Menorah

What is the Menorah?

The menorah is a 7 branch lampstand that stood in the Temple and provided light. A description of what the Menorah looked like can be found in Exodus 25:31-40 and Exodus 37:17-24. Rising from its base, six branches (three on each side) curved upward from a central shaft. The shaft and each of the branches were ornamented with various cups, knops, and flowers of almond blossoms, and the entire menorah was carved from a single ingot of gold. While the measurements of the menorah are not given in the Bible, the Talmud states that its height was “18 handbreadths” (Menahot 28b)

The Rabbis interpreted the menorah as a symbol of Israel and its mission to be “a light unto the nations”

How were the Menorahs presented in the temple?

During the time of the First temple at least 11 menorahs where used. The Menorah fashioned under the direction of Moses and 10 others fashioned at the direction of Solomon. 5 stood on the right side and 5 stood on the left. 2 Chronicles 4:7

The Menorahs were lit at dusk; and in the morning by the Kohen Gadol, it was the duty of the Kohanim to remove the burnt wicks, replace them with fresh ones, and fill the Menorahs with absolutely pure olive oil. Exodus 30:7-8

Why do some Menorah’s have 7 branches and others 9?

The original menorah made for the Tabernacle in the desert and the ones in the Holy Temples, had 7 branches (6 + the center), as directed in Exodus 25:31-32.

The Chanukah menorah or Chanukiah commemorates the 8-day miracle of Chanukah, which we celebrate Chanukah for 8 days. Therefore the Chanukah Menorah has 8 branches, one for each night, with a ninth one used as the Shamash or servant, set some what apart from the others.