Maddie James
The Hanukkah menorah, also known as the hanukkiah, 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 one additional candle, known as the shamash, used to light the other eight. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles. The number of candles lit increases by one each night, symbolising the eight nights that a small amount of oil miraculously burned for in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles needed for each menorah | 44 |
| Number of candles needed for the first night | 2 |
| Number of candles needed for the second night | 3 |
| Number of candles needed for the eighth night | 9 |
| The candle holder's name | Menorah |
| The helper candle's name | Shamash |
| The direction in which candles are placed on the menorah | Right to left |
| The direction in which candles are lit | Left to right |
| The time candles are lit | Dusk |
| The minimum duration for which candles remain lit | 30 minutes |
| The day candles are lit on Fridays | Before sunset |
| The day candles are lit on Saturdays | After sunset |
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What You'll Learn
The total number of candles needed for Chanukah is 44 or 45
The Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of a day's supply of oil lasting for eight days. To celebrate, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. The menorah has nine branches, one for each night of the festival, plus a shamash, or helper candle, which is lit first and then used to light the other candles. The shamash is placed higher, lower, or to the side of the other candles.
On the first night of Chanukah, 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 the total number of candles needed for Chanukah is 44. However, sometimes boxes of Chanukah candles contain 45 candles in case one breaks.
The number 44 has significance in Hasidic teaching. Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev taught that 36 candles are lit on earth, and 36 lights are lit in the heavens, corresponding to the 72 Names of the Blessed One. Counting the shamash brings the total to 44, and with the corresponding 44 lights from Above, the total is 88. In gematria, the Jewish system of assigning numerical values to letters, 88 is equivalent to the Hebrew word pach, meaning trap. This alludes to the miracle of Chanukah, as the Maccabees broke the trap laid by King Antiochus.
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The shamash is the helper candle
The shamash plays a crucial role in the Hanukkah celebration. The lighting of the menorah commemorates the miracle of the oil lasting eight days during the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the second century B.C. by a group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees. Despite only having enough pure olive oil for one day, the Maccabees miraculously kept the menorah burning for eight days, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply of oil.
The shamash is lit first, and then the other candles are lit from left to right using the shamash, with the newest candle being lit first. The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, the same direction in which Hebrew is read. 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 pattern continues until the eighth night, when all nine candles, including the shamash, are lit.
The number 44 is significant in the context of Hanukkah. Over the course of the eight nights, 36 candles are lit, and including the shamash, the total number of candles is 44. In gematria, the Jewish system of assigning numerical values to letters, 44 is equivalent to the value of the Hebrew word "pach," meaning "trap." This alludes to the miracle of Hanukkah, as the Maccabees broke free from the trap laid by King Antiochus.
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Candles are placed right to left, but lit left to right
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, has nine branches for candles: one for each night of the holiday, and a ninth branch for the shamash, or helper candle. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the other candles.
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 immediately to its left. Continue in this manner each night, placing candles from right to left.
Once the candles have been placed, light the shamash and recite a series of blessings. Then, using the shamash, light the evening's candles from left to right, so that the newest candle is lit first.
To light the proper number of candles each night for the duration of the holiday, you'll need a total of 44 candles.
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The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is celebrated
To rededicate the temple, the Maccabees needed to light a menorah, a Hebrew word for lamp, that would burn at all times. However, they only had enough pure olive oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply.
The menorah has nine branches, one for each night of the festival, plus a shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the other candles. The shamash is placed in a higher, lower, or off-centre position to distinguish it from the other candles. Each night, a new candle is lit from left to right, starting from the rightmost branch, until all nine candles are lit on the eighth night.
In total, 44 candles are needed for the menorah over the course of Hanukkah, including the shamash. This number has additional significance in Hasidic teachings, symbolising the breaking of the trap laid by King Antiochus and the salvation of the Jewish people.
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The menorah has nine branches
The menorah has played a crucial role in Hanukkah celebrations since the Second Temple of Jerusalem was rededicated in the second century B.C. The Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, had to light a menorah that would burn in 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, the menorah has nine branches, one for each night of the Festival of Lights, plus a shamash, or helper candle. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the other eight candles, one on the first night, two on the second, and so on. The shamash is placed higher or lower than the other candles so that it is not confused with them. The eight main branches must be perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line.
The menorah is lit at dusk, except on Fridays when it is lit before sunset to mark the beginning of the Sabbath, and on Saturdays when it is lit after sunset when the Sabbath has ended. The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, the same direction in which Hebrew is read, but when lighting the menorah, one moves in the opposite direction, lighting the candles from left to right.
In total, 44 candles are required for the menorah over the course of Hanukkah.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need two candles on the first night, three on the second, and so on until the eighth night, where you will need nine candles.
You will need a total of 44 candles for Chanukah. This includes the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the other candles.
In Hasidic teaching, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev explains that 36 candles are lit on Earth, and 36 lights are lit in the heavens, corresponding to the 72 Names of the Blessed One. Including the shamash, the total is 44, and with the corresponding 44 from Above, the total is 88.
The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, and lit from left to right. The shamash is placed higher, lower, or to the side, to distinguish it from the other candles.
If Chanukah lasted 10 nights, you would need 55 candles. If it lasted 50 nights, you would need 1275 candles. If it lasted 100 nights, you would need 5050 candles.
