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Category: Identity Celebrations

Celebrating and Honoring

Tags:  hanukkah

What Will I Need?

To keep Hanukkah in your house, you may want to begin with a traditional nine-branched Hanukkah menorah. It is a candelabrum with nine places for candles; the ninth place being set apart from the others. This special candle is called the shamash (servant) candle–it is used to light the other candles.

Such a menorah is called a hanukkiah. One additional light is usually lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Because you will be lighting an additional candle (or lamp) each night, you will need a total of 45 candles for the entire festival. (A hanukkiah can be purchased at any Jewish book or gift shop or ordered through FFOZ.)

Blessings before Lighting

According to common teachings in Judaism, the candles on the hanukkiah are lit just after sunset on each night of Hanukkah, except for Friday night. On Friday night, the candles are lit just before sunset because the Torah forbids kindling a fire on the Sabbath. Once lit, the hanukkiah is usually placed in a window facing the street so that it can radiate its light out to the world.

On the first night of Hanukkah, all three of the provided blessings are recited before lighting the hanukkiah. On all subsequent nights, only the first two of the blessings are recited.

Download a PDF card of the blessings here.

Lighting the Hanukkiah

On the first night, place a candle in the space for the shamash and a candle in the space on the far right hand side of the hanukkiah. Light the shamash, then use its flame to light the first candle before returning it to its slot. On each subsequent night, a new candle is added just to the left of the previous night's lights. On each night, begin by lighting the shamash, and then use it to light the candles on the hanukkiah. The candles are always lit from left to right. Here is an easy way to remember which ones to light first.

Just remember, "The first will be last and the last will be first" (Matthew 19:30). That is, the first (candle) will be (lit) last and the last (candle) will be (lit) first.

When lighting the hanukkiah, you can read the following traditional meditation.

Meditation for the Lighting of the Hanukkiah

We are lighting these lights because of the miracles, the wonders, the salvations and the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days at this season through Your holy priests. During all the eight days of Hanukkah, these lights are holy. We are not using them for ordinary light. Instead they are for looking at in order to give thanks and praise to Your Great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.

Watching the Hanukkiah

There is a special joy in the quiet sanctity of the Hanukkah light. We encourage you to stay near the hanukkiah and use the time to tell stories, sing hymns or traditional songs, and celebrate the festival. Use the time to retell the story of Hanukkah. Hanukkah means "dedication." It is a good time to meditate on how we might rededicate our lives to the service and worship of our King. It is a good time to meditate on the Word. Scripture passages relating to the Messiah, the Light of the world are very appropriate. (Some believe that we should not read by the light of the hanukkiah, because its light is intended exclusively for the purpose of memorializing God's miracles.)

Hanukkah Fun

Although these guidelines may seem very specific, remember that there really is no right or wrong way to "do" Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a family-oriented festival. It is a time for eating potato pancakes, playing spin the dreidel, singing songs, and enjoying one another's company. Some families exchange gifts on Hanukkah as a sort of "kosher-Christmas." (That's not a custom we personally recommend. The gifts are not necessary, though they might make a nice fit for your particular family.) The important thing is to use the occasion to remember the miracles of salvation and deliverance.

© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission. Adapted from Light in the Darkness .

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