Brooke Martin
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah, which has nine branches or candle spots. The ninth candle, called the shammash or helper candle, is used to light the other eight candles over the course of the eight nights. The menorah is typically lit just after dark each night of Hanukkah, with slight adjustments on Friday and Saturday nights to accommodate Shabbat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to start lighting Hanukkah candles | After dark/nightfall on the first day of Hanukkah |
| How to place the candles | Right to left |
| How to light the candles | Left to right |
| The first candle lit | The shamash or "helper" candle |
| The second candle lit | The left-most candle |
| The last candle lit | The shamash |
| The number of candles required for the ritual | 44 per menorah |
| The number of candles lit on the first night | Two |
| The number of candles lit on the second night | Three |
| The number of candles lit on the final night | Nine |
| The number of nights of Hanukkah | Eight |
| The type of lights used | Candles or oil lamps |
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What You'll Learn
The first candle is lit at sundown
The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks in Judea more than 2,000 years ago. The miracle of the oil is central to the celebration, as there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the Temple, yet it miraculously lasted for eight days.
The nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah is the central feature of the observance. The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside one's door. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in the centre or at a different elevation and is used to light the other candles.
On Fridays, the menorah is lit before sundown to avoid lighting on Shabbat. On Saturday nights, customs differ, with some lighting the menorah after Havdalah and others reversing the order.
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The shamash candle is lit first
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The central feature of the celebration is the nightly lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabra.
The shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed in the centre of the menorah and is used to light the other eight candles. It is lit first, before being used to light the other candles from left to right. This is done just after dark on each night of the festival. The shamash is also available for illumination, adhering to the prohibition against using the other Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicising and meditating on the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.
On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are lit: the shamash and another candle designating it as the first night. This first night's candle is placed in the right-most spot of the menorah. On each subsequent night, another candle is added, so that on the final night, all nine candles are lit together.
The blessings are said before the shamash is lit, and then again before each of the other candles is lit. However, on the first night, three blessings are recited, and then two on every night thereafter.
It is worth noting that there are slight adjustments to the candle-lighting ritual on Friday and Saturday nights, as lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law. On Friday, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles, while it is still light out. On Saturday, the candles are lit after sundown when Shabbat has ended, but there is no consensus on whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
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The shamash is used to light the other candles
The shamash is a candle that is used to light the other candles on the Hanukkah menorah. The word "shamash" means "helper" in Hebrew. The shamash is typically distinguished from the other candles in some way, either by being placed on a higher or lower plane or by being offset to one side. This distinction is meant to signify that the shamash is not more important than the other candles. In fact, it is the eight candles representing each night of the holiday that are considered the core of the mitzvah.
The shamash is usually lit first, before being used to light the other candles from left to right. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is the first candle lit, while in Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last. The shamash serves a practical purpose, as it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah candles for any practical reason, so the shamash can be used if extra light is needed.
The shamash is typically not blown out after lighting the other candles but is instead left to burn alongside them. This is because, even after the shamash has served its primary function, it can still be used if one of the other candles blows out. The shamash is also symbolic, serving as a lesson to educators and leaders, as it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles that represent each night of the holiday, with one additional candle being lit each night until all eight are lit on the final night. The ninth branch holds the shamash, which is used to light the other candles.
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The candles are lit after dark
The Hanukkah menorah is traditionally lit after dark, with sunset marking the beginning of the festival. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but lit from left to right. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, and is used to light the other candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are lit: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. This candle is placed in the rightmost spot. On Friday afternoons, the lighting of the Hanukkah lights precedes the lighting of the Shabbat candles, and the menorah should be lit before sundown. On Saturday nights, customs differ, with some lighting the menorah after Havdalah, and others following the reverse order.
The Hanukkah lights should be lit when the stars appear. If the candles are not lit at this time, they may still be lit through the remainder of the night, provided that members of the household are still awake. If the candles are lit very late, when everyone is already asleep, the blessing is omitted. Once the night has passed, the lights cannot be lit, and the candles can only be lit the following evening.
In some communities, the menorah is lit shortly after sunset. The candles are traditionally placed in a window, on a table, or outside the door.
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The menorah is lit before Shabbat candles
The Hanukkah menorah is lit after sundown, when it is dark. However, on Friday afternoon, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles, as lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law. The menorah should be lit eighteen minutes before sundown on Friday, and the Shabbat candles are lit after this. The Chanukah lights must remain lit for at least half an hour after the stars appear, so it is important to use enough oil or larger candles to ensure this. On Saturday night, the candles are lit after Shabbat ends at nightfall, but there is no consensus on whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in the centre of the menorah and is used to light the other candles. The shamash is lit first in Ashkenazi communities, whereas in Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and the shamash is lit last. The blessings are said before the candles are lit, and three blessings are recited on the first night, and two on every night thereafter.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle in the right-most spot. Each night, another candle is added, so on the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
The half hour after the candles are lit is a special time, and the menorah should not be moved during this period. Many women refrain from performing household chores during this time to honour the brave Jewish women who played a significant role in the Chanukah victory.
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Frequently asked questions
The lighting of the candles should take place just after dark each night of Hanukkah. On Fridays, the candles should be lit before sunset to avoid lighting on Shabbat.
The first step is to light the shamash, or helper candle, which is usually placed in the centre of the menorah.
On the first night, two candles should be lit: the shamash and another candle to designate that it is the first night.
If you forget to light the candles when the stars appear, you can still light them for the remainder of the night, as long as members of the household are still awake. If everyone is asleep, you should light the candles the next evening without making a blessing.
