Here are some suggestions for a Tu b’Shvat menu!
Beverage:
Appetizers:
Entrees:
Garam Masala Roasted Cauliflower with Raisin Chutney
Sides:
Desserts:
Hilltop Orchards Mini Apple Trifles
Tu b’Shvat Menu
A Party for the Trees: Tu b’Shvat Seders
How do you get in touch with nature? What does nature mean to you? What’s your favorite tree? Do you have any Tu b’Shvat traditions?
When people think of the Seder, Passover immediately comes to mind, but Passover isn’t the only holiday that has a Seder. Tu b’Shvat, the holiday that celebrates New Years for trees has one too. A Tu b’Shvat Seder is much like a Passover Seder. They both involve using food as symbols, they both have 4 cups of wine, they both serve as an order to guide us through the holiday rituals, and they both feature a delicious feast.
Tu b’Shvat is not based around a specific biblical or historical event, instead it celebrates the 15th day of the month of Shevat. The Hebrew calendar has a seven-year cycle. During the days of the temple farmers had to pay tithes on their crops depending on how many years old the plants were.
“And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten. And in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto the LORD. But in the fifth year may ye eat of the fruit thereof” (Leviticus 19:23-25).
In order to determine when specific trees should be tithed Tu b’Shvat was adapted as the new year for trees. All trees that blossomed before the holiday were considered to be part of the previous year and all trees that did so afterwards were considered part of the current year. When the Jewish diaspora began these tithes were no longer collected.
Tu b’Shvat was embraced by kabbalist Jews and transformed into a mystical holiday. They created a variety of customs and symbolisms to infuse the holiday with spiritual meaning. They believed that consuming specific wines, fruits and nuts in the proper order could bring them closer to spiritual perfection. The first Tu b’Shvat Seder was written in the 16th century by kabbalist Jews in the Israeli city of Tzfat. It spread to other Jewish communities from there, changing over time.
Today Tu b’Shvat has become a Jewish arbor day of sorts. Tu b’Shvat is a day to celebrate nature and trees. It is a day to reflect upon the enviroment and connect with the world around us. Tu b’Shvat also celebrates the land of Israel itself. It has become a tradition to plant trees in Israel on the holiday. Jews around the world donate money for these forestation efforts.
The Tu b’Shvat Seder consists of drinking 4 glasses of wine, eating a variety of fruits and nuts, and saying prayers throughout. The seder starts with the ritual washing of the hands. Sometimes flower-scented water is used both to make the experience more luxurious and to deepen the connection to nature.
Then the Seder moves onto the glasses of wine. The first glass of wine is white wine. It symbolizes winter, the white of the wine matching that of the snow. This glass can also represent the element of earth. Additionally, it symbolizes the mystical world of Assiyah, the physical world in which we live. In drinking to Assiyah action and physicality are celebrated.
After that the first fruits and nuts of the night are eaten. For this part of the Seder, fruits and nuts with hard exteriors and soft edible interiors are served. Pomegranates, walnuts, pistachios, coconuts, and bananas are all good options. There are a variety of different meanings behind eating these fruits. One is that while they appear inedible at first, when you peel away their shells, they transcend their outer limit and reveal their true nature. They also show that you shouldn’t judge based solely on appearance, you can’t be certain what lies on the inside. Additionally, the hard shell can represent the protection that the earth gives us.
The second glass of wine is white wine with a few drops of red wine added. This glass symbolizes spring, the wine’s gradual change in color mimics the way nature’s colors start return in the spring. This glass can also represent the element of water. Additionally, symbolizes the mystical world of Yetzirah, the realm of formation and emotion. In drinking to Yetzirah creativity both human and divine is celebrated.
Then there are more fruits to be eaten. This time, fruits with a soft edible exterior and a hard inedible interior are served. These include olives, dates, apricots, peaches, plums, and avocados. They remind us that like a tree blooming from a discarded pit, growth can come from inhospitable and overlooked places. These pits can also symbolize the way people harden their hearts. Additionally, then can represent the strength hidden deep inside us all.
