Lighting the menorah may be a Hanukkah tradition – but that doesn't mean the menorah has to be traditional. For those of us with a more contemporary aesthetic, it's nice to see that the menorah has gone modern, too. As we did last year, we've rounded up our favorite menorahs for 2012 just in time for the start of Hanukkah later this week.
1. Menorah designed by Josh Owen at Areaware $100
2. Concrete Menorah by Marit Meisler from Unica Home $320
3. Steel and Copper Menorah designed by Julie Girardini and Ken Girardini at Artful Home $290
4. Israel Giftware Design 9 Branch Electric Menorah from AllModern $275
5. Tovah Menorah from Crate & Barrel $32.95
6. Menorahmorph by Karim Rashid from The Jewish Museum $50
7. Ascalon Menorah from DWR $275
8. Nambe Menorah from Spertus Shop $160
9. Lumanella Beam Menorah from Modern Tribe $140
10. Spalted-Wood Menorah from Branch Home $128
11. Kinetic Hanukkah Menorah from Canaan Online $198
BEST MODERN MENORAH POSTS FROM AROUND THE WEB
• Modern Menorahs on Design Milk
• 2011 Holiday Guide: Modern Menorahs on Design Sponge
• 12 Modern Menorahs for a Happy Hanukkah on California Home & Design
• The Mongo Modern Menorah List on If It's Hip, It's Here
MORE MODERN MENORAHS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• Best Modern Menorahs 2011
• Out of the Ordinary Menorahs from Modern Tribe
• Roundup: 5 Eco-Friendly Hanukkah Menorahs
(Images: As credited above.)
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Personally,I like certain things to stay within tradition. I don't care for any of these.
Wow, #6 looks like it was made for Nickelodeon's show Double Dare back when I was growing up.
I spotted this handsome rustic one on Etsy...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/106051600/the-manorah-made-to-order-festive
...though they do bill it as a MANorah candleholder not just a menorah.
big fan of the first one!
I would probably only consider 1 and 5.
1 and 5 are quite nice; 3 is interesting. I don't care for any of the rest of them.
One that I really loved was in the kitchen tour of Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman; it's kind of rustic, and sitting up on a wooden shelf just outside her kitchen.
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/the-kitchn-smitten-kitchen/item/373856
I love #4. Beautiful
Style considerations aside, I'm not sure all of these menorot are kosher--I think the candles are all supposed to be at the same height (except for the shamash) and in a distinct line so that you can light them in a particular order, so #6, for example, wouldn't work for someone observant (though many others might not mind.) Personally, I like the simplicity of #1, and while electric menorot make me die a little inside, #4 is really pretty...