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The Role of a Silver Kiddush Cup: Beautifying the Mitzvah
When it comes to Judaica, few items hold as much significance as a silver kiddush cup. The cup not only serves a practical purpose but symbolizes blessings, spirituality, and elegance. In this blog post, we explore the ritual of kiddush and the requirements for the kiddush cup. We’ll also look at the unique designs of…
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The Citron as an Esrog for Sukkot: Origin and Types
Have you ever come across a unique fruit with a distinct shape and a captivating aroma, known as the citron? This citrus fruit is an indispensable item for observing of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Judaism calls the citron an esrog, or etrog. In this post, we delve into the origin of the citron as…
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Judaica in Art – The Design of Dreidels Through the Ages
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One of the most iconic symbols of Chanukah is the dreidel, a spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side. Simple enough. But have you ever wondered about how the design of the dreidel evolved over time? From ancient to modern, let’s take a closer look at the history and design of dreidels through the…
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Judaica in Art – The Origin of Wax Candles for Shabbat
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Have you ever wondered about the origin of using wax candles for Shabbat observance? We don’t give it much thought and simply get a box of candles from our neighborhood store. It wasn’t always that easy. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating history of the wax candle. The Ancient Roots of…
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Judaica in Art – the Origin of the Havdalah Spice Tower
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Havdalah, a Jewish ritual marking the end of Shabbat, is a beautiful ceremony steeped in tradition and symbolism. Judaica items used in this ritual is a wine cup filled to the brim, a multi-wick candle, and a spice box holding cloves, cinnamon, and other fragrant spices. The tradition of using a spice tower adorned with…
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Judaica in Art – The Design of the Rosh Hashanah Shofar
On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we sound the shofar as testament to Divine kingship over all creation. It’s kind of like blowing trumpets at the coronation of a king. The basic requirement of the shofar is that: ‘…the horns of all kosher animals are kosher for shofars, except for the horn of an…
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Judaica in Art – the Design of the Menorah
The design of the Chanukah menorah remains unchanged over the course of Jewish history. Eight places to put candles, oil, or even electric bulbs, all lined up in a row, is the basic design of the menorah. The remainder of the menorah’s appearance takes on many different colors, sizes, and shapes. But why does the…
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Judaica in Art – the shape of tefillin and its meaning
One of the reasons I enjoy drawing and painting tefillin is because the form of tefillin is a cube, which is easily rendered on a two-dimensional surface. Despite its simple design, its shape and color have profound meaning. There’s a commandment in the Torah to place tefillin on the arm and head, but doesn’t give…
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Judaica in Art – the Netilat Yadayim Hand Washing Cup
Jewish ritual hand washing cup, a simple concept with many different designs The Judaica object called Netilat Yadayim, the Jewish ritual hand washing cup, always interests me as an artist because of its varied designs. Although just a container for water, it has many different forms. Sometimes the cup is cylindrical, spherical, or a combination…
