Menora
What does the 7 candles in a menorah stand for?
The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days , with the center light representing the Sabbath.
How many candles are on a Hanukkah candelabra?
The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration is the hanukkiah or menorah, a candelabra that holds nine candles . Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others.
What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?
Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew . The eight-day holiday celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after it was retaken by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, from the Greeks in the 2nd century BCE, as explained by Tablet magazine.
Do you put all the candles in the menorah at once?
Add the other candles.
Every night of Chanukah, you add one more candle. On the first night of Chanukah, place a candle in the right-most slot . After the first night of Chanukah, add one candle for each night, starting from the right-most slot and going left.
Is the menorah 7 or 9 candles?
A menorah, which has only seven candleholders , was the lamp used in the ancient holy temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. ... A Hanukkiah, however, has nine candlesticks — one for each night of Hanukkah and an extra one to light the others.
What are the 3 Hanukkah blessings?
The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Is the menorah mentioned in the Bible?
The menorah is first mentioned in the biblical book of Exodus (25:31–40) , according to which the design of the lamp was revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
What are Hanukkah symbols?
- Hanukkiah. The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukkiah, the nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night, and can often be seen in house windows. ...
- Shammash. ...
- Dreidel (or sevivon) ...
- Hanukkah ‘gelt' ...
- Fried food. ...
- Maccabees.
What happens on each day of Hanukkah?
During Hanukkah, on each of the eight nights, a candle is lit in a special menorah (candelabra) called a ‘hanukkiyah' . ... On the first night one candle is lit, on the second night, two are lit until all are lit on the eighth and final night of the festival. Traditionally they are lit from left to right.
What is the story behind Hanukkah?
The story of Hanukkah celebrates the tale of the Maccabees, who defeated the Greek King Antiochus' troops after a three year war . It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the 167-160 BCE revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
Which candle is lit first on the menorah?
On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash . Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit). On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash.
Do you light Hanukkah candles left right?
The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left , the same direction in which one reads Hebrew. However, when lighting the menorah you move in the opposite direction, using the shamash to the light the candles from left to right.
Is it OK to say Happy Hanukkah?
What is the proper greeting for Hanukkah? To wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, say “ Hanukkah Sameach!” (Happy Hanukkah) or simply “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday).
Why is there a 9 branch menorah?
The ninth lamp is called a shamash, a “servator,” and it symbolically differentiates the eight holy flames from other, mundane light sources . It is usually used to light the other eight.
What does the menorah stand for?
What is the origin of the menorah? In Hebrew, the word menorah means “lamp .” The ancient menorah had seven branches—one for each day of Creation—and it burned in the Temple in what was then Judea, a small area caught in the middle of conflict between the Egyptian empire and the Greek-Assyrian empire.
