The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses

Moses

Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...

 in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem

Temple in Jerusalem

The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...

. Fresh olive oil

Olive oil

Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...

 of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps. The menorah has been a symbol of Judaism

Judaism

Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

 since ancient times and is the emblem on the coat of arms

Coat of arms of Israel

The Emblem of the State of Israel shows a menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, and the writing "ישראל" below it...

 of the modern state of Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

.
The menorah consisted of a base and a shaft with six branches, beaten out of solid gold.