Essay - The Menorah and Its Symbolism to the Jewish Community the...

The Menorah and Its Symbolism to the Jewish Community

***** menorah, originally a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple, is one of the oldest symbols used by the Jewish faith. In contrast to the ancient menorah of Exodus is the Chanukkah menorah with eight candles, which is used today. The use of eight candles celebrates ***** miracle that a small amount ***** oil lasted for eight days.

***** nine-branched ***** is used to celebrate Chanukkah, the festival of lights which occurs near the winter solstice. A ninth candle, the shamesh, is ***** to light the other eight, one night at a time, for the eight days ***** Chanukkah.

***** Symbolism of the *****

***** has been said ***** ***** menorah is a symbol of the n*****ion, in this case meaning the nation ***** Israel. The term "*****" is used in the classical sense, meaning a group of people with a sh*****red history and a sense of a group identity. The Jewish People are considered to be a nation, *****ed with the ***** *****s of the world.

The mission of the ***** is to ***** "a light unto ***** nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that ***** ***** not a violent force; ***** is to accomplish its ***** by setting an example, ***** ***** using force. This idea is highlighted in the v*****ion in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: "Not by might, nor ***** power, but by My spirit."

According ***** the Jewish Heritage Online Magazine article entitled "The Seven-Branched Me*****ah: An Evolving ***** Symbol," the menorah has been portrayed next to the Torah since ***** ancient *****s. Such representations became more ***** more common through the Middle Ages. ***** symbolic images of the Torah, viewed as light and the divine spark, also shone onto the menorah, underscoring ***** characteristics ***** a symbol of perfection ***** harmony.

In regards to *****ism, the menorah has gone through a series of ups and downs in recent centuries. During the Emancipation, states ***** article, the menorah even lost its place in synagogues and decorations ***** the ark. However, in those congregations not touched by ***** ***** of the Enlightenment and the Emancipation until later, the menorah continued to be a focal motif in artistic compositions in synagogue ornamentation, ritual objects, paper cuts ***** tombstones. A figurative form would sometimes appear on these, evoking associations of the Temple menorah, along ***** ***** of the Sabbath *****sticks, of light as an abstract concept or of *****ganic shapes such ***** the Tree of Life. Such forms can be found in paper cuts, a Jewish br*****nch ***** folk art found in Eastern Europe and North Africa. Sometimes symbols ***** as birds or other animals are incorporated next to the figurative shapes. The lamp stand in today's synagogues, called the ner tamid, which translates into the eternal flame, symbolizes the menorah.

If the light borne ***** ***** menorah symbolizes the spirit of understanding and action granted by God to man, what is the relationship of