Fea
turing more than 180 works of fine art and Judaica (Jewish ritual art objects) from more 20 nations and five continents, The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery is a highlight of any visit to the Museum. And, among its tapestries, sculptures, paintings and prints you’ll see at least 42 different examples of a menorah or hanukkiah.
The original Menorah, found in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, was a seven-branched candelabra that stood over five feet tall. Hammered from pure gold and filled with pure olive oil, it was lit each night at dusk as a symbol of God’s presence. The Menorah was the primary symbol of ancient Judaism and today is found on many Israeli coins and stamps.
A hanukkiah is a ritual object specifically used during the holiday of Hanukkah which starts this year on the evening of December 16. Hanukkah commemorates the military victory of the Jewish Maccabee army over of the Greek Seleucid occupying forces in 165 BCE. The Seleucids had outlawed all public expressions of Judaism and desecrated the Temple and the sacred objects found within. After re-consecrating the Temple, the Maccabees could find only one jar of the pure oil required for the Menorah–just enough to burn for one night. But, eager to restore their beloved traditions, they filled the Menorah and lit the wicks anyway. The flames continued to burn for eight nights. In remembrance of the triumph and the miracle, a special nine-branched candelabra called a hanukkiah is lit starting with one candle the first night and adding one each successive evening.
Near the back of The Temple-Tifereth Gallery stands a large glass case containing nine menorahs from throughout Europe and the Middle East. The largest stands nearly three feet tall. It is designed to hold long, tapered, formal candles, not the tiny ones most people light at home. Dating from 1920 and handmade from silver, this hanukkiah has clean, formal lines and was probably intended for synagogue use. Indeed, The Temple-Tifereth Israel takes it out of the case for use each year when Hanukkah arrives, making it one of the few historical artifacts in the Museum that is still used for ritual purposes. A very different-looking early 20th century hanukkiah from Marrakesh, Morocco hangs nearby. Made from a sheet of repoussé and engraved brass, it bears a lovely patina that attests to its age. And yet another hanukkiah made from cast brass in Salonika, Greece has curving forms that look like vines based on descriptions of the decorative surfaces found in the ancient Temple itself.
My personal favorite comes from Hanau, Germany. Made from cast silver it features little cups made to be filled with olive oil and wicks, as was done in ancient times before candles were invented. What makes these cups so special is that each is carved into the shape of a lion. Since each has a wick-holder coming out of its mouth, on the final night of Hanukkah, you would see nine fire-breathing lions glowing from your mantel!
Touring this gallery we often stop in front of this case. At first many visitors notice the diversity of shapes, materials and styles. They see the differences. But each object can hold nine candles and, although they were made and used in different communities across a vast expanse of the Earth, they functioned in an identical way in each location. The celebration of Hanukkah remains the same everywhere: friends, family and food; warm light in the midst of darkness and cold; and the hope that freedom can be won and, perhaps, miracles can still take place.
— Mark Davidson, Manager, School & Family Programs
