BLUE AND WHITE

My husband grew up in a non-traditional Jewish home in Philadelphia. He does remember that his Mom lit the Sabbath candles almost every Friday night. What was more startling was that before she lit the candles, she would put a few coins into a blue and white J.N.F. (Jewish National Fund) metal collection can. There was a picture of the map of the State of Israel on the can, and when asked, his Mom would say that it will help plant trees in Israel.

On Ebay you can buy this vintage box for anywhere from $156. to well over $500. Now that’s “Vintage.”

We moved to Israel after retirement, about ten years ago, and have never regretted the change. For me the impetus started at Camp Ramah, a Zionist summer camp in the Pocono Mountains (and elsewhere). For my husband, Camp Ramah was also a part of the process (we actually met there in 1964), but he also claims a fond memory of that blue and white tzedakah (charity) box next to his Mom’s Sabbath candles.

Blue and white have played a role in many of our recollections of Israel as we were growing up. They are the colors of the Israeli flag. My husband’s first tallit (prayer shawl) as Bar Mitzvah was “silk” and blue and white. When we saw Israeli dancers perform, more often than not, they wore costumes made of blue and white.

Why this love for and Jewish connection to blue and white?

Historically, blue was a color worn by Kings and royalty.

Thelet (sky blue) is mentioned in the Bible as a “priestly” and expensive color.

White is the color we associate with purity.

Traditional Jewish men wear a white “robe-like” garment called a kittel on special holidays, at their wedding, and when they are buried.

When my husband and I went to Sunday School at our synagogue in the 1950s, he is Philly, me in Rochester, N.Y., the hallways were decorated in blue and white.

Last year, when the first night of Hanukkah and the night of Thanksgiving, occurred on the same night, I designed a special Hanukkah Menorah, using the turkey motif. My blue and white turkeys almost sold out. I still have a few available from this limited edition series.

So what do we learn from all this?

Colors can be important in developing memory.

Blue and white are associated with the State of Israel.

Blue and white Jewish items can help establish a link with Israel

Now more than ever, show your support for Israel,

Buy Blue and White!