The third glass of wine is filled half with white wine and half with red wine. This glass symbolizes summer, the deepening color of the wine shows how summer’s warmth brings further growth to the plants. This glass can also represent the element of air. Additionally, it symbolizes the mystical world of Beriah, the realm of thought and creation. In drinking to Beriah we celebrate how God created everything including ourselves.
Here fruits that are soft and edible both inside and outside are eaten. They include dates, grapes, carobs, strawberries, and blueberries. These fruits remind us of the importance of letting go of our hard shells both inside and out. They also represent the wholeness of god’s creation and how we should appreciate it.
The fourth glass of wine is a glass of red wine. This glass symbolizes fall, the red color like the autumnal leaves. This glass can also represent the element of fire. Additionally, it symbolizes the mystical world of Atzilut, the realm of spirits and divine essence. In drinking to Atzilut we celebrate the divine and that which transcends our world.
After the Seder proper there is a festive meal. Many recommend that the themes of nature and plants be further reinforced by serving up a vegetarian feast. A related Tu b’Shvat tradition is to eat the seven species of plants mentioned in the Torah. Deuteronomy (8:8) lists seven species that are the main produce of the land of Israel. These species are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Some expand this tradition to include 15 fruits, while others take it even further recommending serving as many different fruits as possible. You can plan your Tu b’Shvat dinner to have as many fruits, nuts, and grains as you want.
However you choose to celebrate the holiday, we wish you a happy and arboreal Tu b’Shavat!
For the year 2020 Tu b’Shvat begins February 9th and ends February 10th.
We have suggestions for a Tu b’Shvat dinner menu you can find here.
You can find links to a variety of Tu b’Shvat Seders here.
Tu b’Shvat Playlist
Happy Tu b’Shvat! We love to have music and videos play during our holiday celebrations!
This playlist is full of songs that are sure to help you get in touch with nature. It might be too cold to be out amongst the trees but listening to this music is the next best thing!
Tu b’Shvat (click here to Play All on YouTube)
Click each title below to link to the individual YouTube videos:
“Tu B’Shvat” Josh & the Jamtones
“EITZ CHAYIM Tree of Life” Naomi Less and Matt Check
“Tu B’Shvat song – Get out and Plant a Tree” Shir Soul
“Tu B’shevat song – I Wanna Be A Tree” Leon
Modern Day Maccabees – The Rededication of The Great Synagogue in Rome in 1944
Andy at The Great Synagogue of Rome in September, 2019
What is your example of a modern Maccabee? Someone who rededicated something or themselves to faith?
In September 2019, I attended Rosh Hashanah services at the Great Synagogue of Rome. While I had intended to celebrate the Jewish New Year, I was surprised to find a Hanukkah connection by discovering the tradition of rededication – an important Hanukkah theme.
I was fascinated to learn that Lt Charles Aaron Golub, a soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts, had taken part in the rededication of The Great Synagogue of Rome in 1944.
Here is the background on this great story:
In the year 164 BCE the Greek empire took over modern day Syria and the land of Israel. The Greeks forbade the Jews from freely practicing their religion. They shuttered the temple and defiled the holy site. The high priest of the Hasmoneans in the town of Modin (Click here for a map showing were Modin and other sites from the story of Hanukkah are located), Mattathias, started a revolt against the oppressive Syrian Greeks. Mattathias appointed his son Judah the Maccabee as the leader of this rebellion (For more about Judah the Maccabee, read our blog about his story). The Maccabees were greatly outnumbered, but through bravery, cunning and tactical brilliance, Judah and his Maccabean men successfully defeated the Greeks.
Emerging triumphant from battle, the Maccabees immediately turned their attention to the holy Temple. They cleaned, reordered and restored the desecrated temple. It was there that the miracle of oil occurred in which what should have only been enough oil for one night lasted for 8 days. The Maccabees are celebrated not only for their physical and tactical prowess, but also for their hard work and dedication in maintaining the Temple.
The legacy of the Maccabees continues today. Their story is more than just the basis for the holiday of Hanukkah, it is an inspiration, a set of deeds to judge us by and a host of ideals to strive for. Throughout history there have been brave Jews that embody the same ideals of Judah Maccabee and his men. They can be called Modern Maccabees, each fighting their own battle in the spirit of Judaism.
