Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean revolt against the Greek-Syrians over 2000 years ago. One of the main traditions during Hanukkah is lighting the menorah or a 9-branched candelabra. Every night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit, with the exception of the first night. So, how many candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah?
The answer is one. Only one candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, known as the ‘shamash’ or ‘helper’ candle. This candle is also sometimes referred to as the ‘servant’ candle because it is used to light the other candles. The central and highest candle, known as the ‘shamash,’ is lit first each night and then used to light the other eight branches of the menorah.
The other eight candles are then lit from left-to-right one-by-one starting from the left. This symbolizes the idea that light, spiritual and physical, should always move from left to right according to the path of the Hebrew alphabet.
When beginning the Hanukkah ritual, special blessings are recited before lighting the shamash and then repeating the same blessing for each candle lit thereafter. Each day, only one additional candle is added to the menorah until the Hanukkah is completed.
The first candle lighting on the first night of Hanukkah symbolizes the dedication of the menorah and the beginning of this eight day celebration. Lighting a single candle on the first night serves as a reminder of the darkness that filled the ancient holy temple and the remarkable miracle of the holy lamp, which only had enough oil to last a single day on the eve of rededication, yet miraculously burned for eight days.
The lighting of the first candle on the first night of Hanukkah is an important tradition and a symbol of overcoming darkness with light. Every night of Hanukkah, additional candles will be added to the menorah in order to illuminate the darkness and to commemorate the miraculous lighting of the menorah during the Maccabean revolt over 2000 years ago.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.