For donations Click Here

Seven Arm Candelabrum

We have a 7 candle shabbos candelabrum.

Is this a problem?

What should we do about it?

Answer:

This is a problem, as we find in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah 141), based on the Gemara that forbids the creation of replicas of the Temple vessels.

Some write that where the individual candles of the candelabrum go round the center rather than out to the sides, the prohibition does not apply, but the Pischei Teshuvah writes that because this involves a Torah prohibition, one must be stringent in the matter.

Although the principal prohibition is in creating the candelabrum, and not in using it, many write that one should not keep it at home either (see Gra 21; Pischei Teshuvah 12). Therefore, the candelabrum should not be kept at home in its current form.

The best advice is simply to seal the central arm of the candelabrum, so that is cannot hold a candle (Maharsham 7:14). This can even be done by (permanently) sticking (with superglue) a glass cup inside, so that the cup cannot be removed.

Best wishes.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *