Knesset Menorah

The Knesset Menorah (Hebrew מנורת הכנסת ) is a five -meter-high bronze monument in the form of a seven-branched candelabrum, the crest, the symbol of Israel, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem. It is the main work of Benno Elkan (1877-1960), one originating from Dortmund Jewish sculptor, who in 1935 emigrated to prohibition by the Nazi German authorities to London. The 1949-1956 created menorah with its comprehensive image program is a monument to the historical identity of Israel. Since 1966, it stands at the present site.

Genesis

Benno Elkan had before the big menorah already created a series of seven-branched candlestick, some with Christian themes, such as two large Bible candlestick for the Westminster Abbey in London and David candlesticks. The idea for the big chandelier " as a symbol of Judaism " Elkan developed already 1947. 1949 he began the design of the individual reliefs. Should be represented motifs from the "History of the Jewish people from biblical times to the modern era with the establishment of the State of Israel." Elkan wanted to send around the world to places of the Jewish diaspora the candlestick initially, later he planned the establishment of a harbor entrance in Palestine, as a symbol similar to the American Statue of Liberty.

The work on the chandelier moved more and more into the center of Elkan's work. He wrote: "There must withdraw all behind this life's work. " Elkan corresponded with theologically trained acquaintances to select central biblical and historical scenes. Another important source of Elkan's candlesticks was an illustrated with over 500 woodcuts English Tanakh from 1848, whose motives Elkan took part.

1950 Elkan was able to present the first four reliefs of the menorah as part of a solo exhibition at the London gallery Wildenstein. Elkan laid the reliefs on plastic, where the crucial figures partly protrude from the surface. In this way, the artist joined the rather flat shape of the relief with the form of free-standing sculpture.

When turned British policy in favor of Israel, the plans took on more realistic trains. Members of the House of Lords, founded in 1953 " Menorah fund committee" with the goal of making the chandelier the young state of Israel to the present. However, there were also clashes during the formation of the candlestick. Protests of orthodox Jews were directed primarily against the representation of a scene from the Song of Songs, which should show King Solomon with his beloved Shulamite. Furthermore, it was also Elkan's plan, the candlestick actually provided with lights, rejected by the orthodoxy. Also, during the preparation of Elkan has the candlestick nor changed several times, which is pictorially documented in part.

Early 1956 completed Elkan the menorah and presented the candlestick in February 1956 at the Tate Gallery to the public. On April 15, 1956, the Candlesticks in Jerusalem was handed over by the British as " gift from the oldest to the youngest Parliament ". The menorah was initially set up in a park near the Provisional Parliament House. During the construction of the Knesset in 1966, it received its present location opposite the main entrance.

Image program

The artistic conception combines the idea of the family tree, which is to illustrate the genealogy of the Jewish people here, with the Jewish tradition of the seven-branched candlestick. The history of the Jewish people and the manifestations of the Jewish faith are to be read from the tips of the arms starting down. At the same time there are thematic relations in vertical and horizontal, overlying the chronological arrangement. At the lower shaft of the menorah to find relief to the Warsaw Ghetto and the pioneers in Palestine, between the signature medallion of the Shema. The branched history of the Jewish people leads, then, as the core of the policy statement in the modern land grab in Palestine, which allows through obedience to God's commandments and is conditional. At the lower arches of the two outer arms candlestick stands on the Hebrew prophet's words: " Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit! - Saith the Lord of hosts "(Zech. 4.6 EU)..

The illustrations are as follows:

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