Jewish Ritual Items

Judaism  is one of the oldest monotheistic religions that is still in existence today. Many aspects of Judaism have inspired other faiths and practices, and the religion itself has been practised for over 3000 years. There are several branches of Judaism and many ways to express belief and uphold tradition daily. Because this religion  has formed a comprehensive culture and is deeply rooted in history, there are many ritualistic items  that the Jewish people use to express their beliefs. There are many different sects of Judaism, but there are some main items that are used universally throughout the religion. 

Traditional Garb

Depending on the level at which you practise the Jewish religion, there are several forms of clothing that can be worn to show your beliefs.

Kittels  A kittel is a white linen robe  worn by Jewish men on special occasions to signify purity, holiness and new beginnings. Traditionally, a Jewish man first wears a kittel on his wedding day, thereafter on Rosh Hashanah,  Yom Kippur  and Passover,  and ultimately as a burial shroud.	Tallit  The tallit is a prayer shawl worn during the weekday morning services, on the Sabbath, and on holidays.	Kippahs  The kippah (also called a yarmulke ) is a traditional head covering. It is likely that the custom of wearing one comes from the days when the Temple in Jerusalem still stood.	Tefillin Bags Tefillin (or phylacteries) are two small black leather bags (or boxes) worn by men on the left arm and forehead. The leather boxes of the tefillin contain scrolls of Torah  passages.	Tichels  The Tichel is a headscarf  worn by some married Jewish women in compliance with the modesty code Tzeniutmw. Tichels can range from a very simple cotton square with a simple tie to very elaborate fabrics with complex ties.

Around the Home

Mezuzah   A mezuzah (from the Hebrew for "doorpost") is a small parchment inscribed with short Torah passages in Hebrew. The parchment is rolled up, placed in a decorative case, and attached to the doorpost of Jewish homes.	Havdalah Sets  The main symbols of Havdalah are the braided candle,  the kiddush cup  containing wine, and the spice box  containing sweet-smelling spices. The lighted candle symbolises the light of Shabbat, the wine represents joy, and the sweet-smelling spices stand for sweetness.	Tzedakahs (Charity Boxes) A charity box can be found in almost every Jewish home, and it is traditional to give children money each week just prior to Shabbat, to teach them the commandment of tzedakah.

Challah Cover  At the beginning of a Shabbat or holiday meal, a blessing is first made over the wine to the sanctify the Shabbat, and then the bread to signify the beginning of the meal. However, in the hierarchy of blessings mandated by the Sages, the blessing over bread should precede the blessing over wine. In order to preserve the priority of the wine, and not to "shame" the bread which should be blessed first, the bread is removed from view with the challah cover.	Shabbat Candles  Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law in Judaism. Two candles or more are lit on Friday evening, 18 minutes before sundown. Candle lighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, though in the absence of a woman, it is done by a man.	Star of David   The Magen David (shield of David) is a six-pointed star which has come to symbolise Judaism and the Jewish people. It is used to adorn and decorate many ritual objects.

Around the Synagogue

The Yad   Because everything connected with the Torah is particularly sacred, it is considered disrespectful to touch the text when reading the passages. Therefore, this Torah pointer is used to indicate the passage.	Rimonim  When a Torah crown is not in use, finials (rimonim) are decorations sometimes placed on tops of the staves to which the Torah scroll itself is attached.	Menorahs  The seven-branched lamp stand symbolises the Jewish peoples connection to God. The chanukiyyah--special menorah designed for use on Hanukkah--is modelled on the classical Jewish menorah, and it has eight branches designated to represent the eight nights of Hanukkah. The central shaft is known as the "shammas" (server) because its candle is used to light the others. These can be found in most homes during Hanukkah.	The Torah  This is a universal symbol of Judaism that identifies the religion. In every synagogue, the Torah is kept inside a cupboard called the Ark, which has the Hebrew words of the Ten Commandments written above it. The Torah contains the text of the Hebrew Bible.	The Eternal Light  This hangs above the Ark and burns continually as a sign of God's presence. It is also representative of the fire that guided the Jewish people on their journey.

For Special Occasions

The Shofar  The shofar is an instrument made from the horn of a ram or other kosher animal. Today it is featured most prominently in the Rosh Hashanah morning services and it is considered a commandment to hear it blown.	Yahrzeit Candles  The Yahrzeit candle is used to commemorate the anniversary of the death of loved ones. It burns throughout the 24-hour day of the anniversary of death.	Afikoman Bag Afikoman is a piece of matzah  which is hidden in the early stages of the Passover Seder and eaten after the festive meal. It is usually placed inside the Afikoman Bag and then hidden by the head of the household.	Dreidel  This is typically used as a toy during Hanukkah. It is a four sided top that has a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet on each side. It can be used to play the gambling game Teetotum, or as decoration.	Chuppah  This is a canopy used in Jewish weddings made out of a cloth that is stretched over four poles. It is used to symbolise the home that the couple will build together.

Books

Besides the Torah, there are many other books about Jewish religion that reinforce beliefs or are used to illustrate stories from the culture.

The Ethical and Inspirational Teachings of the Talmud  by Ein Yaakov This book features a collection of the agaddah or non-legal material of the Talmud,  and provides insights on living a Jewish life everyday.	The Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge: Conversations with the Torah  by Michael Rosenik This book relates the Torah to everyday life through the institutions of education and the society we live in.	Genesis and the Big Bang  by Gerald Schroeder This text compares the origins of religion and scientific origins of the world side by side.	From the Ends of the Earth, The Jews in the 20th Century  by Sir Martin Gilbert This book uses photographs to tell the story of the Jewish race and their struggles in the 20th century.

Related Guides

Ritual Gifts	Hanukkah	Holiday Guide	Spiritual and Religious Books	Gifts for All Budgets

External Links

• BBC.co.uk: Comprehensive information about Judaism.
• ReligiousFacts.com: Jewish Ritual Objects and Clothing.
• Wikipedia.org: Jewish Ritual Objects.
• Scheinerman.net: Rituals and symbols explained by the experts.
• Judaica.com.au: Treasures of the Torah.