Jessie Taylor
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a joyous holiday commemorating the victory of Jewish rebels over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the miracle of one day's quantity of oil burning for eight days. The celebration involves lighting a candle each night of Hanukkah, with the ninth candle, known as the shamash, translating to the attendant or servant candle. The shamash candle is lit first and used to light the others. The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside the door, spreading light to others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Timing | Just after sunset each night of Hanukkah, or when everyone in the household is together. On Fridays, the menorah is lit before sunset to avoid lighting on Shabbat. |
| Placement | On a table near a window, preferably to the left of the door. |
| Lighting order | Light the shamash candle first, then use it to light the other candles. On the first night, place a candle in the holder on the far right and light it with the shamash. On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right. Repeat this pattern for each night of Hanukkah. |
| Blessings | Recite the traditional blessings before lighting the candles. The blessings can be sung or recited in Hebrew or English. |
| Burning duration | Candles should burn for at least 30 minutes before being extinguished, but many prefer to let them burn out. |
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What You'll Learn
- Timing: light the menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah
- Placement: place the menorah in a window, on a table or outside your door
- The Shamash: light the shamash or 'helper' candle first, then use it to light the other candles
- Blessings: recite the Hanukkah blessing after the shamash is lit, before lighting the other candles
- Lighting order: light candles right to left, then left to right
Timing: light the menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah
The timing of the menorah lighting is an important aspect of Hanukkah celebrations. Each night of the eight-day festival, the menorah should be lit just after sunset. This timing is significant as it marks the beginning of the Jewish day, with the evening commencing a new day.
However, there is some flexibility in this tradition. Many families choose to light the menorah when everyone is gathered together, ensuring that all can participate in this special ritual. This is especially important during the Friday night Shabbat, when Jewish law forbids lighting fires after sunset. To adhere to this law, the menorah is lit before sunset on Friday evenings.
On Saturday nights, the timing may vary depending on differing opinions among rabbis. Some light the menorah after sunset, once Shabbat has ended, while others perform the havdalah rituals first.
The lighting of the menorah is a meaningful tradition, often placed near a window or door, symbolising the publicising of the Hanukkah miracle. The candles are typically allowed to burn out on their own, or at least for 30 minutes, with new candles used each night.
The first night of Hanukkah begins at sundown, with the festival lasting eight nights. This timing commemorates the miracle of the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks, when a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days.
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Placement: place the menorah in a window, on a table or outside your door
The placement of the menorah is an important part of the Hanukkah celebration. The menorah should be placed in a spot that spreads its light to others. This can be in a window, preferably one facing the street so that passers-by can enjoy the sight of the candles. Alternatively, the menorah can be placed outside your door, or on a table near a window, preferably to the left side of the door.
In the past, Jews have chosen to place the menorah in a window as an act of defiance and bravery during times of antisemitism. For example, a photograph from 1932 shows a menorah bravely facing a Nazi banner in Kiel, Germany.
Today, many Jewish organizations continue to erect large outdoor menorahs in their towns. This tradition of placing the menorah in a public space is in keeping with the ancient rabbis' belief in the importance of publicizing the miracle of Hanukkah.
When placing the candles of the menorah, work from right to left. The candle for the first night of Hanukkah should be placed in the holder on the far right. On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash. Continue this pattern for each night of Hanukkah, always lighting the newest candle first. On the eighth night, you will be lighting all of the candles, starting at the far left.
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The Shamash: light the shamash or 'helper' candle first, then use it to light the other candles
The shamash, or "helper" candle, is a distinguishing feature of the Hanukkah menorah. It is the ninth candle, set apart from the other eight candles, often at a different elevation, either higher or lower. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash is lit first and placed in its designated spot, usually in the centre. Another candle is placed in the holder on the far right of the menorah and lit using the shamash. The shamash is then returned to its spot, still lit. On the second night, the candle second from the right is lit first, followed by the candle on the far right. The shamash is then replaced. This pattern is repeated for each night of Hanukkah, always lighting the newest candle first. On the final night, all nine candles, the shamash and eight others, are lit.
The shamash is not a mitzvah candle, but it is important as it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah. It is not customary to blow out the shamash after lighting the other candles. Instead, it is left to burn alongside the other candles, ready to be used if another candle blows out.
Some people choose not to use the shamash to light the other candles, but it still has a fixed place on the menorah.
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Blessings: recite the Hanukkah blessing after the shamash is lit, before lighting the other candles
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that involves a special candle-lighting ceremony. The menorah, a nine-branched candelabra, holds eight candles, one for each night of Hanukkah, and a ninth shamash or "helper" candle, which is used to light the others.
The shamash candle is always lit first and is placed in the centre of the menorah or in a spot at a different elevation. It is used to light the other candles from left to right. The shamash is lit after sunset, and the blessings are recited immediately before the Hanukkah menorah is lit.
The blessings are an important part of the Hanukkah ritual. There are three blessings recited on the first night and two blessings on each subsequent night. The blessings are said while holding the shamash candle. The first blessing is:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translated into English, this means:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot and commands us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
The second blessing is:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh.
Translated, this means:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.
The third blessing, recited only on the first night, is:
> Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu, vekiy'manu, vehigi'anu, laz'man hazeh.
This means:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
After reciting the blessings, you can light the candles, adding a new candle each night until all nine candles are lit on the final night.
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Lighting order: light candles right to left, then left to right
The Hanukkah menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table or outside your door. It should be positioned somewhere safe, away from children and flammable materials. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right.
On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right of the menorah. Light the shamash candle first, then use it to light the candle on the far right. On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash. Continue this pattern for each night of Hanukkah, always lighting the newest candle first. On the eighth night, you will be lighting all of the candles, starting at the far left.
In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash is lit last.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit. It is traditional to recite three blessings on the first night and then two on every night thereafter. The menorah should be lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, on Fridays, the menorah is lit before sundown to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need two candles on the first night of Hanukkah. One is the shamash, or "helper" candle, and the other is the first night's candle.
On the first night, place the shamash in the centre of the menorah and the first night's candle in the holder on the far right. Each night, add another candle from right to left.
The candles are typically lit just after sunset, or when everyone in the household or group is able to gather. On Friday nights, the candles should be lit before sunset to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
