What Is Judaica?
The word "Judaica" refers Jewish objects, in part because the ancient Hebrew nation lived in the land of Judea. The term may include Jewish customs, religion, art, history, the Hebrew language or anything else intrinsically Jewish. It also may refer to a collection of Jewish items such as an art collection or ancient objects.
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Kiddish Cup
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A kiddish cup is blessed and shared during a Jewish feast. The kiddish cup, a ceremonial wine cup, holds a sacred place in Jewish feasts and ceremonies. Traditionally, the most senior male family member fills the cup and offers a blessing over wine and food. Each family member takes a drink from the cup as an act of consecration and sanctification. Jews may use the kiddish cup at the beginning of the Sabbath meal, as well as at a wedding or circumcision.
Mezuzah
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A mezuzah hangs on the doorposts of many Jewish homes. The case that holds the mezuzah may appear ornate and decorative, but the value comes in the roll of parchment inside that holds the Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy, known as Devarim in the Torah (the Hebrew Bible). A Jewish scribe, known as a sofer, writes the Scripture on the parchment and rolls it up so that the word "Shaddai," one of the Hebrew names for God, appears on the outside of the scroll. The mezuzah fulfills commandments in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Deuteronomy 11:18-20 to put Scripture on a home's doorpost and gates as a reminder to teach children how God guided his people to the land of promise.
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Tallit
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An observant Jewish male wears a tallit during his morning prayer time and during other special religious ceremonies. A teen receives a tallit at age 13 when he celebrates his Bar Mitzvah. A man may be buried in the tallit and a kittel, the burial shroud. In some Jewish traditions, women may also wear a tallit, but aren't required to do so during prayers.
Men wear a tallit over regular clothing. The four-corner shawl, often made of wool, has fringes that have twisted knots on the corners. The fringe, called tzitzit, reminded them to obey all of God's commands. Historically, tzitzit included a blue cord. Numbers 15:38-39 describes the regulations for these garments.
Tzedakah Boxes
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Tzedakah boxes hold the Jewish charity gifts, required of all believers, to take care of the poor, family members, widows and orphans. A Jewish family may keep a tzedakah box at home, and synagogues often have a box in a prominent location so congregants can make an offering when they come to worship.
Menorah
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Each synagogue and temple has a menorah, a seven-branch candle holder, representing the light of God to the world through the Jews. This differs from a Hanukkah menorah, which has nine branches. The original menorah had six branches, according to Jewish-Art.org. Hebrew tradition holds that Bezalel designed the original menorah and the Ark of the Covenant for the Holy of Holies tent structure that traveled with the Hebrews through the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan.
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References
- Photo Credit silver menorah image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com calice image by Renato Francia from Fotolia.com
