Happy Han

Dear Friends,

I watched the White House Hannukah light with a mixture of pride and interest this week.  While most of the attention was on the people gathered together for the historic lighting, I also became intrigued by the Hanukkah menorah, or Hannukiah, used.  It was brass, somewhat kitschy, with nine lights molded each into the shape of the Liberty Bell.  It looked familiar – like one of the souvenirs in Center City when living outside Philadelphia.  It was more interesting than beautiful.   

I did a little digging and the Hannukiah indeed had quite a history. The American Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia loaned the menorah to the White House for the occasion.  It was created by a folk artist by the name of Manford Anson.  Born in Germany, Manford was a young teenager when the Nazis came to power.  He enrolled in an agricultural school, with hopes of emigrating to Palestine.  Instead, he was one of 20 boys rescued by the Jewish Welfare Guardian Society of Australia.  He served in the Australian military and created a new life for himself.   Then, in 1963, Manford immigrated to the United States to join his sister, who had also survived the war. 

Proud of both his new American identity and his Jewish identity, Manford began collecting Jewish and American memorabilia, amassing a collection of over 500 Hanukkah menorahs.  The Liberty Bell menorah, though, he designed himself.   He used Liberty Bell souvenirs as the model but also engraved each bell with the name of an American Jew from the Revolution and early 1800s, including Naval officer Uriah Levy, educator Rebecca Gratz, financier Haym Salomon and philanthropist Juda Touro.

The parallel between Hanukkah and Christmas is often made.  But, in reality, Hanukkah has more in common with 4th of July.   It is a holiday about the struggle for liberty and freedom and about a small, committed group of fighters defeating a much larger and more powerful enemy.  The Liberty Bell menorah highlights Hanukkah’s true historic purpose and, perhaps, its purest link to our culture today.  

A menorah made from Americana souvenirs by a Jewish refugee who found a home in the United States – well, it sounds like just the type of flame to light at the White House.  

Rabbi Cohen