Jessie Taylor
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. On the first night, one candle is lit, and on each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit until all eight candles are lit together on the final night. This ritual symbolizes the miracle of the oil lasting eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the temple. So, to answer the question, yes, all the candles are lit on the eighth day of Hanukkah.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of nights Hanukkah is observed for | Eight |
| Number of candles lit each night | One, until all eight are lit on the final night |
| Type of lights used | Candles or oil lamps |
| Time of day when candles are lit | After sundown |
| Direction in which candles are placed | Right to left |
| Direction in which candles are lit | Left to right |
| Number of blessings recited each night | Two |
| Number of blessings recited on the first night | Three |
| Number of candles placed in the menorah on the first night | Two |
| Position of the first night's candle | Right-most |
| Position of the shamash candle | Centre |
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What You'll Learn
The shamash candle is lit first and used to light the others
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that involves lighting candles on a menorah, a nine-branched candelabra. Each night, a new candle is lit, until the final night when all eight candles are lit together. The ninth candle, known as the shamash, is used to light the other eight.
The shamash candle is the "helper" candle, derived from the Hebrew word for "servant" or "attendant". It is usually placed in the middle of the menorah, either taller or shorter than the other candles, or set off to the side. The shamash is important because it enables all the other candles to be lit, forming a mitzvah. While it is distinguished from the other candles, this does not indicate that it is more important.
The shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other eight candles on the menorah. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit on the final night. The shamash is not extinguished after lighting the other candles but is instead left burning alongside them. This is because it can be used to light any candles that accidentally flame out. It also serves a practical purpose, as it is forbidden to use the Chanukah lights for any functional reason.
The lighting of the shamash and the other candles is accompanied by blessings. These blessings are recited before each candle is lit. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit on the right side of the menorah. On the following night, a second candle is placed to the left of the first but is lit first, and so on, alternating between right and left over the eight nights.
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Candles are placed right to left but lit left to right
Hanukkah, or the "festival of lights", is an eight-night Jewish festival commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the Hanukkah menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle designating the first night. The shamash is placed in the centre, and the first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles are lit together.
The blessings are recited before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. However, some Hasidic Jews and Sephardim follow the custom of lighting the shamash last, using a different candle or a match to light all the other candles.
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Candles are lit after sunset
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that involves lighting candles after sunset. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. The ninth branch holds a candle known as the shammash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. The shammash is placed above or below the other candles to differentiate it.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shammash and another candle designating the first night. This first night's candle is placed on the rightmost spot. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, so that by the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit together. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
Blessings are recited before each candle is lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shammash candle is lit first, and it is used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. However, there is an exception to the rule of lighting candles after sunset. Since lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law, there are adjustments to the candle-lighting ritual on Friday and Saturday nights. The menorah should be lit before the Shabbat candles on Friday evening while it is still light out. On Saturday night, the candles are lit after sunset when Shabbat has ended.
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The miracle of the oil is honoured
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the miracle of the oil. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. The hanukkiah holds eight candles that symbolise the eight nights of the holiday, and a ninth candle, called the shammash, which is used to light the other eight.
The miracle of the oil, or the "Miracle of Hanukkah", is an Aggadah depicted in the Babylonian Talmud. The miracle occurred after the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. The Maccabees wanted to rededicate the Temple through the resumption of the performance of Temple rituals, one of which was the lighting of the Menorah. However, when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled almost all the jugs of oil. The Maccabees found just one cruse of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest, which was enough to light the menorah for only one day. Miraculously, this small amount of oil lasted for eight days.
The miracle of the oil is also honoured through the consumption of oil-based foods during Hanukkah festivities. Fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes), jelly doughnuts, and Sephardic bimuelos are eaten to commemorate the importance of oil during the celebration.
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The menorah has eight spots for candles and a ninth for the shamash
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The menorah has eight spots for candles, which symbolise the eight nights of the holiday, and a ninth spot for the shamash, or "attendant" candle. On each night, one more light is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are ignited. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles and is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles.
The Hanukkah menorah is lit for the first time on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar. The first candle is lit on the right side of the menorah, and the following night, a second candle is placed to the left of the first but lit first, and so on. Each night, blessings are recited before the candles are lit.
The shamash is typically lit last and is used to light the other candles. The shamash is not extinguished after the other candles have been lit but is instead placed adjacent to them, ready to "serve" if a candle blows out. This is because it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights for any practical reason, so the shamash is available for use if needed.
The lighting of the menorah is a significant tradition during Hanukkah, with many communities lighting the menorah shortly after sunset, and others lighting it after nightfall. The menorah can be a traditional candelabrum or an oil lamp, and electric lights are sometimes used when open flames are not permitted.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles (the shammash plus eight others) are lit.
The shammash candle is the ninth candle on the Hanukkah menorah, which is placed at a different elevation to the other eight. It is used to light the other eight candles.
The Hanukkah candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, on Friday evening, the menorah should be lit before the Shabbat candles while it is still light out.
The blessings are:
> "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light [s]."
> "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time."
