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 Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:09 am
Every sect of judiasm has it's own standard issue prayer book. From The Gates of Prayer for the reformed sect to the Artscroll Siddur for the Orthodoxy. Both are very good and can be used for home use. However being rather unconventional I use a different one. http://www.amazon.com/Doorposts-Your-House-Chaim-Stern/dp/088123043X <--- Prayer book for the converting, reconverting, and hebrew impared jew. My standard issue "non-congregational" home use prayer book. I like this one a lot, it's quite modern in it's prayers. It has everything a good siddur should have. However being rather modern it has one prayer that's slightly contraversial, "The Prayer for Contemplating Terminating a Pregnancy." If you're a pro-lifer, or if you're rather conservative, this might not be the way you want to go. You also might notice that I sometimes quote from "The Jewish Book of Why" ----> http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Book-Why-Boxed-Second/dp/0824603141/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-0565863-5289400?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183654589&sr=1-2 It's a breif encyclopedia that explains almost every one of our facinating rules and regulations and laws that we all share. I like their interpretations and use these books to explain things. Also this company makes pre-packaged boxed sets for Shabbat and Havdalah. http://www.shabbattogo.comThey're not especially ornate but the minimalism of it keeps it very tidy. It's easy to pack away and is nice if you don't want to spend a lot of money on candlesticks and spice boxes. as for Talit, Tefillin and other such garb. That is something that reflects unto you. Traditionally they're made with either wool or cotton, as it's a bad deed to mix fabrics. However modern onces are made with blends and come in all sorts of interesting colors. Talis for women are also available, they tend to be lighter and made of pastels. http://www.jewishbazaar.com/bazaar/ZT2a.HTM <--- the one I use. I liked it, it was rather unique. Although I'm not a congregational jew, I still feel a talis is important enough to own, it's a reminder of your judiasm, more than the kipah is. When I put it on I feel like, I dunno how to explain it, It's like a badge of honor, to say "Yes I belong to this. This makes me a jew." umm... Things like Seder plates, Menorahs, and Lulavs are usually gotten after you start a new home or move away to college. So did I leave anything out?
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:41 pm
When I was originally becoming observant, I asked a friend of mine who's been ordained as a rabbi, "What do I need, to start with?" In addition to the very good one-mitzvah-at-a-time advice, he said (I'm paraphrasing):
If you're asking what one thing you should buy first, because you're on limited income and can't afford to buy everything all at once, start with a mezuzah (scroll) and case. It will come with instructions on how to put it up. Put it on your bedroom door if you're sharing a home with others, or on the main door to the house/apartment if you're living alone or if your housemates don't mind. Gradually build up so that you've got one on every doorway leading IN, throughout your house, except for bathrooms.
Alternatively, you could start with just buying a pair of candlesticks and lay in a good supply of candles. If you buy your candlesticks at a Jewish website or store, the candles you buy there or in most grocery store will always fit in them.
But those are the first two things: candlesticks and then mezuzah, or mezuzah and then candlesticks. One establishes your home as a Jewish home, and the other establishes Shabbat and holidays as Jewish times, so start there. Those two will remind you of the other mitzvot, and in time you may be yearning for more. Do the mitzvot that you yearn for, and only those, and you'll be more likely to keep doing them.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:57 pm
Do I need to get special candles and candleholders, or will any do? Because my house is full of generic candles and holders.
Also, is there any list of items that should be (maybe not needed) be present in a Jewish home?
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:22 pm
Dis Domnu Do I need to get special candles and candleholders, or will any do? Because my house is full of generic candles and holders. Also, is there any list of items that should be (maybe not needed) be present in a Jewish home? Anything will do, heck a tin drip guard suspended over a mason jar counts as a candle holder. However, I have the humble opinion that your Judica reflects upon you. My Kiddush cup is glass, my spice box is 2 inches by 1 inch and about half an inch deep, made of wood, my havdalah candle holder is made of wood. My shabbat candle holders are from "Shabbat on the go" and fit in a travel pouch. Basically it screams "Abject minimalism and rather spartan." A standard issue list of stuff you need? Well Divash basically put that up already. 2 candlesticks, and a door mezuzzah. I also think a Siddur is a nice thing to have to. One of the more important tenants of Judiasm is the Shema and Vihahavtah. "You shall bind them before your eyes, and You shall bind them on the doorposts of your house." A mezuzzah can be made of any material, but the important part is the sacred scroll that contains the Vihahavtah. Putting up a Mezuzzah is a good deed and there's also a prayer that goes along side it, any siddur worth it's salt has it within. Things that are not needed? meaning, things that the only hardcore ultra orthodox jew has in his house but most do not, such as a Shofar. Or do you mean things that are prohibited, such as dead bodies and a pig farm?
