Menorah Images from the Second World War (WW2)
Germany was the land of the Bibles for several centuries and was significantly involved in the worldwide distribution of printed Bibles and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (see Historic Bibles). The Reformation had its greatest impact in Germany and the first Bible Institute in the world (Cansteinische Bibelanstalt) made it its mission to publish inexpensive Bibles that everyone could buy. But there are also downsides, because not only in Spain, France and England there were persecutions of Jews in past centuries, but also in Germany from the 1930s onwards. The Nazis systematically worked on the extermination of millions of Jews and brought indescribable suffering to the people of Israel and the whole world. Although an above-average number of Jewish soldiers fought on the German side during the First World War (WW1), all this was forgotten and all Jews were to be expelled or killed during WW2. The Nazis' aim was to destroy all Jewish life in Europe. The enemies of Israel did not succeed in this, because they themselves died and they have destroyed their own homeland Germany. But a miracle happened, because after WW2, i.e. after almost 2000 years, the Jews could return to their homeland. With the founding of the state on 14 May 1948 (5th Ijjar 5708) the fig tree (= the state of Israel) began to flourish again.
The following illustrations show menorah images made during the period of persecution in World War II. Many of them were made in concentration camps. The light of the menorah (see structure of the menorah) was the hope for the people of Israel during a very dark epoch. Many objects were created in the former ghettos in Poland. The Łódź Ghetto or Litzmannstadt Ghetto (after the Nazi German name for Łódź; Wikipedia) was a Nazi ghetto established by the German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the Invasion of Poland. It was the second-largest ghetto in all of German-occupied Europe after the Warsaw Ghetto.
WW2. Original Jewish Embroidered Bag with Menorah and Star of David from ghetto in Łódź (Litzmannstadt) in Poland. The ghetto, under the German occupation renamed after the general and NSDAP member Karl Litzmann (1850-1936). Size is 250 x 210 mm. Previous owner bought it from Jewish family estate sale in Lodz with a few other items. Liveauctioneers, Lot 3398. Source: Link
WW2. Original Jewish embroidered bag with menorah for Shabbat from Litzmannstadt (Lodz) in Poland. Size is 394 x 157 x 2 mm. The item bought by previous owner from Jewish family estate sale in Lodz Litzmannstadt with a few other items. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish Menorah Bag w. Star of David from Litzmannstadt. Hand made. Size: 295 x 200 mm. At the time there were no plastic bags, but recyclable cloth bags. Jewish women have often decorated these bags with beautiful biblical motifs. Liveauctioneers, Lot 3205. Source: Link
WW2, 1940. Ghetto Receipt ("money" or currency) from Lodz (Litzmannstadt) in Poland. These notes used by the 200,000 Jews in the Łódź Ghetto from 1940 until the liquidation of the ghetto in 1944. The Jewish head of the ghetto was Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski. His title "The Elder of the Jews in Litzmannstadt" is prominently displayed on the coins and notes; his signature is clearly visible on the notes.
1940. Jewish ghetto money signed by Oskar Schindler, 4¾ x 2½ in. This is a two mark (zwei Mark) note used in the Litzmannstadt Ghetto in Lodz, Poland. Since the inhabitants of the ghetto were not permitted to use German money, they were forced to use separate ghetto money, which they produced and which had no value outside the ghetto. Oscar Schindler (1908-1974); German industrialist, Nazi party member, saved over 1200 Jews by employing them at his enamelware factory. Goldbergcoins, Sale 73, Lot 109. Source: Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4
1940. 5 Mark Banknote. Reichsmark reprint Germany, Poland, Ghetto Litzmannstadt. In order to maintain the fiction of Jewish self-government, all banknotes issued in the ghetto have the printed signature of the Elder of the Jews (Rumkowsky). The bank-notes are available with the values 50 Pfennig, 1 Mark, 2 Mark, 5 Mark, 10 Mark, 20 Mark and 50 Mark. In addition, there are rationing vouchers such as talons for lunch, extra food etc., bread cards, casino vouchers (for the Gestapo). Source: Link1, Link2
WW2, 1940. Ghetto money. Jewish self-government of the ghetto on behalf of the German rulers. Front and back of a 10 Mark Note from the ghetto (concentration camp) in Litzmannstadt (pol.: Łódź, Lodz) in Poland. Text: "Receipt over 10 Marks. The elder of the Jews in Litzmannstadt" (Quittung über 10 Mark. Der Älteste der Juden in Litzmannstadt"). Source: Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4
WW2. Lodz (Litzmannstadt) Ghetto Scrip 50 Mark. At least 300,000 people lived in the ghetto during its existence. The ghetto was liberated by the Russians in Jan. 1945 with only 877 surviving. Seven denominations of notes were produced. All were signed by Rumkowski as "Der Aelteste der Juden in Litzmannstadt". Printed on the notes is th word Quittung which means receipt. A large Star of David and a serial number appear on the face. While the back depicts a menorah, a candle holder used for Jewish holidays. Source: Link
WW2, 1940. 50 Pfennig ghetto receipt/note. By decree (on July 8, 1940), it was not allowed to use the Reichsmark in the ghetto Litzmannstadt. Jews were forced to exchange their money for the (almost worthless) receipts. Front side text (translated): "Receipt over 50 Pfennigs. The elder of the Jews in Litzmannstadt. Litzmannstadt, 5th of May 1940." But this money was worthless, because what could the people buy for it? Source: Link1, Link2, Link3, Link4
