▷ How Many Hanukkah Candles Should Be Lit Today?

Hanukkah is an important Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This eight-day celebration is filled with festivities and traditions, including the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah. But how many Hanukkah candles do you light today?

The tradition of lighting the Hanukkah candles begins on the first night of Hanukkah and continues for eight days. On the first night of Hanukkah, you should light a total of two candles, one for the shamash (guardian or helper) and one for the first day. Each night after that you should add a candle to the menorah until all eight of the candles are burning. On the eighth and final night, you should light all eight candles.

Table of Contents

1 The Meaning of the Menorah
- 1.1 Symbolism and Tradition
2 The Meaning of the Candles
3 Lighting the Menorah

The Meaning of the Menorah

Symbolism and Tradition

The menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum that is traditionally used during the festival of Hanukkah as a reminder of the Maccabean’s victory over the Greek-Syrians in 165 BCE. The biblical menorah, or seven-branched candelabrum, was used in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, and it is an important symbol throughout Jewish history and theology. The Hanukkah menorah has eight branches, in addition to the ninth for the shamash, to represent the eight days on which the oil burned in the Temple when it was rededicated.

The Meaning of the Candles

The candles themselves have a symbolic meaning. They represent the renewal of light in the world, and each candle is a reminder of the miraculous amount of oil that miraculously lasted for eight days instead of just one. In addition, lighting the candles is also a reminder of the power of faith and a promise of hope for the future.

Lighting the Menorah

When lighting the Hanukkah menorah, the blessings should be recited before lighting the candles. The blessings are:

Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by thy commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our fathers in those days, at this season.

After saying the blessings, the candles should be lit (in the correct order) from left to right, starting with the candle on the far right. The shamash should always be lit first and then the candles on the other branches. The Hanukkah lights are then left to burn until they naturally burn out.

Hanukkah is an important Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Hanukkah candles are a reminder of the miraculous amount of oil that lasted eight days instead of one, and serve as a reminder of the power of faith and a promise of hope for the future. The Hanukkah menorah is lit every night of Hanukkah, beginning with two candles, one for the shamash and one for the first day, and increasing by one candle each night until all eight candles are burning on the eighth night. The tradition, symbolism, and meaning of the Hanukkah menorah and the candles is something that is passed down from generation to generation and will continue to remind us of the great miracles of Hanukkah for many years to come.

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