Ritual Objects Explained

 

Mezuzahs

“And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house
and upon thy gates.” --Deuteronomy 6:4-9

A mezuzah is a small case that houses a tiny scroll (the klaf) that is affixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home.  Implicit in the act of affixing a mezuzah to the doorpost is the sentiment that a spirit of goodness with permeate the home and all who reside therein. 

Furthermore, the words in the mezuzah resonate with the central precepts of Judaism – the unity of G-d, the love of G-d, the importance of tradition, and the transmittal of these values to one’s children. 

Some families affix a mezuzah to the doorpost of each room in their house (except the bathroom and kitchen), while other families affix a mezuzah to the front door only.  When leaving or entering the house, many Jews will touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it.

Tzedakah Boxes

"... Do not shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs." --Deuteronomy 15.7-8

The giving of Tzedakah (charity) is a fundamental Mitzvah in Jewish life. Being a cornerstone of Judaism, no Jewish home is complete without a Tzedakah Box (coin box).  The idea behind tzedakah involves the obligation to establish justice by being righteous, compassionate, and helpful to others. 

Maimonides organized the fulfilling of tzedakah into various degrees of giving, beginning with the least meritorious:

• Giving begrudgingly
• Giving less than you should, but giving it cheerfully
• Giving after being asked
• Giving before being asked
• Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows your identity
• Giving when you know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient does not know your identity
• Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity
• Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant

Tallit

The Lord said to Moses:

“Speak to the Israelites and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them…” (Numbers 15:37-41)

The tallit is often referred to as a prayer shawl and it’s the most authentic Jewish garment. It is a rectangular-shaped piece of linen or wool (and sometimes, now, polyester or silk) with special fringes called Tzitzit on each of the four corners. The purpose of the garment is to hold the Tzitzit.

Most tallitot have a neckband, called an Atarah, which most often has the blessing one recites when donning the tallit, embroidered across it.  The tallit is worn for morning prayer, during the week as well as on Shabbat and other holy days. It is not worn for afternoon and evening prayers because of the commandment that one should see the Tzitzit, which has been interpreted as meaning to be seen by the light of the day. The Shaliach Tzibur (who leads the prayer) usually wears a tallit, as well, even in the afternoon and evening.

Return to Ritual Objects