Kindling goblet or memorial lamp for the synagogue (known locally as "kas or "kas di-se’il"). Morocco, [ca. 1900].
Brass, cast, engraved, and chased; painted glass.
Large memorial lamp dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, also known as the "Abir Yaakov" – one of the patriarchs of the renowned Abuhatzeira rabbinic dynasty, and among the greatest of Moroccan Jewish spiritual leaders. Suspended from an ornament in the form of a "hamsa", with the thumb pointing sideways, bearing vegetal and geometric decorative patterns alongside the following inscription: "To the transcendence of the soul of the great rabbi of the boldest / and greatest of the holy righteous / … the divine kabbalist / the Great Light, our honored teacher, Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, his memory till life in the World to Come, may his virtue protect us, Amen, may it be Thy will, Amen". The glass oil pitcher (added later) is decorated (painted) and is suspended from five chains.
Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, commonly referred to as the "Abir Yaakov" (1806-1880), gained recognition at an early age as being a prodigy, a genius, a holy man and kabbalist. As Chief Rabbi and Head of the Rabbinical Court of the Tafilalt region of Morocco (home to the main Jewish community of the Ziz River Valley of southern Morocco), he was regarded as the greatest of halakhic adjudicators of his generation, and through his halakhic responsa, he maintained contacts and exerted influence over the greatest of rabbis of North Africa. He was the subject of numerous miraculous tales; for instance, it has been told that he bore witness to a revelation of the Prophet Elijah. The "Abir Yaakov" was also highly regarded by Muslim Moroccans, who reverently referred to him as "Al-Hazan al-Kabir" – "The Great Rabbi". Yaakov Abuhatzeira passed away en route to the Land of Israel, and was interred in the city of Damanhour, Egypt. Dozens of "piyutim" (liturgical poems) – some of them popular among Jews of Moroccan origin till this day – were composed in his honor and in his memory. The famous portrait of him, seated cross-legged with a holy book in his hands, appeared on walls of Jewish homes all over Morocco, and it continues to do so today in numerous homes of Israelis of Moroccan origin. His sons and grandsons were similarly renowned for their saintliness and erudition; the most famous of them were Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira (the so-called "Baba Sali") and his brother Rabbi Yitzhak (the so-called "Baba Haki"); Rabbi Meir ("Baba Meir"); and dozens of other well-known rabbinical figures belonging to the Abuhatzeira clan.

Height (including glass oil pitcher): approx. 84 cm. Diameter of glass oil pitcher: 21.5 cm. Overall good condition.

Exhibitions:
1. Jewish Life in Morocco, edited by Aviva Müller-Lancet. Jerusalem, the Israel Museum, 1983, pp. 40-45 (Hebrew).
2. Great Jewish Treasures, by Moshe Bamberger. New York, 2015, pp. 56-57.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 118.002.005.