In particular, the Maccabees’ military victory and repair of the temple resonates with a modern example, the rededication of the The Great Synagogue of Rome.
Rome has one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in the world. There have been Jews living in Rome since 586 BCE. Throughout this time there have been ups and downs, with many periods of heavy anti-Semitism. In 1555, Jews were officially labeled as less than citizens and forced to live in walled-off ghettos. When Italy was unified in 1870, the walls around the ghettos were torn down and Jews were given full rights as citizens of the Italian Republic. The Jewish community decided to construct a new and larger synagogue in celebration of their newly-earned rights. In 1904 the Great Synagogue of Rome was completed. It was the tallest of all of Rome’s synagogues and was the central place of Jewish worship
The Great Synagogue of Rome
In 1938 under the rule of fascist prime minister Benito Mussolini, new laws were implemented that once again stripped Jews of their rights as citizens. In July of 1943, many Italians had grown frustrated with the war and Mussolini was forced out of office and arrested. The German forces rescued Mussolini and helped him rally a puppet state of Italian fascists. Meanwhile, the Italian government was preparing to surrender and join the allied forces. On September 8, 1943, Italy’s unconditional surrender was announced. In response, German forces alongside Italian Fascists captured Rome.
Life for the Jews in the occupied city grew worse than under Mussolini’s regime. On September 16, 1943, the Nazis demanded that the Jewish community pay them a ransom of 110 pounds of gold, or they would kill 200 Jews. The Jews of Rome paid the gold but that did little to placate the Germans. On October 13th of that year, the Nazis seized the Great Synagogue of Rome, looted it and had it officially shut down. Three days later, on October 16th, more than 1,000 Jews were arrested and transported to Auschwitz. Only 16 of the Roman Jews would return from the concentration camp.
On June 4th of 1944, the Allies, led by American military forces, liberated Rome from the Nazis and Fascists. The Allies were greeted by grateful and joyous Romans both Jewish and non-Jewish alike. The people of Rome had suffered loss, hunger, pain and tragedy, but the American soldiers brought them hope.
Had the American and Allied forces simply liberated Rome it would have been enough, however they did far more than that. Just like the Maccabees of old celebrated their military triumph by rebuilding the Temple, American soldiers many of whom were Jewish turned their attention to the Great Synagogue of Rome.
Soon after liberating the city, the American forces reopened The Great Synagogue and aided in the efforts to clean and restore the temple. Jewish American Chaplains Lt. Morris Kertzer and Aaron Paperman helped to gather Rome’s Jewish community and bring them to the re-opened temple. On Friday June 9th, 1944, the first services were held in the restored synagogue. Thousands of people came to worship and to mourn. American Jewish soldiers joined the remaining Jews of Rome for the service which was co-led by Lt. Kertzer. Private Charles Aaron Golub, a Worcester MA native, attended this service and was called upon to say a blessing. He described it as an incredibly moving experience and noted how grateful the Roman Jews were both for their freedom and the help they had received in the reopening of the synagogue.
The Story of the Great Synagogue of Rome is a spark of light in a dark chapter of Jewish history. It shows that in spite of the overwhelming challenges and tragic circumstances, Jews have demonstrated great resilience, never losing faith or hope. During the Holocaust, some Jews lit the Hanukkah Menorah in concentration camps (You can read more about this here). The legacy of what happened in Rome has touched thousands of lives and its legacy can still be felt today.
I had the honor of attending Rosh Hashanah services at the Great Synagogue in 2019. It was a powerful, spiritual and deeply moving experience. Sitting in the synagogue’s pews during the holiday services, you can truly feel the breadth and weight of history.
Signage for The Synagogue of Rome
Sites like the Great Synagogue must be preserved and cherished, but the stories about the brave men and women who have helped to keep them standing must too be preserved. The rededication of the great synagogue of Rome is a powerful story about brave men and women who have continued the Maccabee tradition of persevering our Jewish faith and rededication.
For further reading on the role of American soldiers in restoring synagogues after World War 2, check out the National Museum of American Jewish Military History’s article on the subject. It features the stories of:
- France, The synagogue at Epernay, June 1945: The synagogue had been utterly ruined during the German occupation. On June 1st, 1945 the temple was able to reopen thanks to the hard work of Jewish military personnel from the 605th Engineer Battalion.
