Hanukkah is a time of joy and celebration that commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple and the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil lasting for eight days. As an important part of the celebration, one of the most fundamental Hanukkah traditions involves lighting the menorah and one of the most important questions asked is: What candle gets lit first?
During Hanukkah, the menorah is lit with a shamash, which is traditionally a larger candle used to light the other menorah candles. The shamash is always placed in the middle of the menorah, separate from the other eight candles, and it is the shamash that gets lit first. Many people believe that the shamash is a separate candle because it would be considered disrespectful to light the other candles with something that is not as holy.The Process of Lighting the Candles
When lighting the menorah, it is customary to start by lighting the shamash on the first night of Hanukkah and then proceed to use the shamash to light one of the candles on the other side, proceeding in a clockwise direction. However, on the first night, as mentioned, only the shamash is lit. On the second night, two candles are lit, using the flame of the shamash and so on for the seven nights of Hanukkah.
Placing the Candles
When placing the candles in the menorah, it is important to place them in a specific order. The first candle that gets lit, the shamash, should be on a higher place than the other eight candles and should be the only one that is lit on the first night. This is done to ensure that all the other candles are lit with a flame from a higher source and that the other candles represent a higher, holier power.
The Significance of Lighting the Candles
The lighting of the menorah is seen as a representation of the miracle of Hanukkah, the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil lasting for eight days, which is why it is important to know what candle gets lit first. The candles serve as an important reminder of the incredible power of faith and that through faith, anything is possible.
Hanukkah is an important holiday with a special and meaningful tradition of lighting the menorah. A key part of this tradition is to know what candle gets lit first, and the answer to this is the shamash. With its special place separate from the other eight candles, the shamash is lit first as a reminder of the miracle of faith, and it’s power to make anything possible.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.