Spread the Light by Yoram Raanan
This menorah captures the spirit of the menorah as a vessel of light. The menorah is a primal image, recalling the very creation of light. The light emanating downward has been compared to a menorah, an inverted tree of life, whose radiance lit up the world. In the painting the menorah looks like a cosmic tree, many faceted, evolving, expanding, spreading, creating the impression of multiple menorahs. The refraction of warm golden tones emanate and shimmer into the cool blues of celestial heavens.
Our sages tell us to gaze upon the shimmering lights of Chanukah, and look for the "ohr haganuz", hidden sparks of the light that shone long ago in the Garden of Eden. As a special blessing, this light shines yearly in the Chanukah lights—a light engraved with spirit, a light carving hearts, penetrating cracks of the soul, letting go and allowing the light to seep in with delight. Anticipating miracles and praying for "ohr chadash," the revelation of the hidden light and a world of joy peace and love.
Rambam's Menorah by David Brook
Artist's Statment:
My depiction of Rambam's Menorah. The Rambam drew a detailed image of how the Menorah appeared in the Bet Hamikdash, this is my take on it.
Chanukah by Rosa Katzenelson
The Chanukah picture expresses the quintessence of the pure oil in our souls. In my painting, the brushwork depicts forms with suggestive use of color in concentrated strokes that enhances the light from within.
Spinning Free by Yitzchok Moully
The dreidle: a symbol of Chanukah that the children in ancient times used as a decoy while hiding from the Greek solders and studying Torah. Today the dreidle is a Chanukah toy beloved by everyone, that just might spin us to a new perspective on the freedoms we enjoy today.
Haneirot Halalu by Shoshana Brombacher
This Chanukah drawing is one of many inspired by the artist's beloved festival.
Chanukah Shel Jerusalem by Davora Lilian
Just as Chanukah is only an allusion in the Torah, so too is the World to Come. "No eye has seen it," as written in the Talmud. By using bright colors. Abstract images, and Kabbalistic shapes, the intention is too excite the viewer to the joy of the future world.
Last Night of Chanukah by Esther Rosen
The last night of Chanukah. The last chance to listen to the flames, until next year...
Menorah by Adar Darnov
This represents the seven branched menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem. I utilized circles, colors and lines to part from realism. To me the movement of the circles imitates the dancing flames.
Rabbi Lazar's Menorah by Rosa Katzenelson
Rabbi Lazar’s Menorah reminds us of part of the story of the people that lived in Crown Heights. His secret Mitzvah was revealed after he passed on, when the people realized that all the money that he was asking for was only for the purpose of tzedaka (charity). When I met him he didn’t have even a pair of shoes that match for himself. In my art work I try to reveal the 'Pintele Yid' in our time.
Last Night of Chanukah by David Brook
This is a painting I did of the menorah on the last night of Chanukah last year.
Chanukah Dance by Boruch Hoffinger
While in Tiberias 11 years ago I become enthused with the joy of Chanukah.
Chanukkiah by Randy Zucker
For this piece, I used digital tools to strip the image down to its most essential and meaningful elements. Like a Haiku poem, it communicates a tremendous amount of information and emotion with a small amount of actual input. In doing so, the viewer is invited to fill in the details and become part of the process.
Joyous Flames by Sara Seldowitz
To the Macabees in all of us!
National Menorah by Yitzchok Moully
A light unto the nations. Depicting the impact the menorah has on its surroundings. The menorah spreads the message of light and religious freedom to the White House and beyond.
Behind the Window by Shoshannah Brombacher
On Chanukah we publicize the miracle of the oil. We publicize the power of G‑d who saved us from the vast Hellenist army, but at the same time it is a very intimate festival. You see families or groups behind the window lighting their menorahs. They are in the house but bring the miracle outside. Thats's how I feel we live as Jews. From our own safe house (our Torah life) we show the world our values, our priorities. Everybody can see them and learn, or be enlightened (pun intended in this case)!
Orange Menorah by Yoram Raanan
The menorah of the Holy Temple evoked the image of a tree. Its central shaft was like a trunk and the other lamps were its "branches". The decorations were referred to as almonds, buds, and flowers. Today the menorah remains a tree of light, a tree of life, a tree of fire.
This expressionistic orange menorah looks like a glowing tree with a stream of water flowing beneath it. The menorah spreads out in an abundance of branches and light. In the book of Psalms, a person who meditates on the Torah is compared to a leafy and fruitful tree planted by streams of water. He becomes a living menorah as his roots reach into the waters of Torah and his branches shine out across his surroundings.
Chanukah Haftara by Anna Fine Forer
“'Not by military force and not by physical strength, but by My spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts.”
This quote from Zechariah is written on the Menorah that was found in the desecrated Temple. Olive trees surround the central pipe because olive oil lit the menorah. The landscape is made of collage maps of Israel.
Chanukah by Rivkah Siegel
The first holiday that I celebrated when I returned to Yiddishkeit was Chanukah, and I certainly have done my fair share of Chanukah menorahs, along with designing some Chanukah-themed fabrics when I was a textile designer. This piece was done on scratchboard.
Jerusalem Menorah by Yoram Raanan
Artist’s Statement: This painting began life some twenty-five years ago as part of a series of landscapes featuring Jerusalem. Dominated by shades of brown, sienna and gold, the warmth of these earth tones suggested something of the city's ancient Biblical history. Over the years, layers of paint were added but the painting remained lifeless until a menorah was added. The menorah embedded in the heart of Jerusalem finally gave the painting a sense of completion. Lit up, Jerusalem came back to life.
When the holy Temple stood, the light of the menorah (a visible sign of the supernatural light of the Shechinah) emanated from the windows which were uniquely constructed to let light out, rather than in. It illuminated not only the Temple courtyard, but all of Jerusalem. To complete the picture of Jerusalem, there needed to be light in the middle of the scene, the golden light of healing and brotherhood and true peace, which we pray will shine again soon from the heart of Jerusalem.
Light by Yehuda Lang
Artist’s Statement: "A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness." - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812)
Menorah Six by Yoram Raanan
Artist’s Statement: Painted in a way where the creation evolves and changes, what began as a landscape on two panels grew into this image of a menorah emanating light and color over six canvases. The fiery raw sienna and umber are countered by blues and greens that temper the fire. The light that shines within also evokes the image of the burning bush.
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