- The Philippines, Temple Emil, December 1945: The synagogue was turned into an ammunition storage site by the Japanese in 1944. In 1945 the Japanese burned down most of the synagogue. American soldiers including Chaplains Colman Zwitman and Dudley Weinberg, Captain Adolph R. Nachman, Corporal Irving Weinberger and Lieutenant Leonard Schatz helped to rebuild Temple Emil and it was reopened in December 1945.
- Germany, The synagogue of Bad Nauheim, 1945: The synagogue had been defiled, damaged, and desecrated. In just 8 days the American Soldiers cleaned and refurbished the synagogue. It was able to hold services again on April 27, 1945. The services and rededication were performed by American Jewish Chaplains Norman Feldheym and Samuel Binder.
- France, The synagogue at Nancy, September 1944: The Germans gutted the synagogue to use as storage. American soldiers including Hank Greenspun, cleaned and repaired the building so it could host Yom Kippur services on September 27, 1944.
For more about Lt. Morris Kertzer check out this article about his life and legacy.
For additional information on the history of Jews in Rome, read here.
On February 12th, 2020 Five Jewish Americans soldiers buried in the Philippines during World War II had the Star of David added to their headstones. You can read more about it here.
Appendix: Andy’s family is a military family. His dad, Dr Harold J Goldfarb was a Captain, U.S. Army MC (Medical Corps) in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (where Andy was born in 1968).
Dr Harold Goldfarb and Myra Yellin Goldfarb Outwater holding Andy as a baby at Fort Bragg 1968
Andy’s Uncle, Captain Walter B. Goldfarb served in the Surgeon US Army Medical Corps at Fort Knox Kentucky.
Dr Walter Goldfarb (Andy’s uncle) holding his daughter Dr Miriam Goldfarb at Fort Knox 1966
Andy disembarking from the Divina
I would like to give a special acknowledgement to the MSC Divina. September 2019, I disembarked from the Divina to go to the Great Synagogue of Rome. In March 2020, I went from the ship to see the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Curaçao. Truly the ship lives up to its divine namesake, helping me to see some of the most historic, spiritual, and moving synagogues in the world all while providing unmatched hospitality. I can’t wait to see what wonders the MSC Divina will take me to next!
Seven Species, Seven Cheeses: A Tu b’Shvat Cheese Plate
What is your favorite kind of cheese?
Tu b’Shvat is New Year’s for trees, a celebration of the natural world and the ecological bounty of Israel. One of the traditions for Tu b’Shvat is to eat the seven species of plants mentioned in the Torah. Deuteronomy (8:8) lists seven species that are the main produce of the land of Israel. These species are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. These seven foods are served at Tu b’Shvat dinners and gatherings across the world.
Here at Breaking Matzo we are excited to share a fun new way to serve the seven species this Tu b’Shvat: A Cheese Plate!
Cheese plates are pretty darn great. Intricate to any party, a mix of art and cuisine, both a beautiful centerpiece and sumptuous spread. They are the unsung workhorse of cocktail hour, bringing guests back again and again for morsels of cheesy goodness and assorted accoutrements. On our cheese plate we feature each of the seven species alongside a cheese pairing. It’s a great treat for a Tu b’Shvat feast or a delightful party platter for any occasion.
Recommended Components:
Wheat and Barely: These two occupy the same slot on our cheese plate the crackers. No cheese plate is complete without some edible vessel on which to contain the cheese, fruit, and other components. We suggest serving a wheat-based cracker and a barley based one. We recommend one simple cracker with a neutral flavor and another cracker with bolder flavor and/or texture. We recommend pairing the crackers with some nice semi hard cheeses. A Jarlsberg and a cheddar fit the bill splendidly.
Grapes: We use whole red and green grapes. We pair them with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The nuttiness of the cheese pairs perfectly with the tart and sweet flavors of the grapes.
Figs: Plate fresh halved figs with a nice chunk of brie. The smooth creaminess of the brie blends well with the gooey yet gritty texture of the figs.
