Brooke Martin
The menorah is a crucial symbol of the Jewish faith and is used in the celebration of Hanukkah. The lighting of the menorah is the most important part of the Jewish Hanukkah celebration. The menorah should be placed in an uncovered window, facing the street, or outdoors, just to the left of the entrance to the home. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in the centre and is used to light the other eight candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 in total: 8 for each night of Hanukkah, and 1 "helper" candle |
| Placement of candles | From right to left, but lit from left to right |
| Placement of menorah | In a window facing the street, or just to the left of the entrance of the home |
| Colour of candles | Usually white, but any colour can be used |
| Time of lighting | After sundown, when it is dark |
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What You'll Learn
The shamash candle is placed in the centre and used to light the others
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with one candle being added and lit each night until the final night when all eight branches are lit. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The shamash candle is placed in the centre of the menorah and is usually at a different elevation to the other eight candles. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash in the centre, and another candle on the right-most spot to indicate that it is the first night. On each subsequent night, another candle is added from right to left until, on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. The candles are then lit from left to right.
The shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is the first candle to be lit, and it is used to light the other candles from left to right.
The menorah is typically placed in a window facing the street or outdoors to the left of the entrance to the home, so that it is visible to passers-by. This is done to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah, which commemorates the reclaiming of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem by Judah Maccabee and his warriors. They found only enough oil to burn for one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights.
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Eight candles are added one by one, from right to left
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 candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight.
The menorah is placed in a highly visible location, such as a window facing the street or an uncovered window, to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah. In the past, it was traditionally placed on a shelf on the outside of the house.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, which has its own designated spot (usually in the centre), and another candle in the right-most spot. On each subsequent night, another candle is added from right to left, with the shamash being used to light each new candle, until on the final night, all eight branches are ignited.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (just as Hebrew is written) but are lit from left to right. The blessings are said before the candles are lit.
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$12.99
The candles are lit from left to right
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 that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, which has its own designated spot (usually in the centre), and another candle placed in the right-most spot to indicate that it is the first night. The shamash is lit first, followed by the first night's candle, which is placed in the left-most spot.
Each night, another candle is added from right to left until, on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles are lit. The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is the first one lit, and it is used to light the others, starting with the left-most one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the candles that represent the nights, and then the shamash is lit last and the extra candle is blown out.
The menorah is typically placed in a window facing the street or outdoors just to the left of the entrance to the home. This is to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah and spread the word of the miracles the menorah symbolizes.
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The menorah is placed in a window or near the front door
The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and is an important part of Hanukkah celebrations. The lighting of the menorah is a religious ceremony and should be approached with reverence. The menorah should be placed in a highly visible location, and it is traditionally placed in a window or near the front door.
The menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight branches holding candles or oil lamps that symbolize the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. This first night's candle is placed in the right-most spot, and the shamash is usually in the centre. Each night, another candle is added, from right to left, until the final night when all nine candles are lit.
The purpose of the candles is to spread the word of the miracles they symbolize. The miracle of Hanukkah is that when Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they found only enough oil to last one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights. The candles of the menorah commemorate this miracle, with one candle lit on the first night, two on the second, and so on, until all eight are lit on the final night.
The menorah is traditionally placed in a window facing the street, or outdoors near the front door, to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah. In moments of antisemitism, some Jews have chosen to display the menorah in their windows as an act of defiance and bravery. The menorah should be lit 30 minutes after sundown and left burning for at least 30 minutes.
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The candles are lit 30 minutes after sundown
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The lighting of the menorah is a widely recognised Hanukkah tradition. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right.
The candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, there is an exception to this rule. As Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, it will overlap with Shabbat at least once. Lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law, so there are adjustments to the candle-lighting ritual on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday evenings, the menorah is lit before sunset when it is still light out, and on Saturday evenings, the candles are lit after sunset when Shabbat has ended.
The shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed in the centre of the menorah and is used to light the other candles. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle to indicate that it is the first night. This first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. On the second night, a new candle is placed in the same spot as the first night's candle, and a second candle is placed immediately to its left. This process is repeated each night, with candles being placed from right to left.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and is used to light the other candles from left to right, so that the newest candle is lit first. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last.
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Frequently asked questions
A menorah should have eight spots for candles and an extra ninth spot for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others.
The shamash candle is usually placed in the centre of the menorah, on a different elevation to the other eight candles.
The menorah is traditionally placed in an uncovered window or on a shelf outside the house, facing the street.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only one other candle is placed in the menorah, in the right-most spot. On the second night, a second candle is placed on the far left side of the menorah. Each night, another candle is added from right to left until all branches are full.
