Fruit Menorah
by Trish James
Celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, with this fun menorah made using fresh fruits and vegetables. Use a little bit of yogurt to help the fruit stick to the plate.
What is a Menorah?
A menorah is a candelabra that is used in Jewish homes to hold candles. Each night of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit until all eight are burning. The menorah is an important symbol of the holiday, which commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The menorah has been used as a symbol of Judaism for thousands of years. In the Bible, God tells Moses to create a seven-branched candelabra for the Tabernacle, and later, for the Temple in Jerusalem. The seven branches represent the seven days of creation.
The best-known menorah is the nine-branched candelabra that is used during Hanukkah. This recipe is a fun and edible take on the traditional menorah.
Our fruit menorah is also symbolic.
How to make a Fruit Menorah
We used apples as the “candles.” Apples have been a part of the Jewish faith for centuries. The fruit is mentioned in the Bible and is a symbol of life and fertility. In Judaism, the apple is also a symbol of paradise.
The apple is a popular fruit in Jewish culture and is often eaten on holidays and special occasions. Apples are also used in many traditional Jewish recipes.
Blueberries represented the lamps. Blueberries have been a part of the Jewish faith for centuries. In the Talmud, blueberries are one of the seven species of fruits and vegetables that are praised. The Talmud also states that eating blueberries on Shabbat is a mitzvah.
In the Mishnah, blueberries are listed as one of the five fruits that should be eaten on Tu Bishvat, which is considered the New Year for Trees. On this holiday, Jews eat fruit to celebrate the new growth of trees and to give thanks for the food that they have been given.
Blueberries are also a part of the Passover tradition. During this holiday, Jews eat foods that are symbols of spring and new life. Blueberries represent hope and renewal, and they remind us that even in dark times there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
How we made the flames of the Menorah
Carrots make the “flames.” The Jewish faith has a long and rich history, and food plays a significant role in many religious rituals and traditions. Carrots are one of the most commonly used vegetables in Jewish cuisine, and they are often served as part of the Passover meal. Carrots also have a symbolic meaning in the Jewish faith, as they are seen as a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
Finally, bananas made the base of the menorah. Bananas are often eaten as a part of the Jewish New Year’s celebrations. The round shape of the fruit is said to symbolize the cyclical nature of life.
Bananas are also eaten during the Passover holiday. According to tradition, eating a banana on Passover is a way of commemorating the Exodus from Egypt.
In addition to being eaten as part of religious ceremonies, bananas are also used in Jewish folk medicine. For example, many people of the Jewish faith believe that eating a banana can help cure a cold.
Recipes can be more than just food. They can be symbolic and have deep meaning. Try this one for Hanukkah and enjoy.
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Fruit Menorah
Ingredients
- 1 small banana sliced
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 4 apple slices cut in half
- 4 carrot slices cut in half
Instructions
- Arrange banana down center and bottom of plate. Arrange blueberries to represent lamps, apples to represent candles and carrots to represent the flame.
