"Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away." opens this May at Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. For exhibition tickets and more information visit Auschwitz.nyc. | Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

When you look at ancient Jewish oil lamps, you are not just seeing artifacts. You are seeing how Jews lived, did Mitzvos, and brought light into their homes for thousands of years. Some of the earliest oil lamps in Israel date back to the Canaanite period, around 1800 BCE. They were simple and practical. Oil was poured into the center, and the wick rested over the edge. Light was not decorative. It was essential. Fast forward to the time of the Chanukah story, around 165 BCE. The Maccabees creat