Spanish Jewish Decorative Plate

This Spanish plate shows a Jewish ritual candleholder, called a "menorah." It was produced in the Spanish city of Toledo, a major center of Jewish life for several hundred years.

Spanish Jews once constituted one of the largest and most prosperous Jewish communities under Muslim and Christian rule in Spain, before the Jews were forced to convert, or were expelled or killed in 1492.

The menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum which, according to the Bible, was a prominent feature of the Tabernacle erected by the people of Israel in the wilderness, as well as in the Jerusalem Temple. The priests lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. Jewish scholars believe that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be "a light unto the nations."


Judaism is a religion in which people believe that there is one god (monotheism), the same god the Christians and Muslims worship, who created the universe and has a personal relationship with humans. The religion was founded in Israel about 4,000 years ago by Abraham, who entered into a covenant with God to follow the laws of God. Moses received the Jewish holy book from God. The holy book is called the Torah. The history of the early Jewish people is contained in the Torah. The 10 Commandments (ex: don’t murder, don’t lie, don’t steal) are also contained in the Torah. Scholars disagree about whether there is an afterlife. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who may bring about an afterlife.
Source:
Source Citation: Haran, Menahem, Efraim Gottlieb, and Heinrich Strauss. "Menorah." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 49-55. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587513677&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Spain www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/menorah.html