How to Light a Chanukah Menorah: 15 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

FAQs

What is the correct way to light the Chanukah candles? ›

A: The candles are lighted in the opposite direction from how they are placed in the chanukiah. They are lighted from left to right, so that the newest candle is always lighted first. The helper candle, or shamash, is lighted first, and that candle is used to light all the other candles.

Each night, add a new candle before lighting. Now, here's the tricky part: candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but candles are lit from left to right. "Left to right, that's how you light!"

On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash. Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit). On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash.

The Christ Candle is lit first if it is set out. Then the altar candles, and then the candelabras at the base of the large cross. The candelabras are lit from the middle (closest to the large cross) to the outside and extinguished in opposite fashion, making sure that both partners are even with one another.

Put tin foil under the menorah, wrap the candle holders in it, consider wrapping yourself in it. The tin foil will catch all the melty wax and make cleanup a breeze.

The menorah has one candle for each night of Hanukkah, which is celebrated for eight nights. There will be an extra candle in the middle, known as the shamash, which is used to light the other candles. Light the shamash candle first before giving the blessings.

After lighting the menorah, it's customary to sing “Maoz Tzur” (Rock of Ages), the timeless song of the Maccabees' fight for freedom.

The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, the same direction in which one reads Hebrew. However, when lighting the menorah you move in the opposite direction, using the shamash to the light the candles from left to right.

In this case, we recite the Shechecheyanu the first night we light the Chanukah candles on the menorah. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu lazman hazeh.

In modern times, we light one menorah candle on the first night of Hanukkah, plus a “helper” candle, called the shammash. Using the shammash, we light two on the second night, three on the third night and so on, until all nine candles are aglow on the eighth and final night.

What are the 8 lights of Hanukkah? ›

Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others. Families light one candle on the first day, two on the second (and so on) after sundown during the eight days of Hanukkah while reciting prayers and singing songs.

Hold the lighter to the wick.

Put the flame in the candle. Let the flame go against the tip of the wick. Watch to see when it ignites, then pull the lighter away. Let go of the trigger to put the flame out, and set the candle upright on the surface.

Light comes from different sources called light sources; our main natural light source is the sun. Other sources include fire, stars and man-made light sources such as light-bulbs and torches. Thanks to light, we see life in glorious colour: our eyes see different wavelengths of light as different colours.

You light the Shamash (the helper candle) first and then use it to light a candle per night so that at the end of the holiday, the entire Hannukiah is filled with burning candles. There are three blessings to recite over the menorah, thanking God for the miracle of light (though many families only say one).

The shortest candle will go out first because carbon dioxide is more dense than air and will settle at the bottom and put out the flame.

Many congregations use two candles on the altar to point out that Jesus was both a human being and God. At the end of the service, the light is carried out into the world to show that Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere […]

Strike your lighter or match, then hold it directly under the candle wick. The flame should naturally reach up toward the wick, making it much easier to light. Flip the candle right-side-up as soon as the wick lights so you don't spill any wax as it melts.

During Hanukkah, it is traditional for Jews to light the menorah and place it in the front window — symbolizing the hard-won freedom of the Jewish people to practice their faith without fear of persecution. “Displaying the Hanukkah menorah in the window is a time-honored tradition,” said Dr.

You light the newest night's candle first, so you start by lighting the left-most candle available. (In other words, fill in the menorah from right to left, but light the menorah from left to right.)

It doesn't matter what color candles you use. Some choose traditional blue and white candles, while others prefer differently colored candles! The candelabra Jewish people use for Chanukah is actually a "chanukiah," which has nine branches, not a menorah, which has seven.

Are you supposed to light all the candles on the first night of Hanukkah? ›

admin. The Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles: The minimum obligation is that every household should have one candle burning every night. It is customary to be scrupulous regarding this mitzvah: to have one candle on the first night and an additional candle every night (1-8), and everyone in the house as well.

We light this candle to give thanks for love, which carries us along in its embrace. We light this candle to represent the light of love. We are grateful for the capacity to love and the blessing of having been loved.

Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn.

This is a special candle lighting ceremony to remember those we have lost and to honor our grief. “As we light these four candles; We light one for our grief, one for our courage, one for our memories and one for our love.” • LIGHT FIRST CANDLE • “The light of this first candle represents our grief.

