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The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is one of the most celebrated in the Hebrew calendar. Known as The Festival of Lights' it has customs and traditions that are deeply rooted in history. Perhaps the most symbolic part of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah or Hanukkiah, which has a story that epitomises the Jewish faith and dedication to their religion.

The Hannukiah is a candelabrum consisting of eight branches of equal size that all sit in a row and a ninth holder which is usually positioned in the centre for the Shamash' or servant candle. The meaning of the Hanukkiah and the reasoning behind the number of branches is firmly embedded in the story of The Festival Of Lights, which begins with the Jewish Maccabees'.

About 2200 years ago, in response to the persecution of the Jews by the Syrian/Greeks, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organised a group of fighters against them, collectively known as The Maccabees. Against great odds and after years of fighting the Maccabee army were able to overcome the Greco-Syrians and drive them out of Judea. The Maccabees were able to reclaim to Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

They cleaned and repaired the broken temple, removing all Greek statues and artefacts and when they were finished, The Maccabees re-dedicated the temple (Hence the festival of Hanukkah meaning dedication'). On the 25th day of Kislev, the temple was purified and re-dedicated.

However, the Maccabees found that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil of the temple and there was only enough left to light the Temple Menorah for one night and it would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. The Maccabees lit the menorah but by some miracle it lasted for not just one day but eight days until they were able to get some more.

This is why the Hanukkiah has eight candle holders and not seven like a regular menorah. It is said that no menorah should be similar to that of the Ancient Temple because of its sanctity which is why the Hanukkiah has eight branches. The Shamash' is used to light the others candles with it being the servant candle. The shamash is said to guard against the secular use of the other candles which are not supposed to be used for any other purpose during Hanukkah. The Hanukkah candles are used only to make the miracle publicly known.

There are other theories as to why the Hanukkiah has eight branches such as that of Hannah and her seven sons. This is a story depicted in the Talmud and the Book of the Maccabees

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