Explore the rich world of Judaica, from ritual objects to meaningful gifts. Learn about the history, symbolism, and use of traditional items that bring Jewish practice, heritage, and beauty into everyday life and special occasions.
Ranked among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums and one of Jerusalem’s top attractions for Jewish history, the Israel Museum holds countless artifacts that were found throughout Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. Its impressive collection spans the vast history and cultural heritage of both the Land of Israel and the Jewish People from all […]
Blessings – short prayers known as brachot in Hebrew – are a simple yet powerful, ancient Jewish tradition that allows us to add holiness to our daily lives. Judaism gives us countless opportunities to express gratitude for both the everyday and the extraordinary, with these timeless blessings that are more than mere words – they open a spiritual portal to
Top 10 Fun Jewish Activities To Do With Your Kids Keep the spirit of Hanukkah going the rest of the year by passing on Jewish tradition and pride to your little ones. Make it fun with these great hands-on activities that’ll get your kids excited about Jewish traditions and their heritage! 1. Keep the Themes […]
If you grew up in, or ever visited a traditional Jewish home, school, synagogue, or Jewish business, you’re probably already familiar with the sight of a Mezuzah hanging on the doorposts. But what is a Mezuzah, exactly? Simply put, a Mezuzah is an object which fulfills the Biblical commandment to “write the words of God […]
Sometimes known as “phylacteries,” Tefillin are small black boxes made from leather that contain inscribed pieces of parchment written by a trained Sofer (scribe), with long leather straps to hold them in place. Worn on the head and arm respectively, these incredibly powerful spiritual objects are considered by many to be life-changing, but to a […]
Marc Chagall was one of the greatest Jewish artists in modern history, beloved not just by Jewish communities but also by the entire world. Best known for his painting, stained glass and use of color, Chagall’s artwork is considered to be “European modernism”, as he spent most of his life in Europe learning to paint. […]
Some of the most beloved gifts from Israel are hand-painted ceramic pieces, usually decorated with colorful flowers in simple and quite ordinary colors. This specific art is part of Armenian Ceramics and has been made in Jerusalem for the past 100 years by generations of Armenian artists in Israel’s capital city. Their iconic bowls, plates, […]
Spring is in the air and for you it might mean spring cleaning/Pesach cleaning, but it also might mean sprucing up the house and giving your home a makeover. Even if you’re not going for such a wide-scale project like renovating your kitchen, you can switch up the small things in your home, like the […]
Friday night dinner. What comes to mind? Hot chicken soup, maybe some gefilte fish, and of course, hot fluffy challah. Unlike the other foods mentioned, challah is actually a religious ritual, just as Kiddush is. This fluffy braided bread has its place at the Shabbat table, as Motzi– breaking bread- is done after Kiddush and […]
Israel’s national symbol of the seven branched menorah- as seen on Israel’s emblem. This specific menorah resembles the one found in the Beit HaMikdash- Temple, the one which was the basis for the miracle of Chanukah. The seven branched menorah lasted eight days of being lit with a small jug of oil, which is why we […]
A kosher tallit is a large square of fabric that is generally white and used for morning prayers throughout the week and on Shabbat. The Jewish prayer shawl history starts in ancient Israel when during the day people would wrap their head and shoulders with a large white cloth to protect their skin from the […]
1) Calendar Hanukkah does not fall on the same dates each year because Jewish holidays are based on a combination of the lunar/solar calendar, unlike the traditional Gregorian calendar which is based solely on the earth’s movement around the sun. 2) The 2 Hanukkah Miracles Hanukkah commemorates the military victory of the Maccabees, a small […]
In the Jewish tradition, there is a big emphasis placed on a ritualized washing of the hands at various points throughout every day. Often, a special cup is used to pour water alternatively over each hand, a process known as “netliat yedaim.” One of the times when this is required is before the eating of […]
Central to the Jewish belief in a living G-d is the belief that He communicated His will to man, the one creature whom He endowed with free will to follow it. In fact, the very essence of Judaism rests upon an extraordinary one time event in history, the Divine revelation at Mount Sinai in which […]
