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
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The menorah owner provided surveillance footage from the night of Jan. 5 that showed two suspects allegedly intentionally damaging the menorah, according to the Guilford Police Department.
—
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
The menorah itself shouldn’t light ablaze, which is why Target recalled 4,400 Spritz Taper Resin Dino Hanukkah Menorahs on Thursday.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Kicking off with a menorah lighting, the event includes giveaways and snacks.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Then the fire last month destroyed nearly everything inside the house: the handwritten letters from Ms. Edmiston’s father, who was once the mayor of Beverly Hills; a tin menorah that her ancestors brought from Russia and Poland; and, of course, nearly all the cookie jars.
—Corina Knoll, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
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Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
The menorah itself shouldn’t light ablaze, which is why Target recalled 4,400 Spritz Taper Resin Dino Hanukkah Menorahs on Thursday.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Kicking off with a menorah lighting, the event includes giveaways and snacks.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Then the fire last month destroyed nearly everything inside the house: the handwritten letters from Ms. Edmiston’s father, who was once the mayor of Beverly Hills; a tin menorah that her ancestors brought from Russia and Poland; and, of course, nearly all the cookie jars.
—Corina Knoll, New York Times, 22 Feb. 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 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menorah
noun
me·no·rah
mə-ˈnȯr-ə 
: a holder for candles used in Jewish worship
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