CEREMONIAL
SILVER FOR OTHER OCCASIONS
 The
oldest piece of ceremonial artistic silver in the SNOA is a BESAMIN (or
spice box) made in Amsterdam in 1706 by an unknown master. The distance
between Curaçao and Holland is again evidenced by the inscription
date which is earlier than the spice box itself. The inscription, in Portuguese,
translates to: “Jacob son of Efraim Jesurun Henriquez, consecrated to the
Holy Congregation Mikvé Israel on the occasion of CHATAN BEREYSHIT
(Bridegroom of Genesis) in the year 5465”. (The date corresponds to October
3, 1703). The BESAMIN is used in conjunction with a cup of wine and a braided,
multi-wicked candle in the ceremony which ushers out the SHABBAT on Saturday
after dark. The ceremony is called HAVDALLAH meaning separation, as the
SHABBAT is separate or distinctive from the rest of the week. The spices
contained in the BESAMIN are usually those which have a sweet smell, to
remind the Jew of the sweetness of the SHABBAT.
 The
salver and ewer (or tray and jug) are used together. They have Amsterdam
marks and the letter “O” signifying 1748. The mark “GB” identifies the
master as Gerrit Boverhof (1696-1772) and is generally of Louis XIV style.
The tray has two embossed hands open in the position of a KOHEN “a member
of the priestly clan” reciting the benediction (Numbers 6:24-26). In the
center is a raised oval on which to place the jug. The oval is inscribed
in Portuguese “Legacy of Abigail Nunes”. The jug is urn-shaped with the
lip added for pouring. Like the tray, the jug has the two benedicting hands
embossed on the side near the top. Although the tray and jug seem to have
been made to go together, the only motif they share are the two hands which,
considering the quality, one may assume might have been added in Curaçao.
The set was, and is, still used for the ritual washing of the hands prior
to the Passover SEDER, the traditional meal and service which marks the
first night of the holiday.
 The
PURIM bowl is one of two bowls still used on the festival of PURIM (Lots)
when the story of Esther is told and money is collected for the poor. Incidentally,
this is one of only two times when money is collected in the Synagogue
itself. Such bowls are called KUPOT HASHEKEL, meaning “repositories of
the coin”, and are related to the collection in Exodus 30:11-16. This particular
bowl has an Amsterdam mark and the year letter “D” representing 1738. It
bears the mark of the master, Abraham Marshoorn (1702-1756). According
to Rabbi Emmanuel, it was a donation of David de Mordecai de Crasto, and
represents a beautiful example of work done in Haarlem (Holland) after
1725.
 Though
battered through years of usage, this silver tray is a meaningful object
for the Snoa. It carries a Gouda mark and the letter year “Y”, probably
1728. It is referred to as the “wedding tray” and is used by the congregation
at the conclusion of every wedding ceremony, when the groom breaks a glass.
In most places, the groom performs this ritual which recalls the destruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem and reminds us of the fragility of relationships-
by stepping on a glass wrapped in a napkin. In Mikvé Israel-Emanuel,
the custom is for the groom to smash the crystal goblet onto the wedding
tray, whereupon the congregation exclaims in unison the words BESIMAN TOV!
(May it be for a good omen).
A magnificent, 7-branched
silver MENORAH is traditionally placed on the center of the balustrade
in front of the HEYCHAL for KOL NIDRE and for weddings. This special MENORAH
was presented to Chacham A. M. Chumaceiro by his friends in Amsterdam in
1861. The candles, standing inside their seven, magnificently-etched crystal
shades (now irreplaceable) are, by tradition, lit in a certain sequence
before KOL NIDRÉ service: the GABAI (Treasurer) lights the outer
six candles and the SHAMASH the center or seventh light. (RDLM, ALP)
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