Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category

How to Buy a Kiddush Cup

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Observant Jews say a blessing (Kiddush) over the wine that opens festive meals each Sabbath and on holidays. The Kiddush is also recited at the closing of the Sabbath in the Havdalah ceremony. This blessing may be said using any cup that holds at least a revi’it (about 76 ml) or according to other authorities, 150 ml. However, it is customary to use a specially decorated Kiddush cup made for this purpose. The cup may be made of porcelain, pewter or silver. Silver or silver-plated cups are generally washed with gold on the interior. Observant Jews need at least two such cups, since it is best to use a special cup for Passover. Some also use a separate Havdalah cup that may be part of a Hadvalah set.

What is a Kiddush ?
Kiddush is performed at the beginning of Jewish Sabbat and Jewish festival meals. The purpose of the kiddush is to remind Jews of the sanctity of the day, one must “remember it” by making arrangements specifically through the kiddush ceremonty.
It is customary to put the wine or grape juice used in the kiddush ritual into a decorated goblet called a kiddush cup. Kiddush cups are often given as gifts at a child’s bris, bar-mitzvah, bat-mitzvah or wedding.

Friday night kiddush (english trasnlation):
The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all that filled them were complete.

And on the seventh day God completed the labor He had performed, and He refrained on the seventh day from all the labor which He had performed. And God blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it, for He then refrained from all his labor – from the act of creation that God had performed.

Permit me, distinguished ones, rabbis and colleagues:

Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and hoped for us, and with love and intent invested us with His sacred Sabbath, as a memorial to the deed of Creation- a day preceding even those sacred occasions commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You chose us, and sanctified us, out of all nations, and with love and intent You invested us with Your Holy Sabbath.

Blessed are You, Sanctifier of the Sabbath. (Amen)

Selecting a Kiddush cup

1. Find a Judaica store online or offline. It should be a store that has a good reputation. Ask your rabbi or other knowledgeable people for recommendations. Compare prices between stores for cups of the same quality and weight.

2. Ensure the cup holds at least 150 ml or 76 ml according to your practice. 150 ml is an average sized cup.

3. Choose a distinctive and decorative kiddush cup. Select a special cup that does not look like an item you would use during the week.

4. The Kiddush cup should come with a matching coaster or base. This is important in the Havdalah ritual at the end of the Sabbath..

5. Try to select a quality cup that doesn’t tarnish easily. Ordinary silver cups tarnish easily and need to be cleaned and polished.

6. You will probably want additional cups for Passover use, for Havdalah and to use as gifts.

7. Several online stores such as aJudaica.com offers wide selection of quality kiddush cups in low prices.

Author Bio: Researcher and writer working for Jewish gifts store, offering unique selection of kiddush cup and Judaica gifts.

Some Other Ideas

Tags: ,
Posted in Religion | 2 Comments »

How to Buy a Mezuzah

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

What is a Mezuzah?

The Mezuzah (Me-zu-zah’ – accent on last syllable – plural Mezuzot ) is a small case containing a small hand written parchment scroll (called a klaf). The scroll contains the words of the “Shema Yisrael” prayer from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13.

Shema Yisrael means “Hear O Israel.” The first sentence declares, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is they God, the Lord is one.” It is the Jewish confession of faith. The parchment of the Mezuzah is hand lettered. It is prepared by a specially trained scribe and must be perfect. It should be examined periodically to ensure that it is in order.

A Translation of the Text in the Mezuzah

“Hear O Israel, G-d our Lord is G-d the Only One You shall love G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your power. These words which I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them to your children and you shall speak about them when you dwell in your house, when you travel on the road, when you lie down and when you arise. You shall tie them as a sign on your arm and as a head ornament between your eyes. you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your home and your gates.

And it shall happen, if you obey my commandments which I command you today, to love G-d within all your hearts and all your souls that I will give the rains of the land in its proper time, the light rains and the heavy rains, and you will gather your grain, your wine and your oil. I will give grass in your fields for your livestock. You will have enough to eat and you will be satisfied. Guard yourselves, lest your hearts lead you astray and you will serve other gods and you will bow to them. G-d will then become angry with you and will withhold the rain, and the land will not produce its bounty. You will quickly be lost from upon the good land that G-d has granted you. You shall place these words on your hearts and on your souls. You shall tie them as a sign on your arms and they shall be head ornaments between your eyes, and you shall teach them to your children to speak about them when you dwell in your house, when you travel on the road, when you lie down and when you arise. You shall inscribe them on the doorpost of your houses and your gates. So that you and your children may live many years on the land that G-d has promised to your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”

Where to place the Mezuzah

According to some authorities, the Mezuzah must be placed on every doorway except closets and bathrooms. According to others, it must only be placed on the entryway of the house. Some view the Mezuzah as a good luck charm, but respected authorities deride this view as superstition.

