▷ How Many Candles Are Lit For Hanukkah Today?

The celebration of Hanukkah is a beautiful and special event in the Jewish calendar, and an important part of the holiday is the lighting of candles. But how many candles are lit for Hanukkah today?

Table of Contents

1 Lighting Traditions

Lighting Traditions

The number of candles lit on each night of Hanukkah depends on the rabbinical obligations. The minimum number of candles is two, and the maximum is eight. One candle is lit on the first night, two are lit on the second, and so on, with the seventh and eighth nights having seven and eight candles. To accommodate these multiple candles, an additional central candle, known as the “shamash” or “sheni,” is usually placed in the middle, set aside for lighting the other candles.

Challah Bread

Before the candles are lit, a piece of Challah bread is set aside and waved around. Traditionally, a blessing is said before the lighting of the candles. After the blessings are spoken, they are lit starting with the shamash and then outwards in the order that generally increases from night to night.

Kindling Of The Candles

To kindle the candles, each person takes a pair of lit candles and covers his eyes. He then recites a biblical passage. This passage says: “He that forgot Hanukkah, remember it, he that remembered, renew it.” After the passage is finished, the candles are then immediately lit, and the flame is then transferred to the Menorah. Acceptable materials for kindling the Menorah can include oil-based objects such as wicks, olive oil, and even wax.

Other Practices

Different cultures have different practices when it comes to lighting Hanukkah candles. In some cases, people wear blindfolds or spin musical chairs before lighting the Menorah. Food is also often part of the celebration. Some people eat special foods or make special dishes for the occasion. Others participate in special actions such as giving gifts or praying for special occasions.

Overall, there is no universal answer for how many candles are lit on each night of Hanukkah. Different rabbinical traditions prescribe different numbers and methods of lighting. Nevertheless, no matter how many candles are lit each night, adding brightness and warmth to the celebration of Hanukkah is always a beautiful tradition.

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