Every piece in the Aron Museum tells a story

“It’s interesting to see what artists in the Diaspora have created,” said Kurt Samuel, former chairman of the museum committee. “Many adopted local materials and styles, revealing both the diversity and continuity of Jewish traditions.”

Behind the glass of a large display case lays the newest piece in the collection, a silver Hanukah menorah from Uzbekistan. Adorned with elaborate symbolism and carvings of mythical stories, it’s one of the most interesting works of art in the museum.

“It’s a beautiful piece. I found it while in Israel last summer,” said Evelyn Uditsky, co-chair of the museum committee and grand-niece of the museum’s founders, Josef and Anna Aron.

Although art buffs will enjoy the collection for its rare and impressive art, the small and welcoming museum also encourages visitors interested in learning more about history and religion. For example, the volunteers explained that all menorahs in the collection serve the same purpose: to celebrate the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Greek Antiochus Epiphanes in l65 BCE, and the miracle of the small cruse of oil that lasted eight days.

The first synagogue museum in Canada, the Aron Museum was founded in l953. The Temple's spiritual leader at the time, Rabbi Harry J. Stern, was a frequent dinner guest in the home of Josef and Anna Aron. He admired the Aron’s collection of Jewish ritual art and wondered if he could borrow a large silver menorah for the Hanukah festival at

the Temple. The couple readily agreed. Later, the Rabbi suggested that perhaps they would like to donate their splendid collection to the Temple and be the first in Canada to help create a synagogue museum of Jewish ceremonial art objects. He emphasized the role such a museum would play in the Temple program – in the worship services, the religion school and youth groups. The museum would also serve as a centre of historic interest in Jewish life and culture, both for Jews and non-Jews.

Some objects escaped the Holocaust

Some of the pieces the Arons donated to the Temple have a very sombre history. Josef Aron’s brother Paul lived in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, and had an outstanding personal collection of ritual art objects. When Hitler came to power, Paul asked a trusted employee to smuggle his most prized possessions to Switzerland for safekeeping. After the family emigrated to Palestine, his collection was sent to him there, and eventually many pieces found their way to Montreal and became part of the Aron Museum collection.

One of the most remarkable objects is a copper laver, consisting of a large fish and a shell-shaped basin. The laver was used for the ritual washing of hands before the Sabbath meal. Evelyn Uditsky’s mother, Gella Bing-Weihs, and her aunt Judith Borenstein, donated the laver to the museum in memory of their parents.

The Aron museum is maintained through gifts and donations from Temple members and friends, usually in commemoration of special occasions such as birthdays, weddings or Bar Mitzvah’s. The generosity of the Maurice Pollack Foundation and the Violet and Dr. Abram Bercovitch Fund made it possible to expand the Museum to its present location.

The museum is operated by volunteers who learn about Jewish ceremonial art and artifacts through their personal interest and dedication. “We are not experts but we have studied a lot and over time, we have become quite knowledgeable,” said Ellen Samuel who, along with her husband Kurt, has played a role in the museum for 25 years.

Although the museum does not have specific opening hours, individuals and groups who wish to view the collection can arrange an appointment. “Some comparative religion classes have visited the museum and were very impressed. Often students don’t know much about Judaism but when they visit they find similarities with their own religion and so they develop an interest and want to learn more,” said Uditsky.

For information and appointments, call 514-937-3575. Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is at 4100 Sherbrooke St. W.