Temple menorah

The Temple menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum of immense historical and religious significance.

It is described in the Hebrew Bible and various ancient sources as a sacred object used within the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. Beyond its physical function, the menorah serves as a powerful symbol for the Jewish people and Judaism. This symbolism remains strong across the Jewish diaspora and within the Land of Israel. In 1948, the menorah was officially adopted as the emblem for the State of Israel.

The construction of the menorah followed very specific instructions found in the Book of Exodus. According to these texts, the lampstand was to be fashioned from pure gold. The design featured a central shaft and a base, with six branches extending from the sides. Specifically, three branches grew on one side and three on the other. These branches were decorated with ornamental shapes resembling almond flowers, buds, and blossoms. The entire structure, including the wick trimmers and trays, was to be made of pure gold. The total weight used for the lampstand and its accessories was one talent of gold.

The physical dimensions and exact shape of the menorah have been subjects of study for centuries. Rabbinic sources, such as the Babylonian Talmud, suggest the menorah stood about 18 handbreadths high. This is approximately 91 centimeters, based on the estimate of four finger-widths per handbreadth. Scholars have also debated the shape of the branches. While many classical and medieval authorities, including Philo and Josephus, described the arms as rounded, others held different views. The medieval scholar Maimonides produced a drawing depicting straight branches. This specific design is still used by Chabad synagogues for their menorahs today.

The daily operation of the menorah involved the use of fresh, consecrated olive oil. The lamps were lit to provide light in the space in front of the lampstand. According to the Book of Numbers, the lamps were intended to burn from evening until morning. The historian Josephus noted that three of the seven lamps might have burned during the daylight hours. However, one Talmudic tradition claims only the center lamp, known as the *ner hama'aravi* or Western lamp, burned all day. This center lamp was also called the *ner Elohim*, or lamp of God. This specific lamp was associated with a miracle where it continued to burn despite receiving no new oil.

The history of the menorah is tied to several major eras of Jewish history. It was first used in the Tabernacle and remained present as the Israelites moved through the wilderness. During the era of King Solomon, biblical accounts state there were ten such lampstands in the Temple's main chamber. These were later taken by the Babylonians following the destruction of Jerusalem. During the Second Temple period, the Hasmonean kings used menorahs as well. Some records suggest that because the returning Hasmoneans were initially poor, they may have used wood or silver before upgrading to gold.

The fate of the Second Temple menorah is a subject of much historical interest. Following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the menorah was taken to Rome as spoils of war. This event is famously depicted in a stone carving on the Arch of Titus.

After the Vandals sacked Rome in 455, the menorah was reportedly taken to Carthage. The Byzantine historian Procopius later reported that the Byzantine army recovered it in 533. They brought it to Constantinople before it was eventually returned to Jerusalem. However, no clear evidence has recorded its exact location since late antiquity.

Archaeologists continue to find evidence of the menorah's influence in ancient artifacts. The Magdala stone, discovered in a first-century synagogue, shows a depiction of a seven-lamp menorah. This version differs from the Roman depiction, featuring polygonal arms and a triangular base. This suggests that different styles of the menorah existed in antiquity. The symbol has also appeared on the coins of Antigonus II Mattathias, the last Hasmonean king. Because of its long history, the menorah has been used to distinguish synagogues and Jewish cemeteries from other places of worship. It remains a central icon in Jewish art and religious identity.