Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder

Some menorahs are just candle holders. The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is a whole mood.
Carved from white Carrara marble and designed by Brad Ascalon for Design Within Reach (DWR),
this sleek hanukkiah has become a modern Hanukkah icon, showing up in museum collections, design blogs,
and even Oprah’s “Favorite Things.”

If you love the idea of a menorah that balances deep symbolism, timeless Judaica, and clean,
gallery-worthy design, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll look at what makes the
Ascalon Menorah special, how it works as a menorah candle holder in everyday life,
how it compares to other menorahs, and how to use it safely and beautifully in your home.

Meet the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder

A modern classic in marble

The Ascalon Menorah was introduced in 2011 as a collaboration between Brad Ascalon Studio NYC and
Design Within Reach. It’s made from polished white Carrara marble and was designed as a minimalist,
sculptural hanukkiah that still meets traditional requirements for a kosher Hanukkah menorah.

Key details that fans love:

• Made from solid white Carrara marble
• Features eight candle holders plus one for the shamash
• Eight facets correspond to the eight nights of Hanukkah
• Diagonal surfaces create an 18-degree angle, nodding to the number 18 (chai, or “life”) in Judaism
• Recognized as a kosher menorah design
• Included in the permanent collection of the National Museum of American Jewish History and highlighted in Oprah’s 2011 “Favorite Things” list

In other words, it’s not just pretty. It’s Judaica with credentials.

Quick specs at a glance

Exact dimensions can vary slightly by production run, but the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is
essentially a long, low marble block with nine recessed holders along the top. It’s heavy, stable,
and feels more like a piece of sculpture than a seasonal accessory.

What Makes a Menorah “Kosher” And How the Ascalon Fits

To appreciate the Ascalon Menorah, it helps to know what makes a Hanukkah menorah “kosher” (ritually acceptable).

A traditional Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiyah, must have:

• Eight lights in a row, all at the same height (or forming a clear line)
• A ninth light the shamash, or “helper” candle set apart by height or position
• Holders arranged so the candles can be lit from left to right, with a new candle added each night

The Ascalon Menorah follows these rules: it has nine holders, with eight aligned for the eight nights and a distinct place for the shamash.
That’s why design writers and retailers describe it as a “kosher design,” even though it looks ultra-modern.

Design, Symbolism, and Story

Brad Ascalon is part of a family known for Judaica and liturgical art Maurice Ascalon, a pioneering designer of modern Israeli Judaica,
created laurel-branch and bronze menorahs that became design icons in the mid-20th century.
The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder can be seen as a contemporary continuation of that legacy: less ornate, more minimal, but still loaded with symbolism.

The most interesting symbolic detail is the 18-degree angle carved into one side of the menorah’s form.
In Jewish numerology, 18 corresponds to the word chai, meaning “life.”
By literally building “18” into the geometry of the menorah, the design quietly weaves that blessing of life into the object itself.

At the same time, the polished marble and crisp edges feel very contemporary.
It’s the sort of menorah that looks as natural on a minimalist concrete mantle as it does on a traditional holiday table with latkes and sufganiyot.

Materials & Craftsmanship: Why Marble Makes Sense

The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is carved from white Carrara marble, a stone more commonly associated with statues and high-end countertops.
That choice isn’t just about aesthetics it has practical benefits too.

Heat, weight, and safety

Fire-safety experts often recommend placing candles and menorahs on sturdy, non-flammable surfaces like stone, glass, or metal.
With the Ascalon Menorah, that idea is baked into the object: the menorah itself is a heavy piece of stone.

The weight helps keep it from tipping over if someone bumps the table.
The non-flammable marble helps insulate your furniture from heat, especially if you also use a tray or metal trivet underneath, as home-safety and candle experts recommend.

