Jessie Taylor
The celebration of Hanukkah involves the lighting of a special menorah called the chanukiah, and there are specific rules for how to do this. The debate over the correct way to light the menorah dates back to Talmudic times, when two great sages—Rabbis Hillel and Shammai—disputed whether to light one more candle each night or start with all eight candles and light one less each night. The majority ruled with Hillel, so the normative way is to increase the lights each night, placing the candles from right to left but lighting them from left to right.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 8 (+1 helper candle) |
| Candle placement | Right to left |
| Lighting direction | Left to right |
| Lighting order | One candle on the first night, increasing by one each night |
| Timing | After sundown |
| Location | Indoors or outdoors |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are placed from right to left
The celebration of Hanukkah centres around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for the occasion. The placement of the candles on the menorah is a subject of much debate, with some arguing for a decrease in the number of candles each night and others for an increase. The majority ruled in favour of the latter, where one candle is lit on the first night, two on the second, and so on.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, similar to how Hebrew is written. On the first night, there should be one candle placed on the far right of the chanukiah, along with the shamash or helper candle. The shamash is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. This is done after sundown when it is dark.
The placement of the candles in the menorah is not just a matter of convenience or preference. In Judaism, even the smallest details carry great weight. The act of lighting one more candle each night symbolises the miracle of the lights burning for eight days and is meant to increase the light and joy of the holiday with each passing day.
The ancient rabbis felt it was important to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah, which is why many Jewish organisations erect large outdoor menorahs in public spaces. Those celebrating at home can follow suit by placing their menorah in a window facing the street, allowing passers-by to enjoy the warm glow of the candles.
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The newest candle is lit first
The celebration of Hanukkah centres around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for the occasion. The first night of Hanukkah involves kindling the first candle of Hanukkah, with the last candle being lit on the final night. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in the centre of the chanukiah and is used to light the other candles.
The Talmud records a dispute between two great Jewish teachers, Hillel and Shammai, on the correct way to light the candles. Shammai argued that the correct way was to start with eight candles and decrease by one each night, reflecting the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights and dwindling each night until it went out. Hillel, on the other hand, argued for starting with one candle and adding an additional one each night, increasing the light and joy of the holiday. The majority agreed with Hillel, and this became the normative way of lighting the Hanukkah candles.
Following the decision, the candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right. This means that the newest candle, or the candle representing the current night, is lit first. This practice symbolises increasing the light each night, reflecting the miracle of lights burning for eight days.
In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and then used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. On the Shabbat of Hanukkah, the Hanukkah lights are kindled first, followed by the Shabbat candles. This ensures that the newest candle, representing the current night of Hanukkah, is lit first, in keeping with the tradition.
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The shamash candle is lit first in Ashkenazi communities
The celebration of Hanukkah centres around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for the occasion. The chanukiah is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight of the nine branches holding candles that symbolise the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The shamash candle is placed in a distinct position separate from the other eight candles. It is either raised or lowered to a different level or placed to the side. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting from the left-most one. The blessings are said before the candles are lit.
The Talmud records a dispute between two great Jewish teachers, Hillel and Shammai, over the correct way to light the candles. Shammai argued for lighting eight candles on the first night and decreasing by one each subsequent night. However, Hillel's view, that one should begin with a single candle and add another each night, increasing the light and joy of the holiday, became the normative way.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but lit from left to right. On the first night, the first candle is placed on the far right of the chanukiah, with the shamash in its designated spot. Each night, another candle is added, so that by the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
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Hillel and Shammai debated candle lighting order
The debate between Hillel and Shammai regarding the candle-lighting order during Hanukkah is a well-known disagreement documented in the Talmud. The two rabbis, distinguished for their knowledge of Jewish law, had differing opinions on how to light the Hanukkah candles.
Shammai's argument was to start with eight candles and decrease by one each night, ending with a single candle on the final night. This approach symbolised the decreasing influence of the 70 nations on the Jews and the destruction of evil, mirroring the ritual practised by the Maccabees. It also corresponded to the offering of bulls during the Festival of Succot, where the number of bulls decreased each day.
On the other hand, Hillel advocated for starting with one candle on the first night and progressively adding one candle each night, culminating in eight candles on the last night. Hillel's rationale was to increase the light and joy of the holiday with each passing day. This perspective aligned with the Torah's general rule that "One increases in matters of holiness, and does not diminish." Additionally, Hillel believed that by increasing the illumination of Torah knowledge, Jews could banish the darkness of evil and become a light unto the nations.
The dispute between Hillel and Shammai was voted on, and the majority ruled in favour of Hillel's opinion. Thus, the normative practice of lighting Hanukkah candles follows the order proposed by Hillel, starting with one candle and increasing nightly.
While the debate between Hillel and Shammai centred on the philosophical and symbolic significance of the candle-lighting order, it is important to note that both rabbis agreed on the fundamental purpose of kindling the Hanukkah lights—to commemorate the triumph of light over darkness and to celebrate the unique miracle of each day of Hanukkah.
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Candles are usually lit after sundown
The celebration of Hanukkah centres around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for the occasion. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in the centre of the chanukiah and is used to light the other candles. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. The candles are usually placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
There is a specific order to lighting the candles, which was once disputed by two great Jewish teachers, Hillel and Shammai. Shammai argued that the correct way was to start with eight candles and decrease by one each night, whereas Hillel argued for the opposite, starting with one candle and increasing by one each night. The majority ruled with Hillel, and this is the way it is commonly done today.
The candles are usually lit after sundown, when it is dark. This is done to symbolise the miracle of the lights that burned for eight days. The lighting of the menorah is a sacred ritual, and many Jewish organisations erect large outdoor menorahs in public places. Similarly, individuals may place their menorahs in a window facing the street to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah.
The number of candles required for the ritual depends on the type of menorah used. For a traditional menorah with six main candles and one helper candle, 44 candles are needed for all eight nights. However, for a chanukiah with eight main candles and one helper candle, 45 candles are required.
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Frequently asked questions
The candles should be placed from right to left. On the first night, there should be one candle on the far right of the chanukiah, plus the shamash.
The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one. The shamash is usually placed in the centre.
There was a Talmudic dispute between two great Jewish teachers, Hillel and Shammai, on this very subject. Shammai argued that the number of candles lit should decrease each night, reflecting the diminishing miracle of the oil burning for eight nights. Hillel, on the other hand, argued for increasing the lights each night, representing the continuous increase of light and joy of the holiday. The majority ruled with Hillel, and this became the normative way.
