Hanukkah and the Menorah

The menorah has long been a symbol of Hanukkah. Each year, these interestingly shaped candlesticks appear in shop windows and as decorations for holiday tables. But what does the menorah stand for? Where did it come from?

History of the Menorrah

The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish religion. Today what we call a menorah is really a hanukkiyah, a type of modern menorah. It is a candelabrum that has eight arms plus one arm strictly for the lighting candle. In ancient times, the menorah had seven arms, and this was the customary version menorahs were made in. The menorah, in ancient times, was part of the Holy Temple of the Jewish people. When the Greeks set out to put an end to the Jewish religion, the menorah became a symbol of the Jewish faith. Every evening, the menorah would be lit in the Holy Temple and then it would cleaned out every morning. There was a person assigned to clean it each morning and put fresh olive oil and wicks into it. During the war with the Greeks, many of the Holy Temple’s religious objects of celebration were destroyed or damaged. When three years of war had ended, Jews went into the Holy Temple to assess the damage. They found that many of their sacred objects had been stolen. But they found their menorah and went to clean it and light it. The Jewish men discovered that there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one night. So they lit it and prayed. The menorah stayed lit for a full eight days. This miraculous provision of light is why Hanukkah is celebrated. The Jews celebrate the protection and abundance they were blessed with.

Hanukkah Traditions Today

Today’s Hanukkah celebrations commemorate the miracle of the Holy Temple. There are eight branches of the menorah, compared with the seven branches of the menorahs of old. Each night of the Hanukkah festival, a different candle is lit, one for each night the menorah burned. The lighting takes place at sunset with a blessing being said over the menorah. One light will be lit by the starter candle. It is the candle to the far right. That first light is never to be blown out, but runs down on its own. The next night two candles are lit, one next to the other. It is the candle to the left of the first candle that is lit the second night. New wicks and oil or new candles can be brought in to replenish the ones that have burned down. The candles are always lit from left to right so that the first candle is not always the first one lit. This would suggest that the first night of the miracle was more important than the rest, when all were equally miraculous. The tradition is to put the menorah in a window so passersby can see the light and be reminded of the miracle of the oil. The menorah cannot be used for any other purpose but as a symbol of the miracle. It is not supposed to be used instead of overhead lights for reading or eating or carrying on activities. Today’s menorahs range in style from the elaborate to the more subdued. Each has its own style and is used to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

About The Author
Barbara Peterson is a regular blog contributor at http://www.holiday-gifts-gift-baskets.com/ where she shares tips for creating seasonal DIY crafts, ideas for making Hanukkah gift baskets, and holiday party planning suggestions.

Creative commons photo credit: Elana's Pantry from Flickr.