A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

How to light the hanukkiah

How+to+light+the+hanukkiah

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer

Every year as Hanukkah approaches, we hear people say, write or even sing about “lighting the menorah.” Those three words have become so commonplace that it’s easy to forget that it’s technically not correct when it comes to lighting candles during Hanukkah.

Menorah is the Hebrew word for lamp and specifically refers to the seven-branched candelabrum that was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. Thus, a hanukkiah, or Hanukkah menorah, is a type of menorah; every hanukiah is a menorah, but not every menorah is a hanukkiah.

The hanukkiah includes eight branches, each branch holds one candle for each night of the holiday and one extra branch holds the shamash, the extra light used to light the others.

How to light the hanukkiah

But, even after 54 Hanukkahs I suddenly wondered, “Have we been lighting our menorah correctly?” Thankfully yes, but it was nice to get a refresher.  And, after perusing multiple expert sites, no one explains the proper lighting of a menorah any simpler than the good folks at the Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island.

5 Easy Steps

Menorah
Menorah

Step 1: Know Your Timing You’re supposed to light the menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah. (However, many families wait until everyone is home together, and light it then.) On Fridays, the menorah is lit before dark to avoid lighting on Shabbat.

Step 2: Find Its Spot The menorah is meant to spread light to others and is traditionally placed in a window, on a table or outside your door. (Just make sure it is far from active kids and flammable materials.)

Step 3: Light the Shamash The candle that is raised or in the center of the menorah is the shamash (helper candle). It’s the one you use to light the other candles. Light it first. (Don’t use any of the other candles to light the others.)

Step 4: Say the Hanukkah Blessing You recite the Hanukkah blessing now, once the shamash is lit but before you light any other candles.

Step 5: Light Right to Left, but Left to Right There are eight candles to light. On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash. Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit). On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash. You’ll repeat this pattern for each night of Hanukkah, always lighting the newest candle first. On the eighth night, you’ll be lighting all of the candles, starting at the far left.

 

About the Contributor
Photo of Jordan Palmer
Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content Officer

Jordan worked at KSDK from 1995 to 2020. Jordan is a three-time Emmy award winner who produced every kind of show from news to specials during his tenure,...

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