This is a Jewish wedding ring, made of silver and decorated with a small, sculpted synagogue on top. Although the exact origins of the ring are unknown, it is confirmed to be from a Jewish population in central Europe, and it was made in the late 17th or early 18th century. Sometime after its fabrication, the Hebrew letters "Kaf" and "Hay," possibly the initials of a couple, were engraved on the band of the ring.
Rings shaped like synagogues, symbolizing the sacredness of marriage and family in Jewish religious life, were used in Jewish weddings in central Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eighteenth century. Like many Jewish ritual objects, these rings were passed down in families or owned collectively by the community. Their unique shape makes them easy to identify, and helps historians identify Jewish populations across Europe.
Jewish Betrothal Ring- Met Museum
This is another Jewish engagement ring from the 17th or 19th century. It is noticeably more expensive than the simple silver ring, as it is made of gold and painted with colorful enamel. The roof on this ring hinges open to reveal the message “Good luck” written on the band. The wealth of this ring suggests that it belonged to a very different community from the silver ring; the gold ring was more likely from an Italian synagogue, where families made more money as urban merchants or tradesmen.
The Jewish Virtual Library is a non-profit, online encyclopedia maintained by the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) to catalogue Jewish history, politics, and culture. The library covers both global and Israeli topics, and has dedicated sections for the Holocaust, antisemitism, and modern US-Israeli relations. The site also has a biographical catalogue of famous Jews.
14 English Words from Yiddish- Merriam Webster
As Jewish immigration to the United States increased in the 20th century, some Yiddish words began to enter the English dictionary. Merriam Webster has compiled a list of some of the most popular additions. You will most likely recognize words like glitch, bagel, and klutz, and some might know futz and the suffix –nik (ie. Beatnik).
