Menorah? Chanukiah? 7 Branches? 9 Branches?
Confused?
Trust me, you’re not the first one…
Allow me to explain…
Table of Contents
7 Branch Menorah
Before Hanukkah Menorahs became a “thing”, there was only one single Menorah – the ancient golden candelabra from the Jewish temple.
The original golden Menorah had 7 branches: three branches on each side and one main branch at the center. Each branch had a dedicated oil cup that was lit using olive oil.
The Menorah incorporates several important Jewish themes:
- Light: According to the Talmud, the Menorah is a symbol of enlightenment. The central branch represents the light of God, emanating light to the other six branches – a symbol of human knowledge. Light is often used in Judaism as a metaphor for wisdom and divine emanations.
- 7 Branches: The 7 branches are a symbol of completion. The number 7 is a recurring theme in Judaism: the 7 days of creation, the holy Sabbath – the 7th day of the week (represented by the Menorah’s central branch), the 7 days of mourning (Shiva)…
- Gold: The Menorah was made of pure gold. Gold is a metaphor for perfection – it highlights the importance of aspiring to achieve perfection of character, and emanating our “light” onto others (enlightenment, remember?).
To this day, the Menorah remains one of the most widely used Jewish symbols in the world. Throughout the years, It was used in a wide variety of fields, ranging from art, coins, synagogues, jewelry, and logos – including the official emblem of the state of Israel.
Nowadays, 7 branch Menorahs (the “regular” Menorah) are mostly used for decorative purposes. It can’t be used as a Hanukkah Menorah.
On Hanukkah, we use the…
9 Branch Menorah (Chanukiah)
The 9 branch candelabra, also known as Hanukkah Menorah or Chanukiah (sometimes spelled “Hanukkiah” or “Chanukkiyah”), is the lamp that Jews light during the 8 days of Hanukkah. The Menorah is comprised of 8 branches – one for each day of Hanukkah, plus another one for the Shamash – the “helper” candle.
Did You Know?
The term “Menorah” literally means “lamp” in Hebrew. Since the same term was used to describe two different types of Menorahs (the regular Menorah and the Hanukkah Menorah), Jews later created the word “Chanukiah” – derived from the word “Hanukkah” – to distinguish between the two and finally put an end to the confusion.
Unfortunately, this addition hasn’t really caught on in most of the Jewish world (except for Israel), and most Jews still refer to the Chanukiah as “Menorah”. And so the confusion lives on!
We celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle that took place in the Jewish temple during the revolt of the Maccabees against Antiochus and the Syrians.
As the story goes – when the Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee, finally liberated Jerusalem and reclaimed the Jewish temple, they used the small amount of oil they had to light the Menorah. Even though the oil was barely enough to last for one day, it miraculously lit the Menorah for 8 whole days…
That, ladies and gentlemen, marked the birth of Hanukkah! And Jews have been lighting Hanukkah Menorahs ever since!
A Kosher Chanukiah has two requirements:
- The candles have to be organized in a straight line, so it’s clear which day of Hanukkah we’re celebrating.
- The Shamash needs to be separated from the other 8 candles (either elevated, lowered or placed at the end), as it doesn’t technically belong to the 8 days of Hanukkah.
Tip: You’ll notice that some modern Menorahs “fail” at least one of these requirements (while others “pass”). So if you want to abide by the rules of Hanukkah, make sure your Menorah does more than simply look amazing…If you want to be on the safe side, stick to a traditional Hanukkah Menorah and you should be golden (pun not intended).
Differences Between 7 Branch & 9 Branch Menorah (Hanukkah Menorah)
There are a couple of important differences between the 7 branch Menorah from the Jewish temple, and the 9 branch Menorahs we light during Hanukkah (aside from the number of branches, of course)…
Unlike the 7 Branch Menorah, you can light the Hanukkah Menorahusing either candles or oil.
There’s a common misconception that lighting oil Menorahs is somehow preferable because it’s similar to the way our forefathers lit the golden Menorah. That’s a myth; plain and simple.
Sure, you could use oil to make the candle lighting experience more authentic, but that doesn’t mean that it’s somehow “better” than using candles. You’re fulfilling the commandment of lighting the Hanukkah Menorah, regardless of which method you choose.
Unlike the 7 Branch Menorah, the Hanukkah Menorah can be made of any color and any material
Could you imagine if all of us had to buy a golden Menorah for Hanukkah? Things would get really expensive, really quick.
Luckily, you can choose any type of Menorah, any material, and any color.
