There are eight lights on the Hanukkah menorah and one Shamash. Each Hanukkah candle represents one of the eight days that the oil miraculously burned in the Temple Menorah until new oil could be purified and brought to the Temple. The ninth candle on the Hanukkah menorah is called the Shamash. Shamash comes from the word "leheeshtamesh" which means to use. The eight Chanukah lights can not be used for any purpose; The only thing Jews are allowed to do with the lights of the Chanukah menorah is to see them. Thus, the ninth candle, the Shamash, exists to light the other eight Hanukkah lights.

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~ Lisa Katz

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