Jessie Taylor
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is used in Hanukkah celebrations. The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, has nine branches for candles or oil lamps. Eight of these nine branches represent the eight nights of Hanukkah, with one more light being lit each night. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 |
| Number of candles lit on the first night | 2 |
| Number of candles lit on the eighth night | 9 (8 candles + 1 helper candle) |
| Placement of the helper candle | Raised or in the center |
| Purpose of the helper candle | Used to light the other 8 candles |
| Placement of the menorah | Window, table, or outside the door |
| Timing of lighting the menorah | Just after dark each night of Hanukkah |
| Timing of reciting blessings | Before lighting the candles |
| Number of blessings on the first night | 3 |
| Number of blessings on the subsequent nights | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
The shamash candle
While the shamash candle is typically placed in the centre of the menorah, it can also be positioned to the side, below, or above the other candles. The key requirement is that it is at a different level to set it apart. The shamash candle must also burn for at least as long as the other candles, as its light is considered sacred and is not meant to be "used." Therefore, a smaller candle that burns faster would not be suitable for the shamash.
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Blessings and procedures
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch holding a "helper" candle, or shamash, used to light the others. The shamash is placed in a different, higher or lower position than the other eight candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, and another candle to mark the first night. The shamash is lit first, then used to light the other candle. On each subsequent night, another candle is added, so that on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right.
In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first, and used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the others, and the shamash is lit last. The shamash is not extinguished, but placed in its designated spot, adjacent to the other candles, in case it is needed.
The menorah is lit after nightfall, once it is dark. However, on Fridays, the menorah is lit before sunset, and on Saturdays, after nightfall. Ideally, the menorah is lit at the earliest opportunity, and should remain lit for at least half an hour after the first stars appear.
Before lighting the candles, it is traditional to recite three blessings on the first night, and two on each subsequent night. The blessings are as follows:
- Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
- Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.
- Baruch atah Adonai, elohenu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.
After the candles are lit, it is traditional to sing Chanukah hymns such as Haneirot Halalu and/or Maoz Tzur.
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Placement
The placement of the candles on the menorah is important. The menorah should have eight spots for candles, one for each night of Hanukkah, and a ninth spot for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others. The shamash candle is placed in a different position to the other eight, either higher or lower than the other candles. The shamash is placed in its designated spot after the blessings have been said and the other candles have been lit.
The menorah itself is also placed in a specific way. It is meant to spread light to others and is traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside a door. It should be placed somewhere visible and away from children and flammable materials.
The menorah is lit just after dark each night of Hanukkah. On Fridays, it is lit before dark to avoid lighting on Shabbat. The shamash candle is lit first, and then used to light the other candles. On the first night, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. On each subsequent night, an extra candle is added, so that on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
The menorah is also placed in a specific spot for the Shabbat. It is lit eighteen minutes before sundown on Friday afternoon, and must remain lit until half an hour after nightfall. On Saturday night, the menorah is lit after Shabbat ends at nightfall, usually immediately after the havdalah service.
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The miracle of the oil
Over two millennia ago, the Land of Israel was under the rule of Antiochus, the Syrian-Greek emperor. He imposed decrees that forced Hellenistic ideology and rituals on the Jewish people, including the outlawing of Torah study and the defilement of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with Greek idols. A group of Jews, known as the Maccabees, rose up and waged a battle against the mighty Greek armies, eventually driving them out.
Upon reclaiming the Holy Temple, the Maccabees wished to rededicate it and perform the rituals associated with it. A crucial part of this rededication was the lighting of the Menorah, which required pure olive oil. However, they discovered that the Greeks had contaminated almost all the oil, leaving only one small cruse of pure oil with the seal of the High Priest. This oil was barely enough to light the Menorah for a single night, and it would take eight days to procure a new batch of pure oil.
The miracle occurred when this small amount of oil miraculously lasted for all eight days, illuminating the Temple's Menorah throughout the rededication ceremony. This extraordinary event became known as the miracle of the oil. It symbolized not just purification but also the spiritual resilience and determination of the Jewish people in the face of oppression. The miracle affirmed their right to worship freely and observe their religious traditions.
To commemorate and publicize this miracle, the tradition of lighting the Hanukkah Menorah, or Hanukkiah, was established. Each night of Hanukkah, one additional candle or oil lamp is lit, until the final night when all eight branches of the Menorah are illuminated, along with the ninth branch, the shamash, or "helper" candle. The lighting of the Menorah serves as a powerful reminder of the miracle that occurred long ago, shedding light on the military victory and the enduring spirit of the Jewish people.
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Hanukkah celebrations
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks and the subsequent rededication of the temple. The holiday celebrates a miracle: when the Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple, they found only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day celebration. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with an additional holder for the shamash, or "'helper'" candle, used to light the others. Each night, one more light is added, so that by the final night, all eight branches are lit, along with the shamash. The shamash is placed at a different elevation from the eight other candles.
The lighting of the menorah is the most important part of Hanukkah celebrations. The menorah is traditionally placed in a window facing the street, on a table, or outside the door, to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit, with three blessings on the first night and two on each subsequent night. After lighting the menorah, many families sing traditional Hanukkah songs, play dreidel, eat special foods, or open gifts.
Hanukkah menorahs are also erected by Jewish organisations and displayed publicly. In the United States, the National Menorah lighting ceremony is attended by representatives of the White House, and a hanukkiah is lit at the White House residence. In the United Kingdom, a yearly hanukkiah lighting takes place at the House of Commons, in the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
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Frequently asked questions
No, one candle is added each day during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, so that on the final night, all eight candles plus the shamash, or helper candle, are lit.
The shamash is the ninth candle on a Hanukkah menorah, which is either elevated or shorter than the other eight candles. It is used to light the other eight candles.
The eight candles on the Hanukkah menorah symbolise the eight nights of the holiday and the eight days that the oil burned for during the reclaiming ceremonies of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
The menorah is supposed to be lit just after dark each night of Hanukkah. On Fridays, it is lit before dark to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
On the first night of Hanukkah, three blessings are recited, and on every night thereafter, two blessings are recited. The blessings praise God for the miracles performed for our ancestors.
