Today’s Public Domain image is print made in 1880, entitled “New York City – The Chanucka Celebration By The Young Men’s Hebrew Association” that I found in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.[Chanucka is yet another transliteration into English of the Hebrew name for the holiday.] The ‘Young Men’s Hebrew Association” was formed along the lines of the Young Men’s Christian Association, or, as we now know it, YMCA. [Cue Village People song...just kidding!] Originally the YMCA was not as secularized as it is now – it was a religious organization. So the YMHA was formed in 1854 as the Jewish counterpart, with the express purpose of providing help and community support to Jewish immigrants [The Young Women's Hebrew Association (YWHA) was formed in 1888. In 1917 they combined to form the Jewish Welfare Board and later were renamed Jewish Community Centers (JCCs).]

In any case, it looks like they had quite a party, if this illustration is to be believed. Up on stage are quite a number of men, with trumpeters on the sides and women kneeling in the foreground. Click on it to view it / download it full sized.

"New York City - the Chanucka Celebration by the Young Men's Hebrew Association", 1880. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs LOC #LC-USZ62-103362

Shalom,

Bekka

Tags: .jpg, 1880, bw, Chanukah, daily public domain, DPD, Festival of Lights, free, graphics, Hanukah, holiday, illustration, image, ladies, Library of Congress, line drawing, LOC, man, men, PD, print, Winter, woman, women, YMHA, Young Men's Hebrew Association

Today’s image is an anonymous painting from the 1700s showing a Chanukah celebration. It has the folk-art style of some other paintings from the late 1700s and early 1800s. It shows a man with his children, and a hanukiah lit in the next room. The little girl pulls at her father’s clothes, urging him toward the room with the lights. I am not sure of the significance of the red papers or envelopes the children carry – perhaps someone can enlighten me? In any case, enjoy.  I found this image on Wikipedia Commons. Click on the image to see/download it full-sized.

A painting from the 1700s of a Channukah celebration. Unknown painter.

Peace,

Bekka

Tags: .jpg, 1700s, Chanukah, children, color, daily public domain, DPD, family, Festival of Lights, fine art, free, graphics, Hanukah, hanukiah, holiday, image, Jewish, Judaism, man, menorah, painting, public domain, Wiki Commons, Wikipedia

Chanukah – the Jewish Festival of Lights – begins at sundown tonight. On the calendar, it starts on the 12th, but because, in Jewish tradition, days begin at sundown on what we secularly would think of as ‘the day before’, it starts tonight at sundown.

So, in honor of the Festival of Lights, here is an image of a hanukiah, which is the proper name for the nine branch menorah used at Chanukah. The center candle is the ‘lighter’ candle, and is used each night to light the other candles. One candle is lit on the first night, two on the second and so on until the last night, when all eight candles are lit.

With that image, I also have the image of what is transliterated into English as Chanukah (or Hanukah) in Hebrew.

These particular images would make good stencils, perhaps for making paper for wrapping presents or to put on gift bags.  I found them on Wikipedia Commons and they were listed as public domain / “no restriction on use” by their creators. To download the images full-sized, click on it.

A hanukiah - the nine candle menorah used during the Jewish Festival of Lights, Channukah. From Wikipedia Commons, and listed as public domain.

What is transliterated as 'Channukah' (or 'Hannukah') in English in the original Hebrew. From Wikipedia Commons, with no restrictions on use.

Tags: bw, Chanukah, daily public domain, design, DPD, Festival of Lights, free, graphics, Hanukah, hanukiah, Hebrew, holiday, image, Jewish, Judaism, menorah, PD, png, public domain, stencil, Wiki Commons, Wikipedia, Winter