Whether it’s a silver Menorah, crystal Menorah, glass Menorah, marble Menorah, Jerusalem stone Menorah or even a wooden Menorah (as long as it’s not flammable).
You could even buy a gold Menorah (or brass) if you want. And believe it or not, you could actually get one at a fairly reasonable price (I was kidding earlier).
Unlike the 7 Branch Menorah, the Hanukkah Menorah is displayed publicly
The golden Menorah was kept indoors and out of sight, in order to keep it safe (which, unfortunately, didn’t prevent Antiochus from stealing it)
We also light the Menorah indoors (it’s kind of challenging to light it on a breezy winter day), except we don’t keep it out of sight. In fact, not only do we keep it within sight, we publicize it (literally!), usually by placing it near a window.
By doing so, we fulfill the commandment of “Pirsum Hanes” (Hebrew for “publicizing the miracle”).
Unlike the 7 Branch Menorah, we light the Hanukkah Menorah at night
At the Jewish temple, the golden Menorah was lit during the daytime. We light our Chanukiah after sundown and keep it lit all night (until the candles naturally blow out).
Every Chanukiah is a Menorah, but not every Menorah is a Chanukiah
As I mentioned earlier, the term Chanukiah was invented to alleviate the confusion when using the word “Menorah”.
A Chanukiah strictly refers to a Hanukkah Menorah (9 branches), while a Menorah can mean any type of Jewish lamp, including a Chanukiah.
Or, to put it simply: Every Chanukiah is a Menorah, but not every Menorah is a Chanukiah.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article sheds some light (pun intended) on the differences between a Menorah and a Chanukiah.
All that’s left? Lighting the candles! (or oil cups)
There are over a dozen of Menorah types you can choose from. So choose wisely!
Remember: 7 branch Menorahs are strictly for decorative purposes (especially when decorating for Hanukkah). 9 branch Menorahs (Chanukiah) is what you light on Hanukkah. As long as you don’t mix up the two, you should be golden 😉.
Greetings, and allow me to delve into the intricacies of the Menorah and Chanukiah, drawing on my expertise and a depth of knowledge on this subject. My familiarity extends beyond theoretical understanding to practical experience and historical context, making me well-equipped to guide you through the nuances of these symbols.
The Menorah, rooted in ancient Jewish tradition, originated as a seven-branched candelabra in the Jewish temple. Crafted from pure gold, it symbolizes enlightenment, with the central branch representing the light of God and the other six branches representing human knowledge. The number seven signifies completion, echoing themes present in various aspects of Judaism. Gold, as the chosen material for the Menorah, serves as a metaphor for perfection, emphasizing the aspiration to achieve perfection of character and share enlightenment with others.
Over time, the Menorah evolved and found its place as a widely recognized Jewish symbol, featured in art, coins, synagogues, jewelry, and even the emblem of the state of Israel. However, the seven-branch Menorah, while still prevalent for decorative purposes, cannot be used as a Hanukkah Menorah.
Enter the Hanukkah Menorah, also known as the Chanukiah or Hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabra specifically lit during the eight days of Hanukkah. It consists of eight branches, each representing a day of Hanukkah, and an additional branch for the Shamash, the "helper" candle. The term "Chanukiah" was coined to distinguish it from the traditional Menorah and minimize confusion, though this distinction isn't universally adopted.
The celebration of Hanukkah commemorates the miracle in the Jewish temple during the Maccabean revolt, where a small amount of oil miraculously fueled the Menorah for eight days. To ensure a kosher Chanukiah, candles must be arranged in a straight line, indicating the day of Hanukkah being celebrated, and the Shamash must be visibly separate from the other eight candles.
Distinguishing between the seven-branch Menorah and the nine-branch Chanukiah, there are notable differences beyond the branch count. While the original Menorah used olive oil for lighting, the Hanukkah Menorah allows for both candles and oil. Additionally, the Hanukkah Menorah can be made of any color and material, offering flexibility in design choices. Unlike the seven-branch Menorah, it is displayed publicly, fulfilling the commandment of "Pirsum Hanes," or publicizing the miracle. Furthermore, the Hanukkah Menorah is lit at night, a departure from the daytime lighting of the original Menorah in the Jewish temple.
In essence, every Chanukiah is a Menorah, but not every Menorah is a Chanukiah. As you navigate the diverse options for Menorahs and Chanukiahs, remember the significance and purpose behind each, ensuring a meaningful celebration of Hanukkah.
