10
votes
How did the Menorah of pure gold remain standing?
According to this Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_parting - it does not appear that the gold alloy used in the mishkan would have been more than 85% gold, and therefore would ...
- 1,766
6
votes
Accepted
How large was the menorah?
The Talmud says on Menachot 28b:
אמר שמואל משמיה דסבא
גובהה של מנורה שמנה עשר טפחים
הרגלים והפרח ג' טפחים וטפחיים חלק וטפח שבו גביע וכפתור ופרח וטפחיים חלק וטפח כפתור ושני קנים יוצאין ממנו אחד אילך ...
- 47.8k
4
votes
Any sources that the human body is a Menorah?
It seems that the Alshich suggests this as well, saying in fact that the ears represent the outer branches, the eyes represent the next 2 branches, then the nostrils, and finally the mouth.
I saw ...
- 3,569
4
votes
Accepted
In modern Judaism, do they still make Menorah Stamps for the purpose of Marking Kosher Bread?
A similar concept is used today, in which a variety of symbols are used from various Rabbinical organizations to mark kosher food (bread included). Read more about hechsherim (singular: hechsher) here....
- 18.5k
4
votes
Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?
Firstly, as Rabbi Y. A. Abraham pointed out, the Rabbi never stipulated using a Menora/Chanukiah.
Actually, since the original institution was to light outside, in the middle of winter, it's fair to ...
- 42.8k
4
votes
Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?
It's never chutzpah to ask on a Rabbinic idea, it's only a problem when we disrespect them.
The menorah of the Temple did not have a Shammas higher in the middle, nor must ours.
We just need 8 wicks, ...
4
votes
Did the כלי המקדש (menorah, shulchan, etc) need to be made לשמה?
Yes all keilim need to be made lishma.
Rambam (courtsey of Chabad) Bais Habechira 1:20:
אֵין עוֹשִׂין כָּל הַכֵּלִים מִתְּחִלָּתָן אֶלָּא לְשֵׁם הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וְאִם נַעֲשׂוּ מִתְּחִלָּתָן לְהֶדְיוֹט אֵין ...
- 41k
3
votes
Accepted
Any sources that the human body is a Menorah?
Not quite the body, but Rebbe Nachman discusses the Menorah and the face in Likutei Moharan (21:2) (quote from Sefaria):
ב אֲבָל לְהַגִּיעַ לִבְחִינַת שֶׁפַע אֱלֹקִי הַנַּ"ל אִי אֶפְשָׁר
לָבוֹא ...
- 1,761
3
votes
Why was the oil in the temple tamei at all?
The Sefer Shalal Rav brings many answers such as that rule only applying while the Mizbeach was functional.
Another very clever answer he brings (which seems to me to be the best one) is that Rav ...
- 5,365
2
votes
The Chanuka Miracle of the Oil and Tumah Hutra Btzibur
R' Shlomo Kluger (on Shulchan Aruch OC 670) writes that when the Avoidah is not just part of the daily seder, but also an inauguration of the Avoida ('Chinuch'), it requires purity. (See Alex's answer)...
- 7,851
2
votes
Which type of 7 branch menorah can I buy from the online Judaica stores to keep in my house?
The Talmud in Rosh haShana 24b mentions a dispute as to if a wooden 7 branched menorah would be permissible, with all agreeing that a metal one is forbidden and that one made from pottery is ...
- 488
2
votes
How to light menorah when shamesh is not in the center?
The shamash only needs to be noticeably separated from the other candles. It doesn't need to be in the center or on the side, even. I have a menorah which has a back panel and the shamash hangs from ...
- 70k
2
votes
Why did the Menorah not have rings and staves like the Aron and Mizbe'ach?
My guess is that was was a technical issue; gravity.
The Menorah was 18 Tefachim high, if which the lower half was mainly a narrow stem.
Since the poles had to be low enough that when put on ...
- 42.8k
2
votes
Temple Institute menorah
I looked at the website, and while I am sure the Temple Institute people mean well, they seem really eccentric. The claim that the menorah couldn't be made out of gold, because gold is a soft metal, ...
