Ahead of Hanukkah: The Knesset to Pay 288,000 Shekels for a New Hanukkiah

The Knesset is preparing for the upcoming Hanukkah holiday with a new Hanukkiah, which will be placed and displayed annually on the roof of the parliament building. The cost of purchasing the Hanukkiah will be 288,000 shekels (before VAT), according to the minutes of the Knesset Tenders Committee meeting held about two weeks ago.

The artist chosen for the task is Adam Braun, a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in the industrial design department. The Knesset curator, Sharon Sofer, explained during the discussion that Braun is known for creating and designing the Hanukkiah placed annually at the Western Wall plaza for the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. She added that, in her professional opinion, a similar Hanukkiah is suitable for the needs of the building.

According to the minutes, the price requested for the work stems, among other things, from the need for unique adjustments designed to ensure the Hanukkiah's durability against winds and the changing weather on the building's roof. Under the agreement expected to be signed between the Knesset and the artist, he will be required to provide customized packaging to store the Hanukkiah in a disassembled state throughout the months of the year when it is not in use.

The Knesset itself will be responsible for carrying out the necessary infrastructure work, including regulating the gas pressure required for the installation and operation of the Hanukkiah. These works will be carried out in coordination with the artist and according to the execution plans and required safety standards. The target for placing the new Hanukkiah on the roof is the upcoming Hanukkah holiday, which is expected to fall on December 14, 2026.

According to sources in the Knesset, the Hanukkiah is intended to replace a previous one that was destroyed due to weather conditions. It is important to clarify that this should not be confused with the "Knesset Menorah" — a 5-meter-high bronze monument overlooking the Knesset from the Rose Garden, which was gifted to the State of Israel in 1956 by members of the British Parliament, private citizens, and various organizations from Britain, and is not expected to be replaced anytime soon.