Shalom! Welcome to the very first blog post of Ohr Judaica, your destination for sustainable, all-natural Judaica that radiates beauty and spiritual significance. We’re excited to introduce ourselves and share a little bit about who we are, what drives us, and the passion that lights up our work.
Our Journey: From a Living Room in Crown Heights to Your Home
Ohr Judaica is more than just a small business—it’s a labor of love. Operating out of a cozy, one-bedroom apartment in a pre-war building on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, we’re a three-person team with a shared vision. Our goal is to create Judaica that does more than just fulfill ritual requirements—we want every item we craft to embody the principle of hiddur mitzvah, the Jewish tradition of beautifying the performance of mitzvahs.
We began this journey with a simple idea: to create Jewish ritual items that reflect both their sacred purpose and their natural elegance. Inspired by Jewish mysticism and tradition, we wanted to make products that resonate with deeper spiritual meaning while staying true to our commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
The Power of Light: Our Signature Beeswax Candles
At the heart of Ohr Judaica is our collection of handcrafted beeswax candles. These candles are not just for lighting; they symbolize the connection between the physical and spiritual realms. We’ve chosen pure beeswax, harvested sustainably, because we believe the flame of a Shabbat candle should represent natural purity, reflecting the purity of our relationship to the world and its Creator. The toxic ingredients found in most candles today, paraffin and its derivatives, are byproducts of fossil fuel refinement—a hyper-modern fuel that replaced traditional, timeless fuels like kosher tallow, olive oil, and beeswax. We wanted something new: a return to the old way of doing things, a relationship to ritual candle-lighting free of modern toxins and damaging substances.
In Jewish mysticism, light holds profound meaning. The name “Ohr” itself translates to “light” in Hebrew, and this light symbolizes the Divine—a concept we embrace in every piece we create. From our full-size Shabbat candles to our Travel Kits, we aim to make the simple act of lighting a candle a spiritual experience that draws holiness into your home.
At Ohr Judaica, we believe that lighting Shabbat candles or Havdalah candles is more than just a ritual—it’s a moment of divine connection. By using beeswax, we ensure that the light emanated is pure, natural, and symbolic of the sacred connection between the earthly and the spiritual. We’re proud to provide a candle that’s good for your home and good for the planet.
The Natural Glow of Beeswax: A Candle with a Purpose
For our beeswax candles, we’ve chosen to work with pure, organic, locally-sourced beeswax because of its natural beauty and incredible properties. Unlike traditional paraffin candles, which are derived from petroleum, beeswax is completely natural and eco-friendly. When burned, beeswax releases negative ions that help cleanse the air, neutralizing dust, allergens, and other pollutants. It’s a healthier option for you and your family, and it brings a soft, golden glow that enhances your spiritual experience. (And don’t worry – beeswax is a byproduct produced by bees, and is not used by them! Beeswax harvesters are careful not to remove any more beeswax than can be done safely. Taking care of the bees is, after all, in their best interest.)
Sustainable at Every Step
From the very beginning, sustainability has been one of our core values. Every step of our production process is designed to minimize waste and reduce plastic consumption. We use recyclable packaging and ship all our products with sustainable honeycomb padding, avoiding bubble wrap and other harmful plastics. The wood used for our hand-smoothed wooden spoons, our menorahs, and our candlesticks is sourced from sustainably harvested trees, ensuring that we tread lightly on the earth while bringing ancient Jewish traditions to life.
Whether it's our Bedikat Chametz kits or our beeswax candles, we take pride in using natural, organic materials to help you fulfill mitzvahs in a way that’s both meaningful and eco-conscious.
Meet the Team Behind the Light
Ohr Judaica is run by a small but mighty team of three:
- Jared, our founder, is a graduate student in philosophy and part-time barista based in Crown Heights. His passion for Jewish tradition and spiritual connection led him to create Ohr Judaica as a way to blend artistry with ritual.
- Chavah, Jared’s collaborator, is a writer, journalist, and yoga teacher living in Bushwick. She assists with product design and social media management, bringing her creative vision and love for Jewish mysticism into the business.
- Adiva, Chavah’s younger sister, is a swim instructor and part-time barista who contributes to woodworking and typography at Ohr Judaica. Her skill in crafting helps bring our visions to life, especially in the intricate design of our candles and ritual objects.
Bringing Light into Your Home
At Ohr Judaica, we’re not just creating products; we’re helping you bring more light, peace, and spirituality into your home. Whether you’re preparing for Shabbat with our beeswax candles, searching for chametz with our handcrafted Bedikat Chametz kits, welcoming yourself to a new home with our handmade Rosewood Mezuzahs, or seeking a special gift for a loved one, our items are designed to elevate your experience of mitzvah observance.
We invite you to join us in embracing the deep significance of “Ohr”—the light that not only illuminates our homes but also our hearts and souls.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to sharing more about our creations, traditions, and inspirations as we continue to grow and light the way, one mitzvah at a time.
L’Shalom,
Jared, Chavah, and Adiva
The Ohr Judaica Team
Stay tuned for more blog posts, product highlights, and insights into Jewish spirituality!
Comments