Hanukkah is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Jewish faith, celebrated annually to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem by Judah Maccabee and his army. It is a joyous holiday filled with candle-lighting ceremonies, feasts, gifts and mitzvahs. One of the most iconic symbols of this holiday is the Chanukiah, or Chanukah menorah. This special candle holder sorts an additional candle for each night of Hanukkah.
The Chanukiah, otherwise known as a Hanukkah menorah, is the traditional candle-holding device used for the eight days of Hanukkah. It consists of nine candle holders arranged in a straight line, eight for the days of Hanukkah and one on top, set aside for a special use. This top candle, called the shamash, serves to light the other eight. The base of the menorah is typically designed with all sorts of Hebrew symbols, such as the traditional Star of David or symbols representing the Maccabees.The structure of the Hanukkah candle-holder is built in a specified manner. Starting with the shamash in the center, the next candle to the right is the first to be lit and continues until all eight celebratory candles are alight. At the end of each night, the shamash is used again to extinguish the other candles. This candle-lighting ritual is repeated each night thereafter and can even be accompanied by special blessings.
The Chanukiah is considered to be one of the four menorot used in the Temple in Jerusalem. The other three were reserved for use during Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot. Upon the Maccabees’ victory, Judah proclaimed that these menorot should be used to celebrate this newfound sense of freedom and so for the first time, the Chanukiah was lit in the Holy Temple. Ever since, this ritual has continued on, with each new generation lighting this special flame.
When celebrating the Hanukkah holiday it is essential to have the right candle holder in which to light the Hannukkah candles. The traditional name for the Hanukkah candle holder is the Chanukiah. The Chanukiah features nine separate candle holders, eight of which are meant to be used to commemorate each of the eight days of the holiday and one which is designated as the shamash used to light the others. This is a symbol of remembrance of the rededication of the Second Temple and freedom the Maccabees won as Judah and his small group of warriors fought for our Liberty.
The Chanukiah, or Hanukkah candle holder, is a time-honored tradition in the Jewish faith and is an essential part of celebrating the Hanukkah holiday. Its nine separate candle holders, each with its own meaning, all work together to celebrate the Maccabean victory and God’s miraculous gift of extra light in the Temple. Its traditional structure and symbolism have been cherished for centuries and will continue to be for many more to come.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.