0
No. The candles of the menorah do not stand for anything individually. They represent the days of Hanukkah.
There is one extra candle that is called the helper candle, and it's used to light the others.
Answer:Collectively, the eight candles of the Hanukkah-menorah represent the eight days of the miracle of the oil.The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. The Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah.
When they reached the Temple grounds and prepared to light the oil lamps of the Temple's menorah (Exodus ch.25), they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil. Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.
The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe first candle, called the shamash, doesn't stand for anything. It is simply the "helper candle", used to light the other candles on the Chanukiah.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
If today is the first day of Hanukkah where was the first candle lit last night?
The first candle was lit on the side closest to the right of the menorah.
What is the correct number of candles for a menorah?
On the first night of Hanukkah you light two candles. You always light the candle at the top. This candle is used to light the other candles. Excluding the candle at the top, you light the candles like this: * Day one- the first candle. * Day two- the first and second candle. * Day three- the first, second and third candle. And so on.
How far in advance of the lighting of the first candle do you put out a menorah?
There's no rule. Usually, the menorah is set up in the minutes or hours leading up to the first evening of Hanukkah.
Which to light first Hanukkah Candles or Yahrzeit Candle?
If you light the yahrzeit candle before it's time to light the Hanukkah-menorah, you may light the yahrzeit candle first. Otherwise, once it's past sunset, you should wait until about 20 minutes after sunset, light the Hanukkah-menorah, and afterwards light the yahrzeit candle.
What candle sequence is lite on the Menorah fifth day?
You first light the shamash, or helper candle, then light the others with it.2 1 3 4 5 6|| | | | | || | | | | || | | | | || | | | | |- | - - - -- | - - - --- | - - - ------------------------------------------------------------|
Where does the sixth candle get placed on the menorah?
Every day, we place the candles on the right side (so that the candle to the far left is lit only on the eighth night). The candles are lit from left to right, so that the newest candle is lit first. On the sixth night, the two holders on the left side of the menorah remain empty.
Are all the candles placed in the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah?
No. On the first night, one candle is placed and then lit (plus the helper candle used to light the others), ending with 8 candles on the 8th night.
What purpose does the center candle on the menorah have?
You must mean the shamesh. The shamesh is used to light all of the other candles on the menorah. 1st on first day, 2nd on second, etc.... To clarify, the shamesh/shamash doesn't have to be at the centre of the channukiah, the only requirement is that it is higher than the rest of the candles.
What is a menorah and what role does it have in Hanukkah ceremonies?
The menorah is the standard term for the 9-branched candle holder used on Hanukkah. Others call it a Chanukiah or Hanukkiyyah. Each night of Hanukkah, candles are lit to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. On the first night, one candle is lit (plus the helper candle used to light the others), ending with 8 candles on the 8th night.
What is a menoah and what role does it have in the word Hanukkah ceremonies?
A menorah is like a strait candelabra, with nine holes (one of those nine is for the Shammash, the tall candle, so there are really only eight). Every Jew is obligated to light them, one candle each night, adding one each night (assuming you can afford it. If not, there are other ways of doing it, but no one does it like those other ways nowadays). For example, (excluding the Shammesh) you light one candle the first night, two the second night etc. Place the candles on the far right of the menorah (excluding the shammash) and if there are more than one candle, light from left to right. Lighting the Menorah is the Mitzva, commandment - of Hanukkah.
During Hanukkah in what direction are the candles of the menorah lit?
You add candles from right to left, but light them from left to right using the shamash (the raised or offset "helper" candle). _________ Most Jews light the candles from right to left.
What are the 7 Jewish candles called?
The seven-branched candelabrum, known as the "Menorah" and described in great detail in Exodus, was one of the major implements first in the traveling 'Mishkan' after the Exodus from Egypt, and later in the First and Second Holy Temples in Jerusalem. The more recent Temple was sacked and looted by the Romans some 1,940 years ago, in the year 70, and its implements carried off. Their whereabouts are unknown, and the Menorah plays no significant role in Judaism except as an historical symbol, since then.
