Whether you are a student, traveler, or holidaymaker, if you are going to be away from home during Hanukkah, a travel menorah is the perfect solution.
They are small, compact, and often discrete. It is the perfect companion when traveling, or it makes the ideal gift for students and frequent travelers.
Even if you are not religious, the festival of lights simply isn’t the same without lighting the candles. While you can improvise, having a purpose-built travel menorah is easy and fun.
Do-it-yourself travel menorah
If you don’t have a travel menorah, and it’s too late to order one for this year, a simple solution is to create one yourself. Here are two easy methods. Or, if you want to make something a bit more permanent, check out these ideas at wikiHow.
Ceramic or glass plate and candles
If you ask at your hotel, they will usually lend you a cake-sized plate. If you melt the bottom of the candles just enough to make them soft, you can stick them to your plate. Hold each candle carefully in place until the wax dries. Stay close to your candles when they are burning, just in case they fall over. You don’t want to start a fire.
Aluminum foil
A little aluminum foil solved this problem for me when I was a child. By twisting, folding, and bending, my father created a make-shift, single-use Hanukkah travel menorah. The downside was stability. We all had to walk by gingerly, as even a gentle breeze and our creation would tip over, candles and all.
My favorite travel menorahs
A few really cool travel menorahs
There are many travel menorahs out there to choose from, but I don't have a single favorite, but rather a few at the top of my list.
Menorah-Travel Belt
Folding up nicely into a column, this one is actually all one piece, so you can't lose just a bit of it when you travel. Available in five color combinations it is lightweight and made of anodized aluminum.
Magnetic Hanukkah Travel Menorah
It is compact, portable, and self-contained. Colorful anodized aluminum magnetic candle holders won’t get lost. Plus, I have fun rearranging the candle holders each night.
Agayof Hanukkah Menorah - Puzzle Lily Design
Handmade and fun, this lightweight aluminum design is available in several color combinations and styles. Be sure to click on all five options. One may really surprise you.
Nadav art anodized aluminum puzzle menorah
Available in 15 different color combinations, this puzzle menorah looks cool on the shelf, or keep it in your travel bag all year long. Created by Israeli artist Nadav from anodized aluminum, it is crafted to last a lifetime.
Yair Emanuel folding wooden travel menorah
Colorful hand-painted (and lacquered) Jerusalem scenes make this ideal for decor when not in use. It opens, with brass inserts for the candles. Artist Yair Emanuel lives and works in Israel.
Yair Emanuel folding travel Hanukkah menorah
Available in multicolor or silver with blue, this compact folding Hanukkah menorah is perfect for the traveler. Unlike the one just above, this is made of hammered metal and while closed, it is 4 inches by 1.2 inches. It’s also by Artist Yair Emanuel.
World of Judaica rounded travel Hanukkah menorah
Useful at both Hanukkah and Shabbat, these stackable candlesticks are quite versatile. They are made from anodized aluminum and come in three color themes: pink (shown), gold, or blue
Electric LED menorah
Powered by micro USB or AA batteries, this compact electronic menorah is self-contained so no cleanup or candles are needed. It even has different lighting effects blinking, chasing, or ripple effect.
See more menorahs
- Children’s menorahs (including Noah’s Ark designs)
- Electric menorahs (for easy clean up)
- Giant menorahs – (this one is just for fun)
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