Chloe Adams
The menorah, also known as the Hanukkah menorah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The nine candles consist of eight candles representing the eight days of Hanukkah and a ninth candle, known as the shamash, used to light the other eight. The shamash is placed separately, either higher or lower than the other eight candles. The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The nine-branched menorah is also known as the hanukkiah and is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 |
| Name of the ninth candle | Shamash |
| Purpose of the ninth candle | To light the other 8 candles |
| Placement of the ninth candle | Set apart from the other 8 candles, often higher or lower |
| Reason for the ninth candle | By traditional Jewish law, the lights of the other 8 candles are not meant to be used for practical purposes |
| Reason for the 8 candles | They represent the 8 days of Chanukah |
| Other names | Chanukiah, Hanukkiah, Chanukkiyah, Hanukkiyah |
| History | The Hanukkah menorah came to be recognized as a distinctively Jewish symbol after the destruction of the Second Temple |
| Other types | LED menorahs, menorahs that use birthday candles |
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What You'll Learn
The shamash candle
The shamash is the ninth candle on a Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah. The shamash is set apart from the other eight candles, often on a higher or lower plane, and is used to light them. The shamash is known as the "attendant" or "helper" candle.
The shamash is typically placed higher than the other eight candles, symbolising that a person who serves others becomes great by helping others to achieve greatness. However, it is not a requirement for the shamash to be higher than the other candles, only that it is distinguishable from them. The shamash can be placed to the side, in front of, or behind the other candles.
The shamash is not a mitzvah candle, but it is important because it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah. The shamash is often made from beeswax and is left lit after the other candles have been kindled, in case it is needed to light a candle that blows out. The shamash preserves the sanctity of the mitzvah lights, as it is forbidden to use the Chanukah lights for any practical reason.
The shamash serves as a lesson to educators and leaders, symbolising that the path to elevation is through sharing knowledge and helping others to achieve their potential.
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The miracle of the oil
The story goes that after the Maccabees expelled the Seleucids from Jerusalem, the Second Temple had to be purified and rededicated due to the defilement inflicted by the Seleucids. Lighting the Menorah was a key component of the rededication ritual, and it needed to burn for eight nights. However, only a single cruse of untainted olive oil was found, bearing the seal of the High Priest, and it was enough for only one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for all eight nights, and by the end of this period, new pure oil was ready.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, has nine branches to commemorate the miracle. Eight branches hold candles or oil lamps, representing the eight nights of Hanukkah. Each night, an additional light is lit until all eight branches are illuminated on the final night. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper," which is used to light the other eight. The shamash is typically placed on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles to set it apart.
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The nine-branched menorah
The shamash is typically placed higher or lower than the other eight candles. The shamash serves as a reminder to leaders and educators that they should use their superior skills to help others. The eight candles represent the endurance of Jewish faith and identity under difficult circumstances. The ninth branch, the shamash, represents human effort and the spark that ignites the miracle.
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The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem and the victory of the Maccabees over the forces of the Seleucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in the 2nd century BCE. This victory marked the first time the Jews fought to defend their religious beliefs rather than their lives.
The festival is observed by lighting a candle on a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. 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 additional candle is lit by the shamash until, on the final night, all eight branches are lit. The shamash is usually placed higher or lower than the other eight candles, and it is forbidden to use its flame for any practical purpose.
Hanukkah is celebrated with nightly menorah lightings, special prayers, singing, and fried foods. In the Ashkenazi tradition, the hymn Ma'oz Tzur is sung each night after the lighting of the candles. The song was composed in the 13th century and deals with themes of divine salvation and Jewish persecution.
The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar, beginning on the 25th day of Kislev and concluding on the second or third day of Tevet. In the Gregorian calendar, this usually falls between November 28 and December 27.
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The history of the menorah
The menorah is a lamp with a long history in Judaism. The word 'menorah' comes from the Hebrew for 'lamp' and the original menorah is said to have had seven branches, one for each day of the Creation. The seven lamps also allude to the branches of human knowledge, with the six outer lamps being guided by the central lamp, which represents the light of God. The menorah was originally made of pure gold and burned in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The menorah became a symbol of Judaism after the Second Temple was destroyed. It was used to distinguish synagogues and Jewish cemeteries from those of other religions. The nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a later variant of the original menorah. It has eight branches that hold candles or oil lamps, representing the eight days of Hanukkah, and a ninth branch that holds the shamash, or 'helper' candle, which is used to light the others. The shamash is usually set apart from the other candles, either higher or lower.
The Hanukkah menorah commemorates the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting for eight days after the Jewish people reclaimed the Temple from the Seleucids, who had desecrated it and outlawed Judaism. The miracle of the oil is not mentioned in the story of Chanukah in Maccabees but was likely added later to emphasise the religious nature of the holiday.
Today, the menorah is still used as a symbol of light in Judaism. The White House has been represented at the lighting of the National Menorah since 1979, and the lighting of the hanukkiah is also celebrated at the White House and the House of Commons in the UK.
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Frequently asked questions
A menorah is a candelabrum with a specific number of branches. The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, has nine branches, eight of which hold candles or oil lamps, and one of which holds a candle called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight.
The nine branches of the Hanukkah menorah represent the eight days of Hanukkah, with one candle lit on each night, and the ninth branch, the shamash, used to light the other eight. The shamash is placed higher or lower than the other candles to distinguish it as the "attendant" candle.
The nine-branched menorah is closely associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The menorah is believed to have originated in the second century B.C.E. and the nine-branched variant is believed to have come into use after the Seleucid desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
