Friday, April 13, 2007

Electric menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh?



"I hold it to be clear and simple that, if electrical lighting had been extant in Temple times, most certainly it would have been employed in the Temple candelabrum. for it is inconceivable that we should illuminate our private homes with that great, wonderful electric light, which is verily after a heavenly model - and yet illuminate God's holy palace with olive-oil, which even the poorest of the poor despise in our time. It is therefore obvious that we shall illuminate the future Temple, may it be built speedily in our days, with electrical lights. Amen"

(R. Yosef Messas; Ner Mitzvah, 1939. Trans. Zvi Zohar: Jews of the Middle East and North Africa in Modern Times, p.76)


Via Pierre Sogol, who likes the "seemingly "modernist-romantic" sentiment towards electrical light."

1 comment:

  1. This was a nice article. It's true that electric manorah is best from safety point of view which will protect from burning as well as fire.

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