ILLUMINATION
There
is no more breathtaking scene than the SNOA on special occasions, such
as KOL NIDRÉ night and weddings, when the building is illuminated
by candlelight. There, hanging from the central nave, are four, three-tiered,
24-branch brass chandeliers, each one aglow- exuding an “old world” charm,
a warmth and beauty not often felt in modern times. The 23, single-candle
wall sconces along the walled perimeter and those on the four central pillars,
are also aglow in brilliant flame.
One
of the four chandeliers illuminated the “Old Synagogue” of 1703. It is
therefore older than the present building. One was donated by Abraham de
Chaves in 1706 and the other in 1709 by the brothers Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob de Benjamin Henriquez. Of the remaining two, one was donated by Isaac
and Esther de Marchena in 1731. The other has neither a donor nor date
inscription, so we can only assume that it was purchased- together with
some of the wall and pillar sconces - by the MAHAMAD of 1732 to complete
the center and side illumination of this Synagogue. The four chandeliers
in the central nave were moved closer together in 1866, when the chandelier
nearest the Sanctuary doors had to be moved forward in order to accommodate
the western gallery and to support the newly acquired organ.The
arms of the single-candle sconces and the 24-arm chandeliers are wrought
of solid brass molded in the “porpoise” motif so popular in the Netherlands
at the beginning of the 18th century. Each arm supports a glass hurricane
shade held in place by a brass socket on top of a drip dish. The other
end is attached to the wall or to the body of a chandelier by an ornate
vertical pin. It takes at least three strong men to carry the more than
one meter long, solid brass center section of a chandelier once it is lowered
for cleaning/polishing.
No
evidence has been found that similar chandeliers had hung from the lateral
ceilings or from underneath the balconies. We do find reference, however,
to the use of kerosene lamps in the Synagogue. In 1903, the Board considered
the cost of replacing the kerosene lamps with electrical lights. The latter
alternative seemed much cheaper to maintain when compared to the cost of
repairing or replacing the kerosene lamps with new ones of the same type.
Another reference is made to the effect that the illumination of the Synagogue,
especially in the ladies’ galleries, was very inadequate and that the flames
(of the lamps) were constantly being extinguished by the wind. The foregoing
probably means that the Synagogue was usually illuminated by kerosene lamps
during daily evening services and makes one wonder whether the four central
nave chandeliers were lit regularly, or only on special occasions- as now.
For, not only does it take several hours to replace the 24 candles in a
chandelier, but it takes at least 20 minutes to light one completely!With
the installation of electricity (circa 1903), the kerosene lamps, inside
and outside the Synagogue building, were replaced by some 50, single-bulb
electric lamps with dainty crystal shades. Inside the Synagogue, these
lamps were attached to the center of the walls between the windows of the
galleries, and from the main support beams underneath the galleries. To
increase the Snoa’s illumination, these “old fashioned” lamps were replaced
early in the 1930s, by larger, enclosed lamps hanging from chains attached
to the rosettes in the ceilings; then, in 1974, by modern, 3-bulb clusters.
And finally, on ROSH HASHANAH 1979, following the custom of the Snoa’s
forefathers, individual families donated the beautiful, 18th century Dutch-style,
solid brass, single and double-tiered electrical chandeliers which now
illuminate the sanctuary (RDLM).
One of the eight brass candle-sticks on the balustrades
of the Heychal and the Thebah.
One of the twelve pillar sconces and one of the twentythree
wall sconces along the inside walls.
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Thebah | The
Heychal | The
Banca | Benches
and Chairs
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