Welding Students Create Menorah for Synagogue in Missoula

The new menorah at Har Shalom was too high that no one can reach the top. Good thing that it doesn’t use candles but instead lights up with the use of bulbs. To celebrate Hanukkah, the Missoula synagogue turned on the lights of the menorah, which was commissioned and built by students belonging to the Missoula College welding program. University of Montana.

The community invited the students who worked on the project during their free time since September. The event was done during the fifth night of Hanukkah. One of the students, Levi Bessette, said that he and the others worked during their free time. They dedicated two hours a day and four days each week since September. They wanted to create something that they want to be proud of.

The design had arms set on a series of layers that provided depth when viewed by the side. It also featured hidden designs that were not seen right away. Bessette said that Dane Stewart was responsible to the Star of David shape of the center column when the menorah is viewed from above.

Stewart said that they didn’t know the rules because they were not religious. So the students made several designs and sent them to each other before they were happy with the final one. Ryan Tripp, another student, did the electrical wiring inside the menorah.

When the students joined the candle arms to the base, they found out that it needed more reinforcement to avoid it from toppling. Stewart designed the braces that are shaped like doves, instead of the usual triangular gussets.

Zach Reddig, instructor of the welding program, said that the menorah was part of an independent study project that was not part of the program’s classes. He also stated that the menorah was commissioned by the Har Shalom.