Aesthetic benefits

Carrara marble is prized for its subtle veining and soft, luminous surface.
On the Ascalon Menorah, that means:

• The menorah reads as white and minimal from a distance, but has visual depth up close
• It pairs well with nearly any color scheme from dark wood and brass to stark black-and-white interiors
• It looks “special” even when it’s not lit, so you can comfortably leave it on display year-round

If your style leans toward Scandinavian, contemporary, or airy “California casual,” the marble menorah fits right in.
It feels like a design object first and a religious article second though for many people, that’s exactly the point.

How to Style the Ascalon Menorah in Your Home

Because the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is so sculptural, it responds really well to thoughtful styling.
A few ideas:

On a console table

Place the menorah on a slim console in your entryway, styled with:

• A low tray or slab (stone, metal, or tempered glass) under the menorah
• A small stack of books on Jewish history or design
• A glass vase with olive branches or eucalyptus

This keeps the menorah front and center while echoing its modern aesthetic.

On a dining table

For Hanukkah dinners, the Ascalon can serve as the main centerpiece. Try:

• A simple linen runner in deep blue, charcoal, or natural flax
• Low dishes with dried fruit, nuts, or gelt
• Small tea lights or LED fairy lights positioned far enough away to avoid crowding the flames

Year-round display

When it’s not Hanukkah, treat the menorah like a piece of sculpture:

• Display it empty on a bookshelf alongside art books and ceramics
• Place it on a sideboard with a framed print above it
• Let the marble’s texture be the star no need to over-style it

Safety Tips When Using the Ascalon Menorah

The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is sturdy, but it’s still an open-flame object.
Safety rules absolutely still apply.

Placement and surfaces

• Place it on a stable, non-flammable surface: stone, metal, glass, or a heat-safe tray.
• Keep it at least a foot away from curtains, paper decorations, or anything that can catch fire.
• Don’t set it on a wobbly table or narrow window ledge one bump can be all it takes.

Candle basics

General candle-safety guidance suggests trimming wicks before each lighting, keeping candles away from drafts,
and never leaving them unattended.
Those rules are even more important when you’re lighting several flames at once.

• Use candles sized correctly for the menorah’s holders so they sit snugly
• Press candles gently into the holders so they’re upright and secure
• Keep kids and pets away from the lit menorah
• Blow out candles before going to bed or leaving the house

Lighting traditions

Traditional practice is to place the candles from right to left but light them from left to right, using the shamash each night.
The Ascalon Menorah’s linear layout makes this easy to follow: just treat it like a clean white “timeline” of the eight nights.

How the Ascalon Menorah Compares to Other Candle Holders

The Ascalon Menorah lives at the intersection of design object and ritual item.
To understand its niche, it helps to compare it with a few other menorah styles.

Versus vintage bronze menorahs

Vintage pieces from designers like Maurice Ascalon and Pal-Bell Co. in Israel often feature laurel motifs,
mid-century curves, and patinated bronze or brass. These menorahs are ornate, sculptural, and very “Old World modern.”

The marble Ascalon menorah, by contrast:

• Is more minimal and geometric
• Leans bright and airy rather than dark and metallic
• Feels at home in contemporary, Scandinavian, or minimalist interiors

Versus highly decorative Judaica menorahs

Many Judaica shops offer menorahs with intricate silver filigree, gemstone accents, or highly figurative designs.
Some, for example, are built around onyx columns, royal motifs, or elaborate scrollwork.

The Ascalon Menorah strips all that away. Its “decoration” is its form: the facet lines, the marble grain, and the precise angles.
If you prefer subtlety over ornament, this is your menorah.

Versus budget menorah sets

You can absolutely celebrate Hanukkah with a simple metal menorah and a box of candles from a mass-market listing.
Those sets are great for dorm rooms, travel, or households where you’re not ready to invest in a showpiece.

The Ascalon Menorah sits at the opposite end of the spectrum:

• It’s an investment piece rather than a starter set
• It can stay on display all year without feeling “out of season”
• It doubles as a design object for people who care deeply about interiors

Buying an Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder Today

The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder has been sold through Design Within Reach and has been featured on design-curation sites
like Remodelista, often framed as a high-end, marble holiday piece in the “menorahs” or “holiday decor” category.

