If you are celebrating Hanukkah with a Menorah, you may be wondering which side to light the candles. All Jewish traditions call for the candles to be lit from the left to the right, so that the newest candle is lit first, and the number of lit candles will always be increasing as the holiday progresses. This article provides details about which side to light the candles and how this practice began.
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Which Side To Light Hanukkah Candles?
The tradition of lighting the Menorah during the Hanukkah celebration is an important part of the celebration. The correct way to light the candles on the Menorah is to start with the left-most candle and to work to the right. This means that each night of the eight-day celebration, a new candle is lit, and the number of lit candles will increase. According to the law of Hanukkah, the light of the Menorah should not be extinguished, so make sure the candles stay lit all night.
Why Light Candles from Left to Right?
Legend has it that when the Maccabees reclaimed the temple in Jerusalem, they miraculously found enough olive oil to light the menorah with. The miracle occurred when only one day’s worth of oil was found, yet with a special prayer, it lasted for eight days. In honor of this miracle, each night of Hanukkah an additional light is lit, and the candle furthest to the left is the first candle lit. This symbolizes that the miracle began with the first candle lit and that each additional candle shares in that miracle.
Proper Method Of Lighting
The proper method of lighting the Menorah is a carefully choreographed process that begins with the lighting of the shamash, or middle candle. Once it is lit, the person responsible for the lighting will take the shamash to the left-most candle, and with their left hand, light the other candles in succession until they’ve all been lit – the newest candle first. To fulfill the tradition of the miracle of the oil, the light of the shamash is used to relight all other candles, and no other light is used to relight them.
Reciting Blessing While Lighting
It is traditional to recite a blessing during the lighting of the Menorah. The blessing, or ‘blessing of the candles’ for the Hanukkah candle lighting is seen as a way to remember the miracle of the oil and the gift of the 8 days of light. According to custom, the blessings must be recited before lighting the first candle. The blessings can also be done after lighting all the candles or after each candle, which is done by some. It is customary for everyone present to recite the blessings along with the person leading the candle lighting.
When lighting the candles for Hanukkah, it’s important to remember to always light the candles from left to right. This helps to remember the miracle of the oil, which is at the core of the Hanukkah celebration. Deciding to light the candles in this manner also keeps with the traditional Jewish protocol and makes for a more meaningful ceremony.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.