Pomegranate: Use whole pomegranate seeds. You can deseed a pomegranate yourself or buy already removed seeds, whichever you prefer. A handy tip for deseeding pomegranates is to cut the fruit in half, place it over a bowl and whack the back of it with a wooden spoon. Pair them with a nice creamy goat cheese. We recommend a chevre, but feel free to substitute your own favorite. The sweet fruit compliments the tang of the cheese, while their contrasting textures make for a wonderful bite.
Olives: Place a small dish of marinated olives on the plate. You can also include an olive tapenade. Many supermarkets sell jars of the spread or you can use our delicious recipe for a fig and olive tapenade. Whichever form of olives you choose we recommend pairing them with some fresh mozzarella. The cheese provides a nice complement to the salt and oil of the olives and/or tapenade.
Dates: Split open some medjool dates, remove the pits and they’re ready to serve. You can also use our recipe for Moroccan charoset as a date spread. We pair the dates with blue cheese. The pungent funk of the cheese helps balance the sweetness of the date.
Each of the cheeses can be mixed and matched with the any of the fruits and crackers. Try some different combinations and find your favorite. If you want to add some extras to your cheese plate, almonds, walnuts and honey are all tasty additions.
We hope you enjoy this feast of plants and cheese when celebrating the festival of trees.
Our thanks to Lari Wood, who created the delicious cheese plate pictured above.
From Our Hearts to Your Hands – Our New Cookbook
For the last 5 years, we have been creating content for Jewish Home Holidays that touches the heart, stimulates the mind and uplifts the soul. And until now, we have shared our recipes, fun projects and philosophy on this website and on social media. But we wanted you all to be able to hold this wonderful world of information in your hands so we have worked hard to create a cookbook for you that will help make your Jewish home holidays more magical, meaningful and memorable.
We hope you enjoy reading it and cooking from it as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. We have created every page with love and intention. Below are some of our favorite recipes. There are over 85 different recipes for Hanukkah, Passover, Succot and Shabbat. We hope you try them all. Please visit our online store for more info and to order the book.
Hip Hanukkah Playlist
Happy Hanukkah! We love to have music and videos play during our Hanukkah celebrations!
This playlist is full of songs that are sure to become new holiday classics. So pull up the playlist, get your dreidel and give them both a spin! Have a wonderful eight nights!
Hip Hanukkah Playlist (click here to Play All on YouTube)
Click each title below to link to the individual YouTube videos:
“Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah” Erran Baron Cohen Feat. Jules Brookes
“Hanukkah-Hava Nagila (Wet Fingers Club Mix)” ZJM
“Chanukah (Shake it off)” Six13
“How Do You Spell Channukkahh” The LeeVees
“Pass the Candle (From Left to Right)” Michelle Citrin
“Feast of Lights” They Might Be Giants
“Hanukkah (Favorite Time of The Year)” Too $hort
“Hasmonean (A Hamilton Hanukkah)” The Maccabeats
Classic Hanukkah Playlist
Happy Hanukkah! We love to have music and videos play during our Hanukkah celebrations!
This playlist includes a mix of traditional songs and new takes on classic. It features music drawing from jazz, folk, Broadway, and more! Have a wonderful eight nights!
Classic Hanukkah Playlist (click here to Play All on YouTube)
Click each title below to link to the individual YouTube videos:
“Happy Joyous Hanukkah” Indigo Girls
“The Latke Song” Debbie Friedman
“Hanukkah in Santa Monica” The Royal George Theatre Cast
“Hanukkah on Japonica” Panorama Jazz Band
“How Do You Spell Channukkahh” The LeeVees
“Those Were the Nights (of Chanukah)” The Yeshiva Boys Choir
“Hanukkah, o Hanukkah” Barenaked Ladies
“Light One Candle” Hanukkah Players
“The Dreidel Song” Julie Silver
“The Hanukkah Song” Adam Sandler
“Pass the Candle (From Left to Right)” Michelle Citrin
“The Candles of Chanukah” SoulAviv
“8 Days (of Hanukkah)” Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
“Candle Dance” Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
“Hanukkah Dance” Woody Guthrie
“Hanukah Rocks” Gefilte Joe and The Fish
“Applesauce Vs. Sour Cream” The LeeVees
Hanukkah Playlist For The Kids
Happy Hanukkah! We love to have music and videos play during our Hanukkah celebrations!
