Shamash

The unlit candle could be the shamash, which is not required for the mitzva, he said. ❋ Unknown (2008)

The menorah has a ninth "helper" flame -- known as the shamash -- used to light the other candles. ❋ The Huffington Post News Editors (2011)

A "shamash" is a servant, usually the person who looks after the synagogue, and there is something about personifying this humble candle as a beadle that amused me as a child. ❋ By HOWARD JACOBSON (2010)

The nine-branch Menorah holds eight candles, one for each night of Hanukkah, and a central candle called a "shamash" from which the other eight are lit. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Hanukkah is an eight-day festival signified by the nine-branch Menorah, which holds eight candles, one for each night, and a central candle called a "shamash" from which the other eight are lit. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The center flame, the "shamash" or servant flame, rises from the base and serves to light the others. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The ninth candle stands apart from the other eight and is called the "shamash," used to light the candles. ❋ Unknown (2009)

So now there are two menorahs in my grandmother's window, one tall silver one that she kindles each night boasting their colors and luminous light, and a small humble brass menorah with 50-year-old orange candles perfectly staged, except for the shamash that is now slightly singed. ❋ Chava Tombosky (2011)

So to, if each show in Matisyahu's Festival of Light is it's own unique flame, then the shamash, this opening show, was a helping of pure holiday fire. ❋ Josh Fleet (2010)

An additional flame, the shamash, is needed to symbolically help the other flames be revealed in the world. ❋ Josh Fleet (2010)

This show was the first spark, the shamash of Matisyahu's touring menorah. ❋ Josh Fleet (2010)

Doesn't anybody know a shamash from a birthday candle? ❋ BikeSnobNYC (2009)

Otherwise, the menorah might fly off the roof and you could find yourself impaled by the shamash and wind up contemplating the miracle of Hanukkah from a hospital bed. ❋ BikeSnobNYC (2009)

Seeing menorahs depicted with 3 candles on each side of the center candle the shamash makes me sad. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and I know, because I saw him when I was child mistakenly climb down my family chimney, realize his mistake upon seeing the family menorah, and use the opportunity to light his Chesterfield on the shamash before climbing back up the chimney. ❋ Arbogast (2008)

That's sort of the point of it, really: the middle candle is the shamash, which lights the other ones, one for each of the eight nights of the holiday. ❋ Douglas Wolk (2006)

“Hey I think that guy [Matthew] is [real cute].” “Yea [me too] until I found out he has a shamash” ❋ Mr.Carey (2020)

[You are] [such a] [fucking] shamash ❋ Jeanious (2015)