My favourite Jewish Museum object

by Barbara Brown, Museum Volunteer

On going to the Religion Gallery one day I found a woman standing in front of the display of Hanukah lamps with tears pouring down her face. I put my arm round her and she pointed to the wooden one and said, simply, “My grandfather made it." 

The wooden lamp is intricately carved with the Hanukah blessing for the lighting of the candles on the frame. Its stem has two winged beasts and a network of leafed branches. All of which sits on a carved stand. It was lovingly made by Moshe Leser for his son’s wedding in 1936 and given to the museum by his widow. It must have been well used by his family as some of the metal candle holders are missing.

Moshe Leser lived in Tamow, Poland, and the fretwork carving was a craft of his village. He stayed in Poland but his son and daughter-in-law came to England before the War. They had two daughters.

The following week the woman returned with a friend and proudly said to her, "Look what my grandfather made.” Though not used, it is an object of great significance not only for the museum but for the two daughters.