This playlist is perfect for listening with the whole family! Have a wonderful eight nights!
Hanukkah Playlist For The Kids (click here to Play All on YouTube)
Click each title below to link to the individual YouTube videos:
“Chanukah (Shake it off)” Six13
“Honeyky Hanuka (Hanukkah)” The Klezmatics
“Happy Joyous Hanukkah” Indigo Girls
“My Little Candle (Ner Li)” Hanukkah Players
“Hanukkah, o Hanukkah” Barenaked Ladies
“The Latke Song” Debbie Friedman
“Pass the Candle (From Left to Right)” Michelle Citrin
The Magical, Meaningful, and Memorable Story of Marilyn Monroe’s Menorah!
Converting to Judaism had profound impact on Marilyn Monroe and Abraham. Do you know others who have converted to Judaism? How did it impact their lives? And how did it impact yours?
Breakingmatzo.com proudly purchased Marilyn Monroe’s Menorah.
When people think of Marilyn Monroe they think of the model, singer and actress of legend. Her life, one of famous scenes, photos and dramas, has long stuck in the cultural zeitgeist. However, few think or even know about her ties to the Jewish community or the fact that she converted to Judaism.
Marilyn Monroe may have been one of the two most famous Jewish converts. Before describing the evolution of her Jewish conversion, I would like to briefly mention the very first convert to Judaism – Abraham.
Abraham was not born a Jew. In Genesis 12:1, Abraham decided to relinquish the connections to his father’s land and commit to his faith in God. Born Abram, he received an “H” in his name becoming Abraham, as a sign of Abraham’s covenant to God. As the father of Isaac (with Sarai later Sarah with the faith of God, the second Jewish convert) and father of Ismael (with Hagar), Abraham became the patriarch of the Jewish faith and is deeply connected to Islam.
Marilyn Monroe’s third husband was Arthur Miller, the famed Jewish intellectual and playwright who authored such well-known works as Death of a Salesmen and The Crucible. Miller and Monroe were a true story of opposites attracting. Each was drawn to the other because of their differences. Marilyn Monroe was attracted to his genius and serious mindedness. Miller found her to embody the freedom and ability to enjoy living life. Their love for each other was genuine and, for a time, they were happy together.
Miller and Monroe briefly met in the early 1950s before she had become a megastar. Though their introduction was brief, it left a lasting impression on them both. When Marilyn Monroe moved to New York a few years later, they rekindled their friendship and began an increasingly serious relationship in 1955.
In 1956, Miller and Monroe got engaged and she decided to convert to Judaism. Miller was not a particularly religious man and did not require it but Monroe insisted on doing so. Marilyn Monroe viewed converting to Judaism both as a show of loyalty and as an effort to be closer to Miller and his family.
Miller reached out to his cousin’s Rabbi, Robert Goldberg about Marilyn Monroe’s desire to convert. Rabbi Goldberg led a reform synagogue in Connecticut. Monroe and the Rabbi met several times to discuss Judaism, its beliefs, its values and its tenants. Years later, after her death, Rabbi Goldberg released a letter detailing his memories of these meetings (see appendix). Goldberg said that Marilyn Monroe was impressed by the character of the Jewish people, both those she knew from her own life and from history. He went on to say that she was sincere in her desire to learn about Judaism and ultimately came to understand and accept its basic principles.
Beyond Miller, Marilyn Monroe had close relationships with many Jews. Even before her conversion she had a long-held respect and appreciation for the Jewish people. She was quoted saying that “I can identify with the Jews. Everybody’s always out to get them, no matter what they do, like me.” She saw Judaism not just as a religion but as a community and family that welcomes others with open arms.
Miller and Monroe were married in a brief civil ceremony at a New York court house on June 29th, 1956. Two days later they had a religious wedding where Rabbi Goldberg performed the ceremony of conversion.
A Kiddush was performed and a Ketubah was signed. In attendance were Miller’s parents Augusta and Isidore who gifted their new daughter-in-law with a beautiful brass menorah. They lovingly welcomed Marilyn Monroe into their family and the Jewish community.
