Holds More Than Wine After I read the final words of my torah portion, my father approached the bema with a small wrapped package. He spoke about the traditions of our family and proceeded to unwrap a small, mysterious looking silver cup. Little did I know that this cup represented so much more than a holder of wine. This cup is known to be a Kiddush Cup and has been passed down through generations of my family. It began with my great grandfather, William Miller who traveled to Israel with my great grandmother over 60 years ago. While visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, my great grandfather purchased a sterling silver kiddush cup which he later presented to my Grandfather at his Bar Mitzvah in 1955. After my grandfathers Bar Mitzvah, his family would use this cup every Friday during Shabbat dinner for the blessing over the wine.  Similarly, when my father was born, my grandfather continued the tradition of presenting this kiddush cup during holiday meals, and soon at his Bar Mitzvah. As a child, the silver cup always stood out to me during holiday dinners, and I knew one day this cup would be passed down to me and presented at my Bat Mitzvah as a symbol of my family’s heritage and traditions. Today, this cup is still used during our holiday celebrations during our Passover seder as well as Rosh Hashanah dinner when we celebrate the Jewish New Year. Without a doubt, I look forward to continuing this tradition when I start my own family one day, as a reminder of my Jewish faith and heritage.
#jsarich2018 #jewish #tradition #kiddush #heritage
 

– Amanda Miller

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more