Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica

Today is #nationalgirlscoutday Yes, we love the cookies, but did you know that Emanu-El used to have its own Girl Scout Troop? Here is a photo now in our archives from an outing in 1948. Photo courtesy of Miriam Reines (front row). #emanuelfromhome #museumfromhome #archives #photoarchives #archivesofinstagram #girlscouts #jewishscouts

This month we are looking at our collections to celebrate #womenshistorymonth. Today we celebrate Sissie Straus Lehman (1879-1950). Sissie was the daughter of Nathan and Lina Straus. In 1901 she married Irving Lehman (1876-1945). During World War II Sissie Straus Lehman created detailed family trees to document the relationship of her family members who remained in Europe. She worked tirelessly to provide affidavits of support to all those who wanted to immigrate to the Unit...ed States. A family story is that the United States Department of State told Sissie she could sponsor no more people, commenting that no one person could have so many relatives. It is not uncommon today to find family members who believe they and their entire family were saved because of Sissie’s largess. Sissie's generosity did not end there. She and Irving arranged for housing for the newly immigrant families, provided milk for their children and helped them find employment. During the summer Sissie and Irving created a summer camp on their Port Chester property where children from immigrant families could enjoy fresh air, sports and healthy food as they learned English. Most of the children came to this camp for two weeks but the children of family members enjoyed the entire summer in this lovely rural environment. Our Judaica collection contains Sissie’s prayerbook given to her by her parents and engraved to Sisie Lehman Straus [sic]. Her parents wanted to her to always remember she was a Straus first. To learn more about Sissie and her family visit the Straus Historical Society’s website (link in bio). Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts Silver Prayer Book Binding Bequest of Judge Irving Lehman [CEE 45-8] Photograph of Sissie as a young woman Temple Emanu-El Photo Archive P1011 #emanuelfromhome #museumfromhome #womenshistorymonth #strausfamily #sisiestrauslehman #philanthropy #judaica #straushistoricalsociety

Happy Purim!! Pewter Mishloach Manot Plate Germany, 1813 It is customary to send loved ones gifts of food on Purim known as Mishloach Manot. The custom derives from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast. Notice the intertwined fish in the center of the plate, signifying the Hebrew month of Adar corresponding to the Zodiac sign of Pisces usually represented by a fish. Inscription: Sending gifts to one another and presents ...to the poor (Esther 9:22). In the year 5573 (1813) Bequest of Beatrice Rosenthal Swaab [CEE 85-4] #emanuelfromhome #museumfromhome #purim #pewterplates #mishloachmanot

Wooden Noisemaker (Grogger) American, 19th century [CEE 84-13] #emanuelfromhome #museumfromhome #purim #grogger #noisemaker #judaica

Countdown to Purim! Esther Scroll and Case Case by Moshe Smilovici Israel, 1950s... Gift of Arthur Diamond in memory of his wife Estelle [CEE 78-4] #emanuelfromhome #museumfromhome #estherscroll #megillah #purim #judaica #smilovici #israelijudaica

Night seven! Today’s Hanukkah lamp from the collection is this large lamp made for a synagogue. Large scale lamps like this were common in Polish and eastern European synagogues and placed near the ark. The lamp is held up by three lions and has a circular canopy at the top, this is more commonly an eagle. This lamp is one of the only lamps in our collection that actually gets used. It can be found in our main sanctuary during Hanukkah. Hannukah Lamp Poland, 18th century Bequ...est of Judge Irving Lehman, 1945 [CEE 45-140] #museumfromhome #emanuelfromhome #hanukkahlamp #hanukkiyah #judaica #poland #synagoguelamp #lions #lehmancollection

Happy sixth night of Hanukkah! This hanukkiyah was made at the Bezalel School in the Land of Israel. In 1906 Boris Schatz opened an arts and crafts school where Jewish artisans made objects to sell for the tourist market. Now, highly collectible this lamp was in the collection of Judge Lehman and likely came to him from his father in law, Nathan Straus, an early supporter of Zionist causes. Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts Hanukkah Lamp Jerusalem, 1920... #museumathome #emanuelathome #hanukkah #happyhanukkah #bezalel #judaica #bezaleljudaica #nathanstraus

Happy fifth night of Hanukkah! Sefrou is a small town in Morocco, perched on the norther slope of a ridge in the Middle Atlas. Its Jewish population dates back almost 2,000 years. The basic design of cast brass Hanukkah lamps from Sefrou can be traced back to two sources: triangular shaped Italian lamps and 14th century lamps from Spain and southern France like our Figdor lamp. The triangular backplate on this lamp has wavy borders with a small colonnade and a flower in the c...enter. The hamsas, or hands of Fatima, on this lamp are a common symbol in North African culture. Hanukkah Lamp Sefrou, Morocco, 19th century Museum Purchase Fund [CEE 95-11] #museumfromhome #emanuelfromhome #hanukkahlamp #hanukkiyah #morocco #judaica #northafricanlights

Happy Fourth night of Hanukkah! The shamash or servant light on this lamp is in the shape of a sailboat, with thin bands of silver holding the boat to the mast and a flag topping it off. The base is made of two tall hollow shafts that might have been made for a custom base. About a dozen of these lamps exist in museum and private collections. Our lamp seems to be one of the earliest. The gateway motif of the backplate is reminicent of German Neoclassical architecture. Hanuk...kah Lamp Marker: HI Frankfurt, late 18th early 19th century Bequest of Judge Irving Lehman, 1945 [45-111] #museumfromhome #emanuelfromhome #haukkahlamp #happyhanukkah #judaica #sailboatmenorah

Joseph de Levis (?) Hanukkah Lamp Italy, late 16th century Bronze Bequest of Judge Irving Lehman, 1945 [CEE 45-203]... The figure of Judith has often been portrayed on Hanukkah lamps and been associated with the holiday of Hanukkah. Recent scholarship of this late Renaissance lamp has pointed to the workshop of Joseph de Levis (active between 1577-1605). The composition of the three-dimensional figures is similar to the marble sculptures of Michelangelo’s Medici Chapel, and the painted figures of the prophets on the Sistine Chapel. The relief of Judith holding the head of Holofernes can be composed to bronze plaquettes popular during the late 16th century. A similar lamp is in the collection of the Wolfson Museum in Jerusalem. #museumfromhome #emanuelfromhome #hanukkahlamp #hanukkiyah #italy #italianjudaica #renaissancebronzes #josephdelevis #judith