11 months ago

Rambam’s Handwritten Manuscript of the Menorah and Mishnah Torah on Display in NYC

Photos by Dov Ber Hechtman for Chabadinfo

Just a Short ride from Crown Heights, a copy of the Rambam’s handwritten Mishnah Torah is on display in The Yeshiva University Museum in Manhattan, as well are the original manuscript of the “Rambam’s Menorah” • Full Article, Photos

By Chabadinfo Reporter

Just a short ride from Crown Heights, a copy of the Rambam’s handwritten Mishnah Torah is on display in the Yeshiva University Museum in Manhattan.

On display as well are the original manuscript of the “Rambam’s Menorah,” the diagonal drawing of the menorah. The Rebbe’s opinion of the Round Menorah is well known – and used this drawing as a source for the true look of the menorah in the Beis Hamikdash.

For a refresher, at the farbrengen on the afternoon of Shabbos parshas Mattos-Masei 5742, the Rebbe spoke at length about the shape of the branches of the menorah in the Beis HaMikdash and proved that they had to be diagonal as is clear from Rashi and Rambam; fortuitously, Rambam’s diagram was discovered at that time. The Rebbe addressed questions and differing opinions on the subject.

“The typical drawing of a menorah with six rounded half-circle arms are most likely based on the copying of a menorah which non-Jews made in Rome and on the victory arch of Titus, may his name be erased. When the wicked Titus destroyed the Beis HaMikdash, he ordered that the vessels of the Mikdash be brought to Rome and in honor of the wicked one, they built a ‘victory arch’ bearing his name, ‘The Arch of Titus.’ On this arch they depicted the captive vessels of the Mikdash including the menorah which is drawn with half-circle branches.

“In addition to the menorah on the Arch of Titus not being at all accurate, it was obviously made to show and express the control and dominion of Rome over the Jews, r’l, so that they etched the words ‘Judea Capta’ (captive Jews) in several places and there were times that they compelled Jews to go to the arch to see what is written and inscribed there in order to humiliate them, etc.”

The Rebbe considers this not only a halachic problem, that the drawing of the menorah’s branches as half-circles is incorrect, but also an identification with Titus and the degradation of the Jews in exile.

“It comes out that drawing the branches of the menorah as half-circles ought to generate a hue and cry, in addition to it being the opposite of Rashi and Rambam etc. Also because it gives a certain imprimatur, r’l, to the drawing on the Arch of Titus which was made to cause anguish to the Jews and humiliate them.

“Instead of the drawing of the menorah reminding a Jew and inspiring him that his job is to be a ‘light to the nations,’ they make the menorah in such a way that it reminds of the opposite, that Rome vanquished the Jews, r’l!”

These sharp words of the Rebbe were meant to express his strong aversion to those who continue to draw menorahs and make menorahs copying that same humiliating menorah from the Arch of Titus.

The handwritten diagram of Rambam now on display Yeshiva University Museum shows the menorah with straight, diagonal arms, as his own son testified that the drawing was done specifically with diagonal arms.

The Rebbe said that it was even worthwhile for Chanuka menorahs to be made with diagonal branches. The effect of the Rebbe’s words was insurmountable. With Thousands of shluchim and Chabad Chassidim began using menorahs with diagonal branches and in thousands of cities, the diagonal Menorah is just as common as the round Menorah.

For more on the Rebbe’s opinion on the subject, Click Here

The manuscripts, along with a number of historic prints of the Rambam’s works and early handwritten volumes, are on display as part of a new exhibit at the Yeshiva University Museum entitled “The Golden Path: Maimonides Across Eight Centuries.” The exhibit highlights the Rambam’s influence on the Jewish world, and far beyond, from his lifetime until contemporary times.

The Yeshiva University Museum is located at 15 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011.

Hours:
Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am – 7:30 pm
Friday/Shabbos: Closed
Sunday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

The exhibit will be open December 31, 2023

Chabadinfo‘s Dov Ber Hechtman presents a gallery of the exhibit: