by Hillel Fendel, IsraelNN.com
A scholarly, attractive Hebrew work just published by the Temple Institute in Jerusalem explains, among other things, why the Chabad-Lubavitch menorahs atop cars and in public squares are straight, while others are rounded.
Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, head of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, has made it his life’s work to bring the Holy Temple closer to the hearts of the Jewish People. To this end, he has supervised the fashioning of sacred vessels and utensils, to the letter of Jewish Law, to be used in the Holy Temple.
One of the most impressive achievements of the Institute is the half-ton, seven-branched Menorah (candelabra), made of pure gold. It is now stationed in the Old City of Jerusalem, on the steps leading down to the Western Wall, where it can be seen by all. Putting the icing on the cake is Rabbi Ariel’s new book explaining the intricacies of the Menorah’s detailed structure, laws, history, and significance in Jewish thought.
The Straight-Round Controversy
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement has made famous a menorah structure with straight arms, branching out diagonally from the stem. This is based on a ruling by the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, who in turn based his stance on a drawing by the renowned 12th-century Jewish scholar Maimonides (Rambam).
However, the Temple Institute’s golden Menorah, as well as those depicted in the Arch of Titus in Rome, the symbol of the State of Israel, and countless relics and drawings throughout Jewish history, have rounded branches – and Rabbi Ariel says this is the correct version.
“Throughout the generations,” Rabbi Ariel told Arutz-7 upon the book’s publication, “including in the Rambam’s generation, it was known that the branches were circular. The dispute arose only of late after the discovery of a manuscript of the Rambam’s commentary on the Mishna, with a drawing of the golden menorah. He indicated there how the various Biblically-mandated ornaments – cups, bulbs and flowers – were placed. Just like he drew those ornaments simply, so as not to cause confusion, he drew the branches simply and straight for the same purpose.”
“However,” Rabbi Ariel continued, “the Rambam never entertained the possibility that the branches were not rounded. We even have testimonies that the synagogue in which he prayed had a round-branched Menorah.”
Among many other pieces of evidence supporting this position and presented in the new book, a drawing was found in the Herodian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, beneath the present-day site of Yeshivat HaKotel, showing a round-branched Menorah. “And this was a neighborhood of Priests,” Rabbi Ariel emphasizes, “and the drawing was used to teach them how to light the Menorah.”
True-to-Life Photos and Art
In addition to many photographs and lavish drawings of the Menorah, Temple service, and historical evidence, the book also contains scholarly chapters on various aspects of the Menorah. One chapter deals with the current obligation to build a Menorah, another one details the Redemptive aspects of the Menorah, and yet another discusses whether the requirement to fashion it in one solid gold piece was fulfilled manually or miraculously.
Other, more technical chapters discuss the precise shapes of the cups, bulbs, and flowers, as well as the detachable lamps, the nature of the gold that was used, the base, the Maccabees’ Menorah, Josephus and the Menorah, the western lamp, and more.
New Prayerbook
The Temple Institute has also recently released a new Siddur (prayerbook), with special emphasis on the relationship between the prayer service and the Holy Temple. It notes, for instances, which passages were originally recited in anticipation of the restoration of the Temple, the aspects of the Temple upon which one must concentrate when reciting certain passages, and how certain prayers were recited in the Temple itself.
rashi says diaginal
Ever since I took my group .. and he made sure everyone KNEW that he was right and the Rbbe was vchulu… I never ever went back there. WE CHABAD bring him so much money. Let him feel the PINCH! Maybe he would shut up!
The Rebbe was very clear that there were different Menorahs in the Mikdosh and they were all lit regularly. The Rebbe says that the Menorah in the Heichol had straight branches; the others, not necessarily…
The Rebbe wrote extensively on the subject.
This guy must be one of the syupidist guys in town! if he would even learn the Sicha Bishitchiyus he would see of how the Rebbe Shlug’s up his Ra’ayos, one after the other. This guy has stupid Ra’ayos, while the Rebbe gives clear cut proof’s. If I would have the patience, I would Shlug this guy up right now. The Sicha is clear, leaving no space for any other opinion. This guy, on top of all the above, is a person with-out complete faith!!!!!!! The Rambam had RUACH HAKODESH!!!!!!! Ma SheEin Kein this IDIOT who dosent believe the first… Read more »
“Just like he drew those ornaments simply, so as not to cause confusion, he drew the branches simply and straight for the same purpose.”
The idiot missed on of the main points the rebbe made, theat the rambam made and wrote evry thing in his seforim exactly, precise, and accurate according to his understanding.
This “Rabbi” ariel forgot about rashi and tosfos who also clearly say the menorah branches were “alacson”-diagonal
I think there is a great way to reconcile two opinions. The Rebbe was talking about Moshe’s menora in the mishkan. As we know that menora was miracle menors – (Moshe could make it until Hashem told him to through the gold in the fire). But menoras during second temple were human made, so they had physical limitation of gold – that you can’t have branches straight. And that’s why there are no “straight” menora references (or findings) during second temple.
Why do we even quote the Chabad hater – his whole mission in kife is to go around telling everyone the Rebbe is wrong r”l