THE JMAS WAS THRILLED BY GREAT GOOD FORTUNE TO ACQUIRE AN IMPORTANT SILVER HANUKKAH CHANDELIER – ONCE A FAREWELL GIFT FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF KRIEGSHABER TO THEIR RABBI.
A lucky discovery in a Paris auction house
The chance discovery of a Hanukkah menorah from Augsburg-Kriegshaber in the auction catalogue of a French auction house is a fortunate find for the museum. The valuable silver object was owned by the former Kriegshaber rabbi Aaron Guggenheimer (1793-1872). Museum director Dr Carmen Reichert explains: ‘Our employee discovered the chandelier in the catalogue of a Paris auction house rather by chance. It quickly became clear that the Hanukkah menorah was an important object for the Jewish history of our region. The whole team was thrilled at the auction – we are delighted that such an important piece of our history is now returning to Kriegshaber and Augsburg thanks to a private donation’.
Farewell gift with delicate decoration
Aaron Guggenheimer received the work of a (still) unknown Augsburg silversmith as a gift from the Jewish community of Kriegshaber. Today’s Augsburg district was an independent community at the time. The inscription engraved on the shaft of the candlestick reads: ‘To the memory of Mr Districts:Rabbi Aron Guggenheimer from his community of Kriegshaber. Chairmen: Samson Oberdorfer and Jakob Goetz.’ This suggests that Aaron Guggenheimer received the Hanukkah menorah as a farewell gift when he moved to Mährisch Aussee (now Úsov in the Czech Republic) in 1860. The candlestick was probably presented to him by the then community leaders Samson Oberdorfer and Jakob Götz. The decoration on the candlestick is particularly interesting: the so-called ‘servant’s candle’, which is used to light the other candles, is in the shape of an ibis, i.e. a bird.
Rabbi with a wide radius of activity
Aaron Guggenheimer, who was born in Dittenheim in central Franconia, was the district rabbi in Kriegshaber for over 40 years from 1819. As such, he was not only responsible for the Jewish community in Kriegshaber, but also for the neighbouring villages of Pfersee, Steppach, Schlipsheim and the few Jewish families in Augsburg. Guggenheimer was a supporter of the Jewish Reform movement and therefore preached in German. He also introduced the practice of holding services in open rows of benches rather than at individual prayer desks. Aaron Guggenheimer worked as a religion teacher at the Augsburg grammar schools of St Anna and St Stephan.
Kriegshaber was once a town with a predominantly Jewish population. As a suburb of the important commercial centre of Augsburg, the town soon gained importance for the whole of Swabia. The synagogue was the centre of this community. The vacant district rabbinate position in Kriegshaber was not filled after the departure of Aaron Guggenheimer, but was moved to Augsburg.
Hanukkah – festival of light
A Hanukkah candlestick, also known as a Hanukkia, is a special candlestick used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It has nine arms or, as in the case of the purchased candlestick, oil dishes, each representing one of the eight days of the festival, as well as an additional arm for the so-called ‘servant candle’ (Hebrew: shamash). Traditionally, an additional candle is lit each evening of Hanukkah. Hanukkah candlesticks are often artistically designed and can be made of various materials such as silver, brass or ceramic.