Page 138 - HANUKIYA

THE MIX

MRTRuehebzenhboiern’asehr “The Rebbe of Ruzhin lit this,” says Mr. Hoffman,
gesturing toward this exquisite menorah crafted
from spun gold in 1836. The lacework technique
is known as “filigree,” and it’s a hallmark of what’s
known as the Baal Shem Tov style of menorahs.

Despite the name, this is not necessarily the
type of menorah the Baal Shem Tov used to kindle
his Chanukah lights. Rather, the style takes its
name from where it first appeared, which was the
region in the Ukraine where the Baal Shem Tov

lived. The ornamentation used to decorate the

back panel of a Baal Shem Tov menorah will vary, although there are a few standard motifs:

columns representing Yachin and Boaz, the two pillars that stood in Bayis Rishon; an aron

kodesh; and a large Torah crown, often flanked by birds, griffins, or lions.

This particular menorah has a few surprises, which Mr. Hoffman is happy to display. Open

the doors to the aron kodesh and you’re greeted by three engravings: on the inside of the

left-hand door is an image of the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash, in the center are the two

cheruvim on top of the ark, and on the inside of the right-hand door is the Lechem Hapanim.

The menorah’s connection to Chanukah is obvious, but what about the other two? Mr.

Hoffman points out that he Lechem Hapanim stayed fresh for eight days, corresponding to

the eight days of the holiday. And the cheruvim? He discovered the connection two years

after he bought this menorah, when he bought an aliyah for Zos Chanukah. Look in the

Torah reading for the eighth day, and you’ll discover the connection too.

While there are many examples of silver Baal Shem Tov menorahs, according to Mr. Hoff-

man, this is the only known menorah crafted from gold. The reason is simple: Not many

Jews could afford one.

“Even a silver menorah was expensive,” Mr. Hoffman says, commenting that people

would work all winter for just a few rubles. “Only someone like the Ruzhiner Rebbe could

afford a menorah made from gold.”

138 27 Kislev 5780 | December 25, 2019 159M I S H PA C H A