#menorah

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Source

[ljf613]

Alright, Chanukah starts tonight, which means it's time for me to finally make a post about different kinds of menorahs.

This right here? This is the Temple Menorah:

There's some debate over whether the branches were straight or curved, but here's a few things we do know:

It had seven branches of equal length.

It was made of one solid piece of gold

It was at least five feet tall.

It used pure olive oil.

The Temple Menorah is what people mean when they talk about The Menorah. It's what you'll see on historical or commemorative artifacts such as the Arch of Titus in Rome or Israeli currency:

During the time when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the High Priest lit all seven flames on this Menorah every day (using the aforementioned pure olive oil):

No one lights this on Chanukah.

This is a Chanukah menorah:

There are countless variations, but here are the important things:

It has eight branches of equal length, plus a ninth "helper" branch, known as the shamash, which is set apart from the rest of the branches and used to light the others.

It can be made of any material.

It is usually used with wax candles or oil, but, if necessary, one can use anything that burns.

In Hebrew, this kind of menorah is called a chanukiah.

Some Chanukah menorahs, like the one shown above, have the shamash in the middle. Others have it on the side:

Regardless, this kind of menorah is the one that has been lit by Jews on Chanukah for thousands of years. It's the menorah you'll seen in photographs of Jewish households, including this famous picture taken in Germany in 1931:

(The message written on the back of the photo reads: "Death to Judah"/ So the flag says/ "Judah will live forever"/ So the light answers)

On Chanukah, whoever is lighting the menorah will first light the shamash, then the number of candles corresponding to whichever night of Chanukah it is. The first night, only the rightmost candle is lit, the second night the two rightmost, etc. (The newest candle is always lit first):

Again, a valid Chanukah menorah has eight branches of equal length, along with a shamash. There is no such thing as a Chanukah menorah with six branches of equal length and a longer seventh branch, and no valid Chanukah menorah has eight branches of completely different lengths.

If you see either of the above designs (or anything similar) on Chanukah-themed decor, it tells you the creator has absolutely no idea what they're doing and couldn't be bothered to do more than two seconds of research to make sure their product was accurate. Anyone who knows anything about the holiday will laugh at these. (They may buy them anyway, especially if that's all that's available-- my new Chanukah sweater has an invalid menorah pattern, but it's adorable, so I'm still going to wear it. But I am also laughing about it and invite you all to do the same.)

Anyway, have a happy Chanukah, everyone!

[thehussy]

happy hanukkah!

(and then for tomorrow...)

[kropotkindersurprise]

December 13, 2023 - A major highway in Los Angeles, USA, was blocked for 2.5 hours during rush hour by Jewish activists and allies with the organisation If Not Now.

The protesters were demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to US funding for Israel's war crimes against the Palestinian people. The protesters, wearing T-shirts saying "Not in our name", formed a human chain across the highway and erected a 7-foot tall menorah in the road. According to police 75 activists were arrested. [video]

[gifs-of-puppets]

Happy Hanukkah!

[shewhoworshipscarlin]

Hanukkah lamp, 1950, Mazagan, Morocco.

[amaditalks]

I have found my new quest.

Someone in a Facebook group I’m in posted this picture of a hanukkiah they saw in a thrift shop and did not purchase. Everyone in the group was telling them to go back and get it. They didn’t recognize what they were seeing.

It’s Yehudit brandishing her sword and the head of Holofernes.

She is being anointed with oil to honor her for her triumph.

On a hannukiah.

I need this so badly I can taste it. 

[captain-acab]

The Jewish samurai swiftly picks up the shamash then places it back down in one smooth motion

two seconds later the rest of the candles on the menorah all ignite in a clean line

[is-the-fire-real]

Three cercolons. Literally translates to "big circles", cercolons are decorative wall plates and a specialty of Andalusia. These are ceramic and hand-painted. The first two depict the Temple menorah (with seven branches), one in various shades of blue and one in a variety of colors. The other depicts a Magen David lined with leaves and flowers.

All of the golden-colored edging and accents are 24-carat gold. The flowers and decorative edgework are examples of cuerda seca (dry cord), a technique for painting tiles and ceramics which dates to the period of Arabic colonization of Spain.

[jewish-culture-is]

guys I'm back at it again with the graphic eyeliner....

[image ID: a close up on a brown eye with light purple eyeshadow, blue eyeliner, and 6 little candles painted on the end of the wing. end ID]

[image ID: a menorah with a city skyline painted on it standing with six candles: a blue shamas candle, and then red, yellow, green, yellow, red, in order. end ID]

[fallensapphires]

Holidays: Chanukah (Hanukkah)

The darkness of the whole world cannot swallow the glowing of a candle.

[guardianspirits13]

Happy Candle month to all who celebrate!

[ornithologyorthodoxy]

12/10/23

(This one’s for @fuckyeahcoelacanths )

[mynolia]

The Professor saved the best gifts for the last night! 🕎

[copperbadge]

[ID: A photograph of my chanukiah on the windowsill, with Chicago in the background. Two candles plus the shamash are lit, and in front of the chanukiah is a little olive wood camel train figurine set, being led by a little carved man on a donkey.]

[gifs-of-puppets]

Happy Hannukah!