Religious Artifacts
By Michael M., Sonny D., Doni E., Leon S. and Ralph A.
Here at Hillel Yeshiva, the 7th graders have brought in beautiful artifacts to share. There are many holy religious artifacts that are either used everyday or on special occasions. In this gallery there are shofarim, tefillin, koracha bags and many more. There are artifacts that were used on Jewish holidays like a menorah, a haggadah and a megillah and others that were used every Shabbat, like the kiddush cups. These students worked hard to find all the information they could get about their artifacts. The seventh graders were privileged to learn about their families' memories about each of these artifacts.
These religious items were very important to our ancestors and continue to be important to our families today.
The Freedom Menorah
USA,(about Israel)
Grandma
The significance of this artifact to my family is that the menorah is about the War of Independence when Israel became a state and the war on Hanukah when the few beat the many. Both events are similar because they were both miracles. This relates to my family because my great grandpa came from Poland and fought in the war to make Israel a state, and then lived there for about ten years.
My artifact is a menorah which is something we use on the holiday of Hanukah, when a miracle happened, and the fire on the menorah stayed lit for 8 days instead of 1. It is also about the war when Israel became a state. They both relate because they are both miracles when Jews were outnumbered, but still won.
Tefillin and talet
Egypt
Leon S.
The Talet and Tefillin were lent to me by my Grandpa Leon. The Talet and Tefillin were used by my Great Grandfather Edward everyday day since he had his Bar Mitzvah in 1923. This is important to my family because these were my great grandfather's Tefillin and Talet, and it represents the Judaism in our family.
The Talet and Tefillin are used by boys when they become bar mitzvah. The Tefillin is a little box and it goes on your head just before your hairline. The Talet goes on your back and is folded on your back like a cape it feels like paper but it’s cotton. That’s the significance of my artifact .
Mezuzah necklace
Tripoli, Libya
This artifact is important to my family. My grandma's dad, a big rabbi had a dream with a “ghost” that told him that they were trapped in a wall in Tripoli and only he could save them with prayer. He kept having the same dream over and over again then once it showed him what the wall looked like. Tripoli was pretty far from where he lived, but determined, he went there anyway. Many people wanted to let him sleep in their houses and when he went somewhere he was offered the best room but he always refused. Finally he found the room with the wall which was a little girl’s room. The next day is when my grandma's dad got the necklace for her in Tripoli.
The significance to Jewish heritage of my artifact is that it’s a mezuzah. A mezuzah is a piece of parchment with Shemah Yisrael and verses from the Torah on it.
Kiddush cup
Russia
Rochelle S.
This Kiddush cup was given to my great great grandfather in 1928 by the shul when he got married in Russia. My great great grandfather gave it to my grandmother.
The shul gave it to him to make sure he would make kiddush every week. Kiddush is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice before a meal on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Besamim holder
Austria
Joseph M.
This besamim holder belonged to my great great grandparents who lived in Austria during the Holocaust. This is very important to my dad because it's the only thing he has from my great great grandparents. This shows how important Shabbat was to them.
This besamim holder was used on every Shabbat by my great great grandparents. It was used during havdalah after Shabbat to hold the besamim spices. It was so special to keep Shabbat to them, even though it was difficult in the times they were going through. This is very important because it shows how important Shabbat is. If they could keep Shabbat during the Holocaust it reminds us that it shouldn't be a problem to keep Shabbat now.
Keter Aram Soba
Aleppo, Syria
Morris M.
My Grandpa, Maurice M. was one of the few who got this special book. It is a printed version of the Tanach (Hebrew Bible) that was verified and vocalized by Aaron Ben Asher about 1100 years ago. Rambam stated that this important book should be considered an authority on pronunciation and grammar. It's over 1000 years old and was stolen out of Syria and brought to Israel. They only made 500 copies and my Grandpa got the 33rd copy. My Grandpa paid $1000 for it
It was used by Jewish people to pray and study. This book, also called "The Aleppo Codex" contains Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim.
Koracha Bag
Brooklyn, NY or possibly Israel
Grandpa David A.
The Tefillin was given to my grandfather at his Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13. The Tefillin and his Koracha Bag is very important to my grandfather because he feels so close to Hashem when he prays with this artifact and it holds a special place in his heart.
The Tefillin is the most important mitzva of the Torah. For many years, it has been observed and treasured by the Jewish people. Tefillin is a set of small black leather boxes which contain scrolls of parchment paper with verses from the Torah inscribed on them.
Shofar
Israel
Joey B.
This Shofar Is very important to my family because my great grandmother Esther gave this to my dad, Joey, on his bar mitvah. It is also more special now because she has passed away.
