Blog

Hiddur Mitzvah is the Jewish concept of beautifying the commandment by appealing to the senses. Ornate ritual objects engage our feelings with their sounds, fragrances, tastes, textures, colors, and artistry. These aesthetically pleasing objects enhance our observation of Jewish practice and expand the enjoyment of religious acts. In this series, Ritual Director Ben Kreshtool explores several ritual objects in Beth El's collection that are lovely examples of Hiddur Mitzvah.

Shabbat is a central aspect of Judaism and a distinctive Jewish ritual.

Biblically, Shabbat represents the culmination of God's creation of the universe. By observing Shabbat, Jews celebrate the divine order of the world and human beings' place within it.

Accordingly, the Sabbath is a joyous day and a reprieve from the trials and tribulations of our lives. In many ways, Shabbat is a preview of the perfected world that will occur after the return of Mashiach (the Messiah). Thus, Shabbat is a day of physical revitalization and spiritual delights that accentuate the most fundamental concepts in Judaism.

Not surprisingly, there are many Jewish ritual objects designed to enhance the observance of Shabbat. For many Jews, their most beloved Judaica and cherished family heirlooms are related to Shabbat This is true for Beth El as we have a beautiful collection of kiddush cups, candlesticks, challah covers, and trays, as well as objects that help us observe Havdalah.

Havdalah is the ritual that separates the holiness of Shabbat from the mundane work week. The 16th Century poet Saadia ben Yosef, perhaps the most celebrated Jewish poet of all time, describes the three components of Havdalah in his poem, La-Ner (the candle). Written in six stanzas (corresponding with the six days of creation), La-Ner mentions the candle, spices, and wine needed to complete Havdalah.

Within Beth El's collection of ritual objects is a unique Havdalah set designed and signed by renowned Israeli artist Ya'akov Agam. Known as “The Steps of Holiness,” Agam crafted each of the set's nine tiers with distinct artwork and each level can be rotated to create many different patterns. A three-dimensional Star of David crowns the “The Steps of Holiness,” creating a total of ten levels to the set, which represents the ten mystical sefirot. Hidden within the tower are the three ritual components needed to complete the Havdalah ritual: a candle holder, a kiddush cup, and a spice box. Agam's contemporary design pays homage to traditional spice box tower designs of the middle ages, many of which Beth El also has in our collection.

Havdalah is a beautiful example of how we use ritual objects to engage our senses during worship; we taste the sweetness of the wine, smell the fragrance of the spices, hear the beautiful melody of the blessings, feel the warmth of the flame, and see the splendor of the of that flame reflected in a silver candle holder. These sensory experiences are the last pieces of Shabbat that we carry with us through the work week until we can once again rest during Shabbat.