Illustration Credit: Rivka Tsinman
Halakhah הֲלָכָה
The central mitzvah of Hanukkah is to light candles each of the holiday’s eight nights.
The "Menorah" was the lamp (or candelabra) used in the Beit Ha-Mikdash. It had 7 branches and was made of pure gold. The lamps we use on Hanukkah have spots for 8 candles, and usually a shammash too, and the name for them is: "hanukkiyah."
What should I light?
The truth is, you could light any kind of candle (Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayyim 673:1). But, if you can light lamps with olive oil, that’s the ideal (Rema).
How many should I light?
Each night, the number of candles in the hanukkiyah tells you what night it is. On the first night it has one candle, on the second night it has two, and so on.
Sephardic Jews light one hanukkiyah per home (based on Tosafot, Shabbat 21b), and only one person lights the candles. Ashkenazic Jews light a hanukkiyah for every person in the home (based on Rambam, Hanukkah 4:1-2), and every person lights their own (Rema OH 671:2).
Plus, you’re supposed to light another candle every night as well. This is called the שַׁמָּשׁ (shammash, assistant). It’s not really a Hanukkah candle, so the spot for it is separate from the other candles in most hanukkiyot. You light it because you’re not allowed to use the light of the real Hanukkah candles (like for reading or seeing where you’re going). The shammash is there just in case you happen to use the candlelight, there will be some light to use there that’s not from the Hanukkah candles (Shulhan Arukh OH 673:1).
But if you’re in a pinch, lighting just one candle, no matter what night it is, will also fulfill the mitzvah!
When should I light?
As close to sunset as possible (672:1). The idea is for the lights to be seen by everyone who is coming home from school or work. But if you’re not available then, you could light a little earlier or any time during the night. The lights should burn for half an hour after sunset (672:2).
- Why is it important to make sure the candles stay lit while the world is getting dark? What does that teach us about this mitzvah?
Where should I light?
The candles are supposed to be lit in your home. If you’re traveling away from home, you can light where you’re staying (Mishnah Berurah 677:7). Other options are to have someone light for you back in your home or to join in the candles of your host family by giving them a little money (677:1).
- Why do you think Hanukkah candles are so connected to home? What does that teach us about Hanukkah candles?
The goal is פִּרְסוּמֵי נִיסָא (pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle). Because of this, if your house opens up to a public street, the mitzvah was to place your Hanukkah lights outside your door on the left side of your entrance. Nowadays, many people light on an inside table or by a window inside their home (Shulhan Arukh and Rema OH 672:5-7).
- Why is publicizing the miracle so important? What does that teach us about the purpose of celebrating this holiday? What can we learn from this to remember during the rest of the year?
What can I do while they are lit?
The Shulhan Arukh reports that women had the custom of not doing any work while the Hanukkah lights were burning (670:1). The Maharil (quoted in Be'er Heitev there) extends this to anyone: just take some time to enjoy the lights!
- How can you make the time special while the candles are burning?
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