Why is there sometimes a ninth candle on the Menorah?

Answer 1

There are two types of menorah. One has seven arms for seven candles - this is the original menorah as used as a symbol of Judaism for many thousands of years. The other type is the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukiyah, which holds a candle (or, ideally, burns oil) for each of the eight days of Hanukkah and also holds a ninth candle called the shamash (attendant or helper) which is used to light the other candles. Since the menorah candles should not be used for lighting, the shamash is kept lit in case a candle is needed while the hanukiyah is in use.

Answer 2

One is the shamash used to light the others. The other eight candles are to publicize the miracle.

On Hanukkah the chief celebration is for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). As an augmentation to the celebration of that miracle, we also thank God during Hanukkah for the Hasmoneans' military victory (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).

The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices 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, they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil, but the oil lamps miraculously burned 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.

The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees (I, 4:36; and II, 1:18); and Josephus mentions the eight-day festival in Antiquities ch.12.

The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.

Answer 3

The ninth candle that sits higher than the other candles is called the 'shamesh'

Answer 4

The shamash.