Tale of the Menorah:" Second-To-Last Essay

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During World War I, the eagle is hidden, and only later found by a metalworker.

Quotation: Second to last paragraph

At the end of the story, the symbolism of the menorah is confirmed: "They removed the menorah and brought it to the Great Synagogue, where they stood it on the reading table where the menorah had once stood. And so the menorah stood on the reading table, as it had in earlier days when peace was in the land. "Now I will cut off the bird with the two heads, because Austria has ceased to rule over Buczacz. And if there are young boys in town, I will make dreidels from the brass eagle for them to play during Hanukah, just as our grandfathers did for our fathers" (252). The return of the Jews and the menorah, which is now 'properly' maimed of its extra branch and stripped of transient national associations, symbolizes the return of the Jews to their homeland and the restoration of an imperfect temple in the world of the gentiles. The brass (another inferior metal) will be used to make toys that children use to commemorate the nationalistic miracle the menorah was designed to celebrate, during the original celebration of the Festival of Lights.

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Although this makes the symbolism of the eagle seem childish, it is interesting that, earlier in the story, it was noted that is very difficult to make driedels out of brass. When the first brass eagle was destroyed, a much less holy use of the material was crafted in the form of dice, which is also played during Hanukah. This suggests that at the end of the story, the metalworker is now willing to endure the difficulty of making something more holy for the next generation, and the new generation of Jews have learned a lesson about the impermanent nature of gentile rule and authority. The paragraph concludes with the metalworker saying: "Let us not make a one-headed eagle that is the national insignia of Poland. I have heard that the Ruthenians have revolted against Poland. If they see the eagle of Poland in our synagogue, they will say we have prepared to go to war against the Ruthenian nation" (253). Now the menorah will no longer be gilded with any….....

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