Ben Carter
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 that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday, with one additional candle lit each night. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. The Hanukkah menorah commemorates the ancient menorah used in the Temple in Jerusalem, which had seven branches, one for each day of Creation, and burned with sacred oil. The Hanukkah candles symbolize the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days, as well as the victory of the Maccabees over the Hellenization of the Jews.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 in total: 8 for each night of the holiday and 1 "helper" candle |
| Candle type | Wax, soy, or oil |
| Candle color | Any, but often blue and white |
| Candle arrangement | The "helper" candle must be offset on a higher or lower plane than the other 8 candles, which must be aligned at the same height and in a straight line |
| Symbolism | The candles symbolize the miraculous oil that burned for 8 days, allowing the Maccabees time to rededicate the temple |
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What You'll Learn
The miracle of oil lasting eight days
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated over eight days. The story of Hanukkah involves a miracle where a small amount of oil burned for eight days. After the Jews defeated the Seleucids, they returned to their temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated. The Jews wanted to rededicate their temple to God by lighting the seven-candle menorah, but they only had one canister of ritually pure oil left. They believed that the oil would only last for one day, but they lit the menorah anyway. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.
The Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiah, has nine branches for candles. Eight of the nine branches hold candles that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are lit. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight candles.
The miracle of the oil is honoured by lighting candles for eight consecutive nights during Hanukkah. The first night, one candle is lit using the shamash, and on the second night, two candles are lit, and so on until the final night when all eight candles are lit.
The Hanukkah menorah commemorates the ancient seven-branched menorah that was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient menorah burned with sacred oil and was never supposed to go out. The Hanukkah menorah echoes this with its nine branches, eight for each night of the holiday and one to light the rest.
The miracle of the oil is also reflected in traditional Hanukkah foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), which are fried in oil.
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The victory of light over darkness
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the victory of light over darkness in multiple ways. Firstly, it celebrates the triumph of a small group of rebels, the Maccabees, who successfully fought against the oppressive rule of the Greek-Syrians or Seleucids, who wanted to outlaw Judaism. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Maccabees' victory allowed the Jewish people to reclaim their temple in Jerusalem and practise their religion freely.
Secondly, Hanukkah commemorates a miracle involving oil. After reclaiming the temple, the Maccabees wanted to rededicate it to God by lighting the seven-candle menorah. They only had enough ritually pure oil for one day, yet miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days. This miracle is reflected in the lighting of candles during Hanukkah, where one additional candle is lit each night, representing the eight days that the single day's worth of oil lasted.
The lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, is a central ritual of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch, called the shamash, or "helper", used to light the other eight. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are illuminated, symbolising the increasing light overcoming the darkness.
The Hanukkah menorah also symbolises the ancient seven-branched menorah that burned in the Temple in Judea, representing the seven days of Creation. The lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees in reclaiming their right to worship freely and practise their religion, bringing light into the darkness of religious oppression.
Through the lighting of the menorah, Hanukkah embodies the idea of illuminating the darkness with the light of God and spiritual enlightenment, as Rabbi Benny Zippel describes. The celebration of Hanukkah, therefore, symbolises the triumph of light over darkness in both a literal and metaphorical sense.
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The Maccabees' triumph over the Seleucids
The Maccabees were a group of Jewish rebel warriors who fought against the tyranny of the Seleucid Empire and its king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, also known as "The Mad". Antiochus saw himself as a god and attempted to exterminate the Jewish religion and its people. He banned many traditional Jewish practices, such as keeping the Sabbath and kosher, and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem, making it the site of a syncretic Pagan-Jewish cult. This sparked a rebellion led by Matthias and his five sons, including Judah Maccabee, whose epithet became synonymous with the group.
The Maccabees employed guerrilla tactics, raiding towns and terrorizing Greek officials, and gradually developed a proper army. They won several battles against minor Seleucid forces, including the Battle of the Ascent of Lebonah in 167 BCE and the Battle of Beth Horon in 166 BCE. In 165 BCE, they achieved a more substantial victory at the Battle of Emmaus. Despite failed negotiations and a large Seleucid army being sent to quash the revolt, the Maccabees continued their triumphal march, capturing Jerusalem in 164 BCE.
Judah Maccabee's sadness at the state of the Temple was tremendous, but he had it cleansed and rededicated, and the candles relit. According to tradition, they found only enough oil to sustain the menorah for one day, yet it miraculously lasted for eight days, leading to the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. The Maccabees had won a significant victory for religious freedom and the re-establishment of Jewish practices, but their fight for independence continued until 134 BCE.
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The rededication of the Temple
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The story of Hanukkah begins in the second century B.C., when the Jewish people were under the rule of the Greek-Syrians, also known as the Seleucids or the Greeks. The Seleucids attempted to Hellenize the Jews, forcing them to disavow their religion and break their religious practices, such as keeping the Sabbath and kosher.
Led by Judah Maccabee, a small group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees fought against the Seleucids. Despite being poorly equipped, the Maccabees emerged victorious, reclaiming the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the Seleucids.
Upon reclaiming the Temple, the Jews wanted to rededicate it to God by lighting the seven-candle menorah, a sacred symbol of Judaism. However, they encountered a challenge as they found only one canister of ritually pure oil, enough to light the menorah for a single day. They lit the menorah anyway, and a miracle occurred—the oil lasted not just for one night, but for eight nights, providing enough time for the Maccabees to find more oil and properly rededicate the Temple.
The Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiah, has nine branches. Eight of these branches hold candles or oil lamps, symbolizing the eight nights of Hanukkah. Each night, an additional candle is lit, representing the increasing light and the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah is a ritual that brings light during the darkest days of winter. It serves as a reminder of the miracle of the oil and the victory of the Maccabees, celebrating the resilience and dedication of the Jewish people in preserving their faith and rededicating their Temple.
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The seven-branched menorah
Over time, the seven-branched menorah has become a powerful emblem of Judaism and the Jewish people. It has been featured in ancient synagogues, decorating tombs, walls, and floors. While the Star of David gained prominence during the early modern period, the menorah re-emerged as a symbol in the 19th century, adopted by Zionists. In the 20th century, the seven-branched candelabra depicted on the Arch of Titus became the official emblem of the state of Israel, underscoring its enduring significance in Jewish culture and history.
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Frequently asked questions
The nine candles on the Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, represent the eight days of Hanukkah, with one candle being lit each night, and the ninth candle, the shamash, being used to light the other eight. The candles symbolise the miracle of the oil that was found in the temple, which burned for eight days.
After the Jews defeated the Seleucids, they returned to their temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated. They wanted to rededicate their temple by lighting the menorah, but they only had enough sacred oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated over eight days.
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 final night when all eight candles are lit.
