Rare Antique (probably ancient) Yemen Stone Hanukkah lamp, Judaica

Description: Up for sale is this rarely seen example of Yemenite Judaica, This stone Hanukkah lamp was made in the 18th century or even much earlierIt is hard to tell the exact age of stone objects but as you can see from the state and wear on it, It is an earlier piece, as the Yemenite jews are the oldest jewish community outside the land of israel.This Hanukkah lamp is all hand carved from this piece of sandstone or some kind of Steatite, inside The groves made to hold the oil you can see the chisel marks under the heavy patination and oil residue Most of this Hanukkah lamps (held by museums ) does not have the shamash but in tyhis example you can see it Carved as a slightly raised triangle (in the jewish religion the Shamah has to by raised from the other candles) Size : Width : 6 inch / Height : 1.5 inch / Depth : 4.8 inchCondition is very good for its age and use and you can see it was taken care by multiple generations of jews cherished it as their prized possession, some scratches and small chipping to stone surface. The use of stone in making Jewish ritual objects – stone is material “which is not susceptible to impurity” – in the making of Hanukkah lamps represents the vestiges of an ancient practice. Stone symbolizes time, tradition, and nobility. The choice of stone rather than shiny metal also stemmed from reasons of modesty, to avoid antagonizing the Arab neighbors. For the same reason, the exteriors of Jewish houses in Yemen were made to look humble, and Jewish women would wear jewelry mainly at home or conceal it under the folds of their garments. At times, the names of the owners or craftsmen would be inscribed on the lamps, on this example there is an inscription on the side carved into the stone surface, we cant translate it because it was probably written in an ancient Yemenite script or ancient Hebrew, These were in all likelihood made by a family patriarch, and were then handed down from one generation to the next. Such practices of inheritance were customary among Yemenite Jews.Yemenite Jews have a unique religious tradition that separates them from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and other Jewish groups. The roots of the Jews in Yemen—Teiman in Hebrew— can be traced back to Biblical times. Yemen is mentioned in Jewish scriptures in various places. It is noted as the place of origin of Job’s friend Eliphaz. Additionally, the famed Queen of Sheba, discussed in the Book of Kings where she visits King Solomon, is said to have heard about King Solomon from Jews in Yemen, which was located near the kingdom of Sheba. Although the province is not mentioned in the Mishna or the Talmud, there is an assumed reference in Josephus’s book, “The Jewish War.” Josephus states that he had informed “the remotest Arabians” regarding the destruction, and the assumption is that he is referring to the Jews of Yemen. The immigration of the majority of Jews into Yemen appears to have taken place at the beginning of the 2nd century. In the ancient Jewish cemetery at Beth Shearim, there is an inscription in one of the rooms, describing those buried there as “people of Himyar” (the Yemenite Kingdom). The assumption is that their bodies were sent from Yemen for burial in Israel, not that they died while visiting Israel, just as many people today ask to be buried in the Land of Israel.One local Yemenite Jewish tradition says that Jews came to the Arabian Peninsula at the time of King Solomon. Some say this was because King Solomon sent Jewish merchants to Yemen to prospect for gold and silver to use for the Temple in Jerusalem. Others say Jewish artisans were sent to the region when they were requested by the Queen of Sheba, during that same time period.

Price: 5000 USD

Location: tel aviv

End Time: 2025-01-18T10:49:38.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD