A Lamp that Carries Divine Light

Hanukkiah is a special lamp used during Hanukkah celebrations. Though it comes in all shapes and sizes today, it was modeled on a seven-branched Menorah that once stood in Jerusalem Temple. But what did the Temple Menorah look like, and what did it seek to convey? In Talmud, we are told that Moshe struggled with making this unusual item. The description of the Menorah in the Torah leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Maimonides drew what he thought it looked like in his manuscripts. But we also have some very ancient depictions of this spiritual item, such as the Arch of Titus, ancient coins, and synagogue mosaics. Even Philo of Alexandria and Josephus expressed their fascination with Menorah's symbolism, meaning, and design. So, walk through the pages of history with me and explore the Menorah...