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Tree Limb Chanukiah
Here is an alternative to bottle top, bolt and egg carton chanukiot (or menorahs). To make this project, you will need a length of tree limb that rolls when placed on a flat surface. Use only dead wood and do not break off a limb. The piece of wood should be no less than 24 inches long. If the wood is moist, put it in an oven heated to 250 degrees and leave it dry for a few hours. When cool, remove and begin to make your chanukiah.
To do this, you have two options. For a more permanent chanukiah, drill nine holes equally spaced across the wood.
Use a ¼ inch drill bit and make the hole ¼ inch deep. Next, take a piece of clay (the kind that does not dry out or harden) and shape into a ball the size of a large marble. Press the ball of clay into one of the holes. Be sure the clay fills the hole and then use your fingers to flatten the rest of it into a small candleholder. Make sure it is thick enough to hold a Chanukah candle when pressed into the center.
To make the shamos candleholder (the shamos is the candle used to light the other candles), use several chunks of clay to raise the level.
Shape the top the same as the other tops.
You can make the same type of chanukiah without drilling the holes though the clay holders will probably fall off between this year and next. Of course, you can always replace them. To make this chanukiah,
you also make a small ball of clay and press it directly over the spot on the tree limb where you want your candle to be. Be sure you use enough clay so that it makes a solid connection to your wood.
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