Not By Might | Notebook

NOT BY MIGHT BRONZE MENORAH
Zechariah 4:6

A Note From The Artist…

In October of 1978, my eleven year old brother Todd and I were planning our very first trip to Israel. In the packet of information there was a cover sheet with a black stylized Menorah printed on parchment that quickly became my favorite piece of Menorah artwork! I did NOT know at that time about the Knesset Menorah until we actually arrived in Jerusalem to see this magnificent 14.11 foot tall bronze piece! It was designed by Benno Elkan (1877-1960) a Jewish sculptor who escaped from his native Germany to Britain. It was presented from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to Israel on April 15, 1956.

One of the most significant etchings in the Menorah engraved across the bottom of the lowest branches is the the Bible verse, “Not by might nor by power, but by My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.”

In Hebrew, the word menorah means “lamp.” The ancient Menorah in the Bible had seven branches and burned 24/7 in the Temple. Scripture describes this “lamp” in minute detail in Exodus 25:31-37.

When the State of Israel was founded, the Menorah was chosen as its emblem to symbolize the continuity, eternity, and the Jewish people as a light to the nations. To this day, the Menorah is among several strong symbols for Israel.