To buy Mezuzot:

1. If you are going to put Mezuzot on every doorway in your home, count the number of doors and archways in your home to decide how many Mezuzot you will need. A mezuzah should be mounted on every doorway, including front and back gateways if you have them, but excluding the bathroom and small closet doors.

2. Choose a practical size that suits your needs. Mezuzot range in size from a few inches to nearly a foot in length. The average is about 5 inches long. You may also purchase decorative protective cases that fit over the Mezuzah.

3. You may want to buy extra Mezuzot to use if a mezuzah is declared invalid and must be replaced.

4. Buy your Mezuzot from a reliable and kosher source. You can find kosher mezuzot in a reliable Judaica store, aJudaica.com offers wide selection at low prices.

5. Select a Mezuzah case. Your Mezuzot will need protection. Even a clear plastic cover will do, but most people like to enclose their Mezuzot in decorated cases.

6. Have your Mezuzot checked regularly. An annual check by a scribe before the holiday of Rosh Hashanah is customary among many orthodox Jews.

Author Bio: Researcher and writer working for Judaica gifts store, offering unique selection of Mezuzah, kosher mezuzah scroll, Rams horn shofar and Jewish gifts.

Some Other Ideas

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Religion | 2 Comments »

Kabbalah & Cabbalist Numerology The Basis Of Jewish Spiritual Mysticism

Monday, March 15th, 2010

You may have read in the popular media of “Kabala”. People in the limelight such as Madonna have become involved with this mystical aspect of spirituality. You may well of wondered about Cabala – what it is all about and even if in any manner are Cabbalists related in any manner to Scientology in its various aspects. Or even has this aspect of Jewish spirituality taken over in the limelight by any manner from Scientology and its followers and precepts.

Literally in the Hebrew language (the historic language of the bible), the word Kabala translates as “tradition”. Kabbalah as a spiritual practice can be summarized and explained as a form, or even in many authorities’ eyes, as Jewish mysticism.

Kabbalah can be said to be an attempt to fathom the mysteries of the master of the universe and the mysteries of the creation of entirety. The Kabbalists developed a complete and full philosophic system during the Middle Ages. The Talmud itself contains mystical interpretations of the Biblical story of creation. With the appearance of the “Zohar” in the thirteen (13′ Th) centuries, the study of Kabbalah gained great renown and popularity.

Jewish mysticism attracted itself to many and varied remarkable personalities , some of whom even considered themselves even to be the messiah or Messiach” themselves Amazingly even one such event transfixed itself with Abraham Abulafia ( 1240 – 1291) who regarded himself as the fore-runner of said Messiah / Messiach, even attempting to convert none less than the Pope himself to Judaism.

Kabalistic teaching gained in intensity and scope in sixteenth century Safed/ This town in the upper Galilee in the modern day state of Israel, became a center of Jewish mysticism ; its foremost teachers of Kabbalah included Issac Luria ( 1534- 1572). A practical or miracle-working mystic, Luria claimed that the prophets of creation had been revealed to him personally, by none other than the prophet “Elijah”. Luria believed that human beings could attain full identification with the Divine Spirit through intense concentration, referred to as kavvanah”.

This theory was described by Luria’s disciple Hayim Vital, in his book “Et Hayim” (which translates fully as “The Tree of Life” Another famous Kabbalist. Moshe Cordovero, formulated Kabbalistic teachings in a philosophic system. His contemporary, Isiah Hurwitz (1555- 1625) interpreted the teachings of Judaism in light of the Kabala. Isiah Hurwitz sought with the other inspired mystics of his generation to hasten the coming and arrival of the Messiah.

It can be said that during extreme hardship as well difficult and strenuous times for Jews and Jewish communities far flung across Europe, Asia and Africa, that the teachings of Kabala greatly contributed to the rise of messianic hopes and in time influenced Hasidism profoundly. Indeed fully Jewish folklore grew and thrived on the Kabbala’s poetic and magical elements.

In summary it can be said that while Kabala, its teachings and philosophy are new on the mainstream limelight. On the other hand Kabbala and Cabbalist teachings are nothing new. The come with a solid and deep historical history and foundings’.

Author Bio: Shmuel Levy Winnipeg Jewish Center Winnipeg Jewish Review Center

Some Other Ideas

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Religion | 1 Comment »

privace policy | terms of service | about us