Israeli Jewish Candleholder - "Menorah"

This Israeli Jewish candelabrum, called a "menorah," Hebrew for candelabrum, is the name given to the seven-branched candle holder. According to the Bible, the menorah was a prominent feature of the Tabernacle erected by the people of Israel in the wilderness, as well as in the Jerusalem Temple.

The priests of the temple lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. Jewish scholars believe that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be "a light unto the nations."

In modern times the menorah has continued to be used as a religious symbol, particularly in synagogue art: wall-paintings, stained glass windows, mosaics. In imitation of the ancient mosaics, some synagogues place a menorah to the right and the left of the Ark.
Source:
Source Citation: Haran, Menahem, Efraim Gottlieb, and Heinrich Strauss. "Menorah." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 49-55. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587513677&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/menorah.html