Happy Hanukkah

[cornerofmadness]

someone needs to send me one of everything in this picture. It looks too delicious

Comments

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

The shamash (or helper) candle is used to light all the other candles.

As to why it's there, one thought is that if a candle blows out, you still have the required number. Also, it's the only candle that can be used in a practical sense, the others cannot be moved out of the menorah.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I see. that makes sense. Catholics do something smiliar with the advent candles in the wreath. They're usually lit from the altar candles. A variety of pagan beliefs also have something similar It's not too hard to see how various religions would evolve (or copy) something about candles. I always thought the menorah was a pretty display