Menorah

= The **M**enorah = = = =Pictures=

"Well done Florida Gulf Coast University & the PC Police." 26 Nov. 2008. Web. 10 Nov. 2009.

Yishai. ""Keep Making Aliyah"" 30 Dec. 2004. Web. 10 Nov. 2009.

Coker, Matt. "We'll Return Missing Menorah Once We Figure Out Where It Is." 11 Dec. 2008. Web. 11 Nov. 2009.

Summary:
The Menorah is the symbol of the nation of Israel and is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It was used in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and symbolizes a burning bush. It was originally lit with olive oil that created an “eternal flame” that burned for eight days. A menorah is a seven branched candelabrum that is important for the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. In the Old Testament 7 represented perfection. The menorah stood in the second Jerusalem temple and was destroyed by the Romans. Now days not all menorahs have 7 branches because when the temple was destroyed a tradition began that nothing from the temple should be duplicated so nine branched candelabras are used more often today.

The Menorah is a symbol closely related with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. After the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough ritually pure olive oil left to fuel the Menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days which was enough time to get more oil, which is why on Hanukkah, a nine branched candelabrum is used, eight for the eight days that the oil lasted, and one more to hold the Shamash, which is used to light all the other candles.

Research:
==== 1. "Hanukkah." //Kids InfoBits Presents: Holidays of the World//. Thomson Gale, 2007. Reproduced in Kids InfoBits. Detroit: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBits ====


 * ==== We found this source through the Kids Info Bits database. We searched Menorah and selected the first reference. The site is reliable because it was found through a trusted database chosen through school. It gave us information about the story and symbolism of the menorah. ====

====One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the [|Temple]. The //[|kohanim]// 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. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in [|Exodus 25:31-40].==== ====It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." ([|Isaiah 42:6]). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in [|Zechariah 4:1-6]. Zechariah sees a menorah, and [|G-d] explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit."==== ====The lamp stand in today's [|synagogues], called the //ner tamid// (lit. the continual lamp; usually translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah.==== ====The nine-branched menorah used on [|Chanukah] is commonly patterned after this menorah, because Chanukah commemorates the miracle that a day's worth of oil for this menorah lasted eight days.==== ====The menorah in the First and Second [|Temples] had seven branches. After the Temples were destroyed, a tradition developed not to duplicate anything from the Temple and therefore menorah's no longer had seven branches. The use of six-branched menoras became popular, but, in modern times, some rabbis have gone back to the seven-branched menoras, arguing that they are not the same as those used in the Temple because today's are electrified.====
 * ==== We found this site through Google by searching 'Symbolism of the Menorah' and by scrolling down. It's a reliable site because its a .org and has lot of information similar to other sited we found. It had information about the different types of Menorahs and symbolism of it. ====

==== 3. "The Seven Branch Menorah - Symbol of the Jewish Faith." //Free Articles Directory | Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com//. Web. 09 Nov. 2009. . ====

====The 7-branch menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It is found mostly in temples and synagogues, often up front as an item by itself, and also as a design in stained glass windows, ceilings & wall murals, paintings, sculptures, and more. Interestingly, increasingly some churches also have seven branch menorahs in their sanctuaries to remind them of the menorah that once stood in the Temple in Jerusalem. Although, this should not be such a surprise bearing in mind the menorah's place in the Hebrew scriptures and the role of the Old Testament in the life of the church & Christian.====
 * ==== We found this site through Google as well by searching 'Menorah'. It is full of information on the Menorah and is most likely reliable because it contains similar information as the other sites. It gave us history on the Menorah and had a lot about the background. ====