What to look for

• Material: True Ascalon menorahs are made from Carrara marble, not resin or faux stone.
• Weight: Expect a substantial, heavy object that’s part of the appeal and the safety benefit.
• Finish: Edges should be clean and precise, with evenly drilled candle holders.
• Documentation: If buying secondhand, look for mention of Design Within Reach or Brad Ascalon Studio.

General menorah-buying tips

Whether you buy this specific menorah or not, general Hanukkah menorah buying advice still applies:

• Make sure the design has eight equal-height holders plus a distinct shamash
• Confirm that standard Hanukkah candles will fit your menorah (some modern designs require specific candle diameters)
• Think about your decor style do you prefer classic silver, colorful ceramics, or minimal stone?
• Consider how easy it will be to clean wax off the surface

Living with the Ascalon Menorah: Real-World Experiences

It’s one thing to admire the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder in product photos.
It’s another to actually live with it to dig wax out of its holders on the eighth night, to carry it from storage,
to see it glowing on your table with people you love. That’s where this menorah really proves itself.

Imagine unboxing it for the first time. The marble feels cool and dense in your hands heavier than you expect,
in a reassuring way. You set it down and it makes that soft, solid sound that only real stone makes.
Before a single candle is lit, it already looks like it belongs in your home, like a small piece of a gallery has moved into your dining room.

On the first night of Hanukkah, you line up the candles. Because the holders are in a straight row,
there’s no confusion about where each one goes. You place the shamash in its dedicated spot,
light it, and move from left to right, watching the flames catch.
The white marble seems to amplify the candlelight, bouncing a warm glow upward.

As the week goes on, you realize a few practical benefits. The weight means nobody worries about the menorah tipping
if someone walks past the table too quickly. You still follow best practices keeping it away from curtains,
trimming wicks, never leaving it unattended but the base never feels precarious.

You also notice how easily it mixes with everything else.
One night you pair it with a bright blue runner and brass candlesticks; another night it sits on a bare wooden table
with just a plate of latkes and a bowl of apples nearby. In every scenario, the menorah somehow looks intentional,
like you styled the whole scene around it (even if you definitely did not).

Cleaning, surprisingly, isn’t a nightmare. Wax drips are almost inevitable with real candles,
but marble is relatively forgiving. Once everything has cooled completely, you can gently lift off larger pieces of wax,
then use a plastic scraper or your fingernail to remove the rest. Any faint residue tends to blend in with the natural veining,
especially if you avoid harsh cleaners and stick to mild soap and water.

Perhaps the biggest “experience” with the Ascalon Menorah is emotional, not practical.
Guests notice it. Some will recognize it from design magazines or museum shops. Others will just say,
“Wow, that menorah is gorgeous.” It quietly becomes part of your household identity a sign that you take both
your traditions and your sense of design seriously.

Over time, you may find yourself leaving it out long after Hanukkah has ended.
Maybe you remove any leftover wax and slide it onto a bookshelf next to art books,
or place it on a sideboard under a framed photograph. It stops being “holiday decor” and becomes a year-round anchor:
a reminder of evenings with candlelight, songs, and conversations that ran a little later than they were supposed to.

If you’ve only ever used basic metal menorahs, the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder feels like an upgrade not just in price,
but in presence. It doesn’t make Hanukkah more meaningful by itself that comes from the people, the stories, and the rituals
but it does give those moments a beautiful stage. And for many families, that’s exactly the role a menorah should play.

Conclusion: Is the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder Right for You?

The Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is a rare combination of tradition, symbolism, and modern design.
It’s kosher in layout, rich in meaning (hello, 18-degree angle), and made from materials that look good in almost any setting.

If you want:

• A menorah that doubles as a sculptural centerpiece
• A design that respects tradition without feeling old-fashioned
• Something durable, weighty, and safe when used with proper candle precautions

…then the Ascalon Menorah Candle Holder is worth considering as your “forever menorah” the one you bring out year after year,
that your visitors remember, and that eventually becomes part of your family’s Hanukkah story.

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