A menorah symbolizes perseverance and survival in the Jewish religion. My family is Jewish and although Judaism is not a big part of me, the celebration of Hanukkah. The word Hanukkah means dedication. It is also known as the festival of lights. Over 2000 years ago, the Jewish people rebelled against their Syrian ruler, Antiochus. He demanded that Jews worship Greek gods. As the Jews did not want to worship these gods, they fought the Syrians. The Jews defeated Antiochus and restored their temple of Jerusalem. In celebration, they lit an oil lamp in the temple that needed to remain illuminated. They could only find one day’s worth of oil, but the candle miraculously stayed lit for eight nights. This is why Hanukkah lasts for eight nights. Our menorah is a key part of this tradition as we light a candle in it for eight nights. Menorahs come in all shapes and sizes, but our Menorah is made of a matte-colored iron and stands thirteen inches tall. My parents received this piece for their wedding from my maternal grandmother. She had purchased the beautiful relic in a museum shop in Boston, Massachusetts. Our menorah is displayed on a shelf in the living room throughout the year as it is such a meaningful piece. Although it is just one out of millions of menorahs in the world, what the object symbolizes makes it so special. 

– DS

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