Jessie Taylor
The menorah is a candelabrum with nine branches, eight of which hold candles or oil lamps, and the ninth holds a helper candle, known as the shamash. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles. The menorah is lit during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which lasts for eight days. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight candles are lit. The shamash is lit first, and then the remaining candles are lit from left to right. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 9 in total (8 for each night of Hanukkah and 1 "helper" candle) |
| Placement of candles | Candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right |
| Timing | Candles are lit after sundown, but before nightfall |
| Direction | The shamash candle is lit first and is used to light the other candles |
| Blessings | Blessings are said before the candles are lit, with 3 blessings on the first night and 2 on every night thereafter |
| Fuel | The candles are traditionally fuelled by olive oil, but wax candles are also used |
| Display | The menorah is traditionally placed on a shelf outside the house or on a windowsill |
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What You'll Learn
- The Shamash, or 'helper' candle, is lit first and used to light the others
- Blessings are said before the candles are lit
- The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right
- The menorah is lit after sundown, when it is dark
- The menorah commemorates the miracle of oil lasting eight days
The Shamash, or 'helper' candle, is lit first and used to light the others
The Shamash, or helper candle, is the first candle lit during the menorah candle-lighting ceremony. The Shamash is usually placed in the centre of the menorah or on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles. It is used to light the other candles, which are lit from left to right.
The Shamash is lit first, and then the blessings are recited. The Shamash is then used to light the candle on the far right on the first night of Hanukkah. On the second night, the candle second from the right is lit first, followed by the candle on the far right. This pattern is repeated for each night of Hanukkah, with the newest candle lit first, moving from right to left. On the eighth and final night, all nine candles, including the Shamash, are lit.
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. In Ashkenazi communities, the Shamash is lit first and used to light the other candles.
The menorah is typically lit shortly after sunset each night of Hanukkah. However, on Friday night, the menorah is lit before sunset due to Jewish law forbidding lighting a fire during Shabbat. On Saturday night, the candles are lit after nightfall when Shabbat has ended.
The menorah candle-lighting ceremony commemorates the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks and the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. The nine candles of the menorah represent the eight nights of Hanukkah and the ninth candle, the Shamash, used to light the others.
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Blessings are said before the candles are lit
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred Jewish tradition commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks and the miracle of oil lasting for eight days. The menorah is lit during the eight-day festival of Hanukkah, with blessings said and an additional candle lit each night.
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 placed in the centre or at a raised position, with the other candle placed in the right-most spot. The shamash is lit first, followed by the remaining candle. The blessings are then recited before proceeding to light the next candle.
On subsequent nights, an additional candle is placed to the left of the first night's candle, with the shamash again being lit first, followed by the newly added candle, and then the previous night's candle. The blessings are recited before lighting the new candle each night. By the eighth and final night, all nine candles, including the shamash, are lit.
The blessings are traditionally recited three times on the first night and twice on the following nights. The blessings are as follows:
- Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
- Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
- Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
- Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.
- Baruch atah Adonai, elohenu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
- Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.
The menorah is typically lit shortly after sunset, ensuring that it burns for at least 30 minutes after nightfall. However, on Friday night, the menorah is lit before sunset due to Jewish law forbidding the lighting of fires during Shabbat.
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The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right
The Hanukkah menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The nine candles consist of eight candles that symbolise the eight nights of the holiday and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight. The shamash is usually placed in the centre of the menorah.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle placed in the right-most spot. On each subsequent 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 lit from left to right.
Before lighting the candles, it is traditional to recite three blessings on the first night and two blessings on each night thereafter. The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. 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.
The menorah is traditionally lit shortly after sunset, though in some communities, it is kindled after nightfall. On Friday night, the menorah is lit before sunset, and on Saturday night, it is lit after nightfall.
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The menorah is lit after sundown, when it is dark
The menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The lighting of the menorah is a ceremony steeped in tradition and history. The word menorah means "lamp" in Hebrew, and the lighting of the menorah is a symbolic act of shining a light through the darkness.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle designating the first night. The shamash is placed in the centre or at a higher or lower level than the other eight candles. The shamash is lit first, and it is used to light the other candles from left to right.
Each night, another candle is added, and on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit, with three blessings on the first night and two on each subsequent night. The blessings give praise to God and commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah.
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The menorah commemorates the miracle of oil lasting eight days
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The nine branches hold eight candles or oil lamps, and a helper candle, known as the shamash. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles. The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah or on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles.
The Hanukkah menorah commemorates the miracle of oil lasting eight days. After the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks, there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the Temple. However, miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This miracle is why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one helper candle to light the others.
The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient menorah burned oil and did not use candles, which were unknown in the Middle East until around 400 CE. The menorah was a symbol of Samaritan identity during the Byzantine and Islamic periods.
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred ritual. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first, and it is used to light the other candles from left to right. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit. On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. On each subsequent night, another candle is added, so that on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
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Frequently asked questions
Two candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah. One is the shamash, or "helper" candle, and the other is the first night's candle.
The shamash candle is used to light the other candles. It is placed in the centre of the menorah or in a raised position.
The candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, on Friday night, the menorah is lit before sunset, and on Saturday night, it is lit after sundown but before or after the havdalah rituals.
