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On Hanukka we light the menora each night for 8 nights-one candle on the first night, 2 on the second, etc. There is a cande called the 'shamesh' which is used to light every other candle. The shamesh stands taller that the rest and the reason why we do it that way is because that's the way it was done in the Temple. The menora in the temple however, only had 7 branches, instead of nine, but the reason they light 8, is because of the miracle that lasted 8 days!

2006-12-21 20:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by Motti _Shish 6 · 1 0

Well u need 9 candles because each of the 8 candles are lit each day cant be lit by a lighter or match.It has to be lit with a candle called the shamash or service candle which lights all the other candles.The shamash can be lit with a match or lighter.A match preferably.And the shamash has to be set aside from the others but it can be on the same menorah.

2006-12-23 16:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

There are two types of Menorah's the Hanukah Menorah has 9 branches and is only use during Hanukkah, The Temple Menorah has 7 branches and is used n the ancient Tabernacle in the desert and Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and the emblem of the modern state of Israel.

2016-05-22 22:47:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

All Right folks! Im an Orthadox jew, and spent my childhood with Chabad Labuvitchers! I know this stuff, let me take care of it.

Well, the 9th candle is called the shamesh and it has 2 jobs.

Job 1: The Shamesh is to light all of the other candles.

Job 2: According to the Mishnah (A jewish law book), you use the shamesh JUST in case the power goes out, and you have to get around the house.

The traditional 8 candles are for the menorah lighting, and NO other purpose. If you would need a light, use the shamesh.

2006-12-20 11:16:32 · answer #4 · answered by Pancake Man 4 · 0 2

There are eight candles- one for each night and then there is something called a shamash which is in the center of the candle holder (menorah) and it is used to light all of the other candles.

2006-12-16 15:08:31 · answer #5 · answered by N :O) 3 · 0 0

There are two reasons for this. The first is as many have mentioned already, is that you need a candle to light the others with. The second reason is because one of the laws of Hanukkah is that the candles are not to be used for any purpose such as to have light for them, or to light anything else from them. We therefore have a Shamash, the ninth candle which is typically elevated from the rest to be 'the' source of light for anything else.

http://www.Hanukkah.org

2006-12-16 11:24:34 · answer #6 · answered by JudaismExpert 2 · 2 1

There are 8 candles for the eight days and then the 9th candle is called the shamash. It is used to light the 8 candles.

2006-12-21 10:27:26 · answer #7 · answered by xoxocutiepatootie xoxo 1 · 0 0

One is the servent candle (shamesh in hebrew) used to light the other candles. And most people don't know this but on Channuka a Channukia is lit, not a Menorah.

2006-12-16 11:38:34 · answer #8 · answered by bucknut7 1 · 2 1

The eight candles to be lit are all on the same height as each other, and the ninth is either higher or lower than the rest. it is called the Shamash, and is used to light the others.

one of the rules is that you can't use the eight lights for any functional purpose, including to light the others, so you need to use an extra candle to light them all.

2006-12-16 07:46:02 · answer #9 · answered by Skysong 3 · 2 0

The 9th candle, that is set apart from the others (usually higher) is the "shemash" or "helper." It is the candle used to light all the others.

2006-12-20 20:24:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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