The Journey to the Light of the Temple: Secrets of the Menorah and Chanukah Candles

On Chanukah, we light menorahs as a symbol of the Temple Menorah. The Temple Menorah, which symbolizes wisdom and the inspiration of spiritual light in the physical world, was located in the part of the sanctuary called the Holy.

The Temple sanctuary has 3 parts: the hall (vestibule), the Holy, and the Holy of Holies. In the section called the Holy were the Menorah (in the south), the Showbread Table (in the north), and the Incense Altar (between them, slightly forward). In the Holy of Holies were the Ark of the Covenant containing the Tablets of the Covenant, the jar of manna, the anointing oil, and Aaron's rod.

The Menorah was made up of a central shaft, from which six additional branches extended. The Menorah had various decorations - the central shaft had four cups, two knobs, and two flowers, with a third flower near the base of the Menorah. Additionally, there were three more knobs on the shaft from which the six branches extended - three on each side. Each branch had three cups, a knob, and a flower.

In total, the Menorah contains 42 decorations - 22 cups, 9 flowers, 11 knobs.

Hints to the Temple Menorah

It is noted by the Vilna Gaon and other righteous figures that the verse in Psalm 119 "The opening of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" hints that the number of words in the opening verse of each of the five books of the Torah points to the Temple Menorah.

Genesis opens with a verse containing 7 words - 7 branches

Exodus opens with a verse containing 11 words - 11 knobs

Leviticus opens with a verse containing 9 words - 9 flowers

Numbers opens with a verse containing 17 words - a hint to the height of the Menorah, which is between seventeen and eighteen tefachim.

Deuteronomy opens with a verse containing 22 words - 22 cups.

Branches of the Menorah

According to Rambam and Rashi, as well as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the branches of the Menorah were straight and connected to the central shaft diagonally. The depiction of the branches as rounded originates from non-Jews.

The Western Light

According to Rambam, the Menorah stood in the Holy from north to south, and the Western Light is the middle light on the Menorah shaft whose wick faced west.

Rashi explains that all the lights face the Western Light, so that it should not be said, "He needs its light."

Cups of the Menorah

Rambam depicted the Menorah cups with the wide part of the cup facing downward and the narrow part facing upward. This symbolizes the Divine Presence being inspired through the Menorah, influence from above to below, in expansion, in accordance with the words of the Sages that the Menorah is a testimony to all the world's inhabitants that the Divine Presence dwells in Israel.

May it be the will that the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days and that we merit the light of the Temple Menorah!