-grandmother and it was in their family for a long time. It went from Germany to Ecuador to the USA.
Shabbat Candle Sticks
Poland
My Grandmother
This means a lot to me as these candle sticks are from my great grandmother who I am named for, and who was my grandmother's mother. I never met my great grandmother and keeping Shabbat as a Jew in the South was very important to her. She lived in Little Rock, Arkansas where there is a small Jewish community. This is where my grandmother was born and raised.
These candle sticks originally belonged to my great grandmother. There are usually two candles for remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy and the commandment to keep Shabbat is mentioned twice in the Torah. However, some have a candle for each family member.
Kiddush Cup
New Orleans, LA
My Parents
This was a gift and has history and represents a symbol of Judaism that we use for many occasions.
My parents received it upon their wedding to use during the ceremony. It had been passed down for many generations and is very old and beautiful. They use it for all Jewish holidays and Shabbat. One day this cup will be mine.
Kiddush Cup
Unknown
My Mom
I am happy knowing that I have something that my family used at holy events. This cup was saved for so much time and it will be used at my Bar Mitzvah. I hope that I get to keep this artifact and learn about its full history and origin. It is very important to me and my family and it will stay that way forever.
This Kiddush Cup was my great-grandfather's and it was passed on to me because my Bar Mitzvah is coming up and I will use it during the Bar Mitzvah.
Kiddush Cup
Romania
My Uncle
This cup is significant because it will teach me more about my family's past. I think it will be interesting to learn more about the cup and my family.
This cup belonged to my great grandpa. My great grandpa gave the cup to my Great Aunt Tia Leia, and then my Tia Leia gave the cup to my Uncle Daniel.
Kiddush Cup
Russia
My Grandma
This cup was only used for Passover. Something that keeps getting passed on is very important. Since this cup was only used for Passover, I feel like the seder is very important. The cup also reminds me about my grandma's relationship with her family.
This cup was my grandmother's father's and it got passed down to me.