¶ … Menorah and Its Symbolism to the Jewish Community
The menorah, originally a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple, is one of the oldest symbols used by the Jewish faith. In contrast to the ancient menorah of Exodus is the Chanukkah menorah with eight candles, which is used today. The use of eight candles celebrates the miracle that a small amount of oil lasted for eight days.
Today's nine-branched menorah is used to celebrate Chanukkah, the festival of lights which occurs near the winter solstice. A ninth candle, the shamesh, is used to light the other eight, one night at a time, for the eight days of Chanukkah.
The Symbolism of the Menorah
It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation, in this case meaning the nation of Israel. The term "nation" is used in the classical sense, meaning a group of people with a shared history and a sense of a group identity. The Jewish People are considered to be a nation, contrasted with the other nations of the world.
The mission of the menorah is to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and God explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit."
According to the Jewish Heritage Online Magazine article entitled "The Seven-Branched Menorah: An Evolving Jewish Symbol," the menorah has been portrayed next to the Torah since the ancient times. Such representations became more and more common through the Middle Ages. The symbolic images of the Torah, viewed as light and the divine spark, also shone onto the menorah, underscoring its characteristics as a symbol of perfection and harmony.
In regards to symbolism, the menorah has gone through a series of ups and downs in recent centuries. During the Emancipation, states the article, the menorah even lost its place in synagogues and decorations of the ark. However, in those congregations not touched by the spirit of the Enlightenment and the Emancipation until later, the menorah continued to be a focal motif in artistic compositions in synagogue ornamentation, ritual objects, paper cuts and tombstones. A figurative form would sometimes appear on these, evoking associations of the Temple menorah, along with associations of the Sabbath candlesticks, of light as an abstract concept or of organic shapes such as the Tree of Life. Such forms can be found in paper cuts, a Jewish branch of folk art found in Eastern Europe and North Africa. Sometimes symbols such as birds or other animals are incorporated next to the figurative shapes. The lamp stand in today's synagogues, called the ner tamid, which translates into the eternal flame, symbolizes the menorah.
If the light borne by the menorah symbolizes the spirit of understanding and action granted by God to man, what is the relationship of the candlestick to the light that it bears?
If one reflects on the physical features of the candlestick, then its flower-shaft base, its shaft and its branches with their almond-shaped flower cups, knobs and blossoms are similar to a tree growing in a straight, upward direction from its root stock to become the bearer of light.
The menorah, which was to made entirely of gold, by virtue of this substance from symbolizes firmness, constancy and permanence. The menorah's appearance represents a process of unfolding and development.
What is a Menorah?
A menorah is a seven-, six- or nine-branched candelabrum. One of the holders is typically higher or different than the others. This holder is called the shamash, or head, and contains the candle used to light the other candles.
During the celebration of Chanukkah, a nine-branched menorah is used. Technically, this is called a Chanukiah. It contains eight holders, one for each day of Chanukkah, plus the shamash.
The Torah states that menorah should be made out of one piece of pure gold, which many have taken to mean that the menorah is to symbolize the very purest matter and represent a harmonic perfection of the heavens.
According to S.R. Hirsch's article "The Menorah," a menorah consists of yerekh, or a base, and kaneh, or a shaft, and it had to have gviim, or flower cups; kaphtorim, or knobs shaped like apples; and prakhim, flowers. These ornaments were not to be soldered to the menorah but had to form one piece with it, mimenah yihyu.
According to tradition there was a single flower at the base of the shaft; the base, together with this flower, accounted for one-sixth (i.e., three tphakhim, handbreadths) of the total height...
During World War I, the eagle is hidden, and only later found by a metalworker. Quotation: Second to last paragraph At the end of the story, the symbolism of the menorah is confirmed: "They removed the menorah and brought it to the Great Synagogue, where they stood it on the reading table where the menorah had once stood. And so the menorah stood on the reading table, as it had in
It is not intended for the contemplation of the reserved sacrament. Under this new principle, Roman Catholic tabernacles are now set in separate chapels or other more appropriate places (ELCA). Guidelines for Lutheran Churches These Churches do not recommend the placement or use of eternal flame lamps in the worship area (ELCA 2011). Doing so will give the erroneous belief that God is present only because of the light or that
The Byzantine artists are well-known for the icon of Symeon with the Christ Child. The icon was effectively changed by Byzantine artists toward the ending of the iconoclastic controversy in the ninth century. Originally the artistic protocol for the depiction has Symeon submissively approaching Mary who is holding the Christ child in her hands however the changes in the icon are of the nature that show Symeon holding the
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now