Brooke Martin
The Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is celebrated by lighting a candle on the Chanukah menorah (also known as a Hanukkiah) each night for eight nights. The candles are lit at nightfall, and blessings are recited. The minimum obligation is for each household to have one candle burning every night, with an additional candle lit each night. The candles should burn for at least thirty minutes, but there is no upper limit to how long they can burn, and it is considered an extra mitzvah if they last longer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum duration | 30 minutes |
| Lighting time | Nightfall or after sunset |
| Number of candles | One candle on the first night, with an additional candle every night |
| Number of nights | Eight |
| Who should light the candles | Every Jewish person, including men, women, and children |
| Location | Indoors or outdoors in a window |
| Fuel | Olive oil is preferable, but any type of oil or wax candles with a single wick are acceptable |
| Blessings | "Lehadlik ner shel Chanukah", "She asa nissim", and "Shehecheyanu" on the first night; "Lehadlik ner shel Chanukah" and "She asa nissim" on subsequent nights |
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What You'll Learn
The minimum candle-lighting time is 30 minutes
The minimum candle-lighting time for Chanukah is 30 minutes. The Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles dictates that each household should have at least one candle burning every night for half an hour. The first candle is placed on the right side of the menorah, with a new candle added to its left on each subsequent night.
The Gemara (Shabbat 21b) states that the candles should burn for at least half an hour after sunset, from nightfall until people leave the marketplace. If a candle is extinguished before this time, it need not be relit if it was originally lit in a way that should have allowed it to burn for 30 minutes. However, if it was lit in a windy location or somewhere else where it was unlikely to burn for a full half-hour, it must be relit.
The minimum candle-lighting time is important to consider when preparing for Chanukah. It is customary to use longer candles or more fuel to ensure the candles burn for at least half an hour. Olive oil is the most preferable fuel, though any type of oil or wax candles with a single wick are also acceptable.
The lighting of the Chanukah candles is a sacred tradition. It is obligatory for every Jewish person to light the candles, and it is preferable for everyone to light their own. The candles are lit around nightfall each of the eight nights of Chanukah, with blessings said each night.
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The candles are lit for eight nights
The Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is celebrated by Jews all over the world. The candles are lit for eight nights, with blessings said and an additional candle lit each night. On the first night, one candle is lit, and on the final night, all eight candles are burning brightly. The candles are usually lit at nightfall, but there are variations in practice, with some lighting ten minutes after sunset, and others lighting later in the evening. The minimum obligation is that every household has one candle burning each night, but it is customary to add an additional candle each night.
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a Hanukkiah, holds eight candles, plus an additional helper candle, called a Shamash. The Shamash candle is lit first and is used to light the other candles. 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.
The candles should be lit with enough fuel to last at least half an hour after sunset. If a candle goes out before half an hour, it does not need to be relit, provided it was lit in a way that should have allowed it to burn for half an hour. If it was lit in a windy location, for example, and was unlikely to last half an hour, then it must be relit.
The Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles is an important tradition, and it is customary for everyone, including men, women, and children, to light their own candles. It is preferable to use olive oil for the candles, to recall the miracle of Chanukah.
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The first candle goes on the right of the menorah
The Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is an eight-day celebration commemorating the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks and the subsequent rededication of the temple. The first candle of Hanukkah is placed on the far right of the menorah, with each subsequent night's candle added to its left. The shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, and is lit first, then used to light the other candles. The shamash serves two purposes: to provide extra light, and to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right.
The menorah is lit around nightfall each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Blessings are said each night, and on the final night, all eight candles plus the shamash are burning bright. The candles should be lit for at least 30 minutes, but many will prefer to let the candles burn out by themselves. If you are unable to stay with the candles for more than 30 minutes, or there is a fire hazard, you may blow them out after half an hour.
The menorah should be placed on a table near a window, preferably to the left of the door. It is customary for the menorah to be placed in a window facing the street, so that passers-by can see the candles. However, if the menorah is placed in a window, there is some confusion over whether it should be lit from left to right or right to left, so that it appears correct from the outside. The primary "audience" is still considered to be the people inside the home, so it goes by their right/left.
If you are lighting the menorah in a place of business, the first candle should be placed on the far right, with the second candle to its left, and so on.
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Olive oil is preferable, but wax candles are acceptable
Chanukah is an eight-day festival, and it is obligatory for every Jewish household to light candles each night. The candles should be lit at nightfall, and they must burn for at least thirty minutes. If a candle goes out before thirty minutes, it should be relit, and the blessing repeated. If it is likely to burn for less than thirty minutes, for example, if lit in a windy location, then it must be relit.
The miracle of Chanukah is recalled through the use of oil. Olive oil is the most preferable fuel for the Chanukah candles, as it recalls the miracle of the festival. However, any type of oil is acceptable, and wax candles are also permitted, providing they have a single wick. It is important to use candles or oil that will burn well, and extra-long candles are recommended to ensure they last for at least thirty minutes.
The first night of Chanukah requires one candle, and an additional candle is lit every night. 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. The Shamash, or service candle, is lit first and used to light the other candles. The candles are usually lit after sunset, but they can be lit earlier or later, as long as there are people awake to see them.
The lighting of the candles is a mitzvah, and it is important to be scrupulous about this. It is customary for everyone to light their own candles, and it is preferable to light one candle per person. However, if this is not possible, it is acceptable for two people to light the same menorah on the first night or two.
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Lighting is obligatory for all Jewish people
The lighting of the Chanukah candles is a Mitzvah, a commandment that every Jewish person must follow. The festival of Chanukah lasts for eight days, and each night blessings are said, and another candle is lit on the menorah, so that on the final night, all eight candles are burning brightly. The first candle is placed on the extreme right side of the menorah, with each subsequent night's candle added to its left.
The minimum obligation is that every household should have one candle burning every night. It is customary to have one candle on the first night and an additional candle every night thereafter. It is preferable that everyone lights their own menorah, but if this is not possible, then it is acceptable for two people to light the same menorah on the first night or two. If one is lighting for a household, then the Sephardic custom is to have one menorah per household.
The candles should be lit at nightfall, and they must burn for at least thirty minutes. If a candle goes out before thirty minutes have passed, it must be relit if it was lit in a way that meant it was unlikely to last a full thirty minutes, such as in a windy location. If it was lit in a safe location and simply blew out, it does not need to be relit. If one is lighting late, or will not be home until very late, then it is acceptable to light the candles earlier, as long as they are lit before sunset.
It is important to note that the act of lighting is the Mitzvah, and so there is no need to add more oil to enable the candles to burn for longer, as long as they have burned for at least thirty minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
The minimum time Chanukah candles should be lit for is 30 minutes. However, it is considered an extra mitzvah (hiddur) if the candles last longer.
If the candle was lit in such a way that it should have lasted 30 minutes, it does not need to be re-lit. If it was lit in a windy location, for example, and was unlikely to last 30 minutes, then it must be re-lit.
The Menorah can be moved 30 minutes after sunset.
The Chanukah candles should be lit before the Shabbat candles.
It is preferable to use olive oil as a reminder of the Chanukah miracle. However, any type of oil or wax candles with a single wick can be used.
