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History of the Menorah
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Menorah (7-Branched Candelabra) is the official emblem of the State of
Israel and the ancient symbol of the Jewish people. The origin of the
word Menorah is thought to be taken from the Israeli seven-branched
salvia plant. Another tradition has it to be a representation of the
Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden, with seven branches representing
the seven days of creation.
We are told in the book of Exodus that Moses was instructed to build a
golden lampstand upon which seven lamps were positioned:
"And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the
candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knobs, and his
flowers, were of the same:
"And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of
the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the
candlestick out of the other side thereof:
"Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knob
and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a
knob and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the
candlestick.
"And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knobs,
and his flowers:
"And a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two
branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same,
according to the six branches going out of it.
"Their knobs and their branches were of the same: all of it was one
beaten work of pure gold.
"And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes,
of pure gold.
"Of a talent of pure gold he made it, and all the vessels thereof"
(Exodus 37:17-24).
When Solomon built his Temple, the Moses Menorah served in the new
Holy Place. It was given a prominent position in Solomon's Temple,
though several lampstands were built and used throughout the complex.
What happened to that first Menorah remains a mystery. One accounts
suggests an angel hid the Mosaic Menorah and other Temple artifacts in
an underground chamber, beneath the Most Holy Place, just prior to the
Babylonian destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C. When the third Temple
is built, the angel should return, open the mysterious chamber, and
retrieve the Temple furnishings.
The above information came mostly from a site dedicated to the history
of the Temple, and the Menorah in particular at :
"Pope Asked to Return Temple Menorah"
http://w1.303.telia.com/~u30304479/Axplock/Menorah.html
Today the Menorah is used by Jews during the holiday of Hanukah. which
is celebrated on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev. This holiday
marks the military victory of the Jews of Palestine over the Syrian -
Greeks in the 2nd century BC.
The Maccabees, the Jewish revolutionaries, restored order to Jerusalem
and to restore the purity of the Temple, ritual oil was needed. The
invaders had made off with the Menorah which were in the temple, and
new ones had to be provided. The story goes that only enough pure oil
to last one day was found and the miracle of Hanukah occurred when the
modest amount of oil in the Temple lamps burned for eight days in the
Menorah, allowing the temple to be purified and rededicated.
In later years, following the destruction of the Temple, the menorah
became an important symbol in Jewish history, becoming a reminder of
the sovereignty of the Temple. The Rabbi's decided that to preserve
the holiness of the original menorah, it would be forbidden to use of
an exact replica of the seven branched menorah.
From then on, candles have been lit in an eight branched menorah
called a "Hanukiyah" in Israel to differentiate it from the
seven-branched Menorah of the Temple.
Most of the above information was taken from a history of the Menorah
article here:
History of the Menorah
( http://www.mysticaldragon.com/menorah1.html )
Upon the destruction of Herod's Temple in A.D. 70, the Romans carried
the Temple Menorah to Rome and paraded it through the streets. A stone
relief of that parade, along with the Menorah, was carved into the
Arch of Titus that stands along the Appian Way near the Forum in Rome
to this day. Rumours persist that the Menorah is locked away in a
vault somewhere in the Vatican.
Usage
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THe Worlwdwide Jewish Web has a complete run down on the usage of the
Menora here:
History of Chanuka ( "Hanuka")
( http://www.chanuka.com/history.shtml )
"The preferred way to perform the mitzvah is to light the chanuka
menorah with pure olive oil and cotton wicks, since their light is
pure and it causes us to remember the light of the Menorah which was
lit with olive oil. All other oils and wicks are permissible if their
light is pure and does not flicker.!
"...., the eight candles of the menorah must be in a straight line
with the shamash a little bit above them. Any menorah which is fancily
shaped in a circle or square... is not permitted to be used since the
candles must be in a straight line and none may be higher or lower
than the others. There must also be enough space between one candle
and another so that the flames of each are not intermingled.
The order the candles are lit is also important, and this is also
detailed on the above site:
"On the first night of chanuka, one light is lit and on each
successive night another light is added until the eighth night when
all the lights are lit. When one lights on the first night, one lights
the one on the extreme right. The following night he adds the one
immediately to the left and kindles it first. He then turns to the
right and kindles the light of the previous night. He follows the same
procedure each night always adding from right to left but always
lighting from left to right. The reason for this procedure is that the
additional light recalls the greatness and growth of the miracle. "
The article also goes on to describe the prayers to be said when
lighting the candles, and gives English translations.
Hope that answers your question.
Willie-ga
This site sells large display menorah, and has good pictures of
contemporary examples
Menorah.net
http://www.menorah.net/specs.html
Google searches used
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