Hanukkah is a Jewish festival celebrated around the world each December to honor the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. As part of the festive tradition, families light a nine-branched menorah, or hanukkiyah, to celebrate. Each night of Hanukkah, one additional candle is lit in the center of the menorah, but the question of which way the candles should be lit can be confusing for some.
The custom of lighting Hanukkah candles in different directions has been debated for centuries. The traditional way to light the candles is from left to right, but some sects of Judaism prefer to light the candles in the opposite direction.
<h2>Lighting Hanukkah Candles from Left to Right</h2>
The Jewish people have always lit candles from left to right, following a quotation found in the Talmud, a collection of ancient rabbinic writings. This quotation instructs that one should “increase in holiness” as one progresses through the Hanukkah candles. Starting with the shamash (servant) candle to the right, each additional candle lit follows a pattern of progression to the left.
<h2>Lighting Hanukkah Candles from Right to Left</h2>
There is a minority opinion in some sects of Judaism that the candles should be lit in the opposite direction – starting at the left with the shamash and then progressing to the right. Those who hold this opinion note that this is “the path of the sun” and thus binds the practice of candle lighting with its importance in the Jewish religion and culture.
<h2>How to Determine Which Way to Light Your Hanukkah Candles</h2>
The answer to this question is almost always determined by religious observance or local custom. A family’s decision on which way to light their menorah will usually be based on which branch of Judaism they belong to and which way local custom dictates they light the candles. Some families will even switch the way they light their menorah from year to year.
In the end, the direction in which to light your Hanukkah candles does not matter so long as the family is following their religion and local custom. Whether lighting from left to right or right to left, the celebration of Hanukkah is primarily about commemoration and joy. So whatever your family does when it comes to lighting the candles should bring together people of different beliefs and customs into one united celebration of a miraculous event.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.