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Hanukkah lamp, Warsaw, late 19th century – USD 250

Chanukija składająca się z podstawy o czterech ażurowych nóżkach, na której umieszczone zostało 8 nasadek na świece. Za nasadkami umieszczony został  pionowy zaplecek ozdobiony płaskorzeźbami prezentującymi odwołujące się do symboliki żydowskiej przedstawienia.
fot. Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich/M. Jaźwiecki

Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights, commemorates the victory of the Maccabees and the miracle following the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem. Oil sufficient to burn for one day lasted eight days. To celebrate this miracle, candles or oil are lit on the eight nights of Hanukkah.

Shown on this Hanukkah lamp is the seven-branched menorah of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah lamps take many forms, but all of them have a place for eight lights, one for each night of the holiday. Hanukkah lamps that use candles usually have an extra place for the "shamash," or servant candle, which is used to light the other candles. The object can not be displayed in a showcase at the Resource Center

Hanukkah lamps similar to this one have a small detachable oil pitcher. This one, which is also missing the eighth oil holder, was found after the war in the ruins of the Warsaw ghetto.

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