Menorah? Hanukkiah? Hanukkah Menorah?

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What’s the difference between these terms? A menorah is a candelabrum with seven or nine branches or holders for light; it is often associated with the seven-branched menorah that was in the First and Second Temples. A hanukkiah is the Hebrew term for the nine lights (or eight plus one – the shamash) used at Hanukkah.  The term “hanukkah menorah” is the older term for the menorah we light at Hanukkah.

A menorah can be shaped in many ways: as a circle or in a straight line. The description of the menorah in the First Temple seems to have been shaped in this way, with several almond blossom flowers on each stem with a cup for oil.

A similar menorah is depicted at the synagogue in Dura Europos (a city on the Euphrates River established around 300 BCE), but with straight branches; this might be where Maimonides got his idea for the straight branch version. You can see one of these outside the Chabad House in Providence.  

One of the most famous menorahs is carved into the Arch of Titus in Rome, commemorating the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE.  No one knows what happened to this menorah; the idea that the actual menorah was hidden and the Romans only captured a copy – the story told by Josephus – is the stuff of adventure novels (“The Buried Candelabrum,” Stefan Zweig, 1937, “Last Secret of the Temple,” Paul Sussman, 2008 and others).  It is a very common symbol in Jewish art through all the ages, in illustrations and carvings in synagogues and tombs.

As time went on, though, Jews decided not to use the seven-branch menorah, so as not to use one that had been in the Temple. In modern times, however, this prohibition has largely ended.

A Hanukkah menorah, or Hanukkiah, on the other hand, has the eight lights at one level and the ninth at another, at least for the Ashkenazim. Sephardim also used a circular menorah with eight lights and a separate light next to it to light the other lights. Often, now, the ninth light has been incorporated into the menorah. In the Middle Ages, some had a backplate so that they could be hung on the wall.  Both candle and oil versions are used now; the oil came back into fashion in the late 20th century.  Motifs of animals (especially lions), stars and scrollwork are common; some even had an illustration of Judith!       

Happy Hanukkah!

RUTH BREINDEL is presidence of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association.

Hanukkah, RIJHA