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On Chanukkah we light candles/wicks every night. In my experience, those lights are always held in a special candelabra ("Menorah" or "Chanukiya") designated specifically for that purpose.

I'm not sure if such an object is required, but even if is not, it certainly seems to be sufficiently associated with the Mitzva action/item when used, that I'm curious if there are any restrictions on its design, particularly in terms of its material make up. Are there any halachic limitations on materials that can be used (l'chatchila) to make a Menorah for use on Chanukkah?

For example, can one use a Menorah made of ice? How about one of cans, potatoes, or bottles? Perhaps such items are too temporary or too disgraceful to be permitted for use in this context. What would the rules be?

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  • the only limitation is earthenware which gets burnt and looks ugly
    – simchastorah
    Dec 13, 2011 at 4:50
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    AFAIK, you can use anything, or even just bare candles. Ice might melt too fast, posing both safety and kashrut problems.
    – Shmuel
    Dec 13, 2011 at 7:16
  • @simchashatorah source?
    – HodofHod
    Dec 13, 2011 at 8:15
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    I saw @simchashatorah's point in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. I would be surprised if it's not in earlier sources, too.
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Dec 13, 2011 at 15:07
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    @mevaqesh Good point. The OP was unresponsive so I made something up to improve the question in response to your comment. Hod, please edit further as necessary, or flag these as obsolete if appropriate.
    – Double AA ♦
    Aug 11, 2016 at 3:39

2 Answers 2

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http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=50452&st=&pgnum=57

See note 132. Per Rabbeinu Yitzchok the son of the Raavad and the Chesed L'Avraham there are 15 types of Chanuka Menorahs and the order of preference is as follows.

  1. Gold
  2. Silver
  3. Copper metal in the color of gold or other metal with such a color
  4. Actual copper which is reddish
  5. Metal which is called copper
  6. Tin
  7. Lead
  8. Stone
  9. Glass
  10. Bone
  11. Earthenware covered in lead
  12. Earthenware (may be used for 1 year only)
  13. Pomegranate shells
  14. Coconut shells
  15. Oak tree shells

However if you look in note 131 - even if all you have is oil and a wick you are Yotzei the Mitzva.

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    It sounds like he is just listing things that look nice for hiddur purposes.
    – Double AA ♦
    Dec 13, 2011 at 17:48
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    As you can see from the last line in my answer anything is good, however the level of Hiddur is based on the list.
    – Gershon Gold
    Dec 13, 2011 at 18:01
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From here it sounds like a menorah made of eggshells or hollowed-out vegetables is not permitted. The full quote:

One may not use eggshells or hollowed-out vegetables to make the menorah, since this disgraces the mitzvah.

Otherwise:

In order to enhance the mitzvah, one should try to obtain as beautiful a menorah as possible according to his ability. The order of preference for different materials is: silver, copper, other metals, glass, wood and china.

[...]

A menorah enhances the mitzvah but is not essential. A person wishing to light with oil could use several glasses or cups placed in a straight line. If candles are being used, they may be fixed in a row onto a tray or similar surface.

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  • Whats their source?
    – HodofHod
    Dec 20, 2011 at 5:14
  • @HodofHod I actually saw this offline in a sefer. Will have to look it up when I get a chance, and post that source. But I definitely have seen it.
    – yydl
    Dec 21, 2011 at 19:12
  • Ok, thanks. Whenever you get a chances, I'd appreciate that.
    – HodofHod
    Dec 21, 2011 at 19:48

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