Questions tagged [menorah--in-temple]

Candelabrum lit in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
10 votes
2 answers
803 views

What shape were the branches on the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash?

What shape were the branches on the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash? I have seen the diagram by the Rambam where he depicts it with angular branches. I am looking for sources in halacha (i.e. sources ...
shnozolla's user avatar
  • 664
10 votes
1 answer
357 views

Temple Institute menorah

Recently I was zoche to visit Eretz Yisroel, and my family went on the Temple Institute (Mechon Hamikdash) tour, very interesting. They showed their beautiful menorah, which they said had been made ...
MichoelR's user avatar
  • 3,090
8 votes
4 answers
637 views

The Chanuka Miracle of the Oil and Tumah Hutra Btzibur

In the events of Chanukah, why did they need the miracle of finding the Shemen tahor pure olive oil? After all,the Gemara says Tumah Hutrah beTzibur (pesachim 77a), meaning if all the oil is Tumay ...
SimchasTorah's user avatar
  • 33.1k
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

How did the Menorah of pure gold remain standing?

Seeing that pure gold cannot remain in its functional shape for everyday use being that it's too bendable, how did the Menorah in the Mishkan not fall apart after a few months? The Torah says the ...
NJM's user avatar
  • 13.8k
8 votes
1 answer
220 views

Why was the oil in the temple tamei at all?

Regarding the story of Chanukah and the need for tahor oil, I recall hearing in a shiur one time that there are 4 things which are not susceptible to tumah from the Torah; oil (a subset of mashkin) ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
399 views

Depiction of the Menorah, the *Shulchan* and *Kadosh HaKadoshim* on ancient coins?

On some rare ancient coins of Matityah Antigonus, there are depictions of what seem to be the Menorah and the Shulchan (one obverse die even seems to show the Lechem HaPanim). This coin has an ...
Argon's user avatar
  • 3,546
6 votes
0 answers
272 views

Source for not referring to Chanuka lights as a "menora"

Following up on this question about the use of the words "menora" or "chanukiya" to refer to Chanuka lights: I find it interesting that the use of "chanukiya," popularized in 1897 through a secular ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
  • 47.8k
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Any sources that the human body is a Menorah?

Michael Stevens released an astounding video where he proved that the human body topologically resembles a 7 branched Menorah (17 minutes in). There are 7 "through holes" (complete holes; ie: a ...
Moshe's user avatar
  • 3,569
5 votes
1 answer
153 views

Why did the Menorah not have rings and staves like the Aron and Mizbe'ach?

Both the Aron HaKodesh and the Mizbe'ach had rings and staves which were inserted into the rings, for carrying purposes. Why didn't the Menorah also have these rings and staves?
user16730's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
366 views

Stairs to Ascend to Menorah but not Altar

In Shemot 20:23, Hashem commands us not to ascend to the mizbe'ach (sacrificial altar) with stairs for reasons of modesty. However, we learn in Tamid (3, 9) that the Menorah had stairs before it in ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
124 views

Yoma 45b Ner Tamid - How to light it?

I'm trying to figure out what the text of Yoma 45b is teaching it's reader. There is this part (verse 6) about the 'perpetual fire' of the outer court of the mikdash as in Vayikra 6:6. And from this ...
Levi's user avatar
  • 7,328
4 votes
2 answers
318 views

What was the volume of oil for one day's lighting of the Menorah?

Large jars for storing oil or wine were common in Judah. For 100’s of years, oil and wine were the commodities that were used to pay tribute and taxes. Many storage jars were standardized and may ...
Mick's user avatar
  • 131
4 votes
1 answer
222 views

What is the interpretation of Zechariah Chapter 3?

In Zechariah 3, there's a vision of Joshua the High Priest. Satan is accusing him, and then Satan is rebuked. Joshua is then found to be standing before the altar in filthy garments, which are then ...
David Morton's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
342 views

How large was the menorah?

This question asking why the menorah didn't have rings and staves for carrying reminded me that, unlike with the other mishkan objects, we're not given any dimensions for the menorah. I've always ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
63 views

Who explains Aharon not deviating in this way?

In the beginning of Be'haaloscha, Rashi explains that Aharon lit the menorah in the same fashion each time. Which meforash elaborates on this pshat, explaining that he did it with the same vigor ...
ARM's user avatar
  • 79
3 votes
1 answer
107 views

Which type of 7 branch menorah can I buy from the online Judaica stores to keep in my house?

Ever since I started learning about Judaism, I noticed that Israel’s emblem contains a 7 branch menorah, not the chanukiah (which everyone, including tons of Jews) call a menorah. I understand that ...
Dudeskiseph's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
73 views

ki tisa: menorah versus menorah ha'tehorah

In parashat Ki Tisa two similar passages are written regarding the Ohel Mo'ed (Tent of Meeting). In the first (Shemot 30:27) Moshe Rabbenu is ordered to anoint the kelim with the shemen mischat-kodesh,...
RonP's user avatar
  • 1,936
2 votes
2 answers
150 views

In modern Judaism, do they still make Menorah Stamps for the purpose of Marking Kosher Bread?

I just found this article, and I thought it was cool: https://www.livescience.com/17821-kosher-bread-stamp-discovered.html. The link says that during the Byzantine Era in Horbat Uza, Jewish bakers of ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to light menorah when shamesh is not in the center?

