Kyiv customs officials stopped the export of antique religious artifacts

Kyiv customs officials prevented 19th-century cultural artifacts from being taken out of Ukraine. Among the seized items were Hanukkah spinning tops, an Old Believer icon, and an altar cross.

 

The spinning tops and the cross, which were bound for the United States, and the icon, which was bound for Estonia, were discovered during a customs inspection of international mail. Given their antique appearance, customs officials sent them to the National Museum of Ukrainian History for expert evaluation to determine whether they qualify as cultural artifacts.

According to the experts’ conclusion, the three small spinning tops are dreidels, traditional items in Jewish culture. They are part of an ancient game that children play during Hanukkah celebrations. The sides of the dreidels are inscribed with Hebrew letters that spell out the phrase “A great miracle happened there.” 

The history of this game is linked to events of the 2nd century BCE. In 167 BCE, the Syrian king Antiochus significantly restricted the Jews’ rights to observe religious precepts and banned the study of the Torah. The Jews were forced to study it in secret, hiding in caves. According to legend, children were left at the entrance; when they noticed guards approaching, they would begin playing noisily with dreidels so that the adults would have time to hide the Torah scrolls. 

The discovered dreidels are of archaeological origin. Such artifacts are represented in Ukrainian museum collections only to a very limited extent.

The metal icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” is an example of 19th-century Old Believer copper-cast sculpture. Such icons were worn as amulets or hung near the head of the sick.

The discovered eight-pointed cross is an altar crucifix. These became a mandatory attribute for priests, who wear them during ordination.

Under current Ukrainian law, permits are required to export cultural artifacts abroad. No such documents were presented to customs officials.

Reports of customs violations were drawn up. The cultural artifacts were seized pending a court ruling on the cases.

Source: State Customs Service of Ukraine

Previously, Kyiv customs officials stopped the illegal export of Cossack rings and a phonograph.

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