Hanukkah - The Festival of Lights

Before, During and After the Holocaust

Through photos, artifacts and personal testimony, this exhibition shares some of the ways this holiday was observed throughout Europe prior to the Holocaust, during the Holocaust years, and in the displaced persons camps and children’s homes following the war.

Krakow Poland - Hanukkah Menorah in the shape of a synagogue
Krakow Poland - Hanukkah Menorah in the shape of a synagogue
Amsterdam, Holland, 1935, a Hanukkah candelabrum.
Amsterdam, Holland, 1935, a Hanukkah candelabrum
Westerbork, Holland, Candle lighting on the seventh night of Hanukkah
Westerbork, Holland, Candle lighting on the seventh night of Hanukkah
Austria, 1947, Lighting of Hanukkah candles in a DP camp
Austria, 1947, Lighting of Hanukkah candles in a DP camp
This nineteenth century Hanukkah menorah was found, wrapped in newspapers dated 1941, under the floor of the former synagogue in Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland during renovations carried out in the 1980s
This nineteenth century Hanukkah menorah was found, wrapped in newspapers dated 1941, under the floor of the former synagogue in Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland during renovations carried out in the 1980s.
One of the Hanukkah related postcards that was drawn by Prof. Alfred Grotte in Germany between 1936 to 1941
One of the Hanukkah related postcards that was drawn by Prof. Alfred Grotte in Germany between 1936 to 1941. He sent the cards to Franz and Elln Posener in Lichtenstein
Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany, 1945, Celebrations of the first Hanukkah after liberation, in the DP camp
Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany, 1945, Celebrations of the first Hanukkah after liberation, in the DP camp
Frankfurt, Germany, 1936, Lighting Hanukkah candles in a synagogue
Frankfurt, Germany, 1936, Lighting Hanukkah candles in a synagogue
The Cohen family took this Hanukkah menorah with them when they were forced to move from their home in Casablanca, Morocco under the rule of Vichy France
The Cohen family took this Hanukkah menorah with them when they were forced to move from their home in Casablanca, Morocco under the rule of Vichy France
Westerbork, Holland, Lighting the candles on the seventh night of Hanukkah
Westerbork, Holland, Lighting the candles on the seventh night of Hanukkah
This Hannukah menorah was made in 1947 in the vocational workshop for Holocaust survivors established by the JDC, the Jewish Agency and the Central Committee of Bavarian Jewry.
This Hannukah menorah was made in 1947 in the vocational workshop for Holocaust survivors established by the JDC, the Jewish Agency and the Central Committee of Bavarian Jewry
Saloniki, Greece, Postwar, A Hanukkah party for child survivors
Saloniki, Greece, Postwar, A Hanukkah party for child survivors
Berlin, Germany, Hanukkah 1930s, a boy playing with a dreidel
Berlin, Germany, Hanukkah 1930s, a boy playing with a dreidel
Berlin, Germany, 1936, A girl mending toys to be given to needy children on Hanukkah. A training college for kindergarten teachers and nurses in children's' homes, Meinekestrasse 22
Berlin, Germany, 1936, A girl mending toys to be given to needy children on Hanukkah. A training college for kindergarten teachers and nurses in children's' homes, Meinekestrasse 22
Hanukkah Menorah in the shape of a prayer book, Lodz ghetto
Hanukkah Menorah in the shape of a prayer book, Lodz ghetto
Video testimonies: Hanukkah during the Holocaust
Video testimonies: Hanukkah during the Holocaust
Lodz, Poland, Lighting the Hanukkah candles with the Chairman of the Judenrat, Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski
Lodz, Poland, Lighting the Hanukkah candles with the Chairman of the Judenrat, Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski
Germany, Postwar, Cantor Sheinker lighting Hanukkah candles
Germany, Postwar, Cantor Sheinker lighting Hanukkah candles
Lodz, Poland, 1941, Nachman Zonabend distributing sweets to children at Hanukkah
Lodz, Poland, 1941, Nachman Zonabend distributing sweets to children at Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, A man wrapped in a prayer shawl in front of a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, A man wrapped in a prayer shawl in front of a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Ester Veisfeiller's (Alis Goldmann) Dreidel (Spinning top)
Ester Veisfeiller's (Alis Goldmann) Dreidel (Spinning top)
Westerbork, Holland, a Hanukkah party in the camp
Westerbork, Holland, a Hanukkah party in the camp
Die Vier Waldstatten, Switzerland, postwar, a children's Hanukkah play at a DP camp
Die Vier Waldstatten, Switzerland, postwar, a children's Hanukkah play at a DP camp
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, two girls playing a board game, sitting by a Hanukkah candelabrum at Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, two girls playing a board game, sitting by a Hanukkah candelabrum at Hanukkah
This is one of many Hanukkah menorahs that was plundered by the Nazis. The menorahs, along with other Judaica, was collected by the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Organization after the war
