The seven-branched menorah depicts the Temple’s seven-branched lamp. The 9 branch menorah is referred to as a hanukiah because it is designed specifically for Hanukah to light the eight candles for the holiday’s eight days. Also worth a look is why some menorahs have seven candles.
Full Answer
What is the history behind a 7 candle menorah?
The menorah was a shadow of the coming Messiah, and his chosen witnesses to the world: the body of believers. As we know, seven is God’s number of completion, but despite the plurality of lamps, it is made of one ‘piece’. Seven in one, like a rainbow, or a week.
Does the Menorah have 7 or 9 candles?
Typically, there are nine candles on the menorah. Menorahs with branches for nine candles are used exclusively for Hanukkah. Though we understand why we light menorahs for Hanukkah, no one can say exactly when the tradition of using hanukkiahs began, though it was probably at least 250 years after the Maccabees’ triumph.
Why do some menorahs have 7 branches?
Why Does The Menorah Have 7 Candles? The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp.The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.
What is the Order of lighting the Menorah?
Rabbi Barenblat speaks during the ceremony
- Begin by placing the shamash in the middle. Then place the candles for each night of the holiday from right to left. ...
- Once all the candles are placed, it’s time to light the shamash. You may use matches or lighter, but only light this middle candle for now.
- Put down the flame source and pick up the shamash with either hand. ...
How many branches does a menorah have?
The Menorah has been a Jewish symbol and part of Jewish traditions for centuries. But you may have noticed that some menorahs have 7 branches and others have 8 branch? What’s the deal?
Is there a helper candle in the Hanukah menorah?
There is no helper candle, or Shamash. This menorah once stood in Jerusalem’s temple and many synagogues today have these menorahs on the bimah (altar). An eight branch menorah is known to many as the Hanukah menorah.
What does the seven branched menorah symbolize?
Since biblical times, the seven-branched menorah has symbolized Judaism. It first appears in Exodus, as a lighting fixture within the Tabernacle, a sort of portable temple used by the Israelites during their desert wanderings. The menorah is described in Exodus in minute detail, based on a heavenly prototype.
How many lights are there in a Hanukkah menorah?
The defining characteristic of a Hanukkah menorah is eight lights in a row, with a ninth lamp off to the side or above, separated from the other eight . The ninth lamp is called a shamash, a “servator,” ...
What is the Menorah based on?
The menorah is described in Exodus in minute detail, based on a heavenly prototype. For many Jews in antiquity, the menorah’s seven branches represented the five visible planets, plus the sun and the moon, and its rounded branches suggested their trajectories across the heavens.
Why was the Menorah on the Arch of Titus?
The Romans considered the menorah so recognizable a Jewish symbol that they depicted it on the Arch of Titus in Rome to illustrate the spoils that they had carried away after conquering Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Who said the menorah is a key number in Judaism?
One ancient Jewish thinker, Philo of Alexandria, compared the “harmony” of the menorah’s branches to “an instrument of music, truly divine.”. Others noted that seven is a key number in Judaism—one need only mention the biblically ordained week.
What is the oldest symbol of Judaism?
By Steven Fine. The menorah —“lamp stand” in Hebrew—has been the pre-eminent symbol of Jews and Judaism for millennia. It is the oldest continuously used religious symbol in Western civilization.
How many lamps were in the wilderness tabernacle?
The original wilderness tabernacle MENORAH and its 7 lamps which were to be kept burning at all times foreshadow Yeshua, the one who proclaimed Himself the “light of the world”.
What is the 9 branched memorah?
The 9-branched MENORAH was created to celebrate one of the major Jewish holidays known as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. However, you might know it better by the name HANUKKAH.
What did the foolish take with them but no oil?
The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil.”
Why did the Jewish rebels take the Temple back?
The Jewish rebels took the Temple back, but because many of the priests had been slaughtered, there wasn’t a sufficient supply of consecrated olive oil to keep the MENORAH lamps burning for more than one day.
Is the 7 branched memorah lighted?
Contrary to popular assumption, the 7-branched MENORAH is NEVER lighted in an observant Jewish household. Keep in mind that a 7-branched MENORAH is a special implement ONLY to be used in the Temple. However, the Temple hasn’t existed for over 1900 years. So while the 7-branched MENORAH serves as a poignant reminder of the Temple both past ...
What is the Menorah?
The Menorah was a sacred, Jewish ritual object in the ancient Jewish Temple.
Why are there only 7 candles in the Temple?
Historically there is only 7 candles, because the original menorah of the temple had 7. The 9 candle variety is a tradition developed for the purpose of commemorating Chanukah which is an important memorial in Judaism where we remember and celebrate a number of miracles which resulted in our people, faith and land surviving an attempt to assimilate us into Greek culture .
What is the ninth candle called?
To help to accomplish this aim, a ninth candle was added. Called the Shamash / the servant, it is used each night to light the other candles/lights and provides the legal fiction that any use of the candelabra light comes from the Shamash and not the other candles.
How many shammas are there for Chanukah?
8 for every day of Chanukah and 1 for Shammas. The Shammas is used to light the other candles and since we’re not allowed to benefit from the candle light, if one reads by the Menorah/Chanukiyah candle light, he will be using the light of the Shammas and not violate this rule.
How many branches are there in the Menorah?
The candles are lit by a helper candle, aka shamash, which is why there are 9 of them in Hanukkiyah. Regular menorah usually has 7 branches. Also, please note that the word “menorah” is translated as “lamp” from Hebrew.
How many candles are in the Chanukah candle?
The Chanukieya [Used on Chanukah only] has 9 candles.
What is the accent on the last syllable of Chanuka?
Technically, the 9 branched lamp/candelabra used on Chanuka is called a chanukiya (accent on the last syllable) to differentiate it from the 7 branched lamp known from the Temple, and called a menorah ( accent on the last syllable).
What do the seven lights on the Menorah represent?
According to others, the seven lights of the Menorah symbolize the 7 days of the Creation of the Universe, and that the light in the center corresponds to Saturday.
Why is the Menorah used today?
The Menorah is used today in other cults and worlds such as Masonry, which considers its lighting, carried out following a particular ritual, as a way to enhance the brothers’ skills, besides having other symbolic meanings.
What did the Jewish Menorah stand for?
Some traditions consider the Menorah as the symbolic representation of the burning bush where Moses heard the voice of God thundering on Mount Horeb.
How many branches does the Menorah have?
Many people convolute Chanukkiyah for Menorah. It is true that the two candelabras represent the same thing, but the Menorah has seven branches, the Chanukkiyah has nine.
Why is the Menorah important?
Light was important as well for the Jewish people, and that is shown by the importance they gave to the Menorah. The word Menorah comes for the same root of or, that is, light, and represents the seven-branched candelabra, symbol of the Jewish religion. Actually, the original Menorah was an oil lamp and not a candleholder, but given the subtle difference, today we call Menorah even the seven-branched candelabra.
How many candles are in a candelabra?
In the Jewish tradition, there are also other types of candelabra, such as the Chanukkiyah, or Hanukkiah. It is a nine-branched candelabra where nine candles are lit. The lighting of the candles is carried out following a very ancient and articulated ritual, because it expresses the duration and vitality of Judaic faith.
What is the central candle of Chanukah?
The central candle of the Chanukkiyah is called “ Shamash”, which means “ guardian “. It is placed higher than the other lights. The Shamash is used to light the other candles. During each evening of the Chanukah, the Shamash is lit first; the others are added gradually, one on each night of the feast. The first night, the candle is placed in the support on the extreme right of the Chanukkiyah.
