How to Light the Menorah

Follow an age-old Hanukkah tradition and light your Hanukkah candles to remember the victory of the Maccabees. Take a moment to watch the bright light from the candles and think about the miraculous oil that lasted for eight days in the Holy Temple.

Here are some instructions for how to light a menorah:

1. Wait for nightfall to light your menorah. On Friday (Shabbat), light your menorah before sundown.
2. Find a flat, level surface. Put down a piece of aluminum foil and then place your menorah on top. Use the aluminum foil to catch any drips of wax from the menorah candles.
3. Identify the Shamash, and be sure to use the Shamash candle to light the other candles throughout Hanukkah.
4. Place the first menorah candle at the far right of the Menorah on the first night. Add a new candle to the left of the first candle on the second night. On the third night, add a candle to the left of the first two candles. Continue the candle placing process throughout the eight days of Hanukkah.
5. Say the blessings each night in front of the Hanukkah menorah and light the candles from left to right. Continue the menorah lighting process throughout the eight days of the Festival of Lights. Recite all three blessings on the first night and only the first two on all other nights.

Here are the Hanukkah blessings for the first night:

• Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah.
• Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh.
• Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.

Here are the Hanukkah blessings for all of the other nights:

• Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah.
• Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh.

Enjoy the Hanukkah holiday and be sure to spend lots of time with close friends and family.