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The Art of Judaica

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Chanukah Candelabrum (Silver) Late 19th or early 20th century
Date not available
Germany

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Jewish ceremonial art, also known as Judaica, has its origins in the Biblical verse proclaiming: "This is my God whom I will glorify" (Exodus 15:2).

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In the Jewish religion, we glorify God through prayer and devotion, but also by adorning and beautifying those objects used in religious observance. This practice is known as "hiddur mitzvah" and is intended to remind us that our religious rituals are not just important, but that they are sacred. By adorning the objects that we use in such rituals, we are affirming the ritual's status as special and sacred, and as outside secular life.

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The Aron Museum
2003
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Montreal, Quebec

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The objects of Judaica (Jewish ceremonial art) found in the Aron Museum fulfill this practice of "hiddur mitzvah." Each piece in the collection is both a functional ceremonial object and a unique work of art.

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Torah Finials (Silver) 20th century
Date not available
North America

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Note, for example, the ornate design and careful crafting of these Torah finials, which serve to decorate the sacred text of the Torah (the Jewish Bible).

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Etrog Container (Silver) Circa 1854
Date not available
Germany

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The intricate details of this box certainly convey the special nature of what it holds. The winged feet suggest that the box has the quality of the sacred and heavenly more than it does of the secular and earthly.

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Kiddush Cup (Silver)
1897
Frankfurt, Germany

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This cup announces that it is not an ordinary cup for drinking, but a vessel for the wine over which Shabbat is blessed, through its decorative engravings, and its regal stand and cover.

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The objects in the Aron Museum come from all over the world, demonstrating the diversity of Judaism across different geographic regions and cultures, as well as the continuity of Judaism within these differences and through time. Compare some of the spice containers that you will encounter in the gallery.

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Eschenheimer Spice Tower (Silver) 19th century
Date not available
Frankfurt, Germany