What is a shammash?
Definition of shammash 1 : the sexton of a synagogue 2 : the candle or taper used to light the other candles in a Hanukkah menorah
What does Shamash mean in Mesopotamia?
Shamash. Shamash, (Akkadian), Sumerian Utu, in Mesopotamian religion, the god of the sun, who, with the moon god, Sin (Sumerian: Nanna), and Ishtar (Sumerian: Inanna), the goddess of Venus, was part of an astral triad of divinities. Shamash was the son of Sin. Shamash, as the solar deity, exercised the power of light over darkness and evil.
Who is Sham Shamash?
Shamash was the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. Known as Utu in the Sumerian tradition, he was the twin brother of Inanna and the son of the moon god, Nanna.
What is a Chanukah shammash?
What Is a Shammash? A Chanukah menorah has eight lights. The shammash – the "attendant" candle that is used to kindle the other lights – is set apart from the other candles (often higher or lower), on the ninth branch of the menorah. Many Jews have a tradition to use a beeswax candle for the shammash.
What is the meaning of shamash?
Shamash, (Akkadian), Sumerian Utu, in Mesopotamian religion, the god of the sun, who, with the moon god, Sin (Sumerian: Nanna), and Ishtar (Sumerian: Inanna), the goddess of Venus, was part of an astral triad of divinities. Shamash was the son of Sin.
What is a shamash in Hanukkah?
The menorah has nine branches, one for each night of the Festival of Lights, plus a shamash, meaning helper or attendant, which is lit first and then used to light the other candles. The shamash always sits a bit higher or lower than the rest of the candles so as to not get confused with the others.
What does the shamash candle mean in English?
noun. 1A warden of a synagogue. 2A ninth candle used for lighting the candles on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
Why do we use the shamash?
With the invention of the shamash, families didn't need to choose between Hanukkah or sustenance, between the light for our needs and the light proclaiming the miracle of the Festival. They could work or entertain by the light of the menorah, or more precisely by the light of the shamash.
Why are there 9 candles on a menorah?
The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the hanukkiah or menorah, a candelabra that holds nine candles. Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others.
What is the candle in the middle of the menorah called?
the ShamashStep 3: Light the Shamash The candle that is raised or in the center of the menorah is the shamash (helper candle). It's the one you use to light the other candles. Light it first. (Don't use any of the other candles to light the others.)
How do you pronounce shamash candle?
0:060:47How to Pronounce Shamash (Real Life Examples!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's because it's the shamas or the servant candle.MoreAnd that's because it's the shamas or the servant candle.
How long do you leave a menorah up?
Make sure that they burn for at least a half an hour after sunset. If you have to leave the house, time it so that they burn for at least 30 minutes after you have lit them. If it is Shabbat, use long-lasting candles and make sure that they burn for at least a half an hour after the sun sets.
Do you light Hanukkah candles left right?
A: The candles are lighted in the opposite direction from how they are placed in the chanukiah. They are lighted from left to right, so that the newest candle is always lighted first. The helper candle, or shamash, is lighted first, and that candle is used to light all the other candles.
How long do you leave Hanukkah candles lit?
Candles should stay lit for at least 30 minutes before being extinguished, although, many will prefer to let candles burn until they extinguish themselves. The menorah should be placed on a table near a window, and preferably to the left side of the door.
Does the shamash have to be higher?
To be kosher, the shamash must be offset on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles or oil lamps, but there are differing opinions as to whether all the lights must be arranged in a straight line, or if the hanukkiah can be arranged in a curve.
How do you pronounce shamash candle?
0:060:47How to Pronounce Shamash (Real Life Examples!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's because it's the shamas or the servant candle.MoreAnd that's because it's the shamas or the servant candle.
What is a Shammes Yiddish?
Definition of shammes 1 : the sexton of a synagogue. 2 : the candle or taper used to light the other candles in a Hanukkah menorah.
Why is it called menorah?
In Hebrew, the word menorah means “lamp.” The ancient menorah had seven branches—one for each day of Creation—and it burned in the Temple in what was then Judea, a small area caught in the middle of conflict between the Egyptian empire and the Greek-Assyrian empire.
What is a shammash?
Shammash, also spelled shamash or shammas (Hebrew: “servant”), plural shammashim, shamashim, or shammasim, salaried sexton in a Jewish synagogue whose duties now generally include secretarial work and assistance to the cantor, or hazan, who directs the public service.
