why do jewish people have a menorah? whats the story surrounding it? (in detail) what is the symbolism behind it?
2007-12-02 12:12:19 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is an episode of Power Rangers Zeo that come in very handy when asking this question, the episode is called A Seasons To Remember, in it Raymond, who is a Jew himself, explains what that Menorah is all about.
2007-12-02 12:25:14 · answer #1 · answered by trey98607 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is said to symbolize the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mt. Sinai. One of the oldest symbols the Jewish faith is the menorah. It is a seven branched candelabra used in Temple. The Kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every Sat. evening and cleaned it every morning replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. It is said that it is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be a " Light unto Nations" the sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish it's mission by example. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah and G-D explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." The 9 branched menorah used on Chanuka is commonly patterned after this menorah because Chanuka commemorates the miracle that a days worth of oil for this menorah lasted 8 days.
2007-12-02 12:46:30 · answer #2 · answered by Suzieq 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The menorah symbolizes when in 165 B.C.E. when the Jews came to rededicate the Temple which had been defiled by the Syrians. They found a small flask of oil to light the menorah, the oil was only enough for one day, but it lasted eight days.
Originally, it symbolized the burning bush that God appeared to Moses as. Now it symbolizes the miracle that occur ed.
2007-12-02 12:17:02 · answer #3 · answered by Hello Goodbye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mennorah 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 25).
2007-12-02 12:16:05 · answer #4 · answered by MiMi ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The menorah (Hebrew: ×× ×ר×), 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 25). read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah
2007-12-02 12:15:31 · answer #5 · answered by nate h 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have it because it holds 8 candles. The old story is that they had a lamp that only had oil for 1 day. Somehow the oil lasted 8 days which is why they have 8 candles on the menorah.
2007-12-02 12:15:42 · answer #6 · answered by imsmartkid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Add to the previous answers that the Hannukah menorah has room for 9 candles. 1 for each day the oil lasted, and one used to light the others. When 8 candles are burning, there is one more day for Hannukah
2007-12-02 12:17:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
David had enough oil to burn for one day and it miraculously burned for eight days... and therefore the eight candles of the menorah... the central candle lights the others
2007-12-02 12:15:33 · answer #8 · answered by I'm an Atheist 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are 9 candles on the manorah. There were 8 nights of Hanukah thats why there are 4 candles on each side. The middle candle is the candle that lights each of the candles. Each night a prayer is said and a candle is lit.
2007-12-02 12:16:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were in a war, some ran into a temple that had a lamp with enough oil to last one day. It lasted 8 days,
2007-12-02 12:17:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