▷ How Many Candles Hanukkah Menorah?

Hanukkah is a ‍holiday ‍celebrated by Jews in many countries around the world. Central to the celebration is the lighting ‍of the Hanukkah Menorah, of which many do not know how many candles should be lit for a full eight days of the celebration. This article gives a detailed answer⁤ to that question.

The Hanukkah Menorah is lit for eight nights to represent the miracle of eight‌ days in which the Maccabees were able to sustain their military campaign until receiving help from⁤ Heaven.‌ The blessings said before lighting the Menorah are as follows:

Blessings for Lighting the Menorah

First night: ברוך אתה ה׳ אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על הנר הזה.
Following nights: ברוך אתה ה׳ אלוקינו מלך העולם שנתן לנו חסדו וצונו על מצות נר חנוכה.

How many candles ‌should be lit?

The Menorah has⁢ nine branches in which 8 new candles are lit each night for the 8 days of Hanukkah, while the ninth branch is dedicated to the shamash, or the “servant candle”, which is used to light the others. The number of candles lit each day represents the current day in the 8 day cycle and is always increased. The first night one candle is lit, the second night two, and so on until the eighth night when all eight candles should be lit. It is also customary to place the candles from ⁤right to left,‍ however there are differing customs⁣ amongst different communities as to ⁢how the candles should be lit.

Though it is not a mitzvah to light⁤ a menorah every night of Hanukkah, it is a traditional way to commemorate this holiday and celebrate the⁣ ancient miracle that it represents. As such, there one should know how many candles must be lit each night in a Hanukkah Menorah. ‍It should be noted that the number of candles increased as the days of Hanukkah had passed, with the maximum number for all nights being eight ⁢candles.

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