Light Hanukkah Candles with Mademoiselle Menorah (2024)

FAQs

What is the correct way to light Hanukkah candles? ›

Placing The Candles On The Menorah

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!"

A seven branch menorah must be part of every Jewish home and lit as sign of enlightenment and symbol to temple menorah. A Kosher Hanukah menorah is when 8 candle holders are in one line with a ninth Shamash, out of placed in height or position on the 9 branched menorah.

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b-mitzvotav, v-tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Blessed are you, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy through Your commandments, and commands us to light the Hanukkah lights.

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.

Step 3: Light the Shamash The candle that is raised or in the center of the menorah is the shamash (helper candle). It's the one you use to light the other candles. Light it first. (Don't use any of the other candles to light the others.)

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.

The menorah candles must only be lit during nightfall since it is the only time that the candle flames will be visible. Once set, the candles should be left until they burn out if possible.

A Hanukkah menorah, sometimes called a hanukkiah, has branches for nine candles—one for each night of the holiday, plus the shammash. According to Jewish law, the eight main branches must all be perfectly aligned, standing at the same height and in a straight line.

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

What are the 3 blessings of Hanukkah? ›

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.

The general greeting for Hanukkah in Hebrew is חֲנוּכָּה שַׂמֵחַ. Written in English, that's Hanukkah sameach or sameyakh, pronounced “HAH-nuh-kuh sah-MEH-ahkh.” That simply translates to “Happy Hanukkah,” so it's an easy greeting to bust out for your Jewish friends.

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.

Chanukah candles should be lit within a half hour of nightfall. This is because in previous generations there was virtually no more traffic in the streets by a half hour after nightfall.

Left to right

Hanukkah / Candle lighting direction

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.

Candles should stay lit for at least 30 minutes before being extinguished, although, many will prefer to let candles burn until they extinguish themselves. The menorah should be placed on a table near a window, and preferably to the left side of the door.

In fact, the ancient rabbis teach us that we add to the mitzvah (commandment) by lighting multiple Menorahs. It is a wonderful tradition for each child to have his or her own Menorah, a family heirloom, a new purchase — or homemade.

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.

The traditional greeting for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in English is Happy Hanukkah. But this is not the only expression you can use to recognize the holiday or wish celebratory cheer.

Is it OK for Christians to celebrate Hanukkah? ›

It is not wrong for a Christian to celebrate Hanukkah. The Jews celebrate the holiday as a reminder of the victory God brought to them after a time of severe oppression. They also celebrate His provision of oil for the menorah after the rededication of the temple in 164 BC.

If you want to be on the safe side, stick to a traditional Hanukkah Menorah and you should be golden (pun not intended).

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.

"The wax does not need to be removed after the holiday, you can procrastinate (like I do), until the following year, when I spend a little time the day before the holiday cleaning my menorah."

So long as there is still time before sh'kiat hachama (sunset), he may light Chanukah candles and recite the brachot. However, women customarily accept Shabbat when they light candles, unless they specifically make a condition to the contrary. As such, women cannot light Chanukah candles after lighting Shabbat candles.

The best response to Happy Chanukah? “Thank you.”

The answer is that both are considered correct, though Hanukkah is the most widely used spelling, while Chanukah is more traditional.

Hanukkiah

The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukkiah, the nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night, and can often be seen in house windows. Hanukkah celebrations are centred around lighting the hanukkiah, and families will gather to light the candles together.

In another allusion to the Hanukkah miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are particularly popular in many Jewish households. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts.

Do you give a gift on the first night of Hanukkah? ›

“It's not historically part of Hanukkah at all.” In that, gift-giving on Hanukkah is not unlike gift-giving on Christmas — it has little, if anything, to do with the religious requirements of the celebration.

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.

The first night ritual is joyous. I usually cook a family dinner laden with delicious fried foods, such as fried potato latkes and jelly donuts, to honor the miracle. After dinner, our family gathers to light the menorah candles, recite blessings, and sing songs.

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.

Let the candles burn themselves out.

Instead of blowing out or extinguishing the candles, let them run their course. Make sure that they burn for at least a half an hour after sunset. If you have to leave the house, time it so that they burn for at least 30 minutes after you have lit them.

If you want to be on the safe side, stick to a traditional Hanukkah Menorah and you should be golden (pun not intended).