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THE CHANUKKIA AS ART A Very Special Chanukkia in the Shape of a Boat with Cannon Guns that Convert to Candle Holders, Made for the Jewish Agency Board of Governors
 Surrounding the chanuka boat, left to right: Andy Robins, president of the South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation, Donna Robins, Jim Robinson, Rose Robinson, first vice-president of the South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation, Chaim Chesler, Jewish Agency Treasurer, Elaine and Herb Gimelstob It is stating the obvious to say that Chanukkiot, throughout history and today, come in all shapes and sizes. Many scholarly works have been written about their variety and the historic and artistic trends they represent; museums around the world contain examples that testify to this variety. And yet the shapes and forms - and their messages - continue to surprise us. A case in point is the silver chanukiah specially made by a Jerusalem artist, Yossi Swed, for Jewish Agency Board of Governors member, Herb Gimelstob. Some 60 cm in length and 45 cm high (2 x 1.5 feet), the chanukiah appears as a surprise from inside a model of a schooner. By turning a wheel, the ship's cannons extend and become the stands for the candles, while pressing a button opens the stern of the boat to reveal small silver and gold dishes that can stand on the cannon candle holders to hold oil for lighting rather than actual candles. The bow of the boat doubles as a tsedaka box. The model, specially made some three years ago, is reminiscent of the situation in which the marrano Jews of Spain and Portugal lived. While most of the Jewish population of these countries was expelled at the end of the fifteenth century, some chose to remain, affected a conversion to Catholicism, but continued to practice their Judaism in secret. "While the model is not an exact replica of a secret Chanukkia owned by a marrano family, it is poignantly reminiscent of the difficult situation in which Jews had to practice our religion at various points in our long and troubled history," says Gimelstob. "It is a sobering thought for us today when we can openly live Jewish lives."
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