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Swift as
a Gazelle
This Chanukah menorah from animals, some might be decorated with palm
Germany, 1881, with its depiction trees, a basket of fruit, or the Shivas Haminim,
of gazelles surrounding a tree, may as in this menorah presented to Rabbi Dr.
not be “important” or “monumental,” Wilhelm Munz on the Silver Anniversary of
but it’s certainly unusual. Gazelles his being rabbi of Gilwice, Upper Silesia.
sometimes flanked a seven-branched According to Mr. Hoffman, Rabbi Munz’s
menorah instead of lions, or they were father was a talmid of the Chasam Sofer,
used in other decorative ways. and “anything associated with the Chasam
Sofer is important.” As for why a menorah
. Their pose usually suggested swift movement, might be decorated with the Shivas Haminim,
as in the saying from Pirkei Avos — unlike these perhaps it’s to hint that Chanukah was the last
gazelles, which seem more relaxed. time bikkurim could be brought to the Beis
Hamikdash.
But there are no hard and fast rules when it
comes to a menorah’s design. In addition to
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