M for: menorah, mizrah and mezuzah. Meeting as part of the project ‘Hitchhiking Guide to Judaism’

The menorah, mezuzah and mizrachah were the next stops in our ‘Hitchhiking Guide to Judaism’, during the meeting on 5.05.2025 in the Municipal Library in Mszana Dolna.

The meaning of these three important objects was explained: through their origins, history, types, biblical contexts, to the place in history and contemporary times.

The event began with an excerpt from Stanisław Łabuz's memoirs about his pre-war neighbours, the Schmidt. Little Staś, who was friends with the Schmidts' sons, Salek and Chamek, and often visited their home, described customs connected with Jewish prayers and rituals that were unfamiliar even by name, but which were perfectly and curiously recorded.

We also read scripture passages related to these three objects and their inspiration in Christian culture and religion were recalled. The analogy of the eternal light, ner tamid, from its central place in synagogues, with the eternal lamp in front of the tabernacle in churches and the mezuzah in the doorways of Jewish homes with our croziers, imposes itself. The meeting was thus also an opportunity to see the roots of Christianity, which was clearly, Judaism. It was complemented by photographs of the most interesting mizrahs and mezuzahs.

At the end, all participants were gifted with the text of a roll for the mezuzah - a klaf, which contains passages from the biblical Book of Deuteronomy, in Hebrew. It was a gift from a descendant of the Geller family, Saul Chapnick, to the participants of our Foundation's educational projects.

The event, was held under the Honorary Patronage of the Mayor of the City, Agnieszka Orzeł.

Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for the Promotion of Culture