Rick Stone, Rhoda Chase, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, David Chase, Rabbi Yoel Gancz

Lighting the Menorah

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple after the successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy. The Jews found only enough ritually pure olive oil to light the menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously lasted eight days until a new supply could be obtained. In celebration of this miracle, the chanukkiyah has eight branches for eight candles or oil lamps, none higher than any other.

These lamps are not to be used for secular purposes, such as providing the sole source of light or heat for the room. The Hanukkah menorah has a ninth branch for an auxiliary candle, the shamash, that, by shedding its own light, keeps the other candles from inadvertently serving any purpose other than their ritual one. The shamash is also used to light the other candles.

The holder for the shamash candle is generally distinguished in some way from the other eight, traditionally being placed higher than the others, and often in the center, with four of the other candles on each side.

In addition to the shamash, on the first night one candle is placed in the holder on the far right, and is lit using the shamash. Each night afterwards for the next seven nights, one more candle than the night before is kindled. The shamash is used to light the other candles present from left to right.[2] This is the teaching of the House of Hillel. The House of Shammai teaches to light eight candles the first night, seven the second night, six the third night, and so on all eight nights.[3]

A whimsical porcelain menorah.Many museums have notable collections of Hanukkah menorahs, including the Israel Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[4] and the Jewish Museum, which owns the Lindo lamp.[5]

Chabad

of West Palm Beach

Rabbi Yoel Gancz

6343 Paradise Cove

West Palm Beach, FL  33411

      561-659-7770        

Website: www.chabadwpb.com

Chabad of West Palm Beach presents The Fifth Annual Chanukah Family Festival

CityPlace, West Palm Beach  Tuesday, December 15, 2009