The Jerusalem Files: The Secret Journey of the Menorah to Oak Island

by Corjan Mol, Christopher Morford

A non-fiction Da Vinci Code for the 21st century, this thrilling treasure hunt traces the voyage of the legendary Jewish Menorah from the Jerusalem of the Knights Templar through France, Portugal and North America, providing mind-blowing history and mystery for fans of The Curse of Oak Island.

The Jewish Menorah is one of the world’s most sacred artefacts, a man-size lampstand with seven arms, made from a single block of gold, that is an iconic symbol for the Jewish people. King Solomon placed it in the inner sanctum of the Temple of Jerusalem, but by the 5th century AD, all trace of it had disappeared from the official record, and it was assumed lost.

Two historical researchers, Corjan Mol and Christopher Morford, now reveal the astounding secret of what happened to the Menorah. Through their meticulous research as well as a jaw-dropping stroke of luck, Mol and Morford discovered that the Menorah was dug up from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the time of the Crusades by the Knights Templar and smuggled to France with the help of the French King Louis IX. From there it was taken to Portugal, to end up in North America after interventions by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. The secret was hidden in plain sight in both France and North America, on a scale so big that it took 800 years for it to be discovered.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

443 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Corjan Mol is a Dutch entrepreneur and historical researcher, who has featured in several TV documentaries, including BBC’s Forbidden History series. He is a recurring cast member and researcher of the #1 rated American cable reality TV show The Curse of Oak Island.

Reviews

[Eddie McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable material for lovers of the Curse of Oak Island and great historical mysteries alike. A treasure trove of historic details and anecdotes with some amazing plot twists that kept me glued to this book till its last page.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! As an avid fan of The Curse of Oak Island l have long bee aware of the theory about the menorah. This book delves into the journey of the menorah to oak island and beyond.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a Dan Brown-esque conspiracy theory as much as the next person, and I was especially intrigued by this one because it centres around an artifact from my own culture. Unfortunately, I'm also a skeptic and I did not emerge from this book any more convinced of the premise.
The biggest problem I had was how many times the authors would say "is it possible that..." or "could be that..." or otherwise speculate on a theory - only to then present that same theory as fait accompli later in the book with "as we had learned..." or "as we have seen..." and no?! We haven't?! Things like rearranging letters and seeing hidden symbols is fun, but the only thing I uncovered was heaps of confirmation bias.
All this to say, I can't review the book based on "is this real, do I believe it", or even "is this a compelling argument", because no it wasn't and no I don't. The best I can do is look at it from how well the book is laid out and does it present things in a coherent manner. And yeah, sure, for the most part. There were some side tangents that I don't think really added anything but overall it did what it set out to do in that regard.
I do think the right audience (predisposed believers) will enjoy this ride. It's at least nice to see the classic conspiracy tropes (Knights Templar, French royalty, etc) being applied to something other than the holy grail or the ark of the covenant.
Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publishing.

[CWJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read….

A must read for anyone interested in the mystery that not only surrounds the Menorah but also the mystery that seems to shroud Oak Island! You will not find a more researched and documented book that explores the journey of the lost Menorah! I suggest you read it with an open internet browser so as to be able to check out the many places and things referenced in the book.

[Kat Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at mystery in history is supported through footnotes and as many primary references as historically possible. Understanding art history and the original purpose of art is helpful for context but not required. A general understanding that Freemasonry stemmed from the Knights Templar is important for context as well.
The architecture of our own capital was laid out with their influence, and to assume we were the first country to do that would be naive.

Tracking important sacred relics is a mystery as old as religion itself, and this book gives a great look at the who, what , why, and where. I loved every page.

[Cara Huss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book turned me off almost immediately by the way the authors started making claims about things in the early Old Testament that are antithetical to historical understanding and treated their views as accepted fact although they did not have anything to back up their interpretation, and they did not even mention opposing points of view. That made me immediately question their unbiased interpretation of everything else they presented.

While it is possible that some of the things they see as time moves forward from the 1100 hundreds on could be actual clues, and they might be right in their theories at this point, they could also be mostly picking up on the patterns in nature and the extensive use of symbolism in religion. Thus their interpretation might be correct but so might many others. Without the Menorah being actually found there is no way to tell.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jerusalem Files is a,very interesting book about the history of the Jerusalem Temple's treasures. I guess what we can call the story, comes in the form of a variety of history lessons as well as theories that connect dots that are used by the authors and colleagues. We hear about the Knights Templar - its' history, demise, and possible resurgent groups, the House of Bourbon, the New World, including Oak Island, and so much more!

Reading what the authors believe, I found to be very interesting, though in some cases, a bit wordy. However, as a whole, the authors lay out a compelling case for idea that at least I, could not dream. Is there anything conclusive - you'll have to read the book!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think calling this the non fiction Da Vinci Code does it a disservice. It is so much more than that and thought provoking, entertaining and well researched. The author has appeared on TV and is an expert on Oak Island, the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail and those sort of esoteric subjects. It’s all backed up with academic research and full references.

But this isn’t a dry ‘learned’ book. It’s funny, it’s human and it’s full of excitement when the authors work out something new.

We go from 15th century Latin to Cathedral floors via the background boxes in a famous painting. There’s a lot here to get your head round but it’s very satisfying. And thoroughly enjoyable.

Recommended for your intelligent friends who were dismissive of Dan Brown. There’s enough here to engage the biggest cynic.

I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fate of the menorah from temple in Jerusalem has been a mystery since it vanished from records in the 5th century AD. Now, through meticulous research and a fateful discovery, two historians unveil its astonishing 800-year journey: unearthed by the Knights Templar during the Crusades, smuggled to France and Portugal with aid from King Louis IX, and eventually reaching North America.

Treasure hunters and conspiracy theorists will love this book. It's a trove of historical information. Despite the scant facts and wild speculations, it's a compelling mystery.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Alex Nagler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3. It is a 3 because in terms of enjoyability, it's a 5! In terms of shit actually making sense, it's a 1. So, a 3.

Goodreads, please do not recommend more Oak Island things to me.

[Dennis Kocik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched history of the treasures from Solomons Temple to the current day.