The 1001st menorah was created just these days, and is a gift from the State of Israel to the President of Northern Macedonia, Mr. Stevo Pendarovski, who will light the eighth candle of Hanukkah.The project is led by the Israeli Ambassador to Northern Macedonia and the Director of the Balkans Department, with whom we have been working in partnership for several years - Mr. Dan Oryan, and our wonderful friend - Dr. Rachel-Shelly Levi-Drummer, President of the Bitula Jewish Community Heritage Association, and Bar-Ilan University Academic Secretary.
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Maty Grunberg was born in N. Macedonia in 1943. He miraculously survived with his parents and sister, and they survived the Holocaust. In recent years Maty G. has devoted much time to his work in the ancient Jewish cemetery in the Balkans, in the city of Bitola / Monastir in Northern Macedonia. He created the sundial sculpture that will be placed in the center of the cemetery, in memory of Macedonian Jewry that perished in the Holocaust in 1943, a few days after his birth.
Like the sundial sculpture, the 1001st Hanukkiah is a testimony memorial menorah for the Jewish community that lived in Northern Macedonia before the Holocaust. The menorah is engraved with the inscription:
In memory of Macedonian Jewry taken to Treblinka extermination camp.
March 11. 1943
No one returned.
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​The beautiful menorah / Hanukkiah  is made of bronze, and simulates a tree with its branches and leaves. When the candles are lit in it, it is filled with life and hope. This is similar to the sundial sculpture, which brings light and hope. The Hanukkiah has a complex structure, it stands out from the background panel. For Maty G. it also symbolizes the complexity and spiritual richness that characterized the community of Sephardic and Portuguese Jews.

Photos that accompany the fascinating process of casting the menorah.

​ The 1001st Hanukkiah  was created as part of project "1000 Menorahs - illuminating the memory of the extinct Macedonian Jewry", in which many activities were and will be held during the festivity of Hanukkah with the intention of reviving the memory of the Macedonian Jewish community.

The project is led by:
Dan Oryan, Israeli Ambassador to Northern Macedonia.
Dr. Rachel-Shelly Levy-Drummer, President of the Bitula Jewish Community Heritage Association.
Maya Susha, project leader in Northern Macedonia - Acta Non Verba
Adv. Maria (Mima) Gras Duchevska - ARHAM See Less
Seasons Greetings