On which side of the menorah does the shamesh go if it is not in the center and in which order to light. Thank you.
Malka Blaser's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
65 views

If a flame can be held in the hand to relight the m'nora, who needs a spill?

The Bavli, Shabas 22 amud 2, notes that כיון דקביעי נרות לא סגיא דלא משקיל ואדלוקי, since the lamps (receptacles for oil) were affixed to the m'nora in the bes hamikdash, there was no way to transfer ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
2 votes
1 answer
50 views

Why say oils unfit for Shabas are unfit in the Temple?

The common version of the Bavli, Shabas 21 amud 1, says: Rami bar Chama taught: Wicks and oils that the sages said we don't light with for Shabas — we don't light [the m'nora] with them in ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
2 votes
0 answers
58 views

Is the Arch of Titus mentioned by Chazal?

Is there any mention in Rabbinic sources (whether by the Tanaim, Amoraim, Rishonim, Achronim) about the Arch of Titus?
Renato S. Grun's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
289 views

What is the source of the story of the Jewish Soldier who during the Revolutionary War inspired George Washington by lighting his Menorah? [closed]

What is the source of the story of the Jewish Soldier who during the Revolutionary War inspired George Washington by lighting his Menorah? Also who is the soldier who was in this story, and did George ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 569
2 votes
1 answer
127 views

Do the words menorah and Torah have the same root in Hebrew?

I'm studying the parashat Behaaloscha, the part where Aharon kindle de Menorah. I read that the meaning of Menorah has to do with 'Tora Study. I'm from Brazil where we speak Portuguese and the words ...
Fernanda Tavares's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
51 views

Did the כלי המקדש (menorah, shulchan, etc) need to be made לשמה?

When they were made did they need to be made leshem menoras hamikdash, leshem shulchan shel hamikdash, etc?
Dovid's user avatar
  • 456
1 vote
1 answer
143 views

Why is the second batch better quality from the first harvest not fit for the Menorah, but the lesser quality first batch from the third is fit?

In the Mishna (Menachot 8:4), it says that there are three olive harvest for oils, and three qualities for each batch. The first quality from each batch is suitable for the Menorah, and the others ...
Mithical's user avatar
  • 768
1 vote
0 answers
30 views

Midrash Pertaining to the Rekindling of the Menorah Commemorated by Chanukah

The predominant traditional explanation for the eight days of Chanukah is the miracle of the oil: there was only enough pure oil to keep the Menorah fueled for a single day but it miraculously lasted ...
Yirmeyahu's user avatar
  • 13.3k
1 vote
1 answer
549 views

The Rambam' s drawing of the menorah

There is a famous drawing of the menorah by the Rambam in his peirush mishnayos (commentary to the Mishna); this is what it looks like: However in the Rambam's commentary as printed in my gemara (...
sam's user avatar
  • 41k
0 votes
2 answers
130 views

What is meant by "pure" oil for Hanukka?

The concept of "pure" oil is central to the holiday of Hanukka (see, for example, https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/221817/jewish/Pure-Oil.htm and https://www.aish.com/...
Yehuda W's user avatar
  • 7,896
0 votes
1 answer
118 views

Building copies of keilim from the Beis Hamikdash

The Gemara Avodah Zara .מג says: לא יעשה אדם בית תבנית היכל אכסדרה תבנית אולם חצר תבנית עזרה שולחן תבנית שולחן מנורה תבנית מנורה אבל הוא עושה של ה' ושל ו' ושל ח' ושל ז' לא יעשה אפילו של שאר מיני ...
Dani's user avatar
  • 1,539
0 votes
1 answer
59 views

Was the preparation of the wicks only the Kohen Gadol or all Kohanim?

Was the mitzvah of הטבת הנרות - preparation of the wicks of the Menorah incumbent solely on the Kohen Gadol or was it done by all kohanim? The Midrash Tanchuma says that after witnessing the tribe ...
Shoel U'Meishiv's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
49 views

Is there any non-political reason not to light the menorah?

The reasons I've seen given not to bring korbanos today include: Danger We are all tamei Kohanim don't have proof of their lineage We don't know the exact spot where the mizbeach is supposed to be ...
Heshy's user avatar
  • 9,116
0 votes
0 answers
63 views

Menorah a way to wipe out Amalek and tool which helps us not to 'cool off'?

This year one will read the Torah portion of Tetzaveh and the special designated Torah reading for the Shabbat prior to Purim, known as Shabbat Zachor, together. Rabbeinu Yehuda Aryeh DiModina (Yid ...
Levi's user avatar
  • 7,328
0 votes
0 answers
78 views

What is the source for placing two menorot at the front of the shul, one on either side of the Aron?

Many shuls have menorot at the front of the shul on either side of the aron. I understand that basically this is a zecher l'mikdash. However, is there a source for the minhag to place specifically two ...
Shimon's user avatar
  • 183
-2 votes
4 answers
327 views

Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?

I fully understand the rationale for an eight branched menorah. Considering the Nes, etc. And I am aware that the Talmud states that it is prohibited to use a seven-lamp menorah outside of the Temple. ...
chanina Yaacov's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
94 views

The Menorah's Pommel Fruit / What fruit is it representing?

About the pommel on the menorah: I couldn't find the commentary about which fruit / flower it was supposed to represent. Was it the pomegranate?
Zacchino's user avatar