Chloe Adams
The lighting of Chanukah candles is a sacred tradition in Judaism. The Mitzvah, or religious commandment, states that every household should have at least one candle burning every night of Chanukah. The timing of the candle-lighting ceremony is important, with some sources stating that the ideal time is at sunset, while others suggest a few minutes before or after. It is also customary to ensure that the candles burn for at least half an hour after sunset, reciting evening prayers and blessings before the lighting. The Chanukah lights are lit before the Shabbat candles on Friday afternoons, and customs vary for the order of lighting on Saturday nights.
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What You'll Learn
The minimum obligation is one candle burning every night
The minimum obligation for Chanukah is to have one candle burning every night. This is the essence of the Mitzvah, or religious commandment. The candle should burn for at least half an hour after the stars appear, so there must be sufficient oil to ensure this. The timing of the candle-lighting is flexible, but it should take place after sunset and before people leave the marketplace. This could be as late as 10 minutes after sunset, or even 25 minutes, according to some sources.
The candles are lit from right to left, with the first candle on the right, and a new candle added each night. The Shamash, or service candle, is lit first and is placed at a different height in the menorah. The blessings are recited, and then the "new" candle is lit first, followed by the remaining candles. After the first candle is lit, the paragraph of "Haneirot Hallalu" is recited or sung, and then the remaining candles are lit. It is customary to sing the hymn "Ma'oz Tzur" afterwards.
On Friday, the Chanukah lights are lit before the Shabbat candles. On Saturday night, customs differ: some light the Chanukah candles after Havdalah, while others reverse the order. It is important to follow the custom of one's community and forefathers. Among Sephardic communities, for example, the Chanukah lights are lit in the synagogue before Havdalah and at home, Havdalah precedes the lighting.
If one cannot stay with the candles for more than thirty minutes, due to a fire hazard, for example, they can be blown out after thirty minutes. Olive oil is the most preferable fuel, although any type of oil is acceptable, or one may use wax candles with a single wick.
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The ideal time to light Chanukah candles is before sunset
There are different customs regarding the exact time to light the Chanukah candles. Some sources suggest lighting the candles at sunset, while others recommend lighting them a few minutes after sunset. For example, Rav Moshe Feinstein's practice was to light the candles between 13 and 18 minutes after sunset. Rav Aharon Kotler, on the other hand, would light the candles 25 minutes after sunset.
It is important to note that the timing of lighting the Chanukah candles is not just about practicality, but also about fulfilling the mitzvah of the candle-lighting ceremony. The ceremony involves reciting blessings and following specific procedures for lighting the candles and placing them on the menorah. It is customary for everyone, including men, women, and children, to participate in the ceremony and light their own candles.
On Friday afternoons, the Chanukah lights are lit before the Shabbat candles. This is also the case on Saturday nights, where some communities light the Chanukah lights after Havdalah, while others follow the reverse order. In Sephardic communities, the Chanukah lights are lit in the synagogue before Havdalah and at home, Havdalah precedes the lighting.
If one is unable to light the Chanukah candles at the ideal time, it is still important to light them when one returns home. While some say that one may only recite the bracha if some household members are awake, others hold that it is proper to wake up some of the household members to recite the blessings together.
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The candles should burn for at least half an hour
The Chanukah candles should burn for at least half an hour after the stars appear. This is because, in the half-hour preceding the appearance of the stars, certain activities are prohibited, such as eating a "fixed" meal or studying the Torah. Once the stars appear, the evening prayers are recited, followed by the lighting of the Chanukah candles. Therefore, the candles should remain lit for at least half an hour after this time.
To ensure that the candles burn for the required duration, it is important to use sufficient oil. If one is lighting the candles at sunset, there should be enough oil for the lights to burn for at least fifty minutes—twenty minutes from sunset until the stars appear, and thirty minutes after.
If there is a fire hazard or if one cannot stay with the candles for more than thirty minutes, it is permissible to blow out the candles after they have burned for thirty minutes. Additionally, if one poured more oil than required, they may extinguish the candles after burning for at least half an hour to use the excess oil for the following evening.
The exact time for lighting the Chanukah candles can vary. Some sources suggest lighting at sunset, while others recommend lighting 10 to 25 minutes after sunset. However, it is generally agreed that the candles should burn for at least half an hour, ensuring that there is sufficient oil to last for the required duration.
