Silver objects used in Jewish worship

Hanukkah lamp, Jacob Marsh

Hanukkah lamp
Jacob Marsh
London, England
1747-8
Silver
Museum no. M.75-1949

'Hanukkah' is the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Greco-Syrians in 165BC and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is a winter festival and lasts eight days, with an extra flame lit for each night of the festival.

Circumcision set, about 1900. Lent by The British Museum (1922

Circumcision set
Blade stamped 'Davis London'
England
About 1900
Silver gilt, with topaz, ivory and felt-lined case
Loaned by The British Museum (1922, 10-12, 1)
©Copyright The Trustees of The British Museum
Given to the British Museum by Dr Abraham Cohen, 1922

The circumcision of baby boys is an essential part of the Jewish faith. It signifies the covenant between God and Israel and the admission of the child into the House of Israel. After circumcision the child is given his Hebrew name.

Kiddush Cup, Tamar de Vries Winter

Kiddush Cup
Tamar de Vries Winter (born 1946)
London, England
2005
Silver, enamel and gold foil
Museum no. M.19-2005
Commissioned by the V&A and sponsored by the Kessler Foundation

Kiddush ('sanctification') is a blessing recited over a cup of wine at the start of the Sabbath. It sets the Sabbath apart from the rest of the week as a holy time. This cup is engraved with Hebrew letters meaning 'creator of the fruit of the vine'. The uninterrupted repetition of these letters encircling the vessel reflects the continuity of the prayer, which has been recited for more than two millennia.

Pointer, designed and made by Gerald Benney

Pointer
Designed and made by Gerald Benney (born 1930)
London, England
1982
Silver
Lent by Edgar Astaire

The pointer or 'yad' ('hand' in Hebrew) is used by the reader to follow the sacred text of the Torah. It is usually made of silver. When the yad is not being used it is hung over a Torah breastplate.

Seder plate, Gottlieb Isaac

Seder plate
Gottlieb Isaac
Berlin, Germany
1764
Pewter
Museum no. M.151-1935

The Seder plate is central to the Seder feast. This is held in Jewish homes on the first two nights of Passover and commemorates the Jewish exodus from Egypt.

Esther scroll, probably 1800-1900. Lent by The British Museum (1921

Esther scroll
Ottoman Empire
Probably 1800-1900
Case: silver and coral
Scroll: vellum with ink
Lent by the British Museum
© The Trustees of The British Museum

The biblical Book of Esther is read during the festival of Purim, a festival which commemorates the rescue of the Jews of Persia in the 5th century BC.

Spice tower, about 1500-1600. Museum no. M.40-1951

Spice tower
Italy
About 1500-1600
Copper gilt
Museum no. M.40-1951

The end of the Sabbath is marked by the 'Havdalah' (or 'separation') ceremony. Three blessings are said, over wine, a candle flame and spices.

The V&A acquired this spice tower in 1951. Before entering the museum, it had been turned into a reliquary (a container for a relic of a Christian saint) and a cross was added to the orb. There is still a relic inside the tower.

Marriage ring, about 1800. Museum no. 869-1871

Marriage ring
Central or Eastern Europe
About 1800
Silver-gilt
Museum no. 869-1871

The ritual gift of a ring during the marriage ceremony goes back to ancient times but is only documented since about 1400. The Hebrew inscription 'mazel tov' imparts good luck.

Rimmonim, designed and made by Gerald Benney

Rimmonim
Designed and made by Gerald Benney (born 1930)
London, England
1996
Silver, partly gilded
Lent by Edgar Astaire

Rimmonim are placed above the mantle that covers the sacred Torah scroll. Their bells ring when the Torah set is processed in ceremony. The word rimmonim means 'pomegranates' in Hebrew and the shape of this pair in particular is reminiscent of the fruit. These rimmonim were made by renowned goldsmith Gerald Benney as part of a miniature Torah set.

Judaica has always reflected the artistic styles of its time. In the late 19th century it was available through large companies such as Joseph & Horace Savory and cherished pieces were brought into England by the Jews who had fled the pogroms in Eastern Europe. Later, the two world wars and the Holocaust meant that little Jewish silver was produced. It was not until Jewish communities had become more established that synagogues began to commission new work. Many of the designers, including Gerald Benney, are non-Jewish but their work has enabled traditional Jewish religious customs and practices to be fulfilled in a modern style.