2006-12-19 17:17:54 · 5 answers · asked by Jess 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Actually, a Menorah has 9 candles. Eight to represent the miracle of one days' oil lasting 8 days and a 9th in the center to light the other 8 with. I know there is more to this story, but I'm not Jewish and don't remember the whole thing and I don't want to get it wrong. I'm sure some one else can expand on this for me?
2006-12-19 17:27:37 · answer #1 · answered by zaleonia1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are 9 candles, 8 to represent the 8 nights (as you read in the other posts) but the 9th is the Shammas and it is the helper candle. It is lit first and then it lights all the other candles.
2006-12-20 01:48:05 · answer #2 · answered by Ms. Depp 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what david said, but not sure about the olive oil...never learned that part...
but the shamas candle is to represent the one night that the oil was supposed to last, which turned into 8 nights. it also stands for the strength of the macabees
2006-12-20 01:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by chinacat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Represents the miracle G-d did for the macabees, they only had one days oil and He made it last 8 days, as thats how long it takes to make new olive oil
Blessings and Happy Chanukkah!
David
2006-12-20 01:25:48 · answer #4 · answered by David T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's for the eight nights of chanukka, which are for the eight nights that the Israelites burned lamp oil that should have only been enough for one day in the torn down temple in the story I don't really remember the details of.
There's also a ninth one in the middle called the shamas (sp?) that's used to light the other eight.
2006-12-20 01:26:06 · answer #5 · answered by EmilyRose 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