Jessie Taylor
The candle holder used during Hanukkah is called a menorah, or a hanukkiah. It 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 being lit on the first night, and an additional candle being lit each night until all eight are lit on the final night. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Hanukkiah, Hanukkah menorah, chanukiah, chanukkiyah, ḥanukkiyah, or chanukkiyot |
| Number of branches | Nine |
| Number of candles | Eight |
| Type of candle | Olive oil was traditionally used, but colourful Jewish Hanukkah candles are now common |
| Ninth branch | Holds the shamash ("helper" or "servant"), which is used to light the other eight |
| Candle placement | Incrementally inserted from right to left, but lit from left to right |
| Candle lighting order | On the first night, the shamash is lit first, followed by the candle on the far right of the menorah. On the second night, the shamash is lit first, followed by the candle closest to the left, and then the candle to the right of it that was lit the night before |
| Blessings | On the first night, three blessings are recited before lighting the menorah. On the second night and all subsequent nights, only the first two blessings are recited |
| Blessings (in Hebrew) | Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Asher Kidshanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu L’hadlik Ner Shel Hanukkah |
| Blessings (in English) | Blessed Are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler Of The Universe, Who Has Sanctified Us With Your Commandments And Commanded Us To Kindle The Lights Of Hanuk |
| Materials | Metal, electric, handmade, battery-operated |
| Other names | Menorah, khanuke lomp |
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What You'll Learn
The candle holder is called a Hanukkiah or Hanukkah menorah
The candle holder used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is called a Hanukkiah or Hanukkah menorah. It is a nine-branched candelabrum, commemorating the ancient Temple menorah in Jerusalem, which had seven branches. The Hanukkiah has eight branches of the same height to hold candles or oil lamps, plus a ninth branch, set higher than the rest, which holds the shamash, or "helper" candle. This candle is used to light the other eight.
The Hanukkiah is lit over eight days, with one more light added each night until, on the final night, all eight branches are lit. The miracle of the oil is honoured in this ritual, as it recalls the story of the Maccabees, who, after overthrowing the wicked King Antiochus and reclaiming their Temple, found only enough oil to light the lamps for one night. However, the oil burned for eight days, allowing them time to make new pure oil.
The Hanukkiah is also known as the chanukkiyah in Modern Hebrew, a term that originated in the 18th century among Sephardic Jewish communities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Hanukkah menorah is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art, and Hanukkiahs can be found in museums around the world, including the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Jewish Museum in London.
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It has nine branches, one for each night of Hanukkah
The candle holder used during Hanukkah is called a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah. It has nine branches—eight branches that hold candles or oil lamps, and a ninth branch that holds a candle called the shamash, or "helper" or "servant" candle, which is used to light the other eight. The nine branches of the hanukkiah correspond to the eight nights of Hanukkah, with one additional branch to light the others. Each night, one more light is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are lit.
The hanukkiah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah, which was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The nine-branched hanukkiah commemorates the miracle of the oil that is celebrated during Hanukkah. According to the Talmud, after the Seleucid desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough sealed and consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was enough time to make new pure oil.
The Hanukkah menorah or hanukkiah comes in many shapes and sizes and can be made from various materials, including metal, electric, or battery-operated. They are often decorated with intricate Hebraic symbols. The right Hanukkah menorah can be a family heirloom passed down through generations.
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The ninth branch, called the shamash, is used to light the other eight
The candle holder used during Hanukkah is called a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah. It is a nine-branched candelabrum, lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, which symbolise the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch, called the shamash, is used to light the other eight. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the eight candles or oil lamps. This is in keeping with strict Jewish law, which dictates that the ninth branch should be set higher than the other eight.
The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah, which was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The nine-branched Hanukkah menorah commemorates the miracle of the oil, when there was only enough oil to light the Temple for one day, but it burned for eight days. This miracle is honoured in the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, with a new candle lit each night until all eight are shining brightly on the final night.
The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah is a significant ritual, with the shamash candle lit first, followed by the other eight candles, added from right to left and lit from left to right. The Hanukkah menorah is often a cherished family heirloom, passed down through generations. It holds symbolic importance in Judaism and is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art.
The term hanukkiah, or chanukkiyah, originated among Sephardic Jewish communities in the Eastern Mediterranean during the 18th century. It was later introduced into Modern Hebrew, where it is now the general term for the Hanukkah lamp.
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Olive oil was traditionally used instead of candles
The candle holder used for Hanukkah is called a Hanukkiah, Hanukkah menorah, or chanukiah. It is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight branches holding candles or oil lamps and the ninth branch holding a shamash, or "helper" candle, used to light the other eight.
The use of olive oil in Hanukkah also commemorates the miracle of the cruse of oil, or the "Miracle of Hanukkah". After the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt, a small jug of pure olive oil that was expected to last one day miraculously lasted for eight days. This miracle is celebrated during the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, with one candle lit on the first night and an additional candle lit each night.
Today, olive oil can still be used in menorahs, either by purchasing an oil menorah or adapting an existing one. Traditional menorahs did not use candles, they used oil. Fried foods are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah to commemorate the significance of oil in the holiday.
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Menorahs are also electric or decorative
The candle holder used during Hanukkah is called a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah. It 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 added each night until all eight are lit on the final night. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, which is now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is also symbolic, and comes in many shapes and sizes.
Some modern followers of the Jewish religion have turned to electric menorahs, which use light bulbs instead of candles, for decorative purposes. Menorahs can also be decorative shelf pieces, with intricate Hebraic symbols carved into them. They can be made of metal, be handmade, or designed for children.
In the US, the White House has been represented at the lighting of the National Menorah since 1979, and a hanukkiah is also lit at the White House each year.
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Frequently asked questions
The candle holder used for Hanukkah is called a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah.
A hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, and the ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight.
The hanukkiah commemorates the miracle of the oil that took place over 2300 years ago. After the Seleucid desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough sealed, consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was enough time to make new pure oil.
Hanukkiot are available for purchase online, at shops such as Amazon, and in museums, such as the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Jewish Museum in London.
