Chloe Adams
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrated over eight nights. The lighting of the menorah is a central part of the Hanukkah tradition, with blessings recited and an additional candle lit each night. The menorah is typically placed on a table and lit after sundown, with the candles usually burning out after a few hours. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in a designated spot and used to light the other candles. There are differing opinions on the direction of lighting, with some sources suggesting lighting from left to right, and others from right to left.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles on the first night | Two |
| Placement of the first night's candle | Right-most spot |
| Placement of the shamash candle | Center |
| Direction of candle placement | Right to left |
| Direction of candle lighting | Left to right |
| Timing of candle lighting | After sundown |
| Exceptions | During Shabbat, the menorah is lit before Shabbat candles on Friday evening |
| Number of candles on the eighth night | Nine |
| Number of blessings on the first night | Three |
| Number of blessings on subsequent nights | Two |
| Burning duration | 30 minutes to 16 hours |
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What You'll Learn
The order of candle placement and lighting
The placement and lighting of the candles on the Hanukkah menorah follow a specific order. 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 is placed in its designated spot, usually in the centre, while the first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot.
On each subsequent night, another candle is added to the menorah, so that by the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit. The candles are typically placed in the menorah from right to left, following the direction of Hebrew writing. However, there are differing opinions on the direction of lighting the candles. Some sources suggest lighting the candles from left to right, starting with the leftmost candle on the first night and moving towards the right on each subsequent night. Others suggest lighting the newest candle first, which would mean lighting from right to left on the second night and so on.
The blessings are recited before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first, using an extra candle that is not part of the menorah. The shamash is then used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. In Sephardi communities, the shamash is lit last, and the extra candle used for lighting is blown out.
The menorah is typically lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, there is an exception when Hanukkah overlaps with Shabbat. Lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden in Jewish law, so adjustments are made to the candle-lighting ritual on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday evening, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles, while it is still light out. On Saturday night, the candles are lit after Shabbat has ended, but there may be variations in the order of rituals.
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The shamash candle
The shamash plays a unique role in the Hanukkah celebration. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and one other candle are placed in the menorah. The shamash is then used to light the other candles, with the blessing being recited before the lighting. Each night, another candle is added, so that by the eighth and final night, all nine candles, including the shamash, are lit. This gradual increase in the number of lit candles symbolises the continuous increase of light and joy throughout the holiday.
The placement of the shamash candle varies slightly between communities. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first and used to light the other candles from left to right. Meanwhile, in Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last. The shamash candle is often made of beeswax, and it is not customary to blow it out but rather to let it continue burning alongside the other candles.
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Blessings and prayers
In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle (or helper candle) is lit first and used to light the other candles. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash is lit last. The shamash is used to guarantee that the light of the menorah is never used alone for practical purposes.
Before the candles are lit, it is traditional to recite three blessings on the first night and two blessings on each subsequent night. The blessings are said while holding the shamash candle. The first blessing is:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translated into English, this means:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot.
The second blessing is:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh.
Translated into English, this means:
> 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 attah adonai, eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, she-heheyyanu, vekiyamanu, vehigiyanu lezman hazeh.
Translated into English, this means:
> 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 making practical use of its light.
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Timing and duration
The timing of the candle-lighting ceremony is important. Hanukkah candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, there is an exception. Since Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, there will be at least one overlap with Shabbat, during which Jewish law forbids lighting a fire. 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 sundown when Shabbat has ended, but there is no consensus on whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, or "helper" candle, and another candle to mark the first night. The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah, while the first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first, then used to light the other candles from left to right. 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.
On each subsequent night, another candle is added to the menorah, 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. On the second night, two candles are lit, and so on, so that the number of candles lit increases each night.
The duration of the candle-lighting ceremony is not fixed. Depending on the wick and cup, Hanukkah candles can last anywhere from 3 to 16 hours. Some people let the candles burn out completely, while others blow them out after a minimum burn time of 30 minutes if they need to leave the house.
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Types of candles and wicks
Hanukkah candles can be made of wax, soy, or even be replaced by electric lights in places where open flames are not permitted. The candles can be of any colour, though blue and white candles are often used due to their association with Judaism and the State of Israel. In the traditional oil lamp menorah, olive oil is used to light the wicks.
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 a designated spot, usually in the centre, and is used to light the other candles. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles.
In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and then used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. However, 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.
Hanukkah candles are typically available at major retailers, Judaica shops, and even some grocery stores. They can also be purchased online.
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Frequently asked questions
Two candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah. The first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot, and the shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed in the centre.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left. However, the blessings are said, and the candles are lit from left to right.
The Hanukkah menorah is lit around nightfall each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. However, on Friday and Saturday nights, there are adjustments to the candle-lighting time due to the overlap with Shabbat.
The candles are usually allowed to burn out on their own. However, if they pose a danger, they can be extinguished after a minimum burn time of 30 minutes. The burn time depends on the wick and cup and can range from 3 to 16 hours.
