Hanukiah in Singapore. Photo taken on day three of Hanukah showing three (electric) candles lit. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
What is a Hanukiah
Once you know what a hanukiah is you will recognize it. Three others walking with me went past this Hanukiah without noticing it. I saw it and was delighted. I hanukiah is a nine candle candlestick for Hanukah festival, celebrating the oil lasting eight days when the second temple in Jerusalem was re-dedicated. The Hanukiah is for the festival of light around Christmas time, and the Hindu festival of lights.
What is a Menorah?
The Menorah with fewer branches, only 7, is used throughout the year on the sabbath. Menorah simply means lamp in Hebrew. Firstly, a reminder that a simple menorah is a seven branch candle-holder, three semi-circles, for the seven days of the week. It is lit at dusk on Friday night. The first electric light in homes was in the 1880s, the time of my late father's grandfather.
The Hanukiah's Helper
However, a festival hanukiah is larger, eight candles for the eight days of Hanukah, plus the one extra candle, the helper or servant, in the middle to light the others.
Why 44 Candles?
When a friend gave me a hanukiah, the nine branch candlestick used to celebrate Hanukah, I also received a pack of 44 candles.
My guest told me, "You always get 44 candles."
"Why 44?" I asked.
"You need lots of candles. You need to light one on the first night, plus the central candle used to light the others. Two on the second night, plus the one to light the others, up to eight on the last night.
You always get 44. I don't know why. But it's the right number. It works out."
Counting To 44 On Fingers
That night as I lay in bed, in the dark, falling asleep I tried to add up the numbers in my head. I dozed off and lost count a few times but eventually added it up the total.
Night one 1 +1=2. Night one you used two. Always one extra candle to light the others.
Night two 2+ 2+1.
Simple Maths
Maths, we say in the UK. We say math in the USA.
Let's make it simpler.
Night one is 2 candles. Night 2 is 3 candles.
So the total number is
2 +3+4+5+7+7+8+9.
I added 2 and 3 and made 5. Then what? Add four, or three or five?
I was in the dark, half asleep, but I eventally added up the numbers by folding down the fingers of my left hand. When do you stop counting? All the fingers on your right hand except the last because the hanukiah has nine candles.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
If it's easier, start with the big numbers folding down the fingers on your right hand. Nine and eight, which is, twice eight which is 6, add one, is 17. 17.
You now have only two finger on your right hand upright. Five on the left hand and two on the right hand is seven. Added to what? I yawned. Start again. 17 and 3 is 20 so 17 and 7 is 24.
From then on it's easier. 24 and 6 is 20. Doesn't sound like we will reach 44. But keep going. Twenty and five is 25. 25 and 4 is 29. 29 and 3 is 32. And two is 34. The answer should be 44. I have lost it. Start again to check.
I am ten out. Sounds like it must be my arithmetic. I have lost ten somewhere.
9=*+17
17+7 +24
24 +6+30
305 =35
add 4 39
24 and 6 is not 20 it is 30. Ah.
Correcting Math(s) Mistakes
Always count up and down a column so you don't make the same mistake twice.
2
2 plus 3 is 5
5 = 4 is 9
9 and 5 is 14
14 and 6 is 20
20 and 7 is 27
27 and 8 is 35
35 and 9 is 44.
Add 7. 14, plus one is 24. yes, big numbers.
I went to sleep happy. You need 44 candles, exactly the number I had been told. I shall now always remember that if you add the numbers 2 to 9 (to light a hanukiah) you get 44. If you were to add the number 1 to 9 you would get 45.
If you add 1 to ten you would get 55.
My husband is a statistician. He knows that sort of thing. I am not a stastician. Interesting mathematical problem for children. Fun with numbers.
You could do this count with smarties or M and Ms, or beads, or as I did it, on my fingers.
Where To Buy 44 Candles
Where could you buy a pack of 44 Hanukah candles? If you want to buy candles, you can go into a Jewish shop, a supermarket in a Jewish area, or buy online, or ask somebody going to Israel or New York or a city with Jewish or Israeli goods to look for a pack of 44 Hanukah candles.
Order Online Dripless Ond Other Varieties Of Candles
You can buy online dripless candles, blue candles, rainbow candles, silver candles, pink candles for a cause.
Doctor Your Delivery Address
When I typed in from a laptop in Singapore, set to a Singapore delivery address, I got an amazon Singapore result. If you log in from elsewhere in the world, you will get results either for your home country, or the coutnry where you are logging in. to reduce postal costs, and delivery times, try to find a supplier in the country of delivery, or a supplier from somewhere such as China where many companies offer delivery worldwide for free.
Which Spelling?
Finally, Hanukah or Chanukah or Chanukkah? It depends on whether you are translating the word said with an H or a gutteral ch as in the Scottish word loch.
Where To See Hanukiahs After Hanukah?
The hanukah display in Singapore will be no longer visible after the end of Hanukah. However, you can see hanukiahs and menorahs in many places such as the Jewish Museum of New York.
USA - The Ukrainian Hanukiah
I was intrigued to see that museum had a hanukiah from Lemberg in what was then the Austria-Hungarian empire, now in Ukraine.
From the Wikipedia article on Hanukah.
I was also intrigued to see all the recent presidents at the White House presiding over a Hanukah party, Bush, Reagan, Obama and Trump.
Useful Websites
https://www.amazon.sg/Ner-Mitzvah-Colorful-Chanukah-Candles/
https://www.amazon.sg/Zion-Judaica-Hanukkah-Menorah-Silverplated
Dripfree candles:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g23652651/hanukkah-candles/
singaporeair.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Hanukkah_Party
See my later post about the Hanukiah outside the synagogue in Waterloo Street, with a photo.
About the author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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