- 8,045
2
votes
Accepted
Stairs to Ascend to Menorah but not Altar
The problem, as written in the verse, is towards the altar itself (not someone else seeing).
See in Rashi that the kohen could uncover his body in front of the stones [and we learn a fortiori to avoid ...
- 1,495
2
votes
Any sources that the human body is a Menorah?
Malbim compares it to the branches of the lungs, actually. (See his lengthy essay in Parshas Terumah.)
- 131k
2
votes
Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?
No they did not err at all.
Aside for the fact that Chanukkah is eight days so the Menorah has eight branches, the Gemara (Menchos 28B see also SA YD 141:8) says that you are NOT ALLOWED to make a ...
- 4,688
2
votes
What is meant by "pure" oil for Hanukka?
As noted, there are two types of purity required in the oil for the Menorah: clarity of the oil, שמן זית זך, as elaborated upon in the mishna in Menachos, and ritual purity, טהרה, that is needed for ...
- 3,463
2
votes
Who explains Aharon not deviating in this way?
The שפת אמת (תרל"ה) explains this thought.
He writes that when it comes to a repetitive Mitzva, it is human nature to be passionate about doing it at first, but as time goes on, this passion is ...
- 2,049
1
vote
Who explains Aharon not deviating in this way?
I have also heard this idea in the name of the Sefas Emes (1847-1905). In my search for this idea, I stumbled upon the sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh, a collection of chassidish insights by this scholar.
...
- 19.6k
1
vote
Accepted
The Menorah's Pommel Fruit / What fruit is it representing?
One of your first questions is, "was it the pomegranate?". To this, I would like to point out the following:
In Shemos 25, G-d instructs Moshe Rabbeinu to let the people build the Mishkan (...
- 8,572
1
vote
Building copies of keilim from the Beis Hamikdash
It is not made as a copy, but to actually be used
- 1,703
1
vote
What is meant by "pure" oil for Hanukka?
The concept "pure oil" with regards to lighting the Menora in the Mikdash is explicitly defined in Menachot Chapter 8 Mishnayot 4 & 5.
Basically, the olives are squeezed but not crushed, ...
- 42.8k
1
vote
Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?
As noted by others a menorah is not required in fact the Be'er Heitiv does not require a vessel by candles and holds one can stick candles onto a ledge (wall) without it being in a receptacle(see ...
- 41k
1
vote
In modern Judaism, do they still make Menorah Stamps for the purpose of Marking Kosher Bread?
In the Netherlands the kosher bakery uses edible paper stuck to the bread to mark it as Kosher. But their symbol is a Star of David, not a Menorah.
- 31.8k
1
vote
Yoma 45b Ner Tamid - How to light it?
The Ritva explains the fire was brought to the Menora from the Mizbeach, the Menora remained in its place:
שלא תהא אלא על המזבח החיצון אש מחתה ומנורה מנין. פי׳ אש שחותה ביום הכפורים לצורך הקטורת ...
- 11.4k
1
vote
Was the preparation of the wicks only the Kohen Gadol or all Kohanim?
משנה יומא דף יד עמוד א
כל שבעת הימים הוא זורק את הדם ומקטיר את הקטורת ומיטיב את הנרות ומקריב את הראש ואת הרגל ושאר כל הימים אם רצה להקריב מקריב שכהן גדול מקריב חלק בראש ונוטל חלק בראש:
THROUGHOUT ...
- 22.7k
1
vote
What shape were the branches on the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash?
Rambam and Rashi both agree it was angular.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests an answer as to why the arch of Titus etc. are round. It is like we say in ve'al hanissim on Chanukah "v'hidliku neirois ...
- 283
1
vote
The Chanuka Miracle of the Oil and Tumah Hutra Btzibur
When the Tzibbur (public) is Tamei (ritual impure) then we need the Tzitz to conpensate this is the basis of how Tuma is allowed Pesachim 77a:
דלכולי עלמא טומאה דחויה היא בציבור ובעי' ציץ לרצות
Tuma ...
- 11.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible