Chloe Adams
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates a miracle: when a day's supply of oil miraculously burned for eight days. To commemorate this, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has nine places for candles: one for each night, and one for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others. On the first night, two candles are lit, and on the second night, three, and so on until the eighth night, when all nine candles are lit. In total, 44 candles are needed for Hanukkah, though sometimes they are packaged in sets of 45 in case one breaks.
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What You'll Learn
The significance of the number 44
The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates what was seen as a miracle when a single day's supply of oil kept the flame burning for eight days. The celebration involves lighting candles for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah, which has nine places for candles. One of these is for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the other eight candles, which represent the eight nights.
The total number of candles required for Hanukkah is 44. This number has a special significance in Judaism and Christianity.
In the King James Bible, the number 44 is mentioned five times in five verses. The period between Jesus' crucifixion and ascension is said to be 44 days. The Greek word Ioudaia, which means "he shall be praised," is used 44 times in 44 Greek New Testament verses. The Hebrew word for "food" or "eating," okel, and the word for "milk," chalab, are each used 44 times in the Bible. The Greek word dioko, translated as "persecute" or a variation, is also found 44 times in the Greek New Testament.
In Hasidic teaching, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev explains that 36 candles are lit on earth during Hanukkah, and 36 more are lit in the heavens, bringing the total to 72, which is the number of names for the divine. Adding the shamash candle brings the total to 44.
In Jewish historical study, numbers are believed to be a means of understanding the divine. The number 44, therefore, has a philosophical meaning in the thought system of Maharal, which refers to the supernatural realm that feeds nature, and man's striving for a connection with the supernatural.
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The shamash candle
The shamash is usually the same size as the other candles, but it can also be smaller. For example, one person described a menorah they purchased that had a shamash candle holder that was half the diameter of the other candle holders. Some people place the shamash in a completely different candlestick next to the menorah. The candle used as the shamash does not have to be physically attached to the menorah, but it should be placed near it so that its light can be used.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are needed: one as 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 needed. This means that a total of 44 candles are needed for Hanukkah: 36 candles for the eight nights, plus the eight additional shamash candles.
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How to light the candles
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the ancient miracle of a day's supply of oil lasting eight days. To celebrate, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has nine branches for candles—one for each night of the holiday, plus the shammash, or helper candle, used to light the other eight.
On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder farthest to the right. On the second night, place a new candle where the first one was, and a second candle to its left. Continue in this manner each night, placing candles from right to left. Once the candles have been placed, light the shammash and recite a series of blessings. Then, using the shammash, light the evening's candles from left to right, always lighting the newest one first.
The menorah candles are typically lit at dusk, except on Fridays, when they are lit before sunset, at the start of the Sabbath. On Saturdays, they are lit after sunset, when the Sabbath has ended. The candles should burn for at least 30 minutes.
It is important to note that the Hanukkah candles are sacred and can only be used for the purpose of the Hanukkah celebration. They should not be used for light, warmth, or the celebration of anything else.
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The miracle of Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival of lights that celebrates the miracle of oil. According to tradition, during the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt, a small quantity of oil used to light the Temple's menorah miraculously burned for eight days.
The Talmudic explanation of the miracle of Hanukkah appears in Tractate Shabbat 21a-24a, where rabbis debate the details of the Hanukkah ritual and the spiritual goal of publicising the miracle of the oil. The rabbis considered olive oil to be the choicest type of oil for the Hanukkah lights because it produces a clearer and brighter light, which would be more effective in broadcasting the miracle.
To celebrate Hanukkah, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has nine places for candles. One is for the shamash, or helper candle, used to light the other eight candles, which represent the eight nights. On the first night, one candle and the shamash are lit, totalling two candles. On the second night, two candles and the shamash are lit, totalling three candles. This continues until the eighth night, when all nine candles are lit. A traditional box of Hanukkah candles contains 44 or 45 individual candles.
It is traditional to eat fried foods on Hanukkah, such as latkes, due to the significance of oil during the holiday.
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The placement of the menorah
Traditionally, the menorah is placed at the front door of the home, facing the street. This practice symbolises the public display of the miracle being commemorated during Hanukkah. By placing the menorah in a visible location, it serves as a testament to the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days and reinforces the significance of the holiday.
When setting up the menorah, it is important to ensure that the eight main branches are perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line. The ninth branch, which holds the shamash, should be positioned differently—either higher, lower, or off to the side. This differentiation in height or placement distinguishes the shamash from the other candles.
It is customary to place the candles from right to left. On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder farthest to the right. On the second night, place a new candle in the same position, and add a second candle immediately to its left. Continue this pattern each night, always placing the candles from right to left. Once all the candles have been placed, light the shamash first and then use it to light the other candles from left to right, ensuring that the newest candle is lit first.
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Frequently asked questions
You need two candles for the first night of Hanukkah, one as the shamash and one to represent the first night.
You need 44 candles for the entire celebration. On the first night, you light two candles, then three on the second night, and so on until the eighth night when you will need nine candles.
There is a Hasidic teaching from Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev about why 44 candles are lit on Hanukkah. On Hanukkah, we light 36 candles, and the Service of Below arouses Above to light 36 lights, and 36 of Above with 36 of Below is 72, corresponding to the 72 Names of the Blessed One. Counting the shamash, we get 44, and with a corresponding 44 from Above, we get 88.
It is easier to pack 45 candles than 44, and you get an extra candle in case one breaks.
