▷ What Time Hanukkah Candle Light?

The celebration of Hanukkah is a joyous occasion marked by the lighting of the Menorah with spiritual prayers and traditional songs. Each night, families gather to light the Menorah and all join in the festivities. The question that arises for many families is: What time is the Hanukkah candle lighting?

In order to determine when it is time to light the candles for the Hanukkah celebration, families must understand the related laws of the celebration and what time of day these laws begin. The Hanukkah candle lighting begins after “Tzeis haKochavim,” or when night has fallen and 3 stars are visible in the sky. This concept is based in part on the biblical command that “From the rising of the sun, until the going down of the same, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to My Name, and a pure offering: for My Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:11).

In reference to this passage, the sages derived that certain mitzvot (commandments) rely on the concept of night in order to begin. Therefore, the concept of when to begin the Hanukkah candle lighting is not tied to the modern day idea of “nighttime,” but rather the Biblical notion of night which corresponds to the time when 3 stars are visible in the sky. It is therefore customary to light the Menorah no earlier than 40 minutes after nightfall.

Calculating When to Light The Hanukkah Candle

In order to figure out when it is time to light the Hanukkah candle, one must consult a Jewish calendar. Jewish calendars list the exact day of the week during which each holiday falls on and also lists the time of “Tzeis haKochavim,” which is the time when nightfall begins. In certain places, such as in Jerusalem, the time of “Tzeis haKochavim” can be clearly seen in the sky as 3 stars appear. In other places, the times of “Tzeis haKochavim” can be calculated by consulting a Jewish calendar.

Lighting the Hanukkah Candles Before and After “Tzeis haKochavim”

The Hanukkah candle lighting can only begin at “Tzeis haKochavim,” or when 3 stars are visible in the sky at night, however, in certain situations, a person is allowed to light the Hanukkah candle before “Tzeis haKochavim” with certain conditions:

The person lighting the Hanukkah candle must have intention to do so before “Tzeis haKochavim” and not push off the lighting until after “Tzeis haKochavim”
The person lighting the Hanukkah candle should already be dressed in Talit and Tefillin
The person may not recite a blessing over the Hanukkah candle until “Tzeis haKochavim”.

The reverse, however, is not true, and a person may not light a candle after “Tzeis haKochavim” unless done so immediately.

The Blessings of the Hanukkah Lights

When it is time to light the Menorah, the traditional blessings are recited followed by the lighting of the Menorah. There are two separate blessings that should be recited on the first night of Hanukkah before by lighting the Menorah:

The first blessing: This is “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.”
The second blessing: This is “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, in this season.”

On all of the other nights of Hanukkah, only the first blessing spoken on the first night is recited before lighting the Menorah.

As seen, each night of Hanukkah, it is important to understand exactly when to light the Menorah. Knowing when the time of night has fallen and 3 stars are visible in the sky is the main determiner in when to begin the Hanukkah candle lighting. However, in certain circumstances, a person may begin lighting the Menorah before “Tzeis haKochavim” but may not recite the blessings until after “Tzeis haKochavim” has begun. Hanukkah is a joyous celebration brimming with excitement and love for those of all ages. It is a time to rejoice in the commandments and miracles of G-d and for families to come together and rejoice around the beautiful light of the Menorah.

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