These are some photos I took at my grandmaparent’s house. 

One picture is of tiny hamsa sculptures. A hamsa is palm-shaped amulet popular in North Africa and the Middle East. This symbol is popular in both Judaism and Islam. Hamsas are often used in necklaces and wall hangings. 

The rest of the photos are of some vintage Siddurs. A Siddur is a Jewish prayer book. To most cultures, the book opens “backwards” and Hebrew is read right to left, not left to right. These are very old Siddurs that my grandparents have collected. My grandma prays and reads from a Siddur every day (maybe more than once) but she uses a a modern Siddur. 

I can read Hebrew… but only in print (non-cursive) and with vowels. I don’t know what the words mean (besides a few dozen words). Today, most Hebrew is written in cursive without vowels.