Maddie James
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The menorah holds nine candles, with eight symbolizing the eight nights of the holiday and the ninth candle, called the shamash, used to light the other eight. The shamash is typically placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles, and the number of candles lit increases by one each night, so that on the final night, all nine candles are lit. The lighting of the menorah commemorates the ancient miracle of a small amount of oil lasting for eight days and is a symbol of light and enlightenment in the Jewish faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 |
| Number of branches | 9 |
| Number of candles on the first night | 2 |
| Number of candles on the second night | 3 |
| Number of candles on the eighth night | 9 |
| Total number of candles burned over the course of Hanukkah | 36 or 44 |
| Total number of candles burned over the course of Hanukkah, including candles in heaven | 88 |
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What You'll Learn
The shamash candle
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch holding a candle known as the shamash, which translates to "helper" or "servant". The shamash candle is used to light the other eight candles.
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The miracle of the oil
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah or chanukkiyah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The ninth branch holds a candle known as the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight. The miracle of the oil, also known as the miracle of Hanukkah or the miracle of the cruse of oil, is the reason why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles.
The Hanukkah menorah is lit each night of the eight-day holiday, with one additional candle or oil wick lit each night. Traditional menorahs used oil, and it is still common to use olive oil in the menorah today. Fried foods, such as latkes and doughnuts, are also eaten during Hanukkah to honour the miracle of the oil.
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The number of candles burned each night
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, and the ninth branch holds a helper candle, known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on, until the final night when all nine candles are lit. This is why Hanukkah is often called the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The nine-branched menorah is used to commemorate the miracle of a small amount of oil that was found in the temple after Judah Maccabee and his warriors successfully fought back against oppression and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The oil miraculously lasted for eight days, and so the nine-branched menorah is used to celebrate this eight-day period, with one branch for each day and the shamash.
The menorah is traditionally displayed in a highly visible location, such as a windowsill, to shine a light through the darkness during the shorter days of the year. The lighting of the menorah is one of the most common Hanukkah traditions and is often done with candles in the Hanukkah colours of blue and white.
The number of candles lit on each night of Hanukkah holds symbolic value. The eight main candles represent the eight nights that the small amount of oil burned for, and the ninth shamash candle represents the miracle of the oil itself. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all nine candles are lit. This symbolizes the increasing light and celebration of Hanukkah.
In total, 44 candles are needed for the menorah over the eight nights of Hanukkah. This number has additional significance in Hasidic teaching, where it is said that the lighting of 36 candles on Earth arouses the lighting of 36 lights in the heavens, for a total of 72, corresponding to the 72 Names of the Blessed One. Including the shamash candle brings the total to 44, and envisioning 44 parallel candles in the heavens results in a total of 88, which holds further symbolic meaning in Judaism.
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The arrangement of the candles
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch holding the shamash, or "helper" candle, set apart from the others. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles.
The Hanukkah menorah commemorates the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting eight days and is lit during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. On the first night, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On each subsequent night, one more candle is lit, until the final night when all nine candles are burning.
There are differing opinions on whether the hanukkiah can be arranged in a curve or if it must be in a straight line. The candles are inserted into the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
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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 seven-branched menorah was originally found in the wilderness sanctuary and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbinic sources teach that the menorah stood 1.62 metres (5.3 ft) high. The branches are often depicted as semicircular, but some scholars believe they were straight, while others argue they were round.
The menorah traces its origins to the second century B.C.E. In Hebrew, the word menorah means "lamp". The ancient menorah had seven branches—one for each day of Creation—and burned in the Temple in Judea. It was an everlasting light, an oil lamp that was never supposed to go out.
In 167 B.C.E., Judea became Hellenized under the rule of Antiochus IV, who outlawed Judaism. The Jewish Temple was desecrated, and the people were forbidden from keeping the Sabbath and kosher. A small group of rebels, known as the Maccabees, fought back and eventually took back the Temple, relighting the menorah. According to the story, one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with one additional light being lit each night. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash ("helper" or "servant"), used to light the other eight. The Hanukkah menorah is a variant of the original seven-branched menorah, commemorating the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.
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Frequently asked questions
Two candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah: one as the shamash, and one to represent the first night.
A Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: eight candles in a row, and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is set apart from the others.
The candles on the Hanukkah menorah symbolise the miraculous oil that was found in the temple after Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
