Tyler Brooks
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is often associated with the celebration of Hanukkah. The number of candles on a menorah depends on its purpose. The most common types of menorahs have seven or nine candles. The nine-branched menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is used during the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. It holds eight candles that symbolize each night of the holiday and a ninth candle called the shamash, which is used to light the others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 (8 candles in a row and 1 helper candle) |
| Type of candles | Candles or oil lamps |
| Color of candles | White, blue, or any other color |
| Placement | Windowsill or outdoors to the left of the entrance of the home |
| Lighting order | From right to left |
| Lighting time | Dusk (except on Fridays when it is before sunset and on Saturdays when it is after sunset) |
| Duration | 8 days |
| Number of candles lit each day | 1 additional candle lit each day until all 8 are burning on the final night |
| First candle | Known as the Shamash or "helper" candle |
| Other names | Chanukiah, Hanukkiah, Chanukkiyah, or ḥanukkiyah |
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What You'll Learn
The nine candles on a menorah
The shamash is set apart from the other eight candles, either higher, lower, or to the side. The eight main branches are aligned at the same height and in a straight line, with enough space between them so that the flames do not join.
The nine-branched menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is used during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, the temple menorah was to remain lit at all times. However, only enough oil for one day was found inside the temple, but miraculously, it burned for eight days, allowing time to find more oil.
Each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit, starting with the shamash and one other candle on the first night, and ending with all nine candles burning on the final night. The lighting of the menorah is a way to spread the word of the miracles it symbolizes.
The menorah has also been used as a symbol of worship throughout history, with the first menorah made from a single piece of gold and presented for use in the First Temple of Jerusalem.
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The Shamash candle
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiyah, has nine branches for candles—one for each night of the holiday, plus the Shamash. The eight main branches must be perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line. The ninth branch, which holds the Shamash, should be at a different level.
On the first night of Hanukkah, a candle is placed in the holder farthest to the right of the menorah. On the second night, a new candle is placed where the first one was, and a second candle is placed to its left. This continues each night, with candles being placed from right to left. Once the candles have been placed, the Shamash candle is lit, and blessings are recited. Then, using the Shamash, the evening's candles are lit from left to right, so the newest candle is always lit first.
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The history of the menorah
The menorah is a multibranched candelabra used in the religious rituals of Judaism. It has been an important symbol in both ancient and modern Israel. The word menorah means "lamp" in Hebrew. The ancient menorah had seven branches, one for each day of Creation, and it burned in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was forged by the craftsman Bezalel and put in the Tabernacle, with its cups in the shape of flower blossoms suggesting the tree of life.
The menorah is first mentioned in the biblical book of Exodus, according to which the design of the lamp was revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. The candlestick was to be forged out of a single piece of gold and was to have six branches, "three out of one side, and three out of the other". The cup atop the central shaft, which is somewhat elevated to signify the Sabbath, was flanked by three lights on each side. Rabbinic sources teach that the menorah stood 18 handbreadths/palms (three common cubits) high, or approximately 1.62 metres (5.3 ft).
The seven-branched menorah was originally found in the wilderness sanctuary and then later in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a popular motif of religious art in antiquity. The Second Temple, built after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, contained one menorah that was seized in 169 BCE by Antiochus IV Epiphanes when he desecrated the Temple. Judas Maccabeus ordered the construction of a new seven-branched candelabra, which he placed in the Temple after the desecration by Antiochus.
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiyah, has nine branches for candles—one for each night of the holiday, plus the shamash or helper candle, which is set apart from the others. According to Jewish law, the eight main branches must all be perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line. The ninth branch, which holds the shamash, should be higher, lower, or off to the side.
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The miracle of the oil
The story of the miracle of the oil begins with the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebels, who successfully fought against oppression and reclaimed the Temple. After reclaiming the Temple, the Maccabees sought to purify and rededicate it through various rituals, including the lighting of the Menorah.
According to Jewish law, the Menorah could only be lit with specially prepared pure olive oil. However, when the Maccabees searched for pure oil, they could only find a single cruse or flask bearing the seal of the High Priest, which contained just enough oil to burn for one day. Miraculously, this small amount of oil lasted for all eight days of Hanukkah, until new pure oil could be prepared.
The Hanukkah menorah is often placed in a window or on a windowsill, shining a light through the darkness, and symbolising the miracle of the oil that continues to inspire and unite Jewish people around the world.
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The placement of the menorah
In the past, the menorah was often placed on a shelf outside the house as a sign of a Jewish home. Today, some families continue this tradition by placing the menorah outdoors, just to the left of the entrance of the home. This practice adds a unique dimension to the celebration, bringing the light of the menorah directly into the community.
When lighting the menorah, it is customary to follow specific guidelines. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash, or "helper" candle, is lit first, along with one other candle. The shamash is placed in a separate position, either higher, lower, or to the side, from the eight main branches. This arrangement symbolises its role in lighting the other candles.
As Hanukkah progresses, the placement of candles on the menorah changes each night. On the second night, a new candle is placed where the first one was, and a second candle is added immediately to its left. This pattern continues, with candles being placed from right to left and lit from left to right, always lighting the newest candle first. By the eighth and final night, all nine candles are burning brightly, with the shamash playing its supporting role.
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Frequently asked questions
A menorah has nine candles.
Eight of the candles are for each night of Hanukkah. The ninth candle, the shamash, is used to light the other eight.
The shamash means "helper" or "servant".
The eight candles on a menorah symbolise the eight nights that a small amount of oil miraculously lasted for in the temple, before more could be found.
On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder farthest to the right. On the second night, place a new candle where the first one was, and a second candle to its left. Continue in this manner each night, placing candles from right to left. Once the candles have been placed, light the shamash and use it to light the other candles from left to right.