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:27 pm
Also, It should be noted that the size, lenght and color of the candle isn't really that important, however the material is. You shouldn't burn tallow candles, look for parafin or beeswax candles. Tallow candles have a tendency to be made with the fat of unkosher animals. However a standard 3/4 or 1 inch candle should do nicely. The only non standard candle is the Havdalah candle.  Basically you light it at the end of shabbat, and after a breif ceremony to all the elements (earth, wind, water and fire) you douse the candle in wine and put it away until next week. Again, size shape and color are a personal choice. But these puppies won't fit into a standard holder, you need to by a special one if you're so enclined.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:48 pm
I more meant items that would be common in a Jewish household. I mean, you've got candles, mezuzah, but what about holiday items? I know there's the menorah, and that's about where my knowledge of stuff ends.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:28 pm
This is a nice topic, and very informative.
What is a lulav? And on the topic of Jewish home: What, besides OBVIOUS things, should not be done, spoken of, or whatever in a Jewish household out of respect and manners for the host family?
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:38 pm
kingpinsqeezels This is a nice topic, and very informative. What is a lulav? And on the topic of Jewish home: What, besides OBVIOUS things, should not be done, spoken of, or whatever in a Jewish household out of respect and manners for the host family? The Lulav and The Etrog, the 4 species. They are used only durring Sukkot. The reason behind it is to celebrate the harvest and to celebrate Jews affinity with the world around them. As for manners in a jewish home. Standard proper table manners apply. However there's one thing you should remember. During Sabbath or Pesach, when there's a ceremonial washing of hands. You pour the cup over your hands 3 times while saying the prayer, and then you return to the table and remain quiet until whoever's leading the grace says the blessing over the bread. Other than that, just be your normal polite self.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:48 pm
That is strange looking. For a second there I was thinking,"Why is he showing me this stabbed carrot?"
I'm just now realizing how much I don't know about shabbat.
What is the purpose behind washing your hands with a cup?
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:22 pm
kingpinsqeezels That is strange looking. For a second there I was thinking,"Why is he showing me this stabbed carrot?" I'm just now realizing how much I don't know about shabbat. What is the purpose behind washing your hands with a cup? Well the Lulav and Etrog are for Sukkot not Sabbath. Now the hand washing deal is that it is an actual religious obligation to wash your hands before you sit at the table to eat. The belief is that the food will be better for you if you bless it with clean hands. So there started the custom of having a cup of water with two handles that you kept by the sink. Fill the cup and pour it over one hand, switch hands, pour it over the other, and then back again, while saying the prayer for remembering the Mitzvot. Now at the end of the meal comes Mayim Achronim, which is not a religious obligation it was only done for health purposes to run water over your fingers at the end of meals. Wash the salt off and everything, it's customarly done at grace after meals. However this practice is uncommon.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:05 pm
What's the prayer?
That's really cool. I never thought of washing my hands before eating as something religious!
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:24 pm
kingpinsqeezels What's the prayer? That's really cool. I never thought of washing my hands before eating as something religious! Barukh ata HASHEM Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al n'tilat yadayim. Blessed are you, LORD, Our Creator* King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning washing of hands. *Transiteration and Translation changed from actual prayer text to common text. I don't know how to write hebrew on Gaia
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:45 pm
LordNeuf kingpinsqeezels What's the prayer? That's really cool. I never thought of washing my hands before eating as something religious! Barukh ata HASHEM Eloheinu melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al n'tilat yadayim. Blessed are you, LORD, Our Creator* King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning washing of hands. *Transiteration and Translation changed from actual prayer text to common text. I don't know how to write hebrew on Gaia That's okay, because I would not have been able to read it! Unless of course you wanted to do it for some other reason...But anyway, thanks. That's pretty cool.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:54 pm
biggrin I could read it, I just wouldn't know what it meant.
Oh the woes of knowing the alphabet, but not any words.
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:00 am
Also another good reason to have a Siddur for the hebrew impared.
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