[Avodah] SEMI CIRCULAR MENORAH

[Jonathan Baker]

> : On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:08:14 -0700 Menachem Posner 
> : >Does anyone know of a definitive ruling as to whether a Chanukah 
> : >menorah may or may not be shaped in a semi circle? Or rather, why 
> : >is it that no orthodox Jews ever use such Menorahs since there is 
> : >no apparent reason why not to?
 
> : R' Seth Mandel posted an excellent discussion of the shape of the 
> : Menorah in the BhM on Avodah, you can find it in the archives:
 
> I thought the original question  was about the shape of a Chanikiyah's
> lamps -- need they be arranged in a line or is a semicircle also okay.

Yes.

(IIRC Mishneh Brurah cites) Chayei Adam 154:10, who says yes, because
people would put wicks around the edges of a plate and put a pool of oil
in the middle, as a lamp.  There has to be some visible difference between
the wicks, either by putting another plate on top so the wicks appear to be
separate, or by separating each wick by at least an inch, although bedieved
even not so far apart, and without another plate on top, it's OK because 
that's what people do (vechen nohagin).

My great-aunt J. Goldfarb, one of the Orthodox aunts, used a semi-circular
menorah - a flat disk, with the candleholders arranged around the edge.

Chayei Adam is pretty clear that wicks in a circle is less than ideal.

--
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