Menorah which way to light

For example, in Talmudic times two great sages—Rabbis Hillel and Shammai—debated whether to light one more candle for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah until the menorah was full, or to start with all eight candles and then light one less each night until the menorah was empty. Shammai argued that we should light one less until the end of Hanukkah because that is what would have happened with the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights: the light would have become smaller each night until it went out.

Hillel argued that by lighting one candle for each day of Hanukkah, we express the miracle of the lights that burned for eight days. Light brings hope, and reminds us to continue shining hope, faith, and good deeds into the darkest corners of our world. Most sources agree that we put the candles in from the right side, then light the newest candle first which means that we light from left to right.

In this way, our hand never crosses over or casts a shadow on the lights of the candles, but only if we are using our right hand to light the candles. What should you do if you use your left hand? For this reason, try to include others in the candle lighting!

The exception is Friday night, when the menorah should be lit before sunset. This is because Friday night is the start of Shabbat, or the day of rest, and lighting the menorah constitutes as work which should not be done after Shabbat begins. Place the shamash in the chanukiah. On your chanukiah, you should see 9 slots for candles, with eight slots on one level and one slot elevated above the rest. This is the spot for the shamash, or the candle used to light all the other candles. Place one candle in this elevated spot.

Every night of Chanukah, you place and light the shamash first before the other candles. Its position also alludes to its important role of lighting the other candles.

Some choose traditional blue and white candles, while others prefer differently colored candles! People incorrectly call the chanukiah a menorah, but they have become accepted as the same thing. If you wish to be technically accurate, call the candelabra a chanukiah. You need to use a candle or oil chanukiah to fulfill the mitzvah the commandment or good deed of lighting the chanukiah.

Add the other candles. Every night of Chanukah, you add one more candle. On the first night of Chanukah, place a candle in the right-most slot.

After the first night of Chanukah, add one candle for each night, starting from the right-most slot and going left. Place the candle representing the second night of Chanukah in the slot next to the previous candle the second to the right-most slot. On the third night, place the candles as you did on the second night, adding a fourth candle in the slot third to the right. What's the soonest I can display the empty menorah? Do I need to wait until the first night of Hanukkah?

You can have it ready as early as you wish. Lighting it, though, starts on the first night. Yes No. Not Helpful 2 Helpful When the first candle is lighted after prayer, do I put off the candle until the last day which all the candles are left to burn down?

No, you use different candles each night, always letting them burn down. Not Helpful 8 Helpful I've heard of people doing this, though it is not common. It makes a certain sense though, as one can consider it the same as the oil slowly being used up.

If you're concerned about whether or not it's proper, better ask a rabbi. Not Helpful 4 Helpful Not Helpful 11 Helpful In Judaism, there is a principle that the right is superior to the left unless indicated otherwise in a certain situation. Not Helpful 3 Helpful What happens if candle number one is completely extinguished prior to lighting the eighth candle? You should select candles that will burn for at least a half hour. Light all your candles, from left to right, after the last prayer is said.

This should take less than a minute in total You need two candles the first night, three the second night, four the third night and so on. The candle for the first night is put on the right side of hanukiyyah. Since these lights are holy, it is forbidden to make practical use of them; therefore, a special shamash servant candle is used to light the others.

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Affiliate Hat ReformJudaism. Home Learning Answers to Jewish Questions. On the Shabbat of Hanukkah, kindle the Hanukkah lights first and then the Shabbat candles. Light the shamash — the helper candle set higher or lower than all the rest of the candles — first using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights as you say or sing:.

During these eight days of Hanukkah, these lights are sacred; we are not to use them but only to behold them, so that their glow may rouse us to give thanks for your wondrous acts of deliverance. Contact Us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options. On Faith: From left to right, the rules of Hanukkah Members of Temple Bat Yahm sing in front of a large menorah that was lit on the first day of Hanukkah in