What is the Hebrew word for shammash?
Shammash, also spelled shamash or shammas (Hebrew: “servant”), plural shammashim, shamashim, or shammasim, ...
What Is a Shammash?
A Chanukah menorah has eight lights. The shammash – the "attendant" candle that is used to kindle the other lights – is set apart from the other candles (often higher or lower), on the ninth branch of the menorah. Many Jews have a tradition to use a beeswax candle for the shammash.
Why is the shammash important?
The shammash is not a mitzvah candle. Yet, it is important because it is the instrument that enables all the other candles to form a mitzvah.
Why do we leave the Chanukah lights lit?
Another reason why we leave the shammash lit is because it is forbidden to use the Chanukah lights for any practical reason . This way, if a candle is needed, the shammash is available for use, preserving the sanctity of the mitzvah lights.
Where is Rabbi Menachem Posner?
By Menachem Posner. Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational website. He has been writing, researching, and editing for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch. He resides in Chicago, Ill., with his family.
Does Chabad.org share email address?
Please send me Chabad.org's weekly Magazine and periodic emails. We will not share your email address.
What was Shamash's role in Mesopotamia?
Shamash was a prominent literary and religious figure throughout Mesopotamia. Shamash was in control of bringing light and warmth to the land. This life bringing light enabled crops to flourish (Encyclopedia Britannica). Also known as the divine figure of justice, Shamash was thought to be the judge of the gods and humans.
What is Shamash's key attribute?
Shamash was said to be a protector of travelers and play a key role in the safe arrival of travelers to their destination (Mark). This image depicts Shamash on a chariot above a mountain.
What is the code of Hammurabi?
The Code of Hammurabi is said to be written as a contract to Shamash (Horry). Shamash had some cult followers, and temples were built for him in Sippar and Larsa. Shamash played a key role in divination ritual sacrifices. The king would have a sheep sacrificed then examine the liver to find answers.
What does the dagger in Shamash represent?
In his right hand he holds a dagger. The dagger is a representation of Shamash cutting through the mountains at sunrise to bring light to the universe (Mark). His right foot in placed on a stool, which is another indication to the viewer that this is a god, not a ruler.
How many points does Shamash have?
This disk is usually portrayed with four points with spherical shapes between each point (Horry). Shamash is often depicted with this disk in the sky that represents the sun (Encyclopedia Britannica). In his right hand he holds a dagger.
Who was in charge of making sure these answers were fair and correct?
Shamash was in charge of making sure these answers were fair and correct (Horry). The Metropolitan Museum, The Collection Online, Part of a model chariot, with an impression of the sun god Shamash rising over the mountains, Old Babylonian. Many images connected to Shamash ’s key attributes have been recovered from numerous ancient sites.
What is the candle used to light the other candles of the Hanukkah menorah?
The shamash is the candle used to light the other candles of the Hanukkah menorah .
Do you blow out a shamash after lighting a Hanukkah candle?
After lighting the Hanukkah candles, the shamash has served its purpose, though it’s not customary to blow it out but to let it continue to burn along with the other candles.
Family
Utu was the twin brother of Inanna, the Queen of Heaven, whose domain encompassed a broad variety of different powers. In Sumerian texts, Inanna and Utu are shown as extremely close; in fact, their relationship frequently borders on incestuous.
Worship
Utu was worshipped in Sumer from the very earliest times. The oldest documents mentioning him date to around 3500 BC, during the first stages of Sumerian writing. His main temples, which were both known as E-babbar ("White House"), were located in Sippar and in Larsa.
Iconography
In Sumerian texts, Utu is described as "bearded" and "long-armed". In art, he is shown as an old man with a long beard. He was believed to emerge from the doors of Heaven every day at dawn and ride across the sky in his chariot before returning to the "interior of heaven" through a set of doors in the far west every evening.
Mythology
The Sumerians believed that, as he rode through heaven, Utu saw everything that happened in the world. Alongside his sister Inanna, Utu was the enforcer of divine justice. At night, Utu was believed to travel through the Underworld as he journeyed to the east in preparation for the sunrise.
Later influence
The authors of the Hebrew Bible generally attempt to portray the sun in a non-anthropomorphic manner, sometimes using it as a symbol of Yahweh 's power. The Hebrew word for "sun", šapaš or šemeš, is often substituted for euphemisms, such as the word or, meaning "light".
