All other "religious" symbols in the world are man-made and have no real significance. Even the cross displayed in Catholic and Christian churches around the world is a pagan symbol as it represents the way the ancient Romans used to put people to death. Yeshua was tortured and killed on this hideous man-made instrument of death, so why would anyone want to keep its memory alive by turning it into an icon? It's one thing to remember that our Savior was killed on a stake/cross, but it's quite another to turn it into an idol that graces churches, necklaces and bracelets, and even our bodies via tatooes....

The menorah, the only symbol our Creator designed Himself (all other "religious" symbols are man-made), is said to symbolize the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Horeb (Exodus 3). YHWH (Yahweh) commanded Moses to make a menorah that had one main "stem" and six branches (Exodus 25:31-40); and commanded it to be placed in the "holy place" of the Tabernacle and the Temple.

Exodus 25:31 . . . "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece" . . .

Exodus 25:32 . . . "And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side."

The Menorah with its seven branches is a perfect picture of the Seven Spirits of YHWH, as shown in the following scripture:

"The Spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Chochmah (Wisdom) and Binah (Understanding), the Spirit of Atzah (Counsel) and Gevurah (Might), the Spirit of Da'at (Knowledge) and of the Yirah (Fear) of YHWH." (Isaiah 11:2-3).

The center of the menorah represents the Spirit of YHWH while the six other attributes are joined into the center pillar. These seven Spirits also signify perfection or completeness. The Fear of YHWH Elohim is a "Spirit" of YHWH; it is a vital spiritual quality for Life in Mashiyach. The Fear of YHWH is a personal guide; Hebrew yirah means fear, as in fear/awesome/terrifying contrary to Christian teaching that the Fear of YHWH is not really "fear" but love and respect.

Isaiah 29:13 reveals how "the Fear of YHWH is taught by the commandment of men"; in other words, man's religious theology and tradition has made void the Fear of YHWH. Many Christians prefer the term "reverence" over "fear"; Christians also use a title of "Reverend" for their clergymen and ministers; therefore, the term "Fear of YHWH" was first negated and then given a theological/semantic twist to apply to their own leadership, as in the case of "reverend."

The Fear of YHWH is noted throughout Scripture; B'resheet/Genesis 20:11; 42:18; Shemot/Exodus 9:30; 18:21; Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17; D'varim/Deuteronomy 10:12 and in more than a hundred places. Without the Spirit of the Fear of YHWH, people will fear man, materialism, relativism and all form of idols, including their religious leaders. The Fear of YHWH empowers Y'shua's followers to uphold the Word of YHWH, regardless of consequences (see Romans 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Ephesians 5:21; Revelation 15:4).

During Hannukah we use a 9-branch menorah called a "Hanukkiya"....