The festival therefore lasts for eight days, and each night a number of candles or lights are lit. The candelabra used is called a Chanukiah and has nine branches. On the first night of the festival two lights are lit, and the number increases by one each night until the eighth night when all the lights are lit. One light is placed slightly apart from the others and is used to light the other lights. This light is called the Shamash which means servant. The Chanukiah should always be placed somewhere where it can be seen from outside such as in the window.
The Ben Uri has a rather special Chanukiah in its collection.
CHANUKIAH with DOVES
by Mosheh Oved (1885-1958)
Bronze
On Extended Loan from Mrs G. L. Mamlock and family
(224K)
Mosheh Oved, a founder member of the Society, ran the shop Cameo Corner in Museum Street near the British Museum. He was an authority on cameos, antique watches and clocks. He designed his own extremely original jewellery, and sculpted a series of Jewish ritual objects He was also a writer and poet.
He was very interested in sculpture, produced several busts himself, and also collected the work of his friend Jacob Epstein. He helped the Ben Uri to purchase several significant works of art, and presented three busts by Epstein to the Society in 1946.
The Ben Uri's bronze Chanukiah is certainly unusual. As in many of his works, Oved has incorporated animal images. Here he has used birds, but for another Chanukiah he used a deer, with the antlers acting as candleholders. A large plumed bird watches over the Chanukiah, with a small pot on the tip of each wing fashioned to look like a dove. There are eight similar pots shaped to look like doves placed in a row below. These can either hold candles or oil. In all, then, there are ten lights, whereas only nine need to be lit for this festival. The reason is that this Chanukiah can be used either on Channukah or at Shabbat, when only the two upper lights need be used.
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