Brooke Martin
The menorah is a candelabra with a significant role in Jewish tradition. It is lit during the eight nights of Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, to commemorate the miracle of the holiday. The menorah has eight spots for candles, one for each night, and an extra ninth spot for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others. The shamash is lit first, followed by the blessings, and then the other candles, with the most recent candle lit first. Fresh candles are used each night, with one candle on the first night, two on the second, and so on. The menorah should be lit around nightfall, ideally in the presence of family and friends, and it is customary to place it in a window facing the street to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of nights | 8 |
| Number of candles | 44 (or 45) in total, 1 for each night |
| Placement of candles | From right to left |
| Lighting of candles | From left to right, newest candle first |
| Type of candles | Oil-fuelled or candle flames |
| Ideal type | Oil-fuelled, with olive oil as the ideal fuel |
| Timing | After sunset, ideally when everyone in the household is gathered |
| Exceptions | Friday nights, when candles should be lit before sunset |
| Duration | Candles should stay lit for at least 30 minutes |
| Shamash | "Helper" candle, placed in the centre and used to light the other candles |
| Blessings | 3 on the first night, 2 on every night thereafter |
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What You'll Learn
- The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first and used to light the others
- The menorah should be lit at nightfall, but there are slight adjustments for Friday and Saturday nights
- Blessings are said before the candles are lit
- The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right
- Fresh candles are used each night
The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first and used to light the others
The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first and used to light the other candles. The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah, with the other candles placed from right to left. The shamash is lit first, and then the blessings are recited. After the blessings, the shamash is used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. This is done every night of Hanukkah, with a new candle added each night. On the final night, all nine candles are lit.
The shamash is also known as the "attendant" or "servant" candle. It is placed in a separate holder from the other candles and is set apart from them. The shamash is left lit and placed back in its holder after lighting the other candles. This is because it can be used if another candle blows out, preserving the sanctity of the mitzvah lights.
The lighting of the menorah is a festive commemoration of the miracle of Hanukkah. It is customary to place the menorah in a window facing the street, publicising the miracle. The candles are typically lit just after sunset, or when everyone in the household or group is able to gather. On Friday nights, the candles are lit before sunset, and on Saturday night, after the sun has gone down and Shabbat has ended.
The menorah should be lit by someone standing, if they are able, and can be performed by anyone, regardless of age or gender. It is customary to use fresh candles each night, and olive oil is the ideal fuel.
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The menorah should be lit at nightfall, but there are slight adjustments for Friday and Saturday nights
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred tradition in Judaism. The Chanukah menorah, also known as the Hanukkiah, is lit to commemorate the miracle of Chanukah. The menorah is lit at nightfall on each of the eight nights of Chanukah. However, there are slight adjustments to the lighting ceremony on Friday and Saturday nights due to the observance of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
On regular nights, the menorah is lit after sunset. The shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed in the centre of the menorah and lit first. It is then used to light the other candles, which are placed from right to left. On the first night of Chanukah, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. Each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, so that on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are burning bright.
However, on Friday nights, it is forbidden to light candles after sunset according to Jewish law. Therefore, the menorah must be lit before sunset. The shamash is lit first, and then the Shabbat candles are lit before sunset as well. This ensures that the menorah is lit before the beginning of Shabbat, while still adhering to Jewish law.
On Saturday nights, the menorah is lit after sunset, but there are differing opinions on whether it should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals that mark the end of Shabbat. There is no consensus among Ashkenazi rabbis, while the most widespread Sephardic custom is to recite havdalah first.
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred tradition that is adjusted slightly on Friday and Saturday nights to accommodate the observance of Shabbat. It is important to follow these adjustments to respect the sanctity of Shabbat while still commemorating the miracle of Chanukah.
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Blessings are said before the candles are lit
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a Hanukkiah, is lit each night of the eight-day festival. The menorah has one candle for each night of Chanukah, and an extra candle in the middle, known as the shamash, or "helper" candle. This candle is used to light the other eight candles.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right. The newest candle is lit first. The shamash is lit first, before the blessings are said, to avoid delay. It is forbidden to speak between the recitation of the blessings and the completion of the candle lighting. The blessings should be said before any of the other candles are lit.
The menorah should be lit by a central doorway, ideally between 12 and 40 inches off the ground. It is customary to light the menorah in a window facing the street, to publicise the miracle of Chanukah.
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The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right
The Menorah is a candelabra with nine branches, eight for each night of Hanukkah and a ninth for the shamash or "helper" candle. The shamash candle is placed in the centre, and the other eight candles are placed in the menorah from right to left. However, when it comes to lighting the menorah, the shamash candle is lit first, followed by the other candles from left to right.
The shamash candle is lit first and then used to light the other candles from left to right. This is done to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah, which occurred when a small group of Jews reclaimed the Holy Temple from the Greek armies and found that the Greeks had contaminated virtually all the oil. The little oil they had left lasted eight days, hence the eight nights of Hanukkah.
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred ritual that is performed by anyone regardless of age or gender. The candles are typically lit just after sunset, or when everyone in the household or group is able to gather. However, on Friday nights, the candles are lit before sunset as lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law.
The menorah is usually placed in a central location, such as a doorway or window, so that it can be seen by passers-by and publicise the miracle of Hanukkah. It is also customary to use fresh candles each night and to let the candles burn out completely.
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Fresh candles are used each night
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a Hanukkiah, is lit each night of the eight-day festival. The menorah has eight spots for candles—one for each night—and an extra ninth spot for the shamash or helper candle, which is used to light the others. The shamash candle is lit first, and blessings are said before the other candles are lit.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right. The newest candle is lit first. The shamash is placed in the centre, with the candle for the first night in the far-right spot. The candle for the second night is placed to the immediate left of the first, and so on.
The menorah should be lit after sunset, or when everyone in the household or group is gathered. On Friday nights, the candles should be lit before sunset, and on Saturday nights, after sunset when Shabbat has ended.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. The menorah has one candle for each night of Hanukkah, which is celebrated for eight nights. On the first night, you will need two candles, one as the shamash and one for the first night of the holiday. The second night you will add one candle, so you will have a total of three. The third night has four candles, the fourth night has five candles, and so on.
The shamash candle is the ninth candle, which sits in the middle and is known as the helper or attendant candle. It is used to light the other eight candles.
The menorah should be lit around nightfall each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Some light at sunset, some about ten minutes after sunset, and some half an hour after.
