What Is a Menorah?
The word “menorah” is Hebrew for “lamp,” and generally refers to either the seven-branched golden candelabra that was lit every day in the Tabernacle, and then the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, or the eight-flamed lamp that is lit on the eight nights of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah.
The Temple Menorah
G‑d tells Moses what the menorah should look like.1 Hammered out of a single chunk of pure gold, it comprises a single stem from which six branches extend on an upward slant. On the tip of each of the branches, as well as on the central stem, are cups into which olive oil and wicks are to be placed. The menorah is a highly elaborate affair, with nine decorative flowers, eleven bulbs, and twenty-two inverted goblets.
The menorah was placed in the Holy (Kodesh), the same chamber in the Tabernacle that housed the show-bread table (shulchan) and the golden incense altar (mizbe’ach hazahav). Every day, Aaron the High Priest (or his successors) would light the menorah.
Built in the desert along with the rest of the Tabernacle, the menorah was brought into the Promised Land, where it was faithfully lit in Shilo, Nob, and the other places where the Tabernacle was stationed. When Solomon built the first Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the menorah was lit there until that Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
When the second Holy Temple was built by Ezra, a new menorah was fashioned and lit every day. This leads us directly to the second kind of menorah.
The Chanukah Menorah
In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple and rededicated it to the service of G‑d.
When they sought to light the menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah, and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah.
Read the complete story of Chanukah
On every night of Chanukah, another flame is lit: one the first day, two the second day etc., until eight flames are burning on the eighth night. There is an additional candle, known as the shamash (lit. “helper”) from which the flames are lit. The specially crafted implement on which the Chanukah flames are lit is known as a menorah (or chanukiah in modern Hebrew).
Differences Between the Temple Menorah and the Chanukah Menorah
The design of the Chanukah menorah may (but need not) be similar to the original menorah, with some important differences:
- The menorah in the Holy Temple had seven branches, while the Chanukah menorah has eight (plus the shamash).
- The Temple menorah was made of gold, and the Chanukah menorah can be made of any (fire-safe) material.
- The menorah in the Holy Temple was lit indoors, while the Chanukah menorah is lit outside, at the front door facing the street (though in many communities it is customary to light indoors near a door or window.)
- The menorah in the Holy Temple was lit during the daytime, while we light the Chanukah menorah after sundown, letting it burn into the night.2
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, explains that there is significance to these differences. The number seven represents the natural order of the world, as reflected in the seven days of creation and the seven days of the week. Eight represents a step beyond nature: the supernatural, the transcendent. The Temple was a place of holiness and revealed G‑dliness, and the seven lights of the menorah were enough to light up the Temple and the world around it. Nowadays, there is more spiritual darkness in the world, and G‑dliness is concealed. We need to reach beyond the limitations of nature and tap into a higher level of holiness in order to illuminate the darkness outside. The eight lights of our Chanukah menorahs, burning in the night, transform the world into a G‑dly, light-filled place.3
For more on this topic, see What is the Spiritual Significance of the Number Eight? and Sunlight Pales in Comparison.
Happy Chanukah!
Menorah FAQ
What is a menorah and where is it used?
A menorah, Hebrew for “lamp,” generally refers to two specific candelabras: the seven-branched golden menorah lit daily in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, or the eight-flame lamp lit each night of Chanukah.
Read: 16 Menorah Facts Every Jew Should Know
What is the difference between the Temple menorah and the one lit on Chanukah?
The Temple menorah had seven branches, was made of gold, and was lit each day. The Chanukah menorah (also called a chanukiah) has eight branches, to be lit over the eight days of the festival, as well as a shamash—an additional arm used to kindle the others.
Read: 14 Facts About the Menorah in the Holy Temple
What is the story behind the Chanukah menorah, and why is it lit for eight days?
The Chanukah menorah commemorates the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After the Maccabees drove away their Greek oppressors and reclaimed the Holy Temple, they found only enough uncontaminated oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, it lasted for eight days, until they could procure more, hence the tradition of lighting the Chanukah menorah for eight days.
Read: The Complete Story of Chanukah
What materials are acceptable for making a Chanukah menorah?
The Chanukah menorah can be made from any fire-safe material. Unlike the Temple menorah, there is lots of room for creativity, provided that all eight candles are in a row, and you have a spot for the shamash.
Read: What Constitutes a Kosher Chanukah Menorah?
Were the Temple menorah’s branches rounded or straight?
Historically, the Temple menorah has been depicted with curved branches, as is seen on the Arch of Titus. Traditional Jewish sources, however, including Maimonides and Rashi, depict it with diagonal branches.
Read: Why Insist on Depicting a Straight-Branched Menorah?
What fuel is used in the menorah?
For the Temple menorah, only pure oil could be used. For the Chanukah menorah, any safe, reliable, not smelly fuel that creates a steady flame is acceptable (including candles), but olive oil is ideal.
Read: What’s With the Candles?
How does one properly light a Chanukah menorah?
The Chanukah menorah is lit from left to right, but the candles are placed from right to left. A helper candle, called the shamash, is used to light the other candles. On the first night, one candle is lit. Each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit until all eight candles (in addition to the shamash) are lit on the final night.
Read: How to Light the Menorah
Can a digital or electric menorah be used for Chanukah?
While electric menorahs can be used as decorative items or to publicize the miracle of Chanukah, they do not fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. The mitzvah requires kindling a flame, which can't be achieved with an electric or digital menorah.
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