The True Shape of the Menorah: Straight or Curved?

In Parshat Behaalotcha, Aaron was commanded to light the Menorah in the Tabernacle, morning and evening. While we often picture the Menorah with curved branches, was that its true appearance?

Rashi writes that its branches extended at an angle from both sides, and Rambam depicts the Menorah with straight branches, resembling a palm tree, rather than the Chanukah menorah familiar to us.

On the other hand, the Arch of Titus and numerous other places, including Jewish artworks like coins from Mattathias Antigonus, the last Hasmonean king; a painting in the Jewish Quarter; Jason's tomb; the Southern Wall; the ancient synagogue in Katzrin; the ancient synagogue in Jericho; and burial caves in Beit She'arim, all depict the Menorah with curved branches.

Some have argued that the branches were indeed slanted and straight. This view is supported by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and it is the practice of all Chabad Hasidim to emphasize this by designing their Chanukah menorahs with straight branches, in memory of the Temple's Menorah. Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky also supports this in his commentary on Rambam.

However, some contend that an angle does not necessarily mean a straight line, and Rambam might not have explicitly meant straight, noting that the Menorah symbolizes the seven celestial spheres, which are round. It seems unlikely that all these depictions were incorrect.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe strongly argued that the depiction on the Arch of Titus might be mistaken or perhaps based on other menorahs from the Temple, not the one in the sanctuary with the eternal light, stressing that such findings do not represent reality—either due to lack of knowledge or reluctance to accurately depict the sacred Menorah, as narrated in the Talmud. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yossi, saw the priestly headplate in Rome at the Temple of Peace initiated by Emperor Titus and sought to derive legal proofs from his observation, but the sages dismissed his approach, stating that law is determined by the Mishnah and Talmud.

It appears the majority view is that the Menorah was round. Nonetheless, we may have to wait for the coming of the Messiah and the restoration of the Temple vessels to know for certain.