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Menorah



The Menorah (Hebrew word) is a seven branched candelabrum lit by olive oil in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. The Menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It is said to symbolize the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:2).

According to the Bible, a Menorah was used in the Tabernacle and later in its successor, the Temple in Jerusalem. It was beaten from a single piece of gold. A lamp burning olive oil was located at the end of each of the seven branches. Since the destruction of the Temple ground, the seven-branched Menorah has had no formal role in Jewish worship. Because of the sanctity of the Temple and its appointments, some religious authorities forbid the manufacture of Menorah resembling the one used there.

The Bible lists the instructions for the construction of the Menorah used in the Temple:

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof; three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the candlestick. And in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof. And a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven; and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it. And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels. And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount” (Exodus 25:31-40).

The construction of the Temple Menorah was considered a religious order in Judaism.