Collectables -> Religions, Spirituality -> Judaica
The Menorah is an ancient symbol of the Jewish faith, representing the faith and people for almost 3000 years. While even those of us who aren’t Jewish recognize this symbol when we see it, many don’t understand its significance. Menorahs are most commonly seen during the holidays and at Christmas, as a menorah is an important part of the Jewish holiday tradition of Hanukkah. But it’s not just Judaism’s equivalent of the Christmas tree, as is a common misconception. Detailed instructions for creating a menorah are chronicled in the Bible’s Book of Exodus, so the symbol itself isn’t just decoration, its creation was a religious command.
The Menorah is a candelabra with seven branches, used in Jerusalem in the Holy Temple. It burned olive oil in ancient times, and is supposed to represent the burning bush that Moses saw in the early Bible story. The original menorah is less widely seen today, because the modern menorah actually has 9 branches instead of seven—4 branches on each side of the higher middle branch, which was used to light all the others.
The reason for the change from the original guidelines in Exodus almost sounds like a superstitious one. While the original menorahs had 7 branches, the Jewish people decided not to reproduce them once the original temples were destroyed. Instead they used the 9 branch design. Some original reproductions are used today, though, because they’re not reproducing the original Menorahs exactly, as new models are electric rather than oil-burning models.
The menorah, far from just a symbol of the holiday season, is actually used to celebrate a miracle widely known by the Jewish people. When Judas Maccabee rededicated the Temple that had been destroyed in 165 BC, he and his followers went to light the menorah but could only find enough oil to burn it for one day. The story claims that the menorah actually burned for 8 days on that one day’s worth of oil. So Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is actually celebration of that religious miracle.
Today, some people display a menorah all year round rather than just during the end of the year and the holiday season. Collectible menorahs appeal to people for different reasons. For some it’s the religious symbolism of the item, for other it’s the beauty of the piece itself. Flea markets can be great places to find unique menorah styles, but online auctions offer a huge variety and you can shop from all over the world.
You can find menorahs in the shape of the Star of David, menorahs encrusted with rhinestones and other baubles, and menorahs in all sizes and colors. But true vintage menorahs are often made of silver or brass, and have little decoration you can see on first glance. A closer look will often reveal Hebrew inscriptions and maybe even intricate and detailed engraving work on the arms or the base meant to enhance the piece without taking the focus off the candlelight, which is meant to be the whole focus of the menorah.
Originally posted 2008-10-20 05:00:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Learning to Collect Books There are many different people in the world that decide to collect books, and surprisingly enough, they decide to collect books for a whole host of different reasons that are just about as diverse as the books themselves. Classic works from the greats like Homer, Shakespeare, Dante and Dickens can...... -
Wall Tapestries Dealers -> Textiles-Linens -> Tapestries A wall tapestry can be a beautiful addition to your home, whether it's a reproduction or an antique piece. A tapestry is much more than a woven cloth that covers the wall, it's often a piece of history that tells a story, and speaks...... -
Cigar Bands Collectibles -> Tobacciana -> Cigar Cigar bands have a rich history, or more accurately, several histories. They've been attributed to the Russian queen Catherine the Great, and 19th century England, among other places. One story says that Catherine the Great ordered that her cigars be wrapped in silk to protect...... -
Antique Vintage Plastic Collectibles There seems to be a market these days for every type of vintage collectibles under the sun, and Bakelite and antique plastic jewelry vintage collectibles are certainly no exception. These vintage jewelry collectibles include antique and vintage jewelry made from Bakelite as well as from vintage types of plastic include...... - Franklin Mint Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Franklin Mint One of the most popular brands of collectibles are Franklin Mint Collectibles. This company is well known throughout the world for providing collectible editions at reasonable prices and they even offer payment plans for their more expensive items. This has allowed thousands, if......
Related Websites - How to Have Fun Running (Gulp!) Many people have a love/hate relationship with running. It's a highly polarizing activity, as many people find it the most difficult, laborious type of exercise, and others find it the most freeing, liberating exercise possible. Where do you lie? And have you ever wondered how some people could actually have......
- The Karl Lagerfeld Diet Few names are as well known in the fashion world as Karl Lagerfeld, but unbeknownst to many people, Karl has had a problem with his weight for many years. He finally sought help for his issue and once he successfully lost the weight, he decided to develop a new diet......
- North Americas #1 Ranked Fund Manager Names His Favorites StockInterview: How do you feel about uranium, which fuels nuclear reactors and generates electricity, and the uranium bull market for stocks that were in right now?J-F Tardif: We are very bullish. Were extremely bullish on uranium as a firm, not only for uranium, but were also very bullish on......
-
How to get free drinks and get treated like A VIP Everywhere You Go A few years back I hired a life coach and one of the keys he shared with me about meeting new people was to "be the mayor" everywhere you go. What does that entail exactly? Well, the mayor talks to everybody: men, women, bouncers, etc. When I first started...... -
Forget Stock Analysis, I'm Using Pat Robertson's Annual Conversation with God OK, so I'm lying my arse off. But seeing that statement in a big, bold headline just makes you realize how dumb some people must be! For those not in the know, Pat Robertson recently came out with his economic predictions for 2009 based on his annual conference call with......
