
Rhythm of Life: Birth, Marriage and Death
Birth, marriage, death – each of these important passages in life is marked by ceremonies that create a time-honored framework of rituals that mark the transition from one stage to the other. Their familiar patterns strengthen one’s sense of belonging to a community while marking a new personal identity, and a new standing in society.
This gallery contains a wide range of objects used in Jewish life-cycle ceremonies, such as: an embroidered outfit for a circumcision from Turkey; next to an amulet protecting a newborn baby from Italy; A richly embroidered Bridal dress from Morocco and a bride’s jewelry set from Poland; A Huppah stone from Germany, which served to break the glass at the end of the wedding ceremony, as well as a majestic burial society carriage from Hungary, used to carry the dead on their last journey.
Some of these objects were created for a particular ceremony, but then also used in other ceremonies. For example, a bride’s veil and skirt from Cochin, was later inserted in a Torah ark curtain used on Yom Kippur, thus enhancing the connection between life and death, the individual and the community as well as the sacred and the profane.
Some of the ceremonies are no longer in practice, others are still part of Jewish custom while some newly created ones are added. Thus past and present are woven together in the constantly changing rhythm of life.
- Jan 18Feb 22Apr 05
- Feb 14Feb 28Mar 07Mar 14Mar 28
- Jan 09Feb 05Feb 13Mar 27
- Mar 26
- Mar 26
- Dec 25Jan 01Jan 08Jan 15Jan 22Jan 29Feb 05Feb 12Feb 19Feb 26Mar 05Mar 12Mar 19Mar 26
- Nov 19Nov 26Dec 17Dec 24Dec 31Jan 07Jan 14Jan 21Jan 28Feb 04Feb 11Feb 18Feb 25Mar 04Mar 11Mar 18Mar 25
- Nov 19Nov 26Dec 17Dec 24Dec 31Jan 07Jan 14Jan 21Jan 28Feb 04Feb 11Feb 18Feb 25Mar 04Mar 11Mar 18Mar 25
- Mar 21Mar 22