Ben Carter
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. and the triumph of Jewish people over religious persecution. One of the most common Hanukkah traditions is the lighting of the menorah, which holds a crucial role in the celebrations. A traditional box of Hanukkah candles should contain 44 or 45 candles, with one candle lit on the first night, two on the second, and so on until all nine candles are lit on the final night.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles in a box | 44 or 45 |
| Number of candles burned each night | 1 on the first night, 2 on the second night, and so on until 9 on the eighth night |
| Total number of candles burned over Hanukkah | 36, or 44 including the shamash |
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What You'll Learn
A box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 candles
The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is celebrated through the lighting of the menorah, a Hebrew word for lamp. The menorah has nine branches, with one branch holding the shamash candle and the other eight branches holding the remaining candles. Each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are ignited. The shamash is always placed slightly higher or lower than the other candles so that it doesn't get confused with the others.
The Hanukkah menorah is also known as a hanukkiyah or chanukkiyah. It is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The lighting of the menorah is one of the most common Hanukkah traditions, with Jewish people around the world participating in the ceremony.
The number 44 also has a special significance in Hasidic teaching. Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev taught that on Hanukkah, 36 candles are lit on Earth, and 36 lights are lit in Heaven, corresponding to the 72 Names of the Blessed One. When we include the shamash candle, we get 44, and with 44 corresponding lights from Heaven, 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, or helper
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. after Jewish rebels, the Maccabees, defeated their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians. The Maccabees only had enough pure olive oil to last one day, but miraculously, it burned for eight days, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply.
The miracle of the oil is celebrated by lighting a candle each night on a menorah, a Hebrew word for lamp. A traditional box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 candles. 36 of these are for the eight nights of the Festival of Lights, and one candle is the shamash, or helper. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles and is placed higher or lower than the other candles so it is not confused with them. The shamash is not a mitzvah candle, but it is important as it enables the other candles to be lit and form a mitzvah.
The shamash is also known as the attendant or servant candle. The word shamash comes from the Hebrew word for helper. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the other candles. The shamash is usually placed above the other candles, and this position reflects its role in helping to elevate others.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday. Eight of the nine branches hold candles that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds the shamash.
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The shamash candle is placed higher or lower than the rest
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. after Jewish rebels, the Maccabees, triumphed over their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians. The celebration revolves around the miracle of a small amount of pure olive oil lasting eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply.
The shamash candle, also known as the "helper" or "attendant" candle, is used to light the other candles of the Hanukkah menorah. The shamash is placed on the ninth branch of the menorah, and it is typically set apart from the other eight candles, either higher or lower, to distinguish it from the rest. This placement is not a strict requirement, but it is a common practice. The shamash candle is often placed higher or lower than the other candles to symbolise its role as a "helper" or "servant" to the other candles.
The shamash candle is usually lit first and then used to light the other candles. The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, following the direction in which Hebrew is read. The shamash candle is not a mitzvah candle, but it is important because it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah. The shamash candle is typically not extinguished after it has served its purpose of lighting the other candles. Instead, it continues to burn alongside the other candles.
The shamash candle holds a special significance in the Hanukkah celebration. It represents service and selflessness, as it is used to kindle the other candles. The shamash candle is also a reminder of the miracle of Hanukkah, as it symbolises the extra light provided by the small amount of olive oil that burned for eight days. By lighting the shamash candle and using it to illuminate the other candles, participants in the Hanukkah celebration honour the miracle and the triumph of the Jewish people over religious persecution.
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Candles are added each night, representing the miracle of oil lasting eight days
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. The holiday commemorates the triumph of a small group of Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, over their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians, who had defiled the temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls. To rededicate the temple, the Maccabees needed to light a menorah, a lamp with seven branches, that would burn within the temple at all times. However, they only had enough pure olive oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply.
Today, a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day holiday. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. On each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until the final night when all eight branches are ignited. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight.
The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is celebrated through the lighting of the menorah, with candles added each night. A traditional box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 individual candles, though sometimes they are packaged in sets of 45 in case one breaks. On the first night, two candles are needed, one as the shamash and one to represent the first night. On the second night, three candles are lit, then four, and so on until the eighth night when all nine candles are lit.
The lighting of the menorah is one of the most common Hanukkah traditions, with Jewish people around the world participating to celebrate the ancient miracle.
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The number 44 is significant in Hasidic teaching
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. and the triumph of a small group of Jewish rebels, the Maccabees, over their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians. The Maccabees had to light a menorah that would burn at all times, but they only had enough pure olive oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply. This miracle is celebrated by lighting a candle on the menorah each night, in addition to the shamash, or "helper" candle.
A traditional box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 individual candles. On the first night, two candles are needed – the shamash and one to represent the first night. On the second night, three candles are needed, and so on until the eighth night when nine candles are lit.
The number 36 is also significant in Hasidic teaching. There is an idea that every generation of humanity has 36 righteous people, or lamed vavniks, who sustain the whole world through their goodness and piety.
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Frequently asked questions
A box of Hanukkah candles typically contains 44 candles. This is because two candles are needed on the first night, three on the second, and so on until nine candles are needed on the final night.
The 44 candles correspond to the miracle of Hanukkah, as the Maccabees broke the trap laid by King Antiochus. The shamash candle is lit eight times, bringing the total to 88, which is significant in gematria, the Jewish system of assigning numerical values to letters.
Sometimes, boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45 candles, with one extra candle included in case one breaks.
