Chloe Adams
Hanukkah, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, is a joyous holiday that celebrates the miracle of a day's quantity of oil burning for eight days in the menorah in the Temple of... The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside one's door, and is lit just after dark each night of Hanukkah. The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first, using a match, lighter, or another flame source, and is then used to light the other candles. Blessings are recited before the candles are lit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of nights | 8 |
| Number of candles | 44 (or 45) |
| Direction of candle placement | Right to left |
| Direction of candle lighting | Left to right |
| Type of candle | Oil-fuelled or wax |
| Type of wick | Cotton |
| Timing | After dark (or before Shabbat on Fridays) |
| Location | Window, table, or outside the door |
| Blessing | Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam |
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What You'll Learn
- Blessings: recite traditional blessings before lighting the candles
- Timing: light the candles just after dark each night
- Placement: place the menorah in a window, on a table, or outside a door
- Lighting order: light the shamash candle first, then the other candles from left to right
- Candle type: use either candle flames or oil-fueled lights
Blessings: recite traditional blessings before lighting the candles
Reciting blessings is one of the most important Hanukkah rituals. The blessings are said before the candles are lit. On the first night, three blessings are recited, and on the following seven nights, only the first and second blessings are recited. The Shamash candle is lit first and is used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
The first blessing is:
> Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translated as:
> Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.
The second blessing is:
> Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, she’asah nisim l’avoteinu, b’yamim haheim bazman hazeh.
Translated as:
> Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who made miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.
On the first night, the third blessing, Shehecheyanu, is also recited:
> Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, shehekheyanu, v’kiyamanu vehegianu lazman hazeh.
Translated as:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
The blessings are said in Hebrew, but it is also acceptable to simply speak the words of each blessing without chanting them.
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Timing: light the candles just after dark each night
The timing of the candle-lighting ceremony is an important aspect of Hanukkah celebrations. The menorah should be lit just after dark on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. However, there are some exceptions and variations to this timing.
Firstly, it is worth noting that the timing may be adjusted to accommodate family schedules. Many families wait until everyone is home together before lighting the candles. This flexibility ensures that everyone can participate in the ceremony and celebrate together.
Secondly, there is a special consideration for Fridays. To avoid lighting the menorah during Shabbat, the candles are lit before sunset on Friday evenings. This means using longer-lasting candles that will burn for at least 30 minutes after sunset. By lighting the menorah earlier, the ceremony does not overlap with the Shabbat observance.
The candle-lighting ceremony holds a significant role in Hanukkah traditions. It is a time to gather family and friends together and commemorate the miracles associated with the holiday. The lighting of the menorah symbolises the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days and serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Jewish community.
Additionally, the menorah is often placed in a window, on a table, or outside the door. This placement is intentional, as it allows the light of the menorah to be seen by others and spreads the message of the holiday. The act of lighting the menorah and reciting the blessings is a meaningful way to connect with Jewish heritage and culture.
Overall, the timing of the candle-lighting ceremony is an important aspect of Hanukkah, with considerations made to ensure that the celebration is inclusive, meaningful, and respectful of Jewish traditions and observances.
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Placement: place the menorah in a window, on a table, or outside a door
The placement of the menorah is an important part of the Hanukkah celebration. The ancient rabbis felt it was important to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, so the menorah is traditionally placed in a window facing the street, on a table, or outside your door. This way, passers-by can enjoy seeing the candles, and the light can spread to others. In moments of antisemitism, some Jews have chosen to place the menorah in a window as an act of defiance and bravery.
If you are lighting the menorah in a window, it is important to light the candles from left to right so that they can be viewed correctly from outside. You should also ensure that the menorah is far from active children and flammable materials.
If you are lighting the menorah outside your door, it is customary to place it in a spot where it will be visible from the street. This is done to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah.
The menorah can also be placed on a table, which allows for the traditional placement of the candles from right to left (as Hebrew is written) and the lighting of them from left to right.
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Lighting order: light the shamash candle first, then the other candles from left to right
The shamash candle is the first candle to be lit during the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony. The word "shamash" means "attendant" in Hebrew, and it is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre of the menorah, set apart from the other eight candles. The shamash is used to light the other candles, which are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right.
The shamash candle is placed in the elevated ninth spot of the menorah, separate from the other eight candles, which represent each day of Chanukah. The shamash is lit first, and then used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one and moving right. This is done to acknowledge the new candle representing the new night of Chanukah before the others.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night, which is placed in the right-most spot. Each night, another candle is added, representing each day of Chanukah. So, on the second night, the shamash is placed in its central spot, and the candle representing the first night is placed in the right-most spot, with the second night's candle placed to its left. This continues for each night, with the newest candle being lit first, and the preceding candles lit after, always moving from left to right.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit, and it is traditional to recite three blessings on the first night and two on every night thereafter. The candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark, with the exception of Friday night, when the menorah should be lit before sunset as the start of Shabbat, or the day of rest.
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Candle type: use either candle flames or oil-fueled lights
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights. 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 Chanukah lights can be candle flames or oil-fueled. The miracle of Chanukah occurred with olive oil, so an oil menorah is preferable. Cotton wicks are preferred for the smooth flame they produce, and olive oil is the ideal fuel. If using an oil menorah, the oil cups must hold enough oil to burn for at least 30 minutes on weeknights and up to one-and-a-half hours on Friday evenings.
If using a candle menorah, the candles should be large enough to burn for the required time. Wax or soy candles are typically used to kindle the menorah, but any candle can be used as long as it burns for 30 minutes and is equal in size. Many Jews use a beeswax candle for the shamash.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left and lit from left to right. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash is lit last, and the extra candle is blown out.
The menorah is typically placed in a window facing the street to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah.
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Frequently asked questions
You should light your menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah. On Fridays, the menorah should be lit before sundown to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table or outside your door.
The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first. It is then used to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
Blessings are said before the candles are lit. The first blessing is: "Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah." The second blessing thanks God for the miracles performed for the Jewish ancestors.
It is customary to recite the paragraph Ha-neirot Hallalu, which explains the purpose of lighting the menorah. This is followed by the singing of Ma·oz Tzur, a famous Hanukkah song.