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On Friday, light Chanukah candles before Shabbat candles
The lighting of the Chanukah candles is a sacred tradition in Judaism. The timing of this ritual is particularly important when it falls on a Friday, as it coincides with the lighting of the Shabbat candles. Here are some detailed guidelines for lighting Chanukah candles before Shabbat candles on a Friday:
Timing and Duration:
On Friday afternoon, it is customary to light the Chanukah candles before lighting the Shabbat candles. The ideal time to light the Chanukah candles is shortly after sunset, ensuring they remain lit for at least half an hour after the stars appear. This duration holds significance in Jewish tradition. It is recommended to light the Chanukah candles 15 minutes before Shkiah (sunset) or 10 to 25 minutes after sunset, with enough oil to last for at least an hour. This timing ensures that the candles burn for the required duration.
Preparation and Placement:
Before the prescribed time, prepare the wicks, candles, and oil. The candles should be placed in a safe location, away from drafts or doors, to prevent them from being extinguished prematurely. It is customary to use olive oil, ensuring there is sufficient oil for the required duration. Additionally, it is preferable to light the candles in the presence of others to publicise the miracle of Chanukah.
Ritual and Blessings:
When the time arrives, recite the blessings before lighting the candles. On the first night, recite three blessings: "Lehadlik ner shel Chanukah", "She asa nissim", and "Shehecheyanu". On subsequent nights, recite only the first two blessings. Light the Shamash candle first, followed by the other candles. It is customary to have an additional candle, the Shamash, used to light the other candles. The Shamash should be placed separately to distinguish it from the Chanukah candles.
Combining with Shabbat:
After lighting the Chanukah candles, proceed with the Shabbat candle-lighting ritual. It is important to ensure that the timing of lighting the Shabbat candles does not delay the lighting of the Chanukah candles. On Saturday night, customs vary, with some lighting the Chanukah lights after Havdalah, while others reverse the order. It is advisable to follow the traditions of one's ancestors or community.
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Customs differ on Saturday night—some light candles after Havdalah
Customs differ on Saturday night, with some people lighting the Chanukah candles after Havdalah. Havdalah is a Jewish religious ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and ushers in the new week. It involves lighting a special candle with multiple wicks, blessing a cup of wine, and smelling sweet spices.
On Friday afternoons, the lighting of the Chanukah lights comes before the Shabbat candles. It is important to ensure that the Chanukah lights remain lit for at least half an hour after the stars appear. On Saturday night, or motza'ei Shabbat, customs vary. Some people light the Chanukah lights after performing Havdalah, while others do it before. People are generally advised to follow the custom of their forefathers.
In Sephardic communities, for example, the Chanukah lights are lit in the synagogue before performing Havdalah. At home, however, the order is reversed, with Havdalah preceding the lighting of the Chanukah lights. Many communities worldwide, including Chabad, follow the custom of lighting the Chanukah menorah shortly after sunset. This practice is based on the teachings of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, a renowned author on the Jewish way of life and the Chassidic movement.
The timing of lighting the Chanukah candles is important, and there are specific guidelines to follow. The Gemara Shabbat 21b states that the candles should be lit from sunset until people leave the marketplace. The Rif, Rambam, and Rosh write that people typically leave the marketplace around half an hour after the lighting begins. However, the Ritva 21b points out that this duration is not fixed and depends on the time and place. Rabbi Mordechai Willig rules that one may light the candles as long as people are still walking in the streets, which can vary depending on the location.
It is worth noting that if the Chanukah candles did not burn for the prescribed time, they should be relit to ensure they burn for the required duration. Additionally, it is recommended to use sufficient oil to keep the candles lit for at least half an hour after the stars appear.
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Frequently asked questions
The ideal time to light Chanukah candles is after sunset, but before the stars appear. The candles should burn for at least half an hour after sunset.
The latest time to light Chanukah candles is a few minutes before 4:28 pm. The candles should be lit before people leave the marketplace.
The first candle goes on the right side of the menorah, with each new candle added to the left on subsequent nights. The Shamash, or service candle, is lit first and used to light the other candles. Blessings are recited, and it is customary to sing the hymn of Ma'oz Tzur afterward.
