Spirituality ON THE COVER Making Chanukah Shine from page A31 David. Pereira mans the huge torch he uses to make his menorahs. The gift received a great response. "We really didn't know that David was so artistically inclined until he made his first menorah," Fitlow said. "He told us he was making it, but would not show it to anyone until the party. We were all amazed by his creativity." After that, Pereira said, "I promised when we all got together the following year I would make one that was even better. So now every year, I try to out-do myself" That first year, he made the gift meno- rah and two others. The second year, he made five or six, sharing them with close friends and family. "Then all my family started asking where theirs were, so I had to make more Pereira said. "This year, I had a production run of 20." His gift list stays pretty much the same from year to year so the menorahs have to always be new and different. "I start coming up with ideas in August;' he said. "I come up with some crazy ideas, which become more complicated every year." The menorahs are made of various materials, including different grades of steel or aluminum leftover from busi- ness production. "One year I used scrap left from a job — that was actually bullet proof;' he said, stressing that his menorahs are all made from leftover materials. Materials, Colors And Tools Some of Pereira's menorahs are a raw, natural, metal color. Sometimes they are treated with a gloss or sprayed a color. Pereira is partial to the industrial look. His aluminum menorahs are anodized — chemically coated with a protective film — so they don't oxidize on the hands. Every single one is handmade. "Each year's group of menorahs may look the same, and may follow the same design, but they are not mass produced:' Pereira said. 'After the pieces are cut and drilled or punched out, they are assembled by hand:' Using equipment including punch machines, welding machines and a huge "fire-breathing" torch, a prototype is cre- A32 December 25 ® 2008 ated before the design is finalized. "After I come up with an idea, I take it to my engineering department so they can tell me if it will work:' Pereira said. Sometimes, the plans need revamping. "Like last year, when we discovered the final product would be a menorah that was way too heavy and we had to figure how to shave a good 10 pounds off of it," Pereira said. Pereira's work is done in the factory at Minowitz, which, when menorahs are not being produced, is actually an industrial manufacturer. The company supplies electrical and mechanical components, assemblies and kits for the aerospace, agriculture, automotive, communications, construction, defense, marine and trans- portation industries. The business is owned by Pereira's father, Paul, and was founded by his late great-uncle Abraham Minowitz, who made the menorah that still sits in David's office. That menorah is one of 150 Minowitz produced many years ago to be given as gifts to donors of Beth Shalom's religious school. Pereira also has one of the meno- rahs in his home. "They were created based on a logo used by the synagogue 40 or 50 years age said Rabbi David Nelson of Beth Shalom, where Pereira has longtime family roots. "More recently, I asked local artist Jay Lefkowitz to take the logo and make a wooden model from it!" He then gave the model to Minowitz to make the series of menorahs out of metal. "Even before that, Abe donated a cha- nukiah (nine-branched Chanukah meno- rah) to the synagogue Nelson said. "It still sits on our bimah." The menorah had been located in Brazil by Nelson and purchased from an antique dealer by Minowitz, who then donated it to the synagogue in memory of Minowitz's wife's parents. The family hand also was involved in the making of the ark that stands in the Beth Shalom sanctuary. Handmade menorahs crafted from scrap metal by Pereira "Because of his artistic talent, David was asked to work with metal artist Mark Belchenko on the metal doors of the ark:' Nelson said. Menorahs Everywhere In addition to being a menorah artisan, Pereira is also a menorah collector. "I have a slew of menorahs in my office he said. A few are his own creations, but most of the 25 or 30 came from other places, including from Nelson, who is a Judaica collector and has several of Pereira's menorahs in his collection. Pereira also repairs Judaic items, includ- ing those brought to him by Nelson, who says the tradition began with Minowitz. "Sometimes he'll bring me a menorah to repair; and then he'll say, `If you like it, keep it," Pereira said. Pereira has a special collection of his own menorahs exhibited in the Birmingham home he shares with his wife Tammy and children, Jakob, 41/2, and Sydney, 2."I always keep the first one from each year:' he said. "It's always the most messed up one because it's the prototype At the Pereira home this Chanukah, two menorahs are being lit, one chosen by each of the children from among Pereira's creations. Many of Pereira's gift recipients also dis- play the menorahs, including Fitlow and his wife Sally, who keep their four Pereira- made menorahs in a cabinet in their living room. "Our favorites are the ones that can be used as Shabbat candlesticks as well as menorahs;' Fitlow said. The feature, which will continue into future years' menorahs, includes a special area for use on Shabbat. "I decided I wanted everybody to be able to use them every week, so I designed the menorahs so when you flip them upside down there are two holes on the bottom to put Shabbat candles into;' Pereira said. "This year's menorah is a puzzle, so it's a game to find out where the candleholders are." Considering the possibility of selling his menorahs, Pereira said, "The thought is there, but for now I make them only to give as gifts." And that's part of the joy, said Nelson. "David is so clever and talented:' he said. "He is a wonderful young man, atten- tive to his business, a wonderful father and husband. He has a fabulous, sensitive Jewish soul that is nurtured and driven by his creativity, and he really loves to make chanukiot — and loves sharing them with others." To view Pereira's menorahs, access the Web site at menorahsbydavid.com .