I receive numerous requests asking, “Where can I purchase the furniture of the Tabernacle?” The two vessels requested the most are the Ark of the Covenant and the Menorah. My general response is, “All of my teaching props are hand-crafted by me or people closely associated with The Tabernacle Man teaching ministry.”
Teaching Props Available
From time to time I build additional teaching props for other ministries. Since a full-size menorah is almost impossible to find I decided to make this project a priority. In the future, I will make available for purchase other teaching props.
100% of all donations and the sale of teaching props are used for the building of new teaching props, and the production of new video programs (YouTube: The Tabernacle Man).
Menorah - Early Days of the Tabernacle Man
For years as I have traveled to conferences, I have used a tall electric Menorah. This is the one most often seen in my early videos on YouTube. At one point I built a simple version of the menorah that burned olive oil. As I traveled, I learned one important lesson – olive oil will travel everywhere you do not want it if you do not thoroughly clean the menorah after each speaking engagement! Therefore, the electric menorah came into being.
Photo Terry Harman 2008
As the years passed, I decided I wanted to be able to teach using an olive oil-burning menorah. The menorah most recognized around the world is the one pictured below.
As seen to the left (taken from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository), The Temple Institute in Jerusalem commissioned artisans to build a menorah commonly known as the Second Temple era menorah.
The Tabernacle Man Menorahs
The menorah crafted for The Tabernacle Man is similar in design and size to the one depicted above. The dimensions of the menorah are not given in the Bible. The book of Exodus only offers a description of the design and weight of the menorah. However, the oral tradition of Judaism suggests the menorah stood three common cubits high (approximately 18 inches per cubit – using the “Common cubit” length of measurement), or approximately 5.3 feet tall (Babylonian Talmud - Menahot 28b).
Olive Oil Burning Wicks
The menorahs available from the Tabernacle Man have a separate well placed inside the top cup of the menorah. There are two options. The well can be filled with olive oil and a cotton wick can be used. I recommend the glass-sealed container. This prevents excess olive oil from creating a mess.
Biblical Description of Menorah Exodus 25:31-40 JPS 1917
The Difficulty of Creating the Menorah
I tried to bend steel pipe, copper, and any other materials I could find. The base and some of the bulbs and cups are easier to craft than the curved arms or branches. Jewish tradition informs us that the original menorah may have weighed approximately 75 pounds, depending upon the biblical weight of a “talent.” The molten gold would have been poured into a mold.
I searched for years for someone who did not think I was crazy asking if they would consider building a mold in the shape of the Second Temple menorah and then casting molten metal. Finally, I found a foundry to do this for me. Here is the final product.
Polished Aluminum Gold Finish
Dimensions of Menorah
The menorah is constructed of 88 parts individually cast using 108 pounds (48.89 kg) of molten aluminum. The aluminum can be polished, or gold painted.
This project required several months to produce the first menorah. Now that the process has been perfected the turnaround time from order to shipment is 45- to 60 days. This menorah is designed for olive oil burning. Special sealed glass containers and accompanying cotton wick are filled with 100% virgin olive oil.
Shipping Available
Delivery is possible within the United. I can ship these worldwide if your country utilizes DHL or FedEx as a courier. The courier would determine shipping charges which must be paid when ordering a menorah.
Only serious inquiries. Close-up pictures are available upon request. We will respond within 48 hours. Please send your country code and phone number and I will contact you.
Contact: terryharman@thetabernacleman.com
Please pass the link to this page to your friends, churches, synagogues, or other ministries interested in purchasing a menorah.
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