Menorat HaMaor by Rabbi Yisrael Alnaqua: what it is and content

October 18, 2026

Menorat HaMaor (מנורת המאור), “The Candelabrum of Light,” by Rabbi Yisrael ben Yosef Alnaqua (Al-Nakawa), is a 14th-century work written in simple and accessible Hebrew. It combines practical legal instructions for daily life (prayer, Torah study) with ethical guidance and explanations of the meaning of commandments and customs.

Quick facts

Content

According to Sefaria, the work gathers:

• practical legal instructions on everyday activities such as prayer and Torah study;
• guidance on ethical conduct;
• discourses on the meaning of the commandments and customs;
• a series of assorted addenda at the end.

The chapters that Sefaria lists deal with charity, prayer, repentance, humility, fixed hours of study, the commandments, acts of mercy and the observance of Shabbat and the festivals. In the addenda section appear honoring parents, marriage, the education of children and upright conduct in business.

Its influence

The work is often cited in weighty later books, such as the Shenei Luchot HaBrit (the Shelah) and the glosses of the Rema (see the biography of the Rema).

Not to be confused

Alnaqua’s Menorat HaMaor should not be confused with the ethical work of the same title by Rabbi Yitzchak Aboab: see the guide to Aboab’s Menorat HaMaor. Sefaria notes that the relationship between the two works is a matter of debate among scholars.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote this Menorat HaMaor?

Rabbi Yisrael ben Yosef Alnaqua, in the 14th century.

How does it differ from Aboab’s?

It is another work with the same title; Alnaqua’s combines practical rules and ethical guidance. The relationship between the two is disputed.

What topics does it treat?

Charity, prayer, repentance, humility, study, commandments, acts of mercy, Shabbat and festivals, and, in the addenda, family and business.