Chloe Adams
Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, is celebrated with a candle holder called a menorah. The menorah holds nine candles: eight candles in a row and one helper candle, known as a shamash, which is set apart from the others. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle and the shamash are lit, for a total of two candles. On the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 8 |
| Number of rows | 1 |
| Number of columns | 8 |
| Type of candle holder | Menorah |
| Type of candle | Wax or oil |
| Number of candles burnt on the first night | 1 |
| Number of candles burnt on the second night | 2 |
| Number of candles burnt on the eighth night | 9 (8 Chanukah candles and 1 helper candle) |
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What You'll Learn
- The total number of candles needed for eight rows with one column is 44
- The Chanukah menorah has nine candles
- The eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight, even line
- The shamash is the helper candle used to light the other eight candles
- The candles are lit from right to left, but lit back from left to right
The total number of candles needed for eight rows with one column is 44
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the miracle of a day's supply of oil lasting eight days and nights. The festival lasts eight days, and each night, blessings are said and another candle is added to the menorah. The menorah is a candle holder with eight spots for candles, one for each night, and an extra ninth spot for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. On the second night, two candles and the shamash are used for a total of three candles. This pattern continues until the eighth night, when nine candles are used.
Most boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45, as this allows for an additional shamash candle.
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The Chanukah menorah has nine candles
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a chanukiah, 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 helper candle known as the shamash, which is used to light the other eight.
The shamash is set apart from the other eight candles, often on a higher or lower plane, and is sometimes placed in front of or behind the others. The shamash is not used for light, but rather to enable the other eight candles to form a mitzvah. It is also available for use if an additional light source is needed.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on until the eighth and final night, when all nine candles are lit. This is to commemorate the miracle of a day's supply of oil lasting for eight days.
The Chanukah menorah is different from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.
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The eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight, even line
The menorah 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 the shamash, or helper candle, used to light the others. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles. The eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight, even line. This is because each flame must appear distinct to the onlooker. The menorah should not be arranged in a zigzag or semi-circle, nor should some candles be higher than others.
The menorah is lit to commemorate the miracle of a day's supply of oil lasting eight days. Each night, one more light is lit than the previous, until the final night when all eight branches are lit. This means that one candle is lit on the first night, two on the second, and so on. The custom in many communities is to light the menorah shortly after sunset, except on Fridays when it is lit before the Shabbat candles, and on Saturday nights, when it is lit after nightfall. The menorah must contain enough fuel to burn for at least 30 minutes after nightfall, and for up to one and a half hours on Friday evenings.
The most common menorah design features eight arms branching from a single stem. However, a very traditional model has the flames lined up on the bottom of the candelabra, backed by a metal plate. In the past, these menorahs were often wall-mounted, with the back plate protecting the wall from fire and smoke.
The lighting of the menorah is a significant tradition in Judaism, with public lighting ceremonies taking place around the world, including in the White House since 1979.
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The shamash is the helper candle used to light the other eight candles
Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, commemorates what was seen as a miracle when a day's supply of oil remained lit for eight days. To celebrate, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has nine places for candles: eight candles in a row and one helper candle, known as a shamash, which is set apart from the others.
On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle and the shamash are lit, for a total of two candles. On the second night, two candles and the shamash are lit, for a total of three candles. This continues until the eighth night, when all nine candles are lit. The shamash is not extinguished after the other candles have been lit. Instead, it is left burning in case it is needed to light a candle that has blown out.
The shamash serves as a lesson to educators and leaders. Just as the shamash is a helper, so too can people use their skills to help others.
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The candles are lit from right to left, but lit back from left to right
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, commemorates a miracle when a day's supply of oil lasted eight days and nights. To celebrate, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. The menorah has nine places for candles: eight candles in a row and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is set apart from the others.
The shamash is used to light the other eight candles. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and one other candle are lit, with the first night's candle placed in the right-most spot. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on. By the eighth night, all nine candles are burning. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right.
The shamash is usually placed in the centre of the menorah, and the candles are lit starting with the left-most one. The shamash is lit first in Ashkenazi communities. The candles are lit after sundown, although there is an exception: lighting a fire during Shabbat (from sunset on Friday evening to nightfall on Saturday night) is forbidden, so there are adjustments for Friday and Saturday nights.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit. On the first night, three blessings are recited, and then two on each subsequent night.
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Frequently asked questions
There would be eight candles.
Eight candles are used to commemorate the miracle of oil burning for eight days in the Temple after the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks.
A candle holder called a menorah is used to hold the eight candles.
You will need to buy one menorah, which holds all eight candles, plus the extra shamash candle used to light the others.