How is Hanukkah celebrated? Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, in honor of the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days in the Holy Temple. Unlike some other Jewish holidays where work is forbidden, there are no restrictions on doing work during Hanukkah.

These days are called Hanukkah, when it is forbidden to lament or to fast, just as it is on the days of Purim. Lighting the lamps during the eight days of Hanukkah is a religious duty imposed by the sages.

The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

“Happy Hanukkah!” “Hanukkah Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Hanukkah!”) “Chag Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Holiday!”) “Chag Urim Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Festival of Lights!”)

One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night, until, on the eighth night, the Chanukiah is fully illuminated. Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Lights or Festival of Lights due to the importance of the candle-lighting.

As the story goes, one day's worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. That's why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one to light the rest. The Hanukkah menorah is more accurately called a hanukkiyah.

Is Hanukkah 7 or 9 candles? ›

A Hanukkiah, however, has nine candlesticks — one for each night of Hanukkah and an extra one to light the others. According to strict Jewish law, a Hanukkiah should have eight candleholders of the same height and a ninth branch that is set higher than the rest.

Blue and White of Hanukkah

As a literal reminder of God and a literary reference to splendor, the color blue takes center stage, snugly surrounded by the color white, a symbol of the people who uphold Jewish teachings and whose ancient white tzitzit accepted the color blue.

You can wrap strips of tissue paper around the candle and tie them in place, or tape down individual pieces to create different designs. Plan out what you want your candle to look like, then tie down or attach the paper with Scotch tape to start the decorating process.

Light is electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation occurs over an extremely wide range of wavelengths, from gamma rays with wavelengths less than about 1 × 10⁻¹¹ metres to radio waves measured in metres.

Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds. "Sheet lightning" describes a distant bolt that lights up an entire cloud base. Other visible bolts may appear as bead, ribbon, or rocket lightning.

Potato pancakes (latkes), doughnuts (sufganiyot), and other treats fried in oil, which recall the miracle of the oil, are popular. Children receive presents and gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt), which is sometimes distributed in the form of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.

What is a dreidel? A dreidel is a spinning top with four sides, each inscribed with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew letters inscribed on a dreidel are a Nun, Gimel, Hey or Chai, and Shin.

Traditionally, gifts were not a part of Hanukkah. Instead gelt -- a small amount of money or chocolate coins -- was given to children. However, some parents now include gift giving in their Hanukkah festivities.

What is the difference between a menorah and a Chanukah? ›

Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Hanukkah

A menorah, which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used in the ancient holy temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A Hanukkiah, however, has nine candlesticks — one for each night of Hanukkah and an extra one to light the others.

If a candle is extinguished before a half hour, it does not have to be re-lit provided that it was originally lit in such a way that it should have lasted. If it was lit in such a way that it wasn't likely to last a full half hour, such as if it was lit in a windy location, then it must be re-lit.

We light the candles freshly every night, adding one each night until all 8 have been completed. The candle is not expected to last longer than an hour or two after lighting and will naturally burn out on its own.

“Hanukkah bushes” akin to Christmas trees can be found in many Jewish homes; string lights in blue and white rather than green and red are strewn on houses.

For many English speakers, the festival is also known for confusion over the spelling of its name: Is it Hanukkah or Chanukah? The answer is that both are considered correct, though Hanukkah is the most widely used spelling, while Chanukah is more traditional.

Light the candles with the shamash.

After you finish reciting the blessings, pick the shamash candle up with your dominant hand. Use the shamash to light the candle/s, going from left to right. In other words, light the newest candle first, then light the preceding candles.

What is a Hanukkah menorah? It's a special type of candelabra designed specifically to hold the Hanukkah candles. According to Jewish law, it must have eight branches, all perfectly aligned at the same height in a straight line.

Remove stubborn wax buildup with hot water.

"For heavy wax buildup, I fill up the kitchen sink with very hot water and let the menorah soak in it for fifteen minutes. After this, most of the wax comes off quite easily, and I use my fingernails to scrape off the most stubborn wax deposits."

“People leave [the menorah] out all year round; they don't just take it out during Hanukkah,” Ms. Sternberg observed, adding, “A menorah lasts forever.