Polished cast brass Hanukkah menorah by Pal-Bell. Shamash missing.  Maurice Ascalon, Tel-Aviv, ca. 1950. Cover design Jessica Schwarz and Benjie Hershkowitz CELEBRATE! ISRAEL IS 60! As the United States continues to lead the world in a global war against tyranny, more and more Americans are finding inspiration in the message of Hanukkah. For over two millennia, kindling Hanukkah lights has been at the heart of a festival rejoicing the victory of the light of  freedom over the darkness of tyranny. This ancient triumph has been dramatically repeated in modern times. Freedom-loving men and women finally defied centuries of tyrannical and murderous anti-Semitism by reviving their ancient Maccabee tradition in their ancestral Land of Israel.  Hanukkah menorahs created during the four decades just around Israel’s birth in the middle of the 20th century tell the stories of these ancient and contemporary miracles.  Lighting the Way to Freedom: Treasured Hanukkah Menorahs of Early Israel honors the talented pioneer artists who crafted the menorahs of this Golden Age, and memorializes the courageous generations who lit them. Gathered for the first time ever in such numbers, these amazing treasures reveal a remarkable period in the history of freedom. Lighting the Way to Freedom: Treasured Hanukkah Menorahs of Early Israel will bring enjoyment and inspiration to young and old, and casual browsers and careful readers of all faiths. The struggle for freedom is year-round. Lighting the Way to Freedom:  Treasured Hanukkah Menorahs of Early Israel can serve as a beautiful and engaging illustrated                                                                             primer on the history of Israel and the Middle East.                                                   Hardcover: 268 pages, over 520 color photographs    Devora Publishing (November 2006) ISBN: 1932687661     INSIDE PEEKS:  To see sample texts click  next below.