Illustration of menorah
: a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship
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The Menorah and Hanukkah
In English, menorah was originally the name for the seven-branched candelabra used in Jewish worship. The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra is called hanukkiah in Hebrew, but English speakers came to use menorah for this too. The Hanukkah menorah recalls expulsion by Judah Maccabee of invading forces from the Temple of Jerusalem. Maccabee and his followers sought oil for the temple’s menorah so that the sanctuary could be rededicated, but they found only enough oil for a single day. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply could be obtained. The Hanukkah menorah includes a candle for each day the oil burned, plus the shammes, a "servant candle" that is used to light the others.
Examples of menorah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The holiday is celebrated by lighting a menorah each night, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
—
Nhat V. Meyer, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
The singer shared a slideshow her Instagram, showcasing the family's Christmas tree and menorah, among other things.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
And a 2020 survey by Pew found that upwards of 80% of American Jews own a Hanukkah menorah.
—Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Don’t miss the upstairs museum, which displays priceless menorahs, prayer books, shofars and other historic artifacts, with windows that overlook the grave markers in the courtyard, a remnant of the old Budapest ghetto, where more than 2,000 victims of fascism were buried.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
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Nhat V. Meyer, The Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2024
The singer shared a slideshow her Instagram, showcasing the family's Christmas tree and menorah, among other things.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
And a 2020 survey by Pew found that upwards of 80% of American Jews own a Hanukkah menorah.
—Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Don’t miss the upstairs museum, which displays priceless menorahs, prayer books, shofars and other historic artifacts, with windows that overlook the grave markers in the courtyard, a remnant of the old Budapest ghetto, where more than 2,000 victims of fascism were buried.
—Evan Rail, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menorah
Cite this Entry
“Menorah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menorah. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menorah
noun
me·no·rah
mə-ˈnȯr-ə 
: a holder for candles used in Jewish worship
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