WW2. Lot of 2 German Nazi Holocaust paper money for the ghetto in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with menorah image. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Silver pendant crafted by a Jewish silversmith for the head of the Judenrat Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski in Lodz Ghetto (Litzmannstadt). A five-branched Menorah in its center. Rumkowsky (1877-1944) was ordered to prepare lists of deportations from the ghetto. He cooperated with the Nazis to save some Jews. In 1944 Rumkowski was also deported to Auschwitz with the last inmates of the ghetto, there he was murdered. Kedem Auctions and others. Source: Link1, Link2
WW2. Original Old Jewish Badge with Menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. The size is 18 x 18 x 5 mm. The Lodz Ghetto (German: Ghetto Litzmannstadt) was a World War II ghetto established by the Nazi German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the 1939 invasion of Poland. It was the second-largest ghetto in all of German-occupied Europe after the Warsaw Ghetto. Source: Link1, Link2
WW2. Jewish Button with Menorah from concentration camp filigree. Metal. Size: 16 mm (5/8 inches). There are some information from concentration camp archive about owner of this item. LiveAuctioneers, Lot Lot 061918, 2020. Source: Link
WW2 1941. Jewish button with menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Engraving is done using old technique. Size: 30 x 20 mm (1 x 3/4 inches). Weight: 12 grams. This item was obtained from a large old collection in Europe. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 061904, 2020. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish salt cellar with star of David and menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Engraving is done using old technique. Size: 60 x 67 x 22 mm. This item was obtained from a large old collection in Europe. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 058014, 2020. Link
WW2, 1942. Original Jewish Bronze Hanukkah Lions with Menorah from Warsaw in Poland. Size: 180 x 116 x 25 mm. Source: Link
WW2. Rare Jewish menorah 1941-1945. The menorah has an inscription in latin: "per aspera ad astra" = through difficulties to the stars. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 057101, 2020. Source: Link
WW2. Original Jewish Wood Menorah from Litzmannstadt Ghetto. The menorah is handmade and made from wood. Size is 180 x 158 x 83 mm. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Jewish Mezuzah with Hebrew and Menorah from Krakow in Poland. Size is 142 x 34 x 15 mm. In mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, a mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to "write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Jewish WW2 Mezuzah with Star of David and Menorah from Krakow Ghetto in Poland. Size is 142 x 34 x 15 mm. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish shield with menorah, metal embroidery from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Jewish native art. Size: 74 x 50 mm. LiveAuctioneer. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish shield with star of David and menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Jewish native art, copper and aluminum. Size: 63 x 55 mm (2 1/8 x 2 1/8 inches). LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Shield with Star of David and Menorah from Lodz Ghetto (Litzmannstadt) in Poland. Jewish Native Art, Metal Embroidery. Very unusual item. Size: 80 x 61 mm. Liveauctioneers, Lot 1527. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Large Star of David with Menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. It makes from wood. Size: 335 x 292 x 4 mm. The Lodz (Łódź) Ghetto was established by the Nazi German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the 1939 invasion of Poland. It makes from wood. Size: 335 x 292 x 4 mm. c Lot 0757. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Star of David with Menorah from Lemberg - Lviv (Poland - Ukraine). The star is made in aluminum and engraved by Menorah. Size: 130 x 113 mm. Liveauctioneers, Lot 3928. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Large Star of David with Menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. It makes from wood. The Ghetto Litzmannstadt or Ghetto was the second largest ghetto after the Warsaw Ghetto established for Jews and Roma in German occupied Poland. Liveauctioneers, Lot 1546. Source: Link
WW2, 1941. Star of David with Menorah from Lemberg - Lviv (Poland - Ukraine). The star is made in aluminum and engraved by Menorah. Size: 161 x 144 mm. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 0994. Source: Link
WW2. Unusual Jewish WW2 Star of David with Menorah from Litzmannstadt Ghetto in Poland. The star is in bronze or copper and has menorah inside. This style of stars used for decoration furniture in a rich Jews apartments. Size: 71 x 44 x 1 mm. Source: (2badges, website no more online)
WW2, 1941. Unusual Jewish Star of David with Menorah from Litzmannstadt Ghetto in Poland. The star is in Bronze or coper and has Menorah inside:. This style of stars used for decoration furniture in a rich Jews appartments. Size: 71 x 44 x 1 mm. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish Judaica star of David with menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Size: 81 x 50 mm. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2, 1940-1944. Jewish star of David with menorah from Litzmannstadt in Poland, metal, hand made, Size: 161 x 140 mm. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
WW2. Jewish Star of David with lions, menorah and crown from Litzmannstadt in Poland. Metal, hand made, very complicated job. Engraving is done using old technique. Size: 162 x 141 mm. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link
Menorah Images From All Centuries:
Note: It's nice to see the menorah pictures. However, according to the Bible Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua) is the true spiritual meaning behind the physical Menorah. He is the true and eternal spiritual light: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The menorah also symbolizes the Tree of Life, because Jesus is the way to life: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus' Word and the Bible are the light in this world. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps 119:105 and John 1:1-17).
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