Religious Artifacts
Mystery of Religious Artifacts
by Francine Gemal
In this gallery, you will find many artifacts that were used on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. The artifacts that you will find in this gallery that relate to our Jewish traditions include Megillot, Siddurim, a Shofar, Candlesticks, Kiddush Fountain, Machzor, a Menorah, and a Mohel Kit. The owners of these artifacts had much love for Hashem and cared much about the religious laws. Our ancestors kept these artifacts for many years, so we know they were very important to them. They represent Jewish traditions and practices that were important to our ancestors and continue today. Through our research and interviews we learned the stories about these artifacts and they are no longer a mystery to us.
Prayer Book
Aleppo,Syria
Mark A.
This siddur was given to my great grandfather, Murad Simon A. He took it with him on his way from Aleppo all the way here to the United States, and still used it for the rest of his life. This siddur is very meaningful to my dad because he never got to meet grandfather.
This siddur is used by the Jewish people to pray every morning, afternoon, and night.
Kiddush Fountain
Egypt
Camille C.
Even though this was one of many artifacts my Grandma has from Egypt it is still very special to my Grandma because it has Jewish significance.
This artifact helped my Grandma and her big family to keep Shabbat in a little bit of an easier way. These cups were used every Shabbat, whether or not my grandma's family had company.
Shofar
Syria
My father
In 1990 my grandfather a"h pulled a muscle two days right before Rosh Hashanah, and the congregation was worried about what they going to do because he was their favorite Tokieyah. He told them "I will do my best but I can't promise because I am in a lot of pain."He couldn't breathe or walk normally. On Rosh Hashanah it took him over 30 minutes walking to shul from his house, which normally takes him less than 5 minutes. Finally he arrived to shul; he sat down in his seat. My grandfather decided to go up to the Bimah when they took out the Torah.The Bimah in Syria is between 10 to 12 steps high. My father and my uncle held my grandfather from each side to take him up so he could be ready in advance so the "Tzibur" won't have to wait for him. He was in a lot of pain, but he blew the shofar so strongly that the walls of the shul vibrated and people felt the sounds in their bodies, their flesh and souls. The Gabbay told my grandfather, "Imagine how you are with your full strength!"
My grandfather a"h was the only man in Syria making shofarot. The process took almost a month: it took a full week to remove the bone out of the horn, it had to be soaked in diesel to remove the bad smell, then washed, before the cutting process starts. Drilling was done slowly so it didn't become "passoul" and then the mouth was widened so one can blow it comfortably.Then he sanded and polished it. He blew the shofar on the holidays. The shul insisted on paying him, but he donated it as tzedaka.
Megillah
Israel
Grandpa Morris D.
My grandfather received this megillah at the time of his Bar Mitzvah in Israel.
The megillah is used to tell the story of Purim. The story is about a Jewish girl named Esther who becomes queen when marrying King Achashverosh. However, an evil man named Haman wanted to kill the people of Esther's nation, the Jews. We read the Megillah every year on Purim.
Prayer Book
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Shofar
Lebanon
Morris S.
My Great Grandfather Abraham S. made this shofar to use on the Jewish holidays.
It was handmade from a ram's horn. My ancestors brought it with them from Lebanon. In order to get out of Lebanon as children, they hid in boxes and shipped themselves to get from Lebanon to Syria. They brought the shofar with them from Lebanon to Syria.
We use the shofar on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It used to be used as a battle sign, and now is used in religious ceremonies in synagogue.
Candlesticks
Batavia
Jaime B.
The candles were given to my grandmother after my great grandmother died. The candles are important to us because they used these candles every Shabbat. They are not that old but because my great grandmother died they are very precious and mean a lot to us.
The candlesticks are used to light candles every Friday. When my great grandmother's husband was stationed in Batavia to fight during WW II, these were the candles they used for Shabbat.
Candlesticks
Austria
Ruby F.
