Bais HaVaad on the Parsha, Parshas Trumah

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February 27, 2025

Excerpted and adapted from a shiur by HaRav Yechiel Biberfeld

And you shall make a menorah of pure gold…

Shmos 25:31

The Gemara in Avodah Zarah says it is forbidden mideOreisa to build a replica of the seven-branched menorah of the Bais Hamikdash. Though the original was made of gold, a replica may not be made using any metal, because any metal is kosher bedieved for the menorah.

The Pis’chei Teshuvah cites the view that a round candelabra of seven branches would be permissible, because the menorah in the Bais Hamikdash was straight. But other shitos forbid this.

Most poskim forbid owning or using a seven-branched menorah even if it was made by and purchased from a non-Jew.

The Sheivet Halevi says the prohibition would not apply to hanging lamps, as they do not resemble the menorah. But R’ Akiva Eiger’s nephew R’ Shmuel Halevi Birnbaum writes in a letter that his uncle was extremely strict regarding this prohibition, to the extent that when he found a seven-branched hanging lamp in his home in the shape of a star, he had it removed, even though it did not resemble the menorah of the Bais Hamikdash at all.

R’ Ovadiah Yosef writes that a seven-branched electric candelabra is permitted, because it does not resemble the menorah. Some sources even permit a candelabra made for candles rather than oil.

There is a famous replica of the menorah in the Old City of Yerushalayim built by a group called the Temple Institute. They claim this is permitted because it was built to be used in the Third Bais Hamikdash, and the prohibition is only to have a replica for personal use. But it was discovered that this golden menorah is really only gold-plated iron. As noted, a menorah not of pure gold may only be used bedieved in the Bais Hamikdash, so it is highly questionable why this institution would build a bedieved menorah for the Bais Hamikdash.