Leonard Hirschel from the Bronx, NY wrote:

Did the Menorah in the Temple have 6 or 8 branches?

Dear Leonard Hirschel,

The Menorah in the Temple had six or seven branches, depending on whether or not you call the central stem a "branch." It had six branches coming out of a central stem. Each branch had a flame on top, and the central stem also had a flame on top. Altogether, the Menorah had seven lamps.

Sources:

• Exodus 25:32,37
• Numbers 8:2