Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Chanukah, is a major holiday that is celebrated by Jews around the world. This eight-day holiday celebrates the courage, tradition, and history of the Jewish people. It is a time of prayer, joy, and community that brings people of all faiths together. At the heart of the holiday is the lighting of the Menorah, or the nine-branched candelabra. Lighting the Menorah is an important part of the holiday, and is the first ritual done to mark the beginning of Hanukkah.
The Menorah should be lit on the first night of the holiday, and is traditionally done after the blessing of the wine and challah has been completed. It is customary to light the Menorah with olive oil, although other vegetable oils or wax candles can be used as well. Candles for the Menorah should be lit in a clockwise direction, beginning with the candle on the far right. Traditionally, one candle should be lit each night of the holiday, and the last one, known as the Shamash or “attendant” candle, is used to light the other eight. This candle should be lit first, and should be used to light the others.Each night, the individual lighting the Menorah should recite an additional blessing. The first night, the accepted blessing is the first of the four blessings found in the traditional Jewish prayer book. As the holiday progresses, an additional blessing should be recited until all four are completed. After the Hanukkah candles are lit, it is customarily appropriate to sing hymns and other songs of joy.
At the conclusion of each ceremony, the blessings given at the start of the holiday should be recited again. If the Hanukkah candles have burnt out by the conclusion of the ceremony, a new blessing should be given. It is important to remember that the blessing should not be read aloud before it actually is time to light the Menorah.
Hanukkah is a joyous time of celebrating the courage, strength, and legacy of the Jewish people. Lighting the Hanukkah candles is an important and meaningful ceremony that can bring people of different faiths together in celebration for the holiday. As with all major Jewish holidays, the Menorah should be lit with intention, reverence, and significance.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.