Today marks the beginning of Hanukkah and it’s time to light that first candle of the Menorah. But which candle of Hanukkah is it? Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that begins on the 25th day of Kislev and commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the successful Maccabean revolt against the Greeks. On each of the eight days of Hanukkah, an extra candle is lit in the Menorah — the nine-branched candelabra that was designed by the Maccabees after their victory — with the flames symbolizing the miracle of the oil that lit the Temple for eight days.
When it comes to lighting the Menorah, do we start with the left-most candle, or the one on the right? This has been a topic of great debate amongst religious scholars and families alike. In this article, we’ll provide information on the two commonly accepted methods of which candle is lit first.
Table of Contents
The Left-Most Candle
The Ashkenazi Method
This method is by far the most well-known; encouraged by the Ashkenazi Jewish community, the left-most candle is lit first. This practice is usually explained by the belief that it is easier to remember to light from left to right as the days go by, and less likely for the lit candles to be confused.
The Background
In Jewish customs, many religious practices and religious rituals are personalized. Since the practice of lighting the Menorah flames was first introduced, there have been a variety of methods that individuals use to light the candles. This idea of personalization is also true of the Ashkenazi custom of lighting from left to right.
The Right-Most Candle
The Sephardic Method
The Sephardic (or Judaic) communities have a different tradition of lighting the “shamash” (or helper) candle, located in the centre of the Menorah. This consists of lighting the candle to the right of the shamash first, and then using the light of this candle to light all the rest of the candles. This animation explains it further.
The Background
The Sephardic custom of lighting the Menorah likely originates in a reference to the Redemption sacrifice, which on each night of Sukkot, a special ceremony was done and a special offering was lit. It was said that “the right candle was to be lit first”. Therefore, with this idea in mind, the custom is to light the Menorah candles beginning with the right-most candle.
No matter which candle you choose to light first, Hanukkah is a time of celebration and joy. It is a time for gathering with family and friends, singing, and of course, eating! Enjoy the festivities and may your Menorah be illuminated with 8 days of light and peace.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.