My artifact is Shabbat candlesticks. They are significant to my family because they helped my family preserve their observance of Shabbat. They were a reminder to respect Shabbat. These were my Great Great Grandmother Rose P’s candlesticks. She used them in Austria and felt they were important enough to bring to America. They were brought by boat in the 1900s.
These were my Great Great Grandmother Rose P’s candlesticks which she used for Shabbat. It's a law in the Jewish religion to light Shabbat candles every Friday night.
Megillah
Palestine
Martin G.
The Megillah was used by Matouk G, Jack G, Martin G, Isaac G, and Martin G. This Megillah was passed down in my family for so many years so we can use it to pray from on Purim. This Megillah is important to my family because it's been in with us for five generations and connects us to our heritage of our family.
This Megillah was used for reading on Purim. It is one of the oldest we have seen. It's from before the establishment of Israel in 1948 and it contains the story of Purim. It is written on parchment and the top of each page starts with Ha-Melech. It dates to a period when the Sephardic Jews observed and celebrated Purim here in America.
Menorah
Aleppo, Syria
Claire H.
This menorah was made by my great-great grandfather when he was young. His family was very poor and there were seven children. They only knew how to make things of the Jewish religion, such as menorahs, mezuzot, etc. They made these objects to sell and make money. Syria couldn't afford to take care of everyone, so when they reached a certain age they would flee the country. My great-great grandfather went to America. When he left, he took this menorah that he made with him. When he and his wife passed away, each of their children got to take something from their house to commemorate them. My great grandmother chose this menorah.
This menorah that my great-great grandfather made was used every year on Hanukah. My great grandmother and her five siblings would stand around and watch as my great-great grandfather lit the candles.
Siddur for Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret
Poland
Ronnie Z.
My great grandfather, Alex Asher F. was a war prisoner in Poland during World War II. He had a special siddur for Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. He and the siddur went through and survived the Holocaust. My mom doesn’t have a lot of family because most of them perished in the Holocaust, so this artifact means a lot to my mom and her family. A couple years ago, my Uncle Eli F, rebound the siddur with blue leather.
The significance of my artifact to my Jewish heritage is that, even though my great grandfather was in a time of danger, he embraced his religion. Also, this was happening during the Holocaust, when my great grandfather was a war prisoner during World War II in Poland.
Megillah
Aleppo, Syria
Eli D.
This is a megillah, which belonged to my Great Great Grandpa, Eliyahu D. He lived in Aleppo, Syria. It was handed down to his son Dibo D, and then his son Eli D. They used it every Purim in shul. You can tell how much they treasured it because, when they escaped Syria, they brought it with them. It is very precious to my grandpa, and I think it’s amazing that I am able to hold something that my great great grandpa owned.
It’s a custom that we read the megillah on Purim. To be able to actually read this megillah, which belonged to my family in Syria, in shul here in America on Purim links my generation to the generations that came before me.
Machzor
Brooklyn, NY
Abie S.
This prayer book was my great grandfather's. He used it for the holidays Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. It includes the morning, afternoon, and night prayers of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, and it also has Kiddush. He said Kiddush with it for my grandfather's family on the holidays.
This book, called Moadeh Hashem, was used for the holidays Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. It has the morning, afternoon, and night prayers, and Kiddush, for those holidays.
Mohel Box
Morocco
Grandmother Vivian C.
This is a box that a mohel would use. In order to be a mohel you will need the objects in the box. The objects that are in the wooden mohel box are a special knife to do a brit, a cloth, and a prayer. This box was originally made in Morocco and originally belonged to my great grandfather. Then it was given to my grandfather, Isaac C, when he became a mohel.
My artifact connects to Jewish heritage because every Jewish 8 day old boy has a brit. A mohel performs the brit and my great grandfather and my grandfather were mohels who performed this mitzvah.
Candlesticks
New York
Margaret M.
My great grandpa went to visit a elderly woman every week and when she heard that he died, my great grandma continued the visits. She went to her every week and the woman bought her these candlesticks.
Before Shabbat Jewish women need to light the candles every Friday. This was special to my grandma because she used them every week.