Ben Carter
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, is a candelabrum with nine branches. Eight of these branches hold a candle for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, with one additional candle, known as the shamash, used to light the others. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other candles. The hanukkiah is often displayed in public during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, with elected officials participating in lighting ceremonies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 |
| Number of branches | 9 |
| Number of candles lit on the first night | 2 |
| Number of candles lit on the second night | 3 |
| Number of candles lit on the final night | 9 |
| Name of the candle used to light the other eight | Shamash |
| Location of the Shamash | Higher, lower, or off to the side |
| Name of the lamp in English | Menorah |
| Name of the lamp in Hebrew | Chanukkiyah |
| Name of the lamp in Modern Hebrew | Hanukkiah |
| Height of the two large Hanukkiahs in New York City | 32 feet |
| Location of the two large Hanukkiahs in New York City | Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan near Central Park |
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What You'll Learn
The Hanukkiah has nine candles
The Hanukkiah, also known as the Hanukkah menorah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of these branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch holding a helper candle known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. Each night of Hanukkah, an additional light is kindled, with one more candle being lit than the previous night. This continues until the final night when all eight branches are lit, resulting in a total of nine burning candles, including the shamash.
The Hanukkiah symbolises the ancient miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. This miracle is associated with the story of Judah Maccabee and his warriors, who successfully fought against oppression and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They found only a small amount of oil, enough for one night, but it miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing them time to rededicate the Temple.
The lighting of the Hanukkiah is a significant tradition during Hanukkah. On the first night, a candle is placed in the holder on the far right, and the shamash is lit. Blessings are recited, and then the shamash is used to light the first candle from left to right. On subsequent nights, new candles are added from right to left, and the shamash is used to light them in the opposite direction, always lighting the newest candle first.
The Hanukkiah is often displayed and lit publicly during Hanukkah, with elected officials participating in lighting ceremonies. The Chabad-Lubavitch movement is particularly associated with these public celebrations, which have been ongoing since 1987. In the United States, the White House has participated in the lighting of the National Menorah since 1979, and the House of Commons in the United Kingdom holds an annual lighting ceremony at the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
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Eight candles represent the eight nights of Hanukkah
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, representing the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit, and on each subsequent night, one more candle is lit until the final night when all eight branches are illuminated. This practice commemorates the ancient miracle of the oil lasting for eight days when Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The lighting of the hanukkiah is a widely recognised symbol of Hanukkah. The candelabrum is often displayed in windows or on windowsills during the holiday, shining a light through the darkness of winter. The tradition of lighting the hanukkiah has been embraced by world leaders, including US presidents who have participated in public lighting ceremonies at the White House and the National Menorah in Lafayette Park.
The hanukkiah is also known by other names, such as the "Chanukkiyah" in Modern Hebrew and simply the menorah or Hanukkah menorah in English. The term "chanukkiyah" originated within Sephardic communities in the 18th century and was introduced into Modern Hebrew by Hemda Ben-Yehuda. The hanukkiah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, which held significance in Jewish ceremonial art.
The arrangement of the hanukkiah's branches may vary, with differing opinions on whether the lights must be in a straight line or if the hanukkiah can be curved. However, the shamash branch should be offset on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles to distinguish it from the others. The lighting of the hanukkiah follows a specific order, with candles placed from right to left and lit from left to right, always lighting the newest candle first.
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One helper candle, the shamash, lights the others
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 candle, the shamash, acting as the helper candle and lighting the other eight. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles.
The lighting of the hanukkiah is a well-known Hanukkah tradition. The candles are lit to celebrate an ancient miracle: when Judah Maccabee and his warriors fought back against oppression and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They found only a tiny amount of oil—enough for just one night—but miraculously, it burned for eight nights.
The hanukkiah is often displayed and lit publicly during Hanukkah. Elected officials often participate in these public lighting ceremonies. For example, since 1979, the White House has been represented at the lighting of the National Menorah. In 1993, President Bill Clinton lit a hanukkiah at the White House, and in 2001, President George W. Bush began the annual tradition of a White House Hanukkah Party, which includes a hanukkiah candle-lighting ceremony.
The lighting of the hanukkiah is a meaningful tradition for Jews around the world. The candles are lit to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting for eight nights, and to wish each other a happy Hanukkah.
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The shamash is set apart from the other candles
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, and the ninth branch holds a candle known as the shamash, or "helper". The shamash is used to light the other eight candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash is lit along with one other candle. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are burning, and so on, until the final night when all eight candles are lit, in addition to the shamash. This practice symbolizes the eight nights that a small amount of oil miraculously burned for in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.
The shamash is an integral part of the Hanukkah tradition, and its unique role sets it apart from the other candles on the hanukkiah.
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The shamash is lit first, then the other candles
The Hanukkah menorah, or 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", which is used to light the other eight.
The shamash is always lit first, and it is placed on a higher, lower, or offset plane than the other eight candles. The shamash is used to light a new candle each night, until on the final night, all eight branches are ignited.
The lighting of the hanukkiah is a ceremony that takes place over the eight nights of Hanukkah. On the first night, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on.
There are differing traditions regarding the lighting of the shamash itself. Ashkenazi Jews use the shamash to light the other candles, while Sephardi Jews use a separate source of fire, such as a lighter, to light all candles, including the shamash.
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Frequently asked questions
The Hanukiah, or Hanukkah menorah, has nine candles: eight candles in a row, and one helper candle, known as the shamash.
The shamash candle is set apart from the other eight and is used to light them.
On the first night, you light the shamash and one other candle.
Each night, one more candle is lit, so on the second night, two candles are lit, and so on, until the final night when all eight candles and the shamash are burning.
The eight candles represent the eight nights that a small amount of oil miraculously lasted for when Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
