Israeli Jewish Holiday (Hanukkah) Object: "Hanukkiah"

Israeli Jewish Holiday (Hanukkah) Object: "Hanukkiah"

Collection: Spiritual Connections

Object Category: Religious Items

Country: Israel
Continent: Middle East
Geographic Region: Western Asia/Middle East
Materials: Steel
width: 10 in; height: 12 in; depth: 1.5 in

This is an Israeli Jewish candelabra, called "Hanukkiah," used to celebrate the Jewish holiday "Hanukkah." This Hanukkiah is in the shape of a Star of David.

The Hanukkah festival, celebrated for eight days and nights, began in 164 B.C.E., when Judah Maccabee liberated the Jerusalem Temple from Greek control, re-sanctified it, and declared an eight-day celebration of "joy and gladness". Jewish troops were determined to purify the Temple by burning ritual oil in the Temple.

The "hanukkiah", or Hanukkah candelabra, has receptacles for eight lights, one for each night. A ninth receptacle, called the servitor or shammash, is often included in the lamp as well. The hanukkiah is used to perform the central ritual of the eight-day Festival of Hanukkah, the kindling of a lamp for each night of the Festival.

Judaism is a religion in which people believe that there is one god (monotheism), the same god the Christians and Muslims worship, who created the universe and has a personal relationship with humans. The religion was founded in Israel about 4,000 years ago by Abraham, who entered into a covenant with God to follow the laws of God. Moses received the Jewish holy book from God. Scholars disagree about whether there is an afterlife. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who may bring about an afterlife.

Source:
https://www.metmuseum.org/articles/moldovan-hanukkah-menorah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah_menorah