Personal and ceremonial ritual objects unite many aspects of Jewish life. These aspects include the observance of Jewish customs, religions, laws of family purity in governing marital relationships, celebration of the lifecycle, respecting Sabbath and holidays which mark the Jewish calendar.

For celebrating and fulfilling these customs and holidays, a plethora of ritual objects are used by Jewish people that present unique dynamics of Jewish life from various perspectives. The Jewish ornaments, or ritual objects, provide a new understanding of life today, the social structures, gender, generational roles, beliefs and practices, along with the individuals and families who commissioned them.

The ritual objects used by the Jewish in various ceremonies, prayers, celebrations and holidays might differ depending upon the different personal and family lifestyles across the Diaspora. They provide great diversity in the traditional and religious observance with a detailed insight into the specific characteristics of multiple Jewish cultures. The ceremonial or ritual objects can be made from various types of materials, like clay, brass, pewter, cooper, glass, silver and gold, wood, cloth, parchment, etc. Here are some of the objects that are found in Synagogues, homes, Sabbath, festivals and holidays:

The Mezuzah

As per the holy commandments in the bible, the Jewish place the word of God written on a parchment known as the mezuzah upon the doorposts of the house. The mezuzah is a Jewish symbol which serves as a constant reminder of god’s presence and his commandments to the Jewish.

• The mezuzah case. To protect the word of god, or mezuzah scroll, from outside weather elements, they are kept inside mezuzah cases which are then affixed to the doorposts.

The Sabbath Meal

The Sabbath is the official day of rest. It involves a variety of rituals that relate to the special holiness of the day, which has given rise to a variety of ceremonial objects, such as:

• Challah cover - used to protect the Sabbath meal.
• Havdalah candle - used in the ceremony of Havdalah that marks the transition between the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of new week.
• Kiddush cups- to make the blessing over wine.

Jewish Festivals and Holidays

Jewish festivals are widely celebrated among the people with their rituals, special foods and festival family gatherings. For these celebrations, a wide variety of ceremonial objects are used:

• Etrog- a lemon-like fruit used on the fall festival of Sukkot on all seven days.
• Sukkah-a temporary dwelling with a roof used by the Jewish during the Festival of Sukkot.
• Dreidal-a game played during the Festival of Hanukkah.

You can find various ritual objects and ornaments in Jewish ceremonies, homes and Synagogues serving a myriad of purposes. Buy beautiful Jewish door ornaments for protecting mezuzah scrolls at the Stone Mezuzah.