holy artifacts as an expression of the great meaning of jewish tradition
Beautifying a Mitzvah (Commandment)
And Can Man Beautify His Creator?
Sanctity and Equality
Is there anything more egalitarian than the religious artifacts found in the home? Everyone is supposed to use them in the same way and to the same extent. Judaica ritual items articulate the importance that Jews, rich and poor alike, attribute to Jewish tradition – whether it means affixing a mezuzah on the front door of the house or having a Hanukkah lamp and a pair of candlesticks.
In each and every generation, Jews made and kept religious objects. The verse “this is my God and I will glorify Him” (Exodus 15:2) clarifies the purpose behind the custom of beautifying a mitzvah (commandment). Nevertheless, only wealthy Jews were able to surround themselves with elegant religious artifacts. The poor had to make do with simpler objects whose importance does not stem from their aesthetic quality, but from the story they tell and their emotional value.