This is one of many Hanukkah menorahs that was plundered by the Nazis. The menorahs, along with other Judaica, was collected by the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Organization after the war
Foehrenwald, Germany, Postwar, a poster announcing an artistic show during Hanukkah in the DP camp
Foehrenwald, Germany, Postwar, a poster announcing an artistic show during Hanukkah in the DP camp
A Hanukkah menorah carved from limestone in the detention camps in Cyprus
A Hanukkah menorah carved from limestone in the detention camps in Cyprus
Shanghai, China, 1939, a Hanukkah party for refugee children in the Twig family's home
Shanghai, China, 1939, a Hanukkah party for refugee children in the Twig family's home
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a woman lighting a Hanukkah candelabrum during Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a woman lighting a Hanukkah candelabrum during Hanukkah
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
Lodz, Poland, 1948, A Hanukkah celebration at the Coordination Committee Orphanage. All the children in the orphanage had been hidden by non-Jewish families during the war
Lodz, Poland, 1948, A Hanukkah celebration at the Coordination Committee Orphanage. All the children in the orphanage had been hidden by non-Jewish families during the war
This is one of many Hanukkah menorahs that was plundered by the Nazis. The menorahs, along with other Judaica, was collected by the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Organization after the war
This is one of many Hanukkah menorahs that was plundered by the Nazis. The menorahs, along with other Judaica, was collected by the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Organization after the war.
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a boy lighting a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a boy lighting a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Neu Freimann, Germany, postwar, children in a Hanukkah show
Neu Freimann, Germany, postwar, children in a Hanukkah show
A brass menorah from Transnistria
A brass menorah from Transnistria
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
A Hanukkah menorah from Westerbork
A Hanukkah menorah from Westerbork
Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, prewar, a Hanukkah celebration at the metal-work school
Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, prewar, a Hanukkah celebration at the metal-work school
Bucharest, Romania, 1942, lighting of the Hanukkah candelabrum. Dr. Beck, Hapheral and Ruwuski are present in the photograph
Bucharest, Romania, 1942, lighting of the Hanukkah candelabrum
Leipheim, Germany, children attending a Hanukkah party in the DP camp
Leipheim, Germany, children attending a Hanukkah party in the DP camp
Berlin, Germany, 1935, Children of the Ryke Street School in a Hanukkah play
Berlin, Germany, 1935, Children of the Ryke Street School in a Hanukkah play
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a lit Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, a lit Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, children playing with dreidels (spinning tops) around a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Berlin, Germany, 1930s, children playing with dreidels (spinning tops) around a Hanukkah candelabrum on Hanukkah
Hanukkah menorah from Kiel, Germany
Hanukkah menorah from Kiel, Germany
Zamosc, Poland, January 1928, A school play called "Hanukkah Gelt (money)"
Zamosc, Poland, January 1928, A school play called "Hanukkah Gelt (money)"
A postcard from the Jewish orphanage in Frankfurt am Main
A postcard from the Jewish orphanage in Frankfurt am Main
Landsberg, Germany, 1945, First Hanukkah celebration for Nocham (United Pioneer Youth). Among the participants: Etka Litman-Mordkovitz, Marila Friend , Kova Novomiest, Yaakov Levkovitz, Aryeh Levkovitz, Misha Yalon, Senk Mordkovitz, Aryeh Altman, Rutka Altman, Heltzia Noiberg
Landsberg, Germany, 1945, First Hanukkah celebration for Nocham (United Pioneer Youth)
Gogolin, Germany, 1941, a Hanukkah candelabrum
Gogolin, Germany, 1941, a Hanukkah candelabrum
Riga, Latvia, 1932, second and third grade classes of Public School No. 9 at a Hanukkah party
Riga, Latvia, 1932, second and third grade classes of Public School No. 9 at a Hanukkah party
Lodz, Poland, 1943, a group photograph at a Hanukkah party in the ghetto
Lodz, Poland, 1943, a group photograph at a Hanukkah party in the ghetto
The Hanukkah menorah that Willy Tal received as a gift for his Bar Mitzvah in Amsterdam in 1935
The Hanukkah menorah that Willy Tal received as a gift for his Bar Mitzvah in Amsterdam in 1935
Cham, Germany, lighting Hanukkah candles in the DP camp, 1945
Cham, Germany, lighting Hanukkah candles in the DP camp, 1945
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
Lodz, Poland, 1943, Hanukkah in the ghetto
A Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony in the Bad Raichenhall DP camp
A Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony in the Bad Raichenhall DP camp