The Menorah
The Menorah is the Emblem or Badge of Fiducial Lodge No.8753
What is a Menorah ?
The word Menorah is Hebrew, meaning “caldelabrum” or “lamp stand”

The first menorah presumably was fashioned for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness by the artist-craftsman, Bezalel, upon the precise instructions of Moses. Bezalel (Hebrew: “in the Lords shadow”) is known to be the chief designer of the Tabernacle. Bezalel was the son of Uri of the tribe of Judah. The Lord told Moses that Bez-ã-léèl had been chosen to carry out the work on the Tabernacle: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bez-ã-léèl the son of Ü-ri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship: (Exodus: chap: 31 vs: 1-3). And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: and six branches out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and all three branches of the candlestick out of the other thereof (Exodus chap: 37 vs.: 17-18)
In the menorah there were seven lamps in all: one central stern, and three branches from each side. On the main stem there were four calices which were shaped like almond blossoms; there were also three each on the six branches. Each of the seven had a lamp bowl which was removed daily by the priests for cleaning, for trimming or renewing the wick, and for refilling with oil. The menorah was impressively large, pure gold, and highly decorative in its design.
There are many remarkable clear representations for the menorah and are depicted on the base-relief on the Arch of Titus of Rome and on Judean coins minted during Roman rule. The Bible recounts that, when Solomon was building the Temple, he had King Hiram of Tyre make for him ten menorot. The original one, made by Bezalel, when the Children of Israel were in the wilderness, he placed in their midst. When the destruction of the Temple was imminent, the priests concealed Bezalel’s menorah, and from that day forward, it was never seen again.
Naturally, fire and illumination have always placed an important part in religious rites. “The Sacred Flame” had its own special adaptation in Jewish Temple worship on Mount Zion, typified by the Menorah.
The Prophet Isaiah bade “Glorify ye the Lord in the fires” (Isaiah Chap.24 v:15) the word “fires” being considered as we now know as “light”. Now a very symbolic word used in the Initiation ceremony of Freemasonry, after the candidate has repeated his obligation blindfolded, when asked, what in his present condition is the predominant wish of his heart, and is answered by the word “light”. The word “light” as used in the Bible and by the Rabbonic writers, had great symbolic significance. It resulted in the institution of a number of religious rites and practices in which “light” was a significant element i.e. the Sabbath Lamp and candles in the home, the Perpetual Lamp or Eternal Light (Ner Talmid) placed before the Ark in the Synagogue, and finally, in Yom Kippur and yarest candles (as a memorial for the dead). It is by no means a co-incidence that in this matter of “light” the Christian church custom patterned itself on the older Jewish model; when it introduced the alter lamp, and the votive lamp and candle.
The seven-branched candlestick symbolizing Judaism and the state of Israel. The lowest candle the shummash or “servant” is used to light the others.
A nine-branched version, the hanukkiah is used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. This commemorates the Temple lamp that stayed miraculously lit for eight days on one day’s supply of oil until a new supply could be made, demonstrating that God kept his covenant. There is one candle for each of the eight days (an extra candle being lit to mark each day), and a ninth with which to light the others. The lights of Hanukkah symbolize the faith that must not die.
Many attempts have been made to give symbolic meaning to the menorah. The medieval Kabbalastic writing, the Zohar, saw it this way: the oil was the Torah, the light was Shechinah or Shekinah, Shekhina, Shechina (Divine Presence, or glory or radiance of God), and the wick was Israel. Another view was that they symbolised the seven heavens, another, expressed by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, was that “now the seven lamps signified the seven planets” which were lit up by the light of God. There was also the notion that the central stem of the lamp of the menorah stood for the Holy Sabbath, and that the six branches stemming from it were the homaging six weekdays, and that altogether represented the time-duration of Creation.
When the second Temple was destroyed, the menorah, and not the Magen David (“Star of David”) as so many erroneously believe, became the principal decorative symbol of the Jewish faith. It appeared on Hellenistic sarcophagi lids and on ossuaries (those curious funerary bone-caskets). It was sculptured in relief on the facades and over the doorways of some early synagogues. It was even painted on Jewish tombs in the catacombs of Rome, and carved into the rock walls of Judean burial catacombs.
The reason why the seven branched menorah was never employed as a ritual vessel or ornament until modern times was because of the Rabbinic prohibition against time reproduction and use of any Temple vessels. Consequently, in the home, it was the Sabbath lamp and the conventional candlestick that supplied the illumination on religious and festive occasions for more than two thousand years.
Three kinds of liquids were used in the temple; water, oil and wine (known as the Amphora). Water and wine were used for libation. Oil was used for the meal offering, in bread eaten by the priests, and for lighting. The purest oil, normally consecrated olive oil bearing the High Priest seal, was reserved for the Menorah. At the time of the first Jewish revolt, the Menorah was considered too sacred to depict on coins. However, the Amphora depicted on the coins may be the vessel or jar that held the oil for the Menorah.
After each regular meeting of Fiducial Lodge at Chingord and at the festive board, the Lodge has its own menorah and it is displayed on the table in front of Worshipful Master of the Lodge. This menorah was purchased, engraved and presented to the Lodge by W Bro Arnold Pincus, and we now have the ornament to reflect the emblem or badge of Fiducial Lodge. There is a smaller menorah for the Fiducial Lodge Chapter, and this was purchased and presented by VW Brian Vickers.

Fiducial Lodge No.8753 - Lodge Badge	Fiducial Chapter No.8753 - Lodge Badge

Article W Bro Allan de Luca- Fiducial Lodge No.8753

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