Lighting the Hanukkah candles is an important part of the eight-day Jewish festival of lights. As with other religious rituals, there is a specific direction in which to face when lighting the Hanukkah Menorah. Lighting the Menorah from right to left is symbolic of the growth of the holiday during each iteration and honors the relics of our forefathers.
There are two important rules for lighting the Hanukkah Menorah: you must light the Menorah from right to left, and you should add a new light each night.
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Facing the Menorah
First, it’s important to know which direction to face. Jewish tradition holds that when the Menorah is lit, practitioners should face towards Jerusalem, keeping the ideal of Jerusalem in their minds while lighting the candles. If Jerusalem is to the right, you should light the Menorah from the left, with the fourth candle on the right side and the remaining candles lighting to the left. If Jerusalem is to the left, the reverse is true.
Adding Candles
Each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is added to the Menorah. The first night, only the rightmost (“Shamash”) candle is lit. The second night, two candles are lit, and the last night, all eight candles are lit. The Hanukkah light should be placed for of the candles, beginning on the right and with each day adding a candle to the left side.
The Blessing
Once the light is lit, it’s time to recite the blessings. Generally, lighting the Menorah is done at home, followed by a blessing in the home, and a series of blessings in the synagogue, where the whole congregation can be part of the ritual.
The Hanukkah Light
In a home, the blessing for lighting the Menorah is commonly done by the head of the household. In some Jewish practices, the head of the household or a designated leader will recite a passage, followed by a prayer. In other traditions, each member of the family will recite the blessing.
Logistics
There are a few important logistics to remember. After filling the Menorah with oil or adding fresh candlewicks, place the Shamash in the middle position of the Menorah, with the remaining candles to the right and then to the left. Before lighting the Menorah, make sure there’s enough oil or wicks to last at least a half an hour, but no more than 45 minutes.
On the first night of Hanukkah, light the Menorah with the blessing from right to left while facing towards Jerusalem. Continue adding a candle each night until the eight lights are lit. Recite the blessing either before or after the lighting of the candles. For each day of the festival, do not burn the lights longer than 45 minutes. With these traditions, the joys of Hanukkah can continue to be shared year after year.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.