Hanukkah lamp
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn45518
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Hanukkah lamp : cast (moulded), screwed : gold ; Ht: 25,5 cm x W: 23,5 cm
- Date
- [Prior to 1943]
- Collection
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- object
- Physical Description
- Hanukkah lamp : cast (moulded), screwed : gold ; Ht: 25,5 cm x W: 23,5 cm
- Other Title Information
- Ceremonial Artifact
- Date
- [Prior to 1943]
- Physical Condition
- Excellent
- Notes
- Nine-branched metal lamp with removable shamash on a hinge at the center. The branches are ribbed and curved, all branching from the central stem. A Star of David sits at the centre slightly above the branches, right behind the shamash. The foot is a three-level tiered octagonal pedestal decorated with relief carvings. Narrative: Sophia van Dam (born 1874-04-08, maiden name van Hessen, Dutch nationality) and her husband Levie van Dam (b. 1866-11-02, Dutch nationality) lived at Hooftstr. 176, in Leens (Groningen province, The Netherlands). They owned a clothing store which they sold when they retired. In 1943, the Germans came to arrest them. They were to be sent to the Westerbork transit camp (Drente province). The Van Dams were already in their seventies and Mrs Van Dam was not well. They were given two weeks’ notice before their transfer to Westerbork. During that time, they distributed their belongings to their non-Jewish friends and neighbours, for safekeeping. This Hanukkah menorah was given to their neighbors Jelte and Jantina Bolt; their daughter Henderika (the donor's mother) was nine years old and remembers the gift. The van Dams were committed to Westerbork transit camp (The Netherlands) on 1943-03-09, and transferred East on 1943-03-17 (destination not indicated - cf. Arolsen Archives). It is believed they were deported to the Sobibor killing centre and killed there, or that they may have died during the transport. Jelte and Jantina Bolt kept this menorah throughout the war and then gave it to their daughter, Henderika, who brought it with her when she immigrated to Canada in 1953. Henderika then gave it to her own daughter, Linda.
- Accession No.
- 2009.13.01
- Name Access
- Vreedenberg, Linda
- Places
- Leens, Netherlands, Europe
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Montreal Holocaust Museum
Images
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