Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
During the upcoming holiday of Chanukah, as we know, we light the candles of the Chanukiya. But there are also other candles that were lit on the Menorah in the Holy Temple. What are the differences between the two? Here are some:
1) How many? During Chanukah, we light the candles starting with one candle (plus the Shamash, the “helper-candle”), and each day, we add another candle until we reach 8 candles. The Menorah in the Temple, though, had 7 lamps, and they were lit all at once.
2) When? The candles of Chanukah are lit only during Chanukah. There is no point of lighting them during the rest of the year. The Menorah though, was lit during the entire year. The time of the lighting was different too: The Menorah was lit before sunset while the Chanukah candles are lit in the evening.
3) Where? The location of the Menorah in the Holy Temple was very specific, in the Echal (Sanctuary), near the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies), on the southern side. The Chanukah candles, though, can be lit anywhere in the world, near the door or the window of our home.
4) Why? The reason for the Holiday of Chanukah and lighting the candles is to commemorate the miracle of the oil. After the desecration of the Temple, the Jews found only a little bit of pure olive oil to light the Menorah. This small quantity, which was enough only for one day, lasted for 8 days. On the other hand, the Menorah is lit because of a Biblical commandment. One of the explanations if that it symbolizes the purpose of the Temple as well as ours, to illuminate the world by doing Mitsvot.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arie from the Yeshiva
