Menorahs Hold A Very Special Arrangement Of Nine Menorah Candles. Eight Of The Candles Are For Each Night Of Chanukah, And The Highest Candle, Known As The Shamash Or "Servant", Is Used To Light The Other Menorah Candles. Some Modern Followers Of The Jewish Religion Have Turned To Electric Menorahs, Which Use Light Bulbs Instead Of Candles, For Decoration Purposes.
Menorahs Play An Important Symbolic Role In The Celebration Of Chanukah. Over 2300 Years Ago In A Country Called Judea (Israel) There Lived Many Hebrew, Or Jewish People. There Also Lived A Very Wicked King, Antiochus, Who Ordered All The Jewish People To Give Up Their God, Religion, And Customs And Worship Only The Greek Gods. Jewish Temples Were Destroyed Or Used For His Purposes And Those Followers Who Would Not Worship How He Commanded Were Severely Punished.
After Years And Many Battles The Maccabees, Who Were Fighting For The Right Of Judaism, Overthrew The Wicked King And Took Back Their Temple. (Remember Chanukah/Hanukkah Means "Rededication.") Upon Finding Oil To Light The Lamps, They Realized There Was Only Enough To Light The Lamps For One Night. That Oil Miraculously Lasted Eight Nights! This Is Why The Menorah Has Eight Candles. Each Of The Menorah Candles Represents A Night That The Oil Kept The Lights Of The Holy Temple Burning.
On The First Night Of Hanukkah One Candle Is Lit And This Continues For Eight Days Until All Eight Candles Are Shining Brightly. Menorahs Remind People Of The Miracle That Happened. Long Ago Olive Oil Was Used, But Over The Years Colorful Jewish Hanukkah Candles Have Been Substituted.
In Israel, Menorahs Are Called Hanukiyahs. They Come In All Shapes And Sizes And Resemble The One Found In the Holy Temple. The Right Hanukkah Menorah Can Be A Family Heirloom That Survives Generations. Traditions Jewish Gifts Offers A Wide Selection, In Many Of The Popular Styles Including, Metal, Electric, Hand Made, For Kids And Battery Operated Menorahs.
On Each Night Of Hanukkah You Start By Lighting The Shamash Candle, Which Is Always At A Different Height Than The Other Eight Candles On The Menorah.
Sound A Bit Confusing? Take A Look At Our Video For A Better Understanding.
On The First Night Of Hanukkah You Recite The Following Three Blessings Before Lighting The Menorah. On The Second Night And All Subsequent Nights After You Only Say The First Two Blessings.