One Menorah, Many GenerationsThis menorah dates back to at least 1767, when it was donated to a syna

One Menorah, Many Generations

This menorah dates back to at least 1767, when it was donated to a synagogue in Buergel, Germany. The menorah was used in the synagogue until 1913, when it was found broken in pieces. A man by the name of Siegfried Guggenheim asked for the broken pieces and provided a replacement. The Guggenheim family restored the old menorah for their personal use, and brought it to the United States when they immigrated in the 1930s. Eventually, the menorah was acquired by the Jewish Museum in New York. 

When Prime Minister Ben-Gurion visited the United States in 1951, he searched for a suitable gift to give to Harry S. Truman in light of the President’s recognition and support of the State of Israel. The Jewish Museum suggested the menorah, and Prime Minister Ben-Gurion presented it to Truman on his birthday, May 8, 1951. It is now among the gifts from heads of state at the Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

In 2008, the menorah that was given to Harry S. Truman from David Ben-Gurion returned to the White House to be lit in a Hanukkah ceremony. Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Truman, and Yariv Ben-Eliezer, grandson of Prime Minister Ben-Guiron, participated in the lighting. The George W. Bush Administration borrowed the menorah from the Truman Library.

Happy Hanukkah!

Images: 

Menorah presented to Harry S. Truman by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion of Israel on 5/8/51.

David Ben-Gurion, Israeli Prime Minister, and Abba Eban, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, present Harry S. Truman with a menorah in the White House. 5/8/51.

Yariv Ben-Eliezer, grandson of David Ben-Gurion, and Clifton Truman Daniel,
grandson of Harry S. Truman, light the menorah for the annual White House Hanukkah Reception. 12/15/08.