A shofar is blown by Jewish people on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to awaken Hashem’s mercy to make all of our sins go away, and to pray to Hashem.
Challah cover
Brooklyn, New York
My grandma Estelle
This Challah cover is very special because it belonged to my great grandmother and was given to my grandmother, Estelle, who still uses it. My grandmother used this Challah cover for most of her life and it is very precious to our family. Every time my grandmother uses it on a holiday or Shabbat it brings back memories of my great grandmother.
Challah covers are a very significant part of our Jewish heritage because we use on the Shabbat which is the most important part of the week. The cover goes on the Challah on which we make a special blessing. When we say the Sabbath meal prayer the challah must remain covered and that's why the covers are so special and important.
Kiddush Chalice
Mexico
Elaine & Abe S.
My Great Grandma and Grandpa Joe and Sophia T. needed a kiddush cup. So they got one made in Mexico in 1930. They used it every Shabbat for 70 years. It brought the family good luck. All their children grew up got married and many became religious rabbis. Now that my grandparents passed away my grandma got the cup, and now every time she uses it for kiddush it reminds her of her childhood.
The chalice was so important to my grandma and grandpa now because now that my great grandparents have passed away, it reminds my grandma of her childhood.
Shofar
Israel
Marc Z.
The significance of the artifact is that it originally belonged to my great Grandfather, Charles S. It came from Israel and it's used on one of the holiest holidays. My family really loves Jewish holidays because that is when we get to see many of our relatives who we do not often see.
It is a ram's horn and it's significant because it's the shofar that is important for Jewish people to hear, to bring out Hashem's mercy on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
Haggadah
Kiev, Ukraine
Adrienne S
This haggadah originally belonged to my great great grandma,who was from Russia. It was given as a gift to my great grandpa when he got married. It now belongs to my Grandma Adrienne.
This haggadah was used for Pesach. It tells us the story of when the Jews left Egypt. This is very important to the Jews and we read it once a year.
Tzedaka Plate
United States of America
My Grandmother Evelyn A.
My Great Grandfather used to go to shul and using this plate, he collected money from people. Then he would give the money to poor people.
The significance to Jewish Heritage is that it provided money for Jewish poor people to help them get food, clothes and shelter. Tzedaka is a big part of Judaism. Sometimes this plate was passed around during a bris, and people would donate a dollar or more, and light a candle.
Shofar
Israel
Maurice M.
In 1950, my great grandpa Alfons bought this shofar to blow during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. He bought it in Israel and blew it for the Jews in the Phillipines. This artifact is made of the horn of a ram. Before my great grandpa passed away he gifted it to my Grandpa Maurice, who carried on the tradition and would blow the Shofar for the Jews in the Philippines on Yom Kippur.
The importance of the shofar to the Jewish people is we blow it every year on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur to remember the binding of Isaac. We do this because when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac to Hashem, Hashem sent a angel to stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and instead, Abraham sacrificed a ram.
Megillah
Bier Israel
Grandma Marsha T.
My great grandfather gave a significant amount of money to a small yeshiva in Israel that taught men to become rabbis. They were then sent to Sephardic communities around the world. Because of my Grandpa Abe, the yeshiva was able to expand into a bigger and better yeshiva. This precious Megillah was given to him at a ceremony to thank him for many years of guidance support and encouragement of the yeshiva.
Giving charity is an important Jewish value and my great grandfather was recognized for his contributions to the yeshiva, and for his part in increasing the number of Sephardic rabbis.
Wine Cup
Aleppo, Syria
Mervin D.
This silver cup was used for kiddush in Aleppo. My great grandfather gave it to my grandfather when he was little. My great grandfather brought it from Aleppo when he came to America and it had my grandfather's initials on it, M.S.D.
On Shabbat, the Jewish people say kiddush where they say a prayer, drink wine, wash their hands and say a prayer on the bread. After they do that they start eating dinner. When they say the prayers they hold up the wine cup while saying the prayer then drink from it.
w
a
sss
aa
Book:"Me’am Lo’ez”
Morocco
David M.
This is a copy of a book that has been passed down through 5 generations. This volume of Me'am Lo'ez contains commentary on Devarim. It was written by Rabbi Khouli, who is one of my ancestors.
This commentary was done in Ladino and initiated by Rabbi Yaakov Khouli so that it could be understood by Sephardic Jews.
The Living Museum is a project of the Education Department of the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
The Living Museum is made possible through the generous support of The Covenant Foundation. The statements made and the views
expressed, however, are solely the responsibility of the grantee.