Jessie Taylor
Hanukkah, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the second century B.C. The festival is observed by lighting a candle each night, with an additional shamash or helper candle used to light the others. This tradition symbolizes the miracle of a small amount of oil burning for eight days during the rededication ceremony. While Hanukkah is celebrated with nine candles in total, it does not have nine candles because of the night. Instead, the nine candles represent the eight nights of the holiday, with each night marking an additional candle being lit, and the ninth candle, or shamash, being used to light the others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Nights | 8 |
| Number of Candles | 9 |
| Type of Candles | Candles or oil lamps |
| Purpose of the Ninth Candle | Shamash or "helper" |
| Purpose of the Remaining Candles | Symbolize the eight nights of the holiday |
| How to Light the Candles | One additional candle is lit each night, starting from the rightmost branch |
| Number of Candles Lit on the First Night | 2 (including the shamash) |
| Number of Candles Lit on the Last Night | 9 (including the shamash) |
| Total Number of Candles Required | 44 (36 excluding the shamash) |
| Blessings Recited | 3 on the first night and 2 on each of the remaining nights |
| Food | Fried foods like latkes, sufganiyot, and dairy products |
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What You'll Learn
The miracle of oil lasting eight days
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that is celebrated around the world. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and is observed for eight nights and days. The festival is marked by the kindling of lights at nightfall, with an additional candle being lit each night. By the final night, all eight candles are lit together. This tradition commemorates the miracle of the cruse of oil lasting eight days.
The miracle of the cruse of oil, also known as the Miracle of Hanukkah, is a story depicted in the Babylonian Talmud. It is said that after the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt, the Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, searched for pure olive oil to light the menorah. However, they could only find a single cruse of untainted olive oil, which was enough to light the menorah for just one day. Miraculously, this small quantity of oil lasted for eight days, allowing them to keep the eternal flame lit and make more oil.
The miracle of the oil is significant because it brings a divine element to the Hanukkah story and provides an explanation for the association of the holiday with fire. The story caught on and has been transmitted from generation to generation, becoming one of the reasons for the celebration of Hanukkah. The holiday also serves as a commemoration of the daily lighting of the Menorah in the Temple and the Temple itself.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum with eight branches holding candles or oil lamps, and the ninth branch holding the shamash or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. The lighting of the hanukkiah symbolises the eight nights of the holiday and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.
The celebration of Hanukkah includes various traditions such as singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel, exchanging gifts, and eating oil-based and dairy foods. The holiday is observed starting on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which typically falls between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar.
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Candles are lit each night
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. This falls somewhere between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah.
The nine-branched candelabrum is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which means "helper" or "servant". The shamash is used to light the other eight candles. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are ignited.
The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The menorah is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles. There are differing opinions on whether the lights must be arranged in a straight line or if they can be arranged in a curve.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle that designates it as the first night. The first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. Each 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 are lit from left to right.
In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the candles that represent the nights. Then, the shamash is lit last, and the extra candle is blown out. Hanukkah candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, there is an exception when Hanukkah overlaps with Shabbat, as lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law.
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Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that is celebrated by lighting candles on a nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah or hanukkiah. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight candles. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.
The Festival of Lights commemorates a miracle that occurred during the second century B.C., when the Jewish people revolted against the Greek-Syrian armies that were attempting to force them to worship Greek gods. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees defeated one of the region's mightiest armies, despite being outnumbered.
When the Maccabees returned to their temple in Jerusalem, they found that it had been desecrated. They wanted to rededicate the temple by lighting the seven-candle menorah, but they only had enough ritually pure olive oil to last for one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, giving them time to find more oil and properly rededicate the temple.
Today, Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles on the menorah to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. The lighting of the candles symbolizes the distinction between darkness and light, with the shamash candle being used to light the other eight candles, one more candle being lit each night.
In addition to the lighting of the menorah, other Hanukkah festivities include singing songs, playing the game of dreidel, exchanging gifts, and eating traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and dairy products. Hanukkah is a time for Jews to come together and celebrate their culture and traditions, often in a very public and festive manner.
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The shammash candle lights the others
Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. 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, called the shammash, which is used to light the other eight. The shammash is also referred to as the "attendant" candle.
The shammash candle is set apart from the other eight candles, often on a higher or lower plane. This is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud, against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah miracle. The shammash candle is the only candle that can be used for extra illumination. This is because it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights for any practical reason.
The shammash is placed in the middle or to the side of the other candles. The design of the menorah may vary, but the shammash must be offset from the main eight candles. It is not customary to blow out the shammash candle after lighting the other candles. Instead, it is left to burn alongside the other candles.
The lighting of the shammash candle is an important part of the Hanukkah tradition. It serves as a reminder to educators and leaders that its light enables all the other candles to form a mitzvah. The shammash candle is also a symbol of faith and strength.
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The menorah symbolises faith and strength
The nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a 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 candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight. Each night, an additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight are lit together on the final night.
The menorah is a symbol of faith, identity, and spiritual evolution in Judaism. It has been a source of spiritual inspiration, a means of preserving religious values, and a beacon for reviving Jewish faith. The seven-branched menorah has stood as one of the most profound religious and cultural symbols in Judaism since ancient times, representing existence, identity, and the historical journey of the Jewish people. It is also said to represent strength, with each branch having its own unique characteristics and conveying divine energies.
The menorah's design, arrangement of branches, and unity hold deep meanings and philosophical interpretations. The right side branches are associated with the upper realm, with the first branch, Abraham, representing kindness and hospitality, the second branch, Isaac, symbolizing self-restraint and discipline, and the third branch, Jacob, representing beauty, glory, and balance. The left side branches are associated with the lower realm, with the fourth branch, Moshe (Moses), symbolizing eternity, hope, and victory.
The middle stem, David, represents kingship and sovereignty, with its energy being faith, spirituality, understanding, and balance. The menorah serves as a spiritual blueprint, guiding humanity towards achieving the highest state of balance, faith, and divine connection through adherence to its principles.
The Hanukkah menorah also commemorates the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, which has been a symbol of the Jews and Judaism in both the Land of Israel and the Jewish diaspora.
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Frequently asked questions
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, has nine branches, with eight of them holding a candle for each night of the holiday. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The eight nights commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. In the second century B.C., the Maccabees, a small group of Jewish rebels, defeated the Greek-Syrian armies who had defiled the Second Temple of Jerusalem. To rededicate the temple, the Maccabees needed to light a menorah that would burn at all times, but they only had enough pure olive oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply.
On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is placed in the holder farthest to the right and lit using the shamash. On the second night, a new candle is placed in the same spot, and a second candle is placed immediately to its left. These two candles are then lit from left to right using the shamash, so the newest candle is always lit first. This continues each night, with candles being placed from right to left and lit from left to right, until all nine candles are lit on the final night.
