Religious Attire
You wear tefillin and a tallit when you pray. For both of these examples of religious attire the center of gravity is on the upper body. They each are placed on a different part of the body; the tallit hangs on the neck and tefillin
are wrapped around your arm and forehead.
Tallit
Lower East Side, NY
My Grandfather, Philip
This artifact makes me feel happy because it was saved and handed down for two generations. It was also used by my brother in Israel at his Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
My grandfather, Phil, used it at his Bar Mitzvah. At my brother's Bar Mitzvah, he used it. At my Bar Mitzvah, I will use it. My uncle wore it at his Bar Mitzvah.
Tallit
Lower East Side, NY
My Grandfather
This artifact makes me feel happy because it was saved and handed down for two generations. It was also used by my brother in Israel at his Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
My grandfather, Phil, used it at his Bar Mitzvah. At my brother's Bar Mitzvah, he used it. At my Bar Mitzvah, I will use it. My uncle wore it at his Bar Mitzvah
Tallit
Unknown
My Grandfather
This artifact is really important to me for many reasons. One reason is that my grandfather is no longer alive today, so it's a piece of remembrance. Also, my family has barely any artifacts or important old things from a long time ago, so this is a piece of true history in my family.
My grandfather used this tallit during his Bar Mitzvah. It is very special.
My Father's Tallit
Lower East Side, NY
My Father
When I put my dad's tallit on my shoulders it makes me feel very close to him - especially since he wore it on his Bar Mitzvah at Rodeph Sholom. It makes me feel like I am holding something very special. My grandparents gave it to my dad and he still uses it today. It was given to him by his parents, so it is continuing a family tradition. I hope the tradition continues when I turn thirteen.
The tallit was made for my dad for his Bar Mitzvah. My grandparents gave it to him as a Bar Mitzvah present. He wore the tallit at his own Bar Mitzvah in 1980.
My Grandpa's Tallit
Unknown
My Mother
This artifact is important to me because everyone in my family has something to do with it. It can help generations to come connect with us through this tradition.
My grandpa owned this artifact and he gave it to my mom at her wedding. All of my cousins wore it at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, my sister and I wore it at our baby naming, and at my parents' wedding, it was hung over them.
Tefillin Bag
Germany
This is significant because it belonged to my great-great grandfather, born in Germany in 1855. It's also significant because my great grandfather brought it to the Dominican Republic during the Holocaust in 1940. He then passed it on to my grandfather, who passed it on to my father, who will pass it on to my brother, and so on.
It came from my great-great grandfather who got it in Germany. It was passed on to my great grandfather who passed it on to my grandfather, who passed it on to my father who will soon pass it on to my brother.
Tefillin
Europe
My Zeidi
It is significant as it was used in prayers and it is a personal object from Zeidi's life. Zeidi was a painter and also wall paper hanger. He used to hang gold leaf for some of the most well-known and rich people in NYC early in the 20th Century. He also lived in the Bronx near the Grand Concourse throughout the 1930s-1960s when that area was very Jewish. Uncle Henry lived with him for some time as well.
This tefillin was used by my great-great grandfather around the turn of the century. It was wrapped around his arm and forehead and used for prayers. It is one of the only remaining artifacts from his life.