▷ How Many Candles Does A Hanukkah Menorah Hold?

Hanukkah is a meaningful Jewish holiday that celebrates a miracle that happened centuries ago. During this time of the year, a special candelabrum known as a menorah is lit. But how many candles does the menorah hold?

The Hanukkah menorah, also referred to as the Hannukiah, is an eight-branched candelabra. It is traditional to light one candle each night for eight consecutive nights using special Hanukkah candles. This ritual can also be observed with a nine-branched menorah, but then one additional candle—the shamash or “helper light”—is lit first and used to light the other candles during the ceremony. By the end of the Hanukkah holiday, the typical menorah holds eight candles.

The Rules of Hanukkah Candle Lighting

When lighting the Hanukkah Menorah, the following sequence is generally followed:

Step 1: Place the shamash candle in the middle highest position of the menorah.
Step 2: Light the shamash and hold it in a way that it can be used to light all other candles.
Step 3: Light the candle in the far right position. On the second night, the second position from the far right is lit first and so on.

A blessing is usually said each night prior to the lighting of the menorah. On the first night, the same blessing is said for all eight candles. On the following nights, the same blessing is repeated for the shamash and a different one for each new candle.

The Meaning of the Hanukkah Menorah

The Hanukkah menorah is commonly associated with the “Miracle of the Light” that is celebrated during Hanukkah. The candle in the middle is known as the shamash and is lit first each night. It serves to represent the miracle of Hanukkah, in which a single day’s worth of oil kept the very first Hanukkah menorah burning for eight days and nights.

In addition to the Miracle of the Light, the Hanukkah menorah is traditionally thought to represent the Jewish people. The individual branches represent different Jewish communities throughout the world and their unity in celebrating the same holiday.

In summary, a Hanukkah menorah holds eight candles, plus the shamash candle. These nine candles represent the light of the eight days of the Hanukkah holiday, along with the ‘miracle of the light’ and the unity of the Jewish people. Lighting the menorah is a timeless Jewish tradition that celebrates a miracle that occurred centuries ago.

Related Products:

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