Tyler Brooks
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred tradition in Judaism, commemorating the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks and the miracle of oil that burned for eight days. On each of Hanukkah's eight nights, candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but lit from left to right, with blessings recited beforehand. The shamash, or helper candle, occupies a central position and is used to light the other candles. While olive oil is preferred, wax candles with a single wick are also acceptable. The lighting ceremony is performed by all, including men, women, and children, ideally outside the doorpost of one's home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles on the first night | Two |
| Placement of candles in the menorah | From right to left |
| Order of lighting the candles | Left to right |
| Timing | After sundown, with exceptions for Friday and Saturday nights due to Shabbat |
| Location | Ideally outside the doorpost of one's home, but can vary based on safety and cultural norms |
| Blessings | Recited before lighting, with three on the first night and two on subsequent nights |
| Type of candle | Olive oil is preferable, but any oil or wax candles with a single wick are acceptable |
| Participants | Everyone, including men, women, and children |
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What You'll Learn
Blessings and prayers
On the first night of Hanukkah, three blessings are recited, and on each subsequent night, two blessings are said. The first blessing is a standard blessing recited on Shabbat and many Jewish holidays:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
> Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot and commands us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
The second blessing is recited only on Purim and when lighting the Hanukkah candles:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh.
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.
On the first night of Hanukkah, a third blessing, the She-heḥeyyanu, is also recited:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-hecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu, la’zman ha-ze.
> Praised are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this occasion.
After the candles are lit, it is customary to recite the paragraph Ha-neirot Hallalu, which explains the purpose of lighting the menorah and the prohibition of using its light for practical purposes.
The blessings and prayers of Hanukkah are designed to remind us of the miracles that happened to our ancestors and to give thanks to God. The ancient rabbis felt it was important to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah, so many Jewish organisations erect large outdoor menorahs in public spaces. Individuals can also publicise the miracle by placing their menorahs in a window facing the street.
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Candle placement
The Hanukkah menorah is a seven- or nine-branched candelabra. On the first of Hanukkah's eight nights, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle designating the first night. The shamash has its own designated spot, usually 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 they are lit from left to right.
Each night, another candle is added to the menorah, so on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. To complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, you will need 44 candles in total. Most boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45.
The placement of the candles in the menorah follows a specific pattern. The first candle is placed on the extreme right side of the menorah, and each subsequent night, a new candle is added to the left of the previous night's candles. This means that the candles are progressively added from right to left as the nights of Hanukkah progress.
In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the candles that represent the nights, and then the shamash is lit last, with the extra candle blown out. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one.
It is traditional to recite blessings before lighting the candles. On the first night, three blessings are recited, and on each subsequent night, two blessings are recited. The blessings give thanks to God for the miracle of Hanukkah and the opportunity to celebrate it.
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Lighting order
The lighting of the candles is a detailed process with specific requirements. Firstly, it is customary for everyone, including men, women, and children, to light their own menorah. If this is not possible, then it is common to light one menorah per household, with the lighting done on behalf of all family members.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right. On the first night, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle to indicate that it is the first night. The shamash is placed in the centre, and the first night's candle is placed on the right. The shamash is lit first and is used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one.
Each subsequent night, a new candle is added to the left of the previous night's candles, so that on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. This means that to complete the ritual with one menorah, 44 candles are needed. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit, with three blessings on the first night and two on each night thereafter.
There are some variations in traditions. For example, in Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last. Additionally, there are adjustments to the candle lighting on Friday and Saturday nights when Hanukkah overlaps with Shabbat, as lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden.
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Lighting times
Hanukkah candles are traditionally 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 in Jewish law. In this case, on Friday evening, the menorah should be lit before the Shabbat candles while it is still light out. On Saturday night, the candles are lit after Shabbat has ended, but there are differing opinions on whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle to mark the first night. The shamash candle is typically placed in the centre, while the first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. The candles are usually placed from right to left but lit from left to right.
On each subsequent night, another candle is added to the menorah, starting from the left of the previous night's candle. By the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles, including the shamash, are lit. To complete the ritual on all eight nights, 44 candles are required for each menorah.
Before lighting the candles, it is customary to recite three blessings on the first night and two blessings on each subsequent night. The blessings vary, but they typically include expressions of praise and gratitude to God.
In terms of who should light the candles, the tradition is that everyone should participate, including men, women, and children. If someone is unable to light their own candles, they can participate in a roommate's candle-lighting ceremony by contributing to the cost of the candles. In Sephardi communities, a single menorah may be lit per household, representing all family members, even those who are not present.
Regarding the location of the candle-lighting ceremony, it is ideal to light the menorah outside the doorpost of one's home in public view. However, in America, most people light their candles indoors due to safety regulations. In this case, the recommended locations are near a window that faces the public view or inside one's room or apartment next to the left side of the door.
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Who should light the candles
Hanukkah is a rabbinically ordained holiday, commemorating a miracle involving oil. After the Jews defeated the Seleucids and returned to their temple in Jerusalem, they found that only one canister of ritually pure oil remained. They lit the menorah anyway, and miraculously, the oil burned for eight days.
Today, Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles for eight sequential nights. 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 blessings are said before the candles are lit.
The Hanukkah candles are usually lit after sundown, but before Shabbat candles on Friday evening. The candles may be lit anytime after sundown, but special effort should be made on Friday night to ensure that the candles are long or thick enough to last well into the evening. The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside a door.
Anyone can light the Hanukkah candles, but it is a good idea to have the whole household or group gathered before doing so. The candles should be allowed to burn out on their own, but they should burn for at least 30 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right.
Olive oil is the most preferable fuel for the candles, but any type of oil is acceptable. Alternatively, wax candles with a single wick can be used.
Everyone should light their own menorah, but if you are lighting with a roommate, the candles should belong to both of you.
Ideally, the candles should be lit outside of the doorpost of one's home in public view. In America, most people light the candles indoors, so it is best to light them inside your room by a window that faces the public.
