Image via Wikimedia:Jason3091
On November 30, the Museum at Eldridge Street will be illuminated with more than 100 menorahs. The exhibition at the Eldridge Street Synagogue’s museum, Let There Be Light – A Whole Lotta Light!, will feature menorahs made from classic glass to more unconventional designs such as a baseball diamond, dog, matchbook, and pink Cadillac.
Murano Glass Menorah. Image via the Museum at Eldridge Street
These menorahs were all collected by the Lori and David Moore family, who hail from the Upper West Side. The family began their collection of menorahs as a way to provide a holiday tradition for their children akin to picking out a Christmas tree, accumulating over 150 menorahs in the process.
From classic to eccentric, the menorahs on view include an American flag designed purchased by the family after September 11, 2001 and one constructed with Chinese Mahjong tiles, along with more traditional designs from around the world.
Shoe Menorah. Image via the Museum at Eldridge Street
A significant amount of this collection will be on display at the museum at the Eldridge Street Synagogue before and during Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. The variety of menorah designs signifies both the tradition of the holiday as well as the distinct ways in which it can be celebrated.
The Museum of Eldridge Street, a National Historic Landmark, was first opened in 1887. Today, it remains the last marker of the wave of Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe to the Lower East Side which is open to the public for cultural events, educational program, exhibitions, and tours. The exhibition is on view through January 2, 2018.
For more holiday events and sites this season, check out 12 NYC Holiday Markets to Check Out This 2017 Holiday Season and The 2017 NYC Ice Skating Guide.