Menorah Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

A hanukkiah is the nine-branch candelabra used on Chanukah — eight lights plus the shamash — while "menorah" originally refers to the seven-branch candelabra of the ancient Temple. In everyday use, most English speakers call the Chanukah piece a menorah, and every menorah in this collection is a nine-branch hanukkiah made for the holiday.

The shamash is the helper candle used to light the other candles, and it sits in the ninth holder on every Chanukah menorah — usually raised, lowered, or set apart from the row of eight. On the first night you light the shamash plus one candle, and you add one more candle each night until all eight burn on the final night.

The widespread custom is to place candles starting from the right side of the menorah, adding one each night, and to light them starting with the newest candle — so lighting moves left to right. Customs can vary between communities, so if you're new to it, it's worth asking your rabbi or community what they follow.

Choose sterling silver if you want a traditional heirloom piece — it's the classic material, holds value, and can be polished for decades. Choose a modern design if the menorah will live in a contemporary space; sculptural metal, crystal, and multicolor pieces in this collection are built for exactly that. Since a menorah is displayed prominently for eight nights, matching the home matters more than with most Judaica.

Both are traditional. Most menorahs in this collection are made for standard Chanukah candles, which is the common modern choice, while oil lighting — usually with pre-filled olive oil vials — recalls the Temple oil at the center of the Chanukah story. If you want to light with oil, boxed sets of oil vials are available in our Chanukah accessories collection.

Yes — a menorah is one of the few Judaica gifts that reliably becomes a family heirloom, since it anchors the holiday every year and is often passed down. For weddings, sterling silver designs and a dedicated glass wedding menorah in this collection are the traditional tier; for a housewarming or first apartment, the smaller modern multicolor pieces are a better fit.