February 11, 2011
Filed under: Judaica in craft and design — Tags: Lueckenhausen's works in Jewish Museum Berlin — helmut @ 11:47 pm

1. Magen David Yom-hashoah Candelabra
The Hebrew name Magen David, literally means Shield of David, acknowledging, in Jewish belief, David’s role as an agent of, and his being subject to the authority and protection of, God. I.e. the third blessing after the Haftorah reading on Shabbat: “Blessed are you God, Shield of David”.
Australian Judaism is largely inherited from the Ashkenazim, themselves descended from the medieval Jewish communities of the Rhineland - “Ashkenaz” being the Medieval Hebrew name for Germany. Hence the work consciously bridges the Jewish-German tradition, through the enormity of the Shoah consciousness, with hope and the future.
Thus Jeremiah 29.11, in Yiddish:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for
welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
2. Mishloach Manot Plate
Coated MDF plate with Huon Pine fish supports.
Purim commemorates the triumph of Esther and Mordechai over the wicked Haman who sought to exterminate all the Jews of the Persian Empire on a date determined by the casting of lots (Purim). Customarily gifts, known as mishloach manot, of fruit and nuts, biscuits and sweets, are given to friends and to the poor. Mishloach Manot plates are made to hold these gifts of food. Sometimes fish are depicted to symbolize the zodiac sign of Pisces for the Hebrew month of Adar in which Purim falls.

