Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. During the eight days of Hanukkah, special rituals are performed, including the lighting of the menorah. But, the first candle to be lit is considered to be the most important.
On the first evening of Hanukkah, the Shamash or “Attendant” is lit first. The Shamash is a separate candle that is positioned higher than the other eight candles on the menorah. This candle is used to light the other lights of the menorah. In some families, the Shamash is lit in a different spot than the other menorah candles, often on the far right or far left of the menorah. The Lighting of the Menorah typically begins after nightfall and it is common practice to say a prayer or a blessing before lighting the candles.
Table of Contents
The Blessings and Prayers
Blessing One
The traditional Hebrew blessing is: “Blessed are You, O LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.”
Blessing Two
A shorter blessing uses the Hebrew word mitzvah, which means “commandment”: “Blessed are You, O LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.”
Mitzvah is also a reminder that the main purpose of the celebration is to re-commit oneself to the mitzvot (good deeds) performed during the holiday.
Blessing Three
A longer blessing, also often used on Hanukkah, is “Blessed are You, O LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.”
Blessing After Lighting Each Candle
After each candle is lit, the phrase “Blessed are You, O LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah” is repeated.
The Candles
The Shamash is lit first, with the other candles being lit in a certain order. The first night, the first candle on the far right is lit, followed by a second candle on the far left, followed by the third candle on the far right. For each night of the festival, the next candle is lit in a similar pattern. On the last night of Hanukkah all eight candles should be lit.
The Hanukkah menorah is lit with olive oil, but there are numerous variations such as beeswax or paraffin. Most people will use either eight candles of similar lengths or nine candles, including the Shamash. It is also common practice to place the menorah in a window to publicly share the miracle of Hanukkah.
Every Hanukkah, families and friends come together to celebrate the Festival of Lights. An important part of the ritual is to light the menorah and say a few blessings. The Shamash is the first candle to be lit, followed by the other eight candles of the menorah, going from right to left. As we reflect on the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, we are reminded of the importance of Mitzvos, or good deeds, which will ultimately light our way in the world.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.