Yeshiva University Museum (NYC)

GROUP SHOT! I WANT DOUBLES!! - FROM THE MAX STERN COLLECTION, PART 4

These three “buddies” are part of a silver Hanukkah lamp (menorah or hanukiah) in YU Museum’s dazzling Max Stern Collection of Judaica. This particular lamp did not use candles, but wicks submerged in a oil; these three “forms” are each one of those oil holders (we’re looking at their bottom views).

A Hanukkah lamp / menorah / hanukiah is the central object in the holiday of Hanukkah, an eight-day long festival that falls in December during which time Jews recall and celebrate miracles from the war between the Macabee-led Jews against the culturally-(ancient) Greek Jews in the land of Israel thousands of years ago.

1 year ago 6 notes View high resolution

AN UNDERSEA FOREST OF SILVER - FROM THE MAX STERN COLLECTION, PART 3

It looks like the outside of a dazzling undersea grotto… until you see the lion on the right… It’s not a sea lion.

These images feature parts from silver spice boxs in YU Museum’s dazzling Max Stern Collection of Judaica. Spice boxes are a typical and often decorated form of Judaica sculpture. They are used during Hazdalah, the ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath, and the fragrant spices in the box help to rouse our souls as we transition into what Elvis Costello referred to as the “Working Week.”

1 year ago 22 notes View high resolution

THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS - AREN’T WE ALL BACK TO SCHOOL?

For those who started their fiscal year in January, how about now settling down and celebrating (hopefully) the success of the past year! This postcard shows a group of Jews c. 1917 dressed up in their smart clothes and socializing (perhaps discussing plans to support their favorite museum that start with a Y and ends in an eshiva University Museum [hint hint])?

Postcard depicting Hostess Room at Jewish Hospitality House. Men in sailor uniforms and women, many in hats and fur coats, sit/stand around a room. Table with potted plant center. Published by The Hospitality House, J.W.B. [Jewish Welfare Board] 47 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, Mass. JWB logo and text describing hostess room on reverse.

Postcard. Hostess Room: Jewish Hospitality House, Boston, Mass. Yeshiva University Museum, New York (2000.002). Randy Russell

1 year ago 11 notes View high resolution

WE ALL LOVE ACCESSORIES

Decorations and accessories have been in the human world for quite some time. What makes one accessory stand out more than the other is the creativity put into the piece. This pendant displays two motifs shared in Jewish and other artistic styles: the dove and the hamsa, both signs of peace.

What do you think the significance of placing the dove and a hamsa on top of one another in a single image?

Pendant. Bernstein Bernard, 20th century, silver. Collection of Yeshiva University Museum (2008, 128). Gift of Bernard Bernstein.

1 year ago 26 notes View high resolution

TIME TO HIT THE BOOKS-BACK TO SCHOOL!

The first days of school are always filled with great expectations. This year will bring knowledge and inevitably lots of homework. Be prepared this year and achieve your best GPA yet. Just look how studious these girls are in their Brooklyn classroom in 1934.

Slide. Girls Learning in a Classroom. Yeshiva University Museum (2009.555) Gift of Av Rivel

1 year ago 10 notes View high resolution

DREAM BIG OR GO HOME-BACK TO SCHOOL!

College is the opportunity of a lifetime. In addition to providing great friends and inspiring teachers, higher education helps you to nurture your dreams. Dream big this semester…Dream of being an artist like these students!

Photograph showing men and a woman seated in a brightly-lighted room. In the center of their chairs are three benches, one topped by a pot on three feet; the second with a classical bust of a man (the poet Homer); the third with striding lion. An older man stands by the chair of one of the students. At the far end of the room is a six-pointed star above a cabinet containing busts. #37.

Slide. Technicum (Technion) - Drawing [class]. Yeshiva University Museum, New York (2009.435). Gift of Av Rivel

1 year ago 13 notes View high resolution

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO SUNDAY? OLD AND THE NEW CLOSES SUNDAY!

Visit the show page and visit the gallery… before it all goes to Prague!

* Image: Three Torah mantles made by artist Mark Podwal, commissioned by the Jewish community in Prague. They will be installed in the Old-New Synagogue this coming March.

1 year ago 11 notes

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF HANUKKAH

Ok, it’s been nearly a month since the Festival of Lights concluded, but we just can’t help ourselves, what with the smell of latkes STILL infusing the walls and furniture.

This unique Hanukkah lamp, made out of iron, can be seen as not quite kosher with its non-linear alignment of the eight candle holders, however, its interesting curvatures and minimaslic approach is quite enduring.

Hanukkah lamp. Palombo, David (ca. 1950), Iron. Collection of Yeshiva University Museum (2006.262), Gift of Dr. Richard Klein.

1 year ago 18 notes View high resolution

Happy New Year! May 2012 be filled with happiness and joy

This postcard includes four children, two boys and two girls, blowing white horns. The Yiddish on the postcard translates to:

“The children march along

Like corporals

A children’s band

They toot and blast

Greetings they bear

Blessings they offer

And New Year’s wishes

Any takers out there?”

The year has just begun, which could only mean one thing at YUM… More exhibitions, artifacts, history, and art to share with all of you! Don’t forget to update yourself with our exhibition page so you won’t miss a show! Check out YUM’s exhibition page!

Postcard. Publisher: Williamsburg Art Co.(ca. 1915) Saxony, Germany. Yeshiva University Museum, New York (2005.065). Gift of Deborah Karp.

1 year ago 38 notes View high resolution

WHO’S GOT THE HEAVIER LOAD?

This attractive silhouette was from a set of 10 postcards by artists Meir Gur-Arie and L. Zeidman, which depict and idealized image of street life of Jerusalem during the first few decades of the 20th century.

This one in particular seems to show water carrier walking between a goat (right) and a second person (perhaps a merchant?) traveling by donkey.

Thanks a bunch 16thstreet!

From the partners’ collections: An Idyl

Creator: Meir Gur-Arie and L. Zeidman
Date: 1933
Medium: printed
Persistent URL: http://museums.cjh.org/Display.php?irn=14336
Repository: Yeshiva University Museum
Accession number: 2005.141
Rights statement: Click here.

Visit our Flickr photostream for more from the partners’ collections.