Tripping The Light Fantastic

by Judith Broder Sellner
Special To The Jewish Week

In the afterglow of Thanksgiving, Jewish Shopper goes Judaica-shop hopping — from the spacious duet of shops at The Jewish Museum to the compact West Side Judaica, with stops at Battery Park, Times Square, and Eastside synagogue boutiques — seeking new Chanukah inventory, and inspiration.

“Leave the checkbook and the credit cards at home,” calls the husband as the Shopper walks out of their front door.

Shining through floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the 68th Street lobby of Park East Synagogue, highly polished menorahs at Michael Strauss Silversmiths, Ltd. beckon. A sterling silver and malachite piece by Israeli artist Yaakov Davidoff stands out.

In a modified traditional style, its leaf-sculpted, silver candleholders blossom above angular branches interspersed with enameled floral medallions. A silver image of the High Priest lighting a menorah marks the center. It’s one of the boutique’s many unique, elegant works of Judaic ritual art, from unadorned modern to ornately traditional.

Modernists will like Polish artist Pete Cohen’s sterling silver, bench style, oil lamp — nine indented square oil containers on a simple rectangular base. Its flame-like, geometric background forms reflect the light from the eight lamps. From the studios of C. J. Art in Israel nine vertical crystal cubes, each etched with symbols of one or two of the 12 Tribes, sit on a frosted glass base, with a map of Israel carved from Jerusalem stone. For traditionalists, choices in glowing silver are abundant. www.silversmiths.com.

In the Ramaz building on East 85th Street, Shopper sees Judaica Classics by Doina’s Chanukah objects, from miniatures to masterpieces, in traditional and modern styles. An exact reproduction of a menorah in the Budapest Jewish Museum, featuring nine sterling silver chairs, spans the center of the white, satin-lined window. Next to it stands a contemporary, abstract, sterling silver piece of nine zig-zag panels. It can stand straight or form a circle, its visible mechanism being part of the design.

Tel Aviv’s Laura Cowan bases her out-of-this world artifacts in highly polished, stainless steel and anodized aluminum on a simplified rocket shape. Two menorah variations hold oil or candles. Tall, slender steel rods support one’s holders; the other’s suspend between low parallel rods. Both are colorful and very 21st century. E-mail Doina@Judaicaclassics.com.

At The Jewish Museum’s Celebrations, two large sculptures in soft green patina on bronze stand opposite the entrance. Sculptor Paul Jeffries evokes the burning flames of Chanukah with one; while the other, a dancer in motion, wears a frock coat and supports a bar of candle holders with outspread arms.
In a lighter mode, The Last Match menorah is an oversized set of nine standing white pine matchsticks tipped by red, cast porcelain heads. Each head has a hole for the candle oil and wick that accompany the set. The piece brings to mind the works of Claes Oldenburg, renowned sculptor of outsized replicas of everyday objects.

Two Statue of Liberty designs show how different artists approach the same motif. One, in green, laser-cut, thin metal is the Statue’s full figure, her outer robe flowing, as in a breeze, and forming the base for the eight nights’ candles. The torch holds the shamash. The other, a bronze, traditional, eight-branch menorah, has an American eagle centered above the candles. Named “The Liberation of the Jews” by its artist, Manfred Ansom, it features nine small Statue candle holders, each representing an historical period in Jewish history, from the Exodus from Egypt to the creation of Israel. The shamash recalls the Statue’s 100th anniversary.

The selection of holiday artifacts at the Cooper Shop, The Jewish Museum’s larger gift venue, includes the unusual Sediments menorah by Canadian artist Minna Glass. The textured glass log shows patches of burgundy, as in wine sediments. For child appeal, the ‘60s style bus, with flower decorations, and the new fire truck with Dalmatian hydrant and hose are winners. www.thejewishmuseum.org.

Across town, West Side Judaica, on Broadway at 89th, caters to families with a large selection of Chanukah menorahs and is jam-packed with child-friendly products. Special among the menorahs is the yellow ceramic, crayon box with crayon-shape candle holders in assorted colors. Little girls won’t burn their fingers, but their eyes will light up when they receive a silver menorah pendant necklace from West Side. (212) 362-7846.

Manhattan Judaica on West 45th Street challenges the lights of nearby Times Square with perhaps the city’s largest selection of glass menorahs. In a bold, appropriately blue-and-white, glass art piece from Kentucky, curved candleholders rise from a mirror base to create an imposing centerpiece. C.J. Art’s “Israel at 60” menorah’s frosted glass panel features an etched design incorporating the 60th anniversary logo and a menorah. Dreidel-shaped stone candleholders sit along the top of the panel. www.manhattanjudaica.com.

At 30th Street near Fifth Avenue, the window of J. Levine Judaica, a New York institution for 100 years, greets passersby with a massive inflated menorah. Inside, the range of menorah styles and media, as well as other holiday objects, create shopper delirium. A special attraction for the busy family is the electric menorah, battery operated, that automatically turns on the new candles each day at sundown. www.levinejudaica.com.

Into the subway and onto the Museum of Jewish Heritage at Battery Park is, another full-house in a small space. New menorahs include this year’s hot Israeli import by Dan Shamir. Brightly painted on both sides, the laser-cut metal represents a minyan of dancing figures, eight holding level candles and the shamash supported on another’s shoulders. More subdued models include two “heart” menorahs. The very affordable silver-tone, brass model’s slender branches form concentric hearts; the satin-finish, pewter piece has added arabesque flourishes. www.museumofjewishheritage.org.

Some menorahs should be heard, not seen. In “Lights, Celebrate: Hanukkah Live in Concert,” a CD from Craig Taubman ’N Co., familiar holiday songs get new arrangements, including tango, klezmer, gospel, Satchmo and more. www.craignco.com.
Happy Chanukah and happy shopping!

Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization