Page 17 - HANUKIYA
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The Ruzhiner
Rebbe’s Menorah
“The Rebbe of Ruzhin lit this,” says engravings: on the inside of the left-hand door is an
image of the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash, in the
Mr. Hoffman, gesturing toward this center are the two cheruvim on top of the ark, and
on the inside of the right-hand door is the Lechem
exquisite menorah crafted from spun Hapanim.
gold in 1836. The lacework technique The menorah’s connection to Chanukah is obvious,
but what about the other two? Mr. Hoffman points
is known as “filigree,” and it’s a hallmark out that he Lechem Hapanim stayed fresh for eight
days, corresponding to the eight days of the holiday.
of what’s known as the Baal Shem Tov And the cheruvim? He discovered the connection
two years after he bought this menorah, when he
style of menorahs. bought an aliyah for Zos Chanukah. Look in the
Despite the name, this is not necessarily the type Torah reading for the eighth day, and you’ll discover
of menorah the Baal Shem Tov used to kindle his the connection too.
Chanukah lights. Rather, the style takes its name
from where it first appeared, which was the region While there are many examples of silver Baal Shem
in the Ukraine where the Baal Shem Tov lived. Tov menorahs, according to Mr. Hoffman, this is the
only known menorah crafted from gold. The reason
The ornamentation used to decorate the back panel is simple: Not many Jews could afford one.
of a Baal Shem Tov menorah will vary, although
there are a few standard motifs: “Even a silver menorah was expensive,” Mr. Hoffman
says, commenting that people would work all winter
columns representing Yachin and Boaz, the two for just a few rubles. “Only someone like the Ruzhiner
pillars that stood in Bayis Rishon; an aron kodesh; Rebbe could afford a menorah made from gold.”
and a large Torah crown, often flanked by birds,
griffins, or lions. 17
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