At the time of Monroe’s marriage to Miller many Jews saw their union and her conversion as a sign of how far Jews had come from the years of potent anti-Semitism. An unexpected effect of Monroe’s conversion was that Egypt temporarily banned her films from the country citing her Pro-Israeli sympathies.
Sadly, Miller and Monroe’s marriage did not last. They divorced in 1961 citing incompatibility as the primary reason. Even after Monroe and Miller parted ways, she held on to the brass menorah her mother-in-law gave her. The menorah remained atop Marilyn Monroe’s mantle until her untimely death in 1962. It was auctioned by Christie’s New York on October 28th 1999. It was displayed at The Jewish Museum in New York city from September 2015 until February 2016 as part of the “Becoming Jewish: Warhol’s Liz and Marilyn.” It was also on exhibit at The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. It was auctioned by Kestenbaum & Company on November 7th, 2019 where it came into Breaking Matzo’s possession.
This beautiful brass plated menorah truly embodies the three M’s Breaking Matzo stands for. The menorah’s past owner and history makes it quite memorable. The emotional weight it holds as a wedding gift passed between families and generations makes it meaningful. What makes the menorah truly magical is an ingenious device built into its base that when wound up plays Hatikvah- the Israeli national anthem that had been provisionally adopted on May 14,1948 when the state of Israel was established just 8 years before the Menorah was given to Marilyn Monroe. This extra element adds wonder and whimsy to a serious piece of Americana and contemporary Jewish history.
Breaking Matzo will be proud to display Marilyn Monroe’s Menorah during Hanukkah and light her Candle in the Hanukkah Wind — the wind of Ruach Elohim (spirit of god) to continue to shine light for all to enjoy her legacy and her Jewish connection.
Fun Fact: There have been a number of celebrities who have converted to Judaism. Here are 10 other famous converts:
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Isla Fisher
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Elizabeth Banks
- Zooey Deschanel
- Tom Arnold
- Ike Turner
- Ivanka Trump
- Kate Capshaw
- Connie Chung
Fun Fact: Here is a guide of Marilyn Monroe’s romances. Some notable entries include:
- John F. Kennedy
- Frank Sinatra
- Joe DiMaggio
- Marlon Brando
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Howard Hughes
- Nico Minardos
- John Carroll
- Robert F. Kennedy
- Charlie Chaplin Jr.
For more about Abram and Sarai receiving “H” (Genesis 2:1) in their names read Lucy’s Bat Mitzvah Speech.
Interesting article about Marilyn Monroe’s Jewish prayer book.
Additional reading about Marilyn Monroe’s Menorah.
Appendix: Below is an excerpt from the letter Rabbi Goldberg about Marilyn Monroe:
“Arthur said that Marilyn was interested in becoming Jewish and that they would like me to perform their wedding ceremony…He made it clear to me that in no way did he make this demand on Marilyn…I met Marilyn with Arthur at her apartment in New York…I don’t remember what I expected but I was struck by her personal sweetness and charm. She seemed very shy. [She] said that she had no religious training other than some memories of a Fundamentalist Protestantism which she had long rejected. She indicated that she was attracted to Judaism by being impressed with Jewish people that she knew, especially Mr. Miller. She said that she was aware of the great characters that the Jewish people had produced and that she had read selections from Albert Einstein’s Out Of My Later Years….She indicated that she was impressed by the rationalism of Judaism—its ethical and prophetic ideals and its concept of close family life. After that meeting we met a number of times and she read a few books that I gave her. These included What Is A Jew? by Morris Kurtzer, [Abram Leon] Sacher’s History of the Jews, Milton Steinberg’s A Partisan Guide to the Jewish Problem, and the Conversion Manual of the CCAR [the Reform rabbinic organization Central Conference of American Rabbis]. We discussed the contents of these books…and I attempted to answer her questions. Marilyn was not an intellectual person but she was sincere in her desire to learn. It was also clear that her ability to concentrate over a long period of time was limited. However, I did feel that she understood and accepted the basic principles of Judaism…The place of the wedding was…the home of Arthur’s agent, Kay Brown, in Katonah…Before the wedding ceremony, I performed the Ceremony of Conversion which was witnessed by Arthur Miller, Kermit Miller (his brother), Morton Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Strassberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Rosten.”
