For Jews all over the world, the Festival of Lights of Hanukkah is a celebration of freedom from oppression and the reestablishing of ritual purity in the Temple. This special holiday is celebrated with different symbols and traditions, but none explains the holiday better than the Hanukkah menorah, or the nine-branched candelabras used in the commemoration. Representing the burning of the Temple’s Menorah and the miracle of the oil that kept the Menorah burning, each of the nine branches of the Hanukkah menorah is lit for eight days with a special candle holder called a shamash.
The Miracle of the Oil and the Burning Candle
The miracle of Hanukkah is tied to the special oil burning in the menorah for eight days, after the Maccabees, a band of Jewish freedom fighters, liberated Jerusalem from Greek control. According to the Talmud, the menorah was supposed to stay lit for one day, yet the special jar of oil kept burning for eight days in the Temple. That is why Jews around the world light a special menorah called a Hanukkiah for eight days in the winter during Hanukkah.
Lighting the Candles
The Hanukkah menorah usually has a special place in Jewish homes and synagogues. Lighting them is usually a ceremony in itself. On the first night, families gather to enjoy a special dinner — usually fried potato pancakes and other goodies — as the first Hanukkah candle is lit. On the next day, the shamash is used to light the other eight Hanukkah candles. Each night until the 8th, a new candle is lit until all eight celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah. It is usually part of the tradition to sing a special prayer with children around the menorah.
The Menorah and Its Candles Symbolize
The candles represent the miraculous triumph of light over darkness and a celebration of God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people. It is believed that in every generation, the Jews are visited by the angel of redemption just as the Maccabees were visited by an angel of light and fought in a miraculous way against their oppressors. The Menorah also symbolizes commitment and steadfastness of faith and the strength to overcome whatever difficulties life may throw at one.
The light of the Hanukkah candles is a symbol of joy, freedom and hope. It represents the generosity of the Divine and His boundless grace that supports the Jewish people. Light is a metaphor for godliness and its beauty, reminding us of the promise of a better future. Judaism is a faith of hope, and Hanukkah is the timeless reminder that God sustains our every hope and lights our way.
No matter the circumstances, lighting a single candle serves to remind us that even when the world seemed dark and dim, a single lamp can make a great difference. Hanukkah’s candle-lighting is therefore the perfect symbol of this simple truth – That the victory of light over darkness guarantees a brighter future and carries over into our day-to-day life.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.