Bidspirit auction | Cooper and brass Hanukkah Menorah,

Cooper and brass Hanukkah Menorah, ORT for Alexandru Şafran - Cooper and brass Hanukkah Menorah by ORT Central Institute for in Switzerland, was given as a gift to rabbi Alexandru Șafran, circa 1950. Back decorated with a Hebrew caption and a Star of David. Height: 27 cm. Marked ”L'INSTITUT CENTRAL ORT, AIRTALE GRAND-RABBIN SAFRAN”. Alexandru Safran (1910-2006) was a Romanian and, after 1948, Swiss rabbi. As chief rabbi of Romania (1940–1948), he intervened with authorities in the fascist government of Ion Antonescu in an unusually successful attempt to save Jews during the Holocaust. ORT Central Institute is a part of ORT organization, which was founded in the 19th century to provide vocational training and assist in the economic and social rehabilitation of Jews around the world. The organization specialized in technological and vocational training in fields such as engineering, agriculture, and industry, and its influence was particularly evident in Eastern Europe and Israel.