HanukkahBuys.com

Happy Hanukkah!!

Hanukkah Which Candle To Light First?

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the Maccabean victory in 165 BCE over the Greeks. On each night of the festival, a different candle on the Hanukkah menorah is lit, starting with the one on the far right, working its way to the one on the far left. It is a meaningful and symbolic event. But the question remains: which candle should be lit first?

    • The traditional answer dictates that one should always start with the shamash candle, which is usually the tallest of the candles on the menorah and located in the middle or off to one side. The shamash candle is there to serve as a helper candle. Its purpose is to ignite the other candles, whose light symbolizes the power of God’s presence in our lives. Because of this purpose, it is considered to be an essential part of the Hanukkah menorah, and is thus lit first.

    Once the shamash is lit, one should start with the candle farthest to the right, then continue on to the left, following the traditional Hebrew order of reading (right-to-left). As each candle is lit, its special significance should be remembered and discussed.

    Candle One: The Candle of the Maccabees

    This candle is lit to remember the brave Maccabees who trained and fought to protect their faith. The Maccabees gathered a small, light-hearted army and faced their oppressors bravely and couragefully.

    Candle Two: The Candle of Miracles

    This candle is lit to remind us of the miracle of the menorah itself. According to tradition, when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, only one day’s worth of oil for the lamp was found. Through a miracle, this single day’s worth of oil lasted for 8 days, until more oil was obtained. This miracle is celebrated every year on the first night of Hanukkah.

    Candle Three: The Candle of Rededication

    This candle is lit to commemorate the rededication of the Temple after it was reclaimed from the Greeks. After the Maccabees won the battle, they cleaned and consecrated the Temple. This candle is lit in remembrance of this occasion.

    Candle Four: The Candle of Spiritual Victory

    This candle is lit to commemorate the spiritual victory that the Maccabees experienced. It is a reminder of the brave actions that we are all capable of taking when our faith is tested.

    Candle Five: The Candle of Enlightenment

    This candle is lit to remind us of the importance of spiritual growth. It is a reminder of the power of learning and reflection, and of how important it is to continue to grow and deepen our understanding of our faith.

    Candle Six: The Candle of Joy

    This candle is lit to remind us of the joy that the reclamation of the Temple brought to the Jewish people. We are reminded of our collective bond and of the importance of celebrating the reclamation and the freedom that comes with it.

    Candle Seven: The Candle of Freedom

    This candle is lit to remind us of the importance of freedom. It is a reminder that we should all strive to secure freedom for ourselves and for society as a whole.

    Candle Eight: The Candle of Redemption

    This candle is lit to remind us of redemption. It is a reminder of how we can be redeemed from our mistakes and of how we can learn from our failures and continue to grow.

    Hanukkah is a time of joyous celebration and reflection. By lighting the candles of the Hanukkah menorah in the traditional and prescribed order, we can take an active part in the celebration of this important and meaningful holiday. By following these steps, we can remind ourselves of the inspiring story of the Maccabees and of the importance of faith, courage, joy, freedom, and redemption.

    Related Products:

    Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.