What do I remember most from my grandmother’s house?

Simple answer: smells and things. The smells were from rendering chicken fat and potato knishes, matzoh balls and apple strudel (with dough so thin you could see through it.)

The material things were: a pair of brass Shabbat candlesticks (which now proudly grace our candle lighting table (can you pick them out from the picture of my Shabbat candle lighting table?), a stone mortar and pestle (now long gone) and a goose feathered quilt given to my parents on their wedding day over 65 years ago.

Now that I am a Grandmother, and a Baby Boomer, I think back fondly to the memories engendered by those candlesticks, and wonder what memories I will leave to my next generation. What will my grandchildren cherish from my house? What will their grandchildren write about when they look back at those special things they remember from their grandmother’s house?

So began JEWISH HEIRLOOMS, “Creating Unique Judaic Heirlooms for the Contemporary Family,” a shop on https://www.etsy.com/il-en/shop/JewishHeirlooms

JEWISH HEIRLOOMS is more than just a Jewish shop. It is a place to stock up on Shabbat, Holiday and Life Cycle memorabilia. It is a “shoppe” to begin collecting those special items which will become vintage keepsakes, for you to pass on to the next generation. It is a place for collectors to begin or continue to add to their unique collectables.

I have long believed that material things play a major role in declaring one’s “Jewishness.” From the unique ceramic mezuzah on the front door to the Challah knife, from that special Seder Plate to the honey dish (for Rosh HaShannah), these things speak to one’s connections to the Jewish people and one’s past and future.

As a ceramic artist, I feel privileged to be able to create designs which will bring beauty and respect into the modern Jewish home. Heirlooms can be created, and that’s what I try to do. Everything I make is “one of a kind,” as each piece is carefully handcrafted by my own hands. When you purchase an item from JEWISH HEIRLOOMS, as a gift you are helping someone with their collection; for yourself, you are continuing a tradition which goes back over 3,000 years. How often do we read about another amazing archeological discovery. And what is the item? A simple bowl or dish. A wine glass. A little ceramic “trinket.” We look at each piece and wonder what was the story behind the making or purchasing of this simple piece of memory.

In future blogs, I will open the discussion on Jewish Heirlooms. I hope you will share with me your own stories of those precious items you inherited from your parents, grandparents and ancestors. The word “Ancestors” will be an interesting topic. What makes an antique? What will be the “antiques” of your children and grandchildren? Why are “vintage” items so collectable?

I will discuss how you can make your own home into a miniature Jewish Museum; how you can create Jewish memories through the smallest of items. Yes, one doesn’t need a huge pair of candlesticks to create a memorable moment. You can begin to create a Jewish legacy to pass on to the next generation.

That’s what I do. I create Jewish heirlooms, for Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Miztvahs, for weddings, for the Shabbat and Holiday “elegant” table, for the Jewish home, as gifts for others or just for yourself. I help you to create Jewish memories.

For this blog to work, I need your help. Give me feedback. Write your own comments. Share with me those special stories about your own Jewish Heirlooms. I want to open the discussion about heirlooms, antiques, memorabilia, legacies, heritage, inheritance, memory, chain of history, family, Jewish identity, traditions and treasures.

I may not have all the answers, but let’s at least understand the questions!