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.
Photo Credits: The Gifted Photographer
Originally posted 2008-10-20 05:00:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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