Tyler Brooks
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is recognised as a candelabra with several candles. The most common answer to the question of how many candles are on a menorah is nine, with eight candles in a row and a ninth helper candle, known as a shamash, set apart from the others. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles, with an additional candle being lit each night of Hanukkah until the final night when all eight branches are ignited.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 (8 candles in a row and 1 helper candle) |
| Type of candles | Candles or oil lamps |
| Placement | Windowsill or outdoors, just to the left of the entrance of the home |
| Colour | White or blue and white |
| Lighting order | From right to left |
| Lighting time | Dusk (except Friday nights, when it's before sunset) |
| Number of branches | 9 |
| Name of the helper candle | Shamash |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of the menorah
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith. The word menorah means "lamp" in Hebrew. The first menorah, according to the Bible, was made from a single piece of gold and was presented for use in the First Temple of Jerusalem.
The menorah is most commonly associated with Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Second Temple had been desecrated under the rule of Antiochus IV, who outlawed Judaism. A small group of rebels, known as the Maccabees, fought back and eventually reclaimed the Temple. To rededicate it, they needed to burn oil in a candelabra (menorah). They only had enough oil for one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights, until they could find more oil.
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, has nine branches for candles or oil lamps: eight to symbolize each night of the holiday, and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit using the shamash. On each subsequent night, one more candle is lit, until the final night when all nine candles are burning. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles. The Hanukkah menorah is traditionally placed in an uncovered window or on a shelf outside the house, to show that the home is Jewish.
The menorah is also used more generally as a symbol of worship and can have seven or nine candles. The ancient menorah had seven branches, one for each day of Creation.
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The miracle of the oil
To rededicate the Temple, the lighting of the Menorah was required, but only a single day's worth of pure olive oil could be found. This oil, however, miraculously lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared. This miracle is commemorated during Hanukkah, which lasts for eight days, with a nine-branched menorah. The ninth branch is for the shamash candle, used to light the other eight. Each night, an additional candle is lit, so that by the final night, all nine candles are burning.
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The history of the menorah
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is recorded in the Bible as first appearing in the days of Moses. The first menorah was made from a single piece of gold and presented for use in the first Temple of Jerusalem. Throughout history, the menorah has been used as a symbol of worship and has been adapted to include the Hanukkah menorah.
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a 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 that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds a candle known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit using the shamash. On the second night, two candles are lit, and so on until the eighth night, when all nine candles are burning.
The use of a nine-branched menorah for Hanukkah probably began at least 250 years after the Maccabees' triumph. The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebels who fought against the ruler Antiochus IV, who had outlawed Judaism in Judea in 167 B.C.E. The Maccabees were able to take back the Temple and relight the menorah. According to tradition, they found only a small amount of oil, enough for one day, but miraculously, it burned for eight days. This is why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one to light the rest.
The menorah has been a symbol of light and worship for Jews throughout history, and its lighting remains one of the most important parts of the Hanukkah celebration.
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How to light the menorah
A menorah is a candelabra with nine branches for candles, eight of which are placed in a straight line and the ninth is placed at a different elevation. The candle placed at a different elevation is called the shamash or helper candle, which is used to light the other candles. The shamash candle is placed in the centre, and the other eight candles are placed from right to left. The shamash candle is lit first, and then the rest of the candles are lit from left to right. The shamash candle is not blown out and is kept burning in case a candle blows out and needs to be relit.
The menorah is lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, with an additional candle being lit each night. On the first night, the shamash candle is lit along with one other candle. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on. The candles are lit after sundown, at dusk, to symbolise the distinction between darkness and light. However, on Fridays, the menorah is lit before sunset when the Sabbath begins, and on Saturdays, the candles are lit after sunset when the Sabbath has ended.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first, and then the other candles are lit using the shamash, starting with the leftmost one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash candle is lit last.
The menorah is traditionally placed in a window facing the street so that passers-by can see it. This is done to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah.
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The placement of the menorah
The menorah is also placed in public spaces. In the US, the National Menorah has been lit in Lafayette Park since 1979, with the attendance of the President. Since 2001, there has also been an annual White House Hanukkah Party, which includes a menorah candle-lighting ceremony. In the UK, the House of Commons holds a yearly menorah lighting ceremony at the Palace of Westminster.
The placement of the individual candles on the menorah is also important. On the first night of Hanukkah, a candle is placed in the holder farthest to the right. On the second night, a new candle is placed where the first one was, and a second candle is placed immediately to its left. This continues each night, with candles placed from right to left. Once the candles have been placed, the shamash is lit first, and then used to light the other candles from left to right.
The shamash candle is also placed differently from the other eight candles. While the eight main candles must be perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line, the shamash should be higher, lower, or off to the side.
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Frequently asked questions
A menorah has nine candles: eight candles in a row, and one helper candle, known as a shamash, which is set apart from the others.
The nine candles on a menorah commemorate the ancient miracle of the oil lasting eight days when Judah Maccabee and his band of warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
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 add 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 candle and use it to light the other candles from left to right.
A hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The term "hanukkiah" originated among Sephardic Jewish communities in the 18th century. In modern times, the lamp is generally referred to as a chanukkiyah in Hebrew. While the menorah is often associated with Hanukkah, it has a longer history as a symbol of the Jewish faith, dating back to the days of Moses and the First Temple of Jerusalem.
