‘It’s become an icon for Miami Beach Hanukkah.’ Shell menorah artist reflects on 20 years
Roger Abramson searched through a red Folgers coffee canister looking for the perfect shell to fill a hole on his oversized menorah.
But the perfect shell doesn’t exist — there is beauty in the flaws.
“I like all shells, I am a very equal shell person,” said Abramson, 87. “The ones that are broken are sometimes better in many, many ways.”
Twenty years and more than 45,000 shells later, the menorah — and an equally as large dreidel — still serve as a gathering point on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road during the holiday season.
“I think of this not necessarily just as a Hanukkah, religious piece, I think of it as somewhat almost ecumenical, because of all the people, from all the races, who taken pictures in front of it,” said Abramson, as he sifted through the shells. “The message in Hanukkah is the light — the light that Hanukkah offers the world. Shells are so non-confrontational. You don’t have to be a particular religion or race ... to really enjoy shells. It’s become an icon for Miami Beach Hanukkah.”
On Sunday, the community will congregate around Abramson’s unique creations to mark the first night of Hanukkah, which is also known as the festival of lights. The holiday — which lasts eight nights and marks the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after Jews were banned from practicing there more than 2,000 years ago — is early this year (a result of following the Lunar calendar.)
The celebration is open to everyone and will include music, a fire show and traditional food including latkes (potato pancakes). The menorah lighting — in which oil is lit on fire — will be at 6 p.m.
Rabbi Zev Katz, of Chabad Jewish Synagogue of Miami Beach-South Beach, has been holding the annual celebration with Abramson’s menorah for 20 years. He said the menorah and the dreidel still have the same draw as they did when they started.
“If you are looking for light in your life, Hanukkah is that holiday,” he said. “A menorah lighting can light up your life.”
How it began
More than 20 years ago, Abramson, who was a concert producer by trade and artist on the side, decided he wanted to do something to give back.
His wife, who died in 2017, suggested using shells — which he had already been doing for other pieces of art — to fulfill the need by Katz for a giant menorah.
But a project like that takes a lot of shells. He made a hobby of going to Miami Beach and bagging shells to use in his art. He said shells aren’t as plentiful anymore, so he’s been going to other places in the state, including Sanibel Island.
So where does he store all the shells? Everywhere.
“They take over the balcony, the floor, they take up a lot of room,” he said.
Using wood as a base, he put a preservative over it, and then covered it in cement. He used an adhesive to attach the shells. The process took several months to come together.
There have been hiccups along the way, including graffiti. He’s never wanted to bring attention to it because he didn’t want whoever did it to get more of a spotlight.
So he quietly fixed it.
The pieces are stored in a North Miami warehouse and brought to Lincoln Road as part of its holiday display. The menorah and dreidel, which sit next to a giant Christmas tree, are there for a couple of months.
Every year, Abramson gets on a ladder and makes sure it’s ready for the public. Armed with a heavy-duty adhesive and a glue gun, Abramson sticks the new shells among the old ones.
Bazena Shoch, who is from Israel, stopped to snap a photo of the menorah last Thursday. She couldn’t get over the piece. She has seen plenty of menorahs, she noted, but nothing like that.
“It’s done one by one,” she said. “It’s just amazing.”
Keeping the tradition alive
Timothy Schmand, executive director of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, referred to Lincoln Road as Miami Beach’s “Main Street,” where people from all over can gather.
“We are so appreciative of Roger Abramson, and his dedication to the now iconic Lincoln Road seashell menorah and dreidel,” he said in an email. “A true labor of love, every year he is out here making sure every single seashell is in place.”
Last Thursday, as Abramson got the menorah ready for Sunday’s celebration, people stopped to take photos and admire his work.
“His sculptures honor the Jewish faith while offering a unique, artistic take that represents our Miami Beach community in the best way possible,” Schmand said. “Thanks to him, every year, thousands of residents and visitors come out to Lincoln Road to celebrate Hanukkah, take photos with the menorah and dreidel and celebrate the holidays with friends and family.”
Abramson, who has four biological children and an adopted son, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, said he loves that he can see the younger generation appreciate his work.
“I like to think that they think it’s cool that I played a part in this,” he said.
If you go
▪ What: Hanukkah street festival and menorah lighting on Lincoln Road.
▪ When: From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Chabad Jewish Synagogue of Miami Beach-South Beach will be lighting the menorah every night through Dec. 5. The lighting will be at 6 p.m. every night, except Dec. 3 when it will be at 5 p.m.
▪ Where: Lincoln Road by the Euclid Circle.
▪ For more information: Call 305-Chabad-1 or visit www.MBJewish.com.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
