The Hanukkah Menorah, or Chanukkiyah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the
eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The ninth branch is for a candle used to light all other candles
called the shamash. The Hanukkah Menorah has two branches more than a menorah. In the
diaspora, the chanukkiyah is also commonly called a "Hanukkah menorah". The name
"chanukkiyah" was given only in the end of the nineteenth century in Jerusalem by the wife of
Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the revivor of the Hebrew language.
eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The ninth branch is for a candle used to light all other candles
called the shamash. The Hanukkah Menorah has two branches more than a menorah. In the
diaspora, the chanukkiyah is also commonly called a "Hanukkah menorah". The name
"chanukkiyah" was given only in the end of the nineteenth century in Jerusalem by the wife of
Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the revivor of the Hebrew language.
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple after the successful Jewish revolt
against the Seleucid monarchy. According to the Talmud, the victorious Jews found only
enough ritually pure olive oil to light the menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously
lasted eight days until a new supply could be obtained. In celebration of this miracle, the
Hanukkah menorah has eight branches for eight candles or oil lamps, none higher than any
other, except for one higher branch for the auxiliary candle, or shamash, which guards
against secular use of the other lights and is also used to light them. The common reason for
the number of the candles is that they symbolize the eight days of the miracle. Each night an
additional light is kindled – one on the first night, two on the second night; and so on – until
on the eighth night of Hanukkah all eight lights, plus the shamash, are lit. Another possible
reason for the eight branches of the Hanukkah menorah, as opposed to the seven in the
traditional menorah in the temple, may be because according to halakha, it is forbbiden to
make a menorah similar to the one in the temple because of its sanctity.
against the Seleucid monarchy. According to the Talmud, the victorious Jews found only
enough ritually pure olive oil to light the menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously
lasted eight days until a new supply could be obtained. In celebration of this miracle, the
Hanukkah menorah has eight branches for eight candles or oil lamps, none higher than any
other, except for one higher branch for the auxiliary candle, or shamash, which guards
against secular use of the other lights and is also used to light them. The common reason for
the number of the candles is that they symbolize the eight days of the miracle. Each night an
additional light is kindled – one on the first night, two on the second night; and so on – until
on the eighth night of Hanukkah all eight lights, plus the shamash, are lit. Another possible
reason for the eight branches of the Hanukkah menorah, as opposed to the seven in the
traditional menorah in the temple, may be because according to halakha, it is forbbiden to
make a menorah similar to the one in the temple because of its sanctity.
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Another interpretation for the eight-day ceremony is that it commemorates the story of Hannah
and her seven sons. The story depicted in the Talmud and in the Book of Maccabees accounts
how Hannah's seven sons were tortured and executed according to Antiochus' policy when
they refused to bow to a statue and to taste pork. Hannah herself committed suicide after the
death of her sons.
and her seven sons. The story depicted in the Talmud and in the Book of Maccabees accounts
how Hannah's seven sons were tortured and executed according to Antiochus' policy when
they refused to bow to a statue and to taste pork. Hannah herself committed suicide after the
death of her sons.
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Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew
calendar (which is November-December on the Gregorian calendar). In Hebrew, the word
"Hanukkah" means "dedication."
The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews'
165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed
Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods.
In 168 B.C.E. the Jews' holy Temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus.
Some Jews were afraid of the Greek soldiers and obeyed them, but most were angry and
decided to fight back.
The fighting began in Modiin, a village not far from Jerusalem. A Greek officer and soldiers
assembled the villagers, asking them to bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig, activities
forbidden to Jews. The officer asked Mattathias, a Jewish High Priest, to take part in the
ceremony. He refused, and another villager stepped forward and offered to do it instead.
Mattathias became outraged, took out his sword and killed the man, then killed the officer. His
five sons and the other villagers then attacked and killed the soldiers. Mattathias' family went
into hiding in the nearby mountains, where many other Jews who wanted to fight the Greeks
joined them. They attacked the Greek soldiers whenever possible.
Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the holy Temple, and were saddened that many
things were missing or broken, including the golden menorah. They cleaned and repaired the
Temple, and when they were finished, they decided to have a big dedication ceremony. For
the celebration, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah. They looked everywhere for oil,
and found a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day.
Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This gave them enough time to obtain new oil to
keep the menorah lit. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a
menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.
calendar (which is November-December on the Gregorian calendar). In Hebrew, the word
"Hanukkah" means "dedication."
The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews'
165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed
Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods.
In 168 B.C.E. the Jews' holy Temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus.
Some Jews were afraid of the Greek soldiers and obeyed them, but most were angry and
decided to fight back.
The fighting began in Modiin, a village not far from Jerusalem. A Greek officer and soldiers
assembled the villagers, asking them to bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig, activities
forbidden to Jews. The officer asked Mattathias, a Jewish High Priest, to take part in the
ceremony. He refused, and another villager stepped forward and offered to do it instead.
Mattathias became outraged, took out his sword and killed the man, then killed the officer. His
five sons and the other villagers then attacked and killed the soldiers. Mattathias' family went
into hiding in the nearby mountains, where many other Jews who wanted to fight the Greeks
joined them. They attacked the Greek soldiers whenever possible.
Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the holy Temple, and were saddened that many
things were missing or broken, including the golden menorah. They cleaned and repaired the
Temple, and when they were finished, they decided to have a big dedication ceremony. For
the celebration, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah. They looked everywhere for oil,
and found a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day.
Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This gave them enough time to obtain new oil to
keep the menorah lit. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a
menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.
The History of Hanukkah
