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November 13, 2009
Making a Jewish home
Finding Judaica that resonates is an easy task.
MICHELLE DODEK
Walking along a sidewalk, one can often identify Jewish homes immediately by the mezuzah marking the doorway. This is the most widely found element of Judaica in a home, but it is only one of many items that Jews have incorporated into their living spaces. Starting with a home's entrance and working through the house, there are numerous ways to decorate a home with Jewish objects.
Most Jews put up a beautifully crafted mezuzah case on their front doorpost, containing verses specified in the Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-9, 11:13-21). Some Jews believe that the mezuzah is also for good luck. The significance of a mezuzah is from a commandment in the Torah to inscribe the words of the Shema on the doorpost of one's house. On the exterior of a kosher klaf (mezuzah scroll written by a trained scribe) are written the Hebrew letters shin, dalet, yud, which is the acronym for Shomer daltot Yisrael (Guardian of the doorways of Israel). More than just luck, this small scroll is meant to bring Hashem's presence into Jewish homes and rooms. Officially, the requirement is that every doorpost, other than those belonging to a washroom or closet, should bear a mezuzah.
Once in the home, there are innumerable objects of Judaica and traditions that have been passed down through the generations to remind Jews of the importance of the home as a centre of Jewish life. Right inside the front door, many people hang a prayer, often ornately displayed in artistic mediums from glass to silver, framed paper-cut to pottery. Called Birkat haBayit (Blessing for the Home), it often incorporates a hamsah (a lucky hand of blessing and protection) into the design. This blessing may be worded many ways, but always imparts peace, serenity, joy and the recognition that the divine has a presence in the home. An artistic Birkat haBayit is a traditional gift for someone moving into a new home.
Other items that may be found in most Jewish homes are objects used for various rituals. Shabbat candlesticks, Kiddush cups and challah plates, along with unique double-handled hand-washing cups, are often on display prominently because of their beautiful design and importance to a family. Havdalah sets, including a spice box and specially shaped candleholder, are often displayed for similar reasons. Chanukah menorot are often original and sculpturally interesting ornaments all year round, but they are only used to hold lit candles for the eight days of the Chanukah festival.
Whether a family regularly hosts a Passover seder or not, they often display their seder plate in a glass cabinet or even mounted on the wall.
More unusual is a practice that has gained popularity in the past 20 years or so – the framing and exhibiting of a ketubah (marriage contract). Couples who commission an artist to personalize or beautify their ketubot often have theirs displayed as an integral part of their home. In the same vein, having a custom-made chuppah, perhaps with artistic contributions from friends and family, makes a beautiful centrepiece for a married couple's bedroom. Alternately, a personalized chuppah may become a wall hanging or even a bedspread, for extra symbolic effect.
People wanting to imbue their home with a more religious and mystical spirit may choose to put amulets with special prayers in the nurseries of their children. These amulets are meant to keep away Lilith, said to be the first woman and the first wife of Adam. Spurned for her resistance to being treated as subordinate to Adam, legend has it that Lilith was cursed to see 100 of her children die each day, so she steals the children of others to replace them. Lilith provided the traditional Jewish answer to infant scourages like sudden infant death syndrome and the deaths of pregnant, birthing or new mothers.
One more important Jewish element found in some homes is the mizrah, a plaque, often with quotes from Psalms, that is mounted on the eastern wall of a bedroom or living room in order to facilitate prayer and orient the household towards the east, towards Jerusalem.
Even the most secular Jews often have a mezuzah and a menorah in their home, making it culturally a Jewish place. No matter the level of Jewish observance in a home, there are many artistic and ritual objects to choose from in the quest to create a Jewish space.
Michelle Dodek used to make one of a kind Judaica.
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