Brooke Martin
Hanukkah, also spelt Chanukah, is a Jewish festival that is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah. The number of candles lit increases by one each night, starting with one candle on the first night, two on the second, and so on until the eighth night, when all nine candles are lit. This is to commemorate the ancient miracle of Judah Maccabee and his band of warriors successfully fighting back against oppression and reclaiming the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. To rededicate the Temple, they needed oil for a candelabra, and although they only had enough for one night, it miraculously lasted for eight. So, including the shamash candle, which is used to light the others, you need 44 candles to celebrate Hanukkah.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles needed for each menorah | 44 |
| Number of candles needed on the first night | 2 |
| Number of candles needed on the second night | 3 |
| Number of candles needed on the eighth night | 9 |
| Number of candles in a traditional box | 44 |
| Number of candles in a packaged box | 45 |
| Direction of placing the candles on the menorah | Right to left |
| Direction of lighting the menorah | Left to right |
| Time of lighting the candles | Dusk |
| Time of lighting the candles on Friday night | Before sunset |
| Time of lighting the candles on Saturday | After sunset |
| Duration of burning the candles | At least 30 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
You need 44 candles in total
On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is placed in the holder farthest to the right. This candle represents the shamash, and another candle is placed next to it to represent the first night. On the second night, a new candle is placed in the same spot as the first one, and a second candle is placed immediately to its left. This process is repeated each night, with candles being placed from right to left.
Once all the candles have been placed, the shamash is lit first, and then the evening's candles are lit from left to right, so the newest candle is always lit first. For most of the week, the candles are lit at dusk, symbolizing the distinction between darkness and light. However, on Friday nights, the menorah candles are lit before sunset when the Sabbath begins, and on Saturdays, they are lit after sunset when the Sabbath has ended. The candles should remain lit for at least 30 minutes.
The number 44 has a special significance in Hasidic teaching. Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev taught that on Hanukkah, we light 36 candles, and the Service of Below arouses Above to light 36 lights. When we add the shamash, we get 44, and with the corresponding 44 from Above, we get 88. In gematria, the Jewish system of assigning numerical values to letters, 88 is equivalent to the value of the Hebrew word pach, meaning "trap." This alludes to the miracle of Hanukkah, as the Maccabees broke the trap laid by King Antiochus.
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One candle is the shamash
The shamash is the ninth candle on the Hanukkah menorah, also known as the "attendant" candle. It is used to light the other eight candles, which represent the eight nights of the holiday. The shamash is typically set apart from the other candles, either by being placed at a different height or to the side, to distinguish it from the other candles.
The shamash plays a crucial role in the Hanukkah celebration. While it is not a mitzvah candle, it is important because it enables the lighting of the other candles, which are considered sacred. The shamash is often made of beeswax, and it is not customary to blow it out after lighting the other candles. Instead, it continues to burn alongside the other candles.
The number of candles needed for Hanukkah depends on the night of the celebration. On the first night, two candles are needed, including the shamash. On the second night, three candles are needed, and so on until the eighth night, when all eight candles plus the shamash are lit, for a total of 44 candles.
The lighting of the Hanukkah candles commemorates an ancient miracle. When Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they found only enough oil for one night, but it miraculously burned for eight nights. Today, the lighting of the menorah candles celebrates this miracle, with each night of the holiday marked by the lighting of additional candles.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that holds eight candles or oil lamps, representing the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds the shamash, which is used to light the others. The hanukkiah is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art and holds significant meaning for Jews around the world.
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The shamash is used to light the other candles
The shamash is a candle that is used to light the other candles on the Hanukkah menorah. The shamash is placed separately from the other candles, either by being offset to one side or raised to a higher or lower level. This distinction is made to show that the shamash is the "'helper' or 'servant' candle, and not one of the eight candles that represent the eight nights of Hanukkah.
The shamash is typically lit first, and then used to light the other candles from left to right, with the newest candle being lit first. The shamash is not a sacred candle, but it is important as it enables the other candles to be lit and form a mitzvah. After the other candles have been lit, the shamash is usually left burning alongside the other candles. This is because it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah candles for any practical purpose, so the shamash can be used as a source of light if needed.
The shamash is an important part of the Hanukkah tradition, which commemorates an ancient miracle. When Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they found only enough oil to burn for one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights. Today, the shamash is used to light the other candles on the menorah to celebrate this miracle.
While Ashkenazi Jews use the shamash to light the other candles, Sephardi Jews use a separate source of fire, such as a lighter, to light all the candles, including the shamash. This is because the shamash is not considered to be more important than the other candles, and so it does not need to be lit first.
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The candles are placed right to left, but lit left to right
The Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is a Jewish celebration that commemorates an ancient miracle. Judah Maccabee and his band of warriors successfully fought back against oppression and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. To rededicate the Temple, they needed oil to burn in a candelabra, or menorah. They only had enough oil for one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights.
Today, people light menorah candles to celebrate this miracle. The number of candles lit increases by one each night. On the first night, one candle is placed in the holder farthest to the right. On the second night, a new candle is placed in the same spot, and a second candle is added immediately to its left. This process is repeated each night, with candles placed from right to left. However, when it comes to lighting the candles, they are lit from left to right, with the newest candle being lit first.
There is a difference of opinion on the direction in which the candles should be lit. Some sources suggest that the newest candle, which is the leftmost one, should be lit first, followed by the rest of the candles from left to right. This is based on the idea that a person should always turn to the right and that passing up an opportunity to light a candle would be a missed opportunity to perform a mitzvah.
On the eighth night, all eight candles are lit, with the shamash, or helper candle, in the middle. The shamash is used to light the other candles. In total, 44 candles are needed for the celebration of Hanukkah, including the shamash.
The placement of the menorah is also important. Traditionally, it is placed at the front door of the home, facing the street. However, some people place it in their window, with the candles starting from the right as viewed from inside the house.
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The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is celebrated through the lighting of the menorah
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. After the Maccabees liberated the Temple from the Syrians and Seleucids, they found only enough oil to light the menorah for one night. However, miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights.
On the first night, two candles are needed, and on the final night, nine candles are lit, making a total of 44 candles required for the celebration. Some sources suggest that the shamash is lit eight times, bringing the total to 45 candles. The shamash is placed in a distinct position, separate from the other candles.
The lighting of the menorah is a sacred tradition, and the candles are only to be used for the celebration of Hanukkah. The menorah candles are lit at dusk, symbolising the distinction between darkness and light. On Friday nights, the menorah is lit before sunset when the Sabbath begins, and on Saturdays, the candles are lit after sunset when the Sabbath ends. The candles are kept burning for a minimum of 30 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
You need 44 candles for every menorah you plan to light over Hanukkah. On the first night, two candles are needed, and on the second night, you will need three candles, then four, and so on until the eighth night on which you will need nine candles.
The shamash candle, or "helper" candle, is lit first and then used to light the other candles. It is placed in a higher or lower position than the other candles so it doesn't get confused with the others.
A traditional box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 individual candles, though sometimes they are packaged in sets of 45 in case one breaks.
