Chanuka menorahs from all over the world

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How would you like to kindle the Chanuka lights in this strange stone vessel from Persia?
The Jewish Art Museum at Hechal Shlomo lists it as a 19th century menorah for Chanuka and Shabbat.

(Please click on the photos if you'd like to see the details.)

I visited last Thursday, just a few days before a special display for Chanuka week was arranged.
So I have no idea what the menorah under wraps was for.

But the one next to it was as tall as me.

Such a differance a few centuries can make in the designs.

In and on the case are both old and modern chanukiyot.

"Hanukkah Lamp, Baghdad, Iraq, 18th century, brass, cast"

The oddest chanukiya I found was this brass one from 18th century Austria.

The double-headed eagle with cannon at his feet, is it not an unusual choice for a Jewish ceremonial object?

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This week our world in Israel revolves around Chanuka observances and festivities (kids have vacation from school for the holiday), so this is what I have to share at the bloggers' worldwide meme, "That's My World."

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Gelt, then and now

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During the week of Chanuka kids are given some coins as a gift.
Chanuka gelt (Yiddish for money) became a tradition in 17th century Poland.
Nowadays little pouches of foil-covered chocolate "coins" are welcome, too.

These coins are on display at the Jewish Art Museum in Hechal Shlomo in Jerusalem.
Fourteen gold coins were in the pomegranate jar discovered in the stones of the Holy Ark of the 6th century synagogue Dir Aziz in the Golan.

That is the emperor Justinian I on the Byzantine-era coins (I think).

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Sure wish I could give this little treasure to my grandkids as Chanuka gelt!

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Luminous laptop

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Across the miles, from my computer to yours, HAPPY CHANUKA !

Chanuka, the Festival of Lights, began yesterday, with the just one candle being lit by the shamash helper candle.

One more candle is added each evening.

Next Friday the chanukiya will be full, with maximum brightness and cheer, as in this picture (which is extra nice when enlarged).

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Happy holiday and happy "Weekend Reflections," the nice meme hosted by James in Pennsylvania.

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Candle time

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Tonight is the beginning of the 8-day Festival of Lights. Happy Chanuka!


Normally the chanukiya (Chanuka menorah) is lit at nightfall, when it is dark. But tonight is also the eve of the Sabbath, so we light the chanukiya BEFORE sundown and THEN light the two Shabbat candles.
This because making fire is considered work and work is forbidden on the Sabbath, the day of rest.

In the first photo you see my modern-style chanukiya (gift from dear daughter Naomi) in the kitchen window.
The chanukiya is traditionally placed in a window or near the door or is lit outside in order to "publicize the miracle" to everyone.
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The candle at the left is the shamash, the servant candle which lights the others.
Tomorrow night there will be two candles and one shamash.
Every night another candle is added and the light increases.
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Shabbat shalom and happy Chanuka!
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And many thanks to all the non-Jewish bloggers who are beginning to post about Chanuka and especially to actress/author/blogger Petrea at Pasadena Daily Photo for her kind words about me and her deep insights about life.
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"La Ville-Lumière"

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On my way home from Jerusalem last night, I was happy to see the new fountain all lit up.

And across the street, the 1926 Terra Santa College Building, after its recent renovation by the Franciscans, was also warmly illuminated.

This small square is squished between many intersecting busy streets.

Because of its exposure to passing traffic it is often a venue for political demonstrations.

The rock says "Kikar Tsarfat" in Hebrew and "Place de France" in French, but it is also known as Paris Square.

The story goes like this, quoting the fun guide book Jerusalem--Step by Step by Batya and Avigdor Kornboim:

"The mayor of Paris visited Jerusalem in 2006 and announced that he would donate an 82-foot (25 meters) model of the Eiffel Tower to be displayed at the site in honor of the 40th anniversary of the city's liberation. The city declined the phallic monument, and a replica of a famous fountain was promised instead."

So on June 1, 2008 a more modest 13-foot (4 meters) was dedicated by Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, this time in honor of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.

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But what I really wanted to show you is the temporary big Chanukah menorah put up in Paris Square by Chabad! (They have many all around the city.)

Chanukah comes early this year. On Friday afternoon the first of eight lights will be lit and the 8-day holiday will begin.

Then both Paris, "La Ville-Lumière," AND Jerusalem can be called the City of Lights.

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Nazareth midnight mass on Internet, live

Midnight mass in Nazareth will be broadcast live in half an hour on Israel TV and on the Internet. You can go to http://iba.org.il/media/ and click on "Christmas Mass" at 11:55 pm Israel time. We are GMT +2 hours.
I imagine a video of it will be available there afterwards, on Christmas Day.

Happy Chanuka from my computer to yours!

It's really only the 4th day, so tonight we lit 4 + 1 candles.

Right after watching midnight mass on my little notebook computer, I am going to pack it up and together we will head to Ben-Gurion Airport. Saturday morning, God willing, I'll be in Australia!

So goodbye for a few days. Merry Christmas or happy Chanuka to all you friends out there!
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Chanuka in Jerusalem's Old City

Shalom everyone and happy holiday. Tonight at home I lit the second candle of Chanuka.
The photos are from 2006, the sixth night of Chanuka, so you see six big flames and one for the shamash, the servant "candle."

Here is the big Chanuka menorah in context. Please click on the picture to see it better.

To the right--the Western Wall. Above it, on the Temple Mount, is the Moslem shrine called the Dome of the Rock. On the horizon, the Mount of Olives with its many churches.

And below is the Western Wall Plaza archaeological excavation where I was working then. It is much deeper down now, and the dig is being completed this month, with exciting discoveries.

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Little tours from around the world await your participation at That's My World Tuesday. Pay a visit, you'll enjoy your trip.

A modern chanukiya

Chanuka began at nightfall tonight with the lighting of the first candle.
The candle at the left is the shamash, the servant candle which lights the others.
Tomorrow night there will be two candles and one shamash. Every night another candle is added and the light increases.
The chanukiya (menorah) is traditionally placed in a window or near the door or is lit outside in order to "publicize the miracle" to everyone.

Here is a photo from last year. This is how the chanukiya will look on the 8th and final day of the Festival of Lights.

Chag sameach--happy holiday!

Old chanukiot

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Yay, only four days until Chanuka, the Festival of Lights!

In Jerusalem's lovely Beit Ticho small museum is the late Dr. Avraham Ticho's international collection of antique Chanukah lamps.

We say chanukia in Hebrew in Israel, although in the Diaspora you more often hear it called a menorah.
Sunday night we will light the first candle.
Then, every night we add one additional candle, until at the end of Chanuka there are eight candles and one servant candle burning brightly.
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