Hanukkah menorah

In Exodus, God commands that a 6 branch candelabrum be constructed. The Priest or Kohein lit the menorah every evening then cleaned it in the morning, replaced wicks and refilled the cups with olive oil.

Exodus 25:31-40
"Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

"Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (NIV).

The original 6 branch menorah is part of the Israeli Emblem created in 1949 shortly after Israel gained statehood. The 8 branch Hanukkah menorah was created to commemorate the miracle of the one day's worth of oil that lasted 8 days when rededicating the Temple.

Isaiah 42:6-7 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house" (NKJV).

God appoints the Jews to be the "light to the Gentiles" or the "light of the world" to direct us all to the road that leads to salvation. After all, "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22) and the menorah is one visible representation and reminder of His plan and call to the Jewish people.

Then of course there is THE Light of the World (John 8:12), Yeshua, the Messiah. Hmmmm...He was a Jew, wasn't He? Isn't He?