Lighting the Menorah at Home to Celebrate Chanukah

kp3028 | Nov 16, 2010 |

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The holiday of Chanukah has its origin from the biblical story of when Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee battled the Syrians to recapture the Temple in Jerusalem. When they recaptured the Temple they found only one cruse of pure oil that could be used for temple services. When the oil was lit, it miraculously lasted for eight days, giving them enough time to prepare new oil for the needs of the Temple. To celebrate the miracle a special nine candelabra or menorah is used.

The menorah represents the eight days of the holiday. Usually the design of the menorah has one candle holder separated from the others and it is called the Shamash or helper.

With the menorah in front of you place a candle in the special candle holder for the Shamash and then one candle in the holder to the far right of the Menorah as it faces you. Light the Shamash first and then the other candle.

On the second night you will add a candle to the left of the first candle; again put a candle in the Shamash holder. Light the Shamash first and then light the other candles, by lighting the newest candle first.

On each of the remaining nights, add another candle to the left of the others. The Shamash is lit first and then used to light the others.

There are special blessings said when lighting the candles. On the first night all three are said. On all of the other nights only the first two are said.

1- Boruch ato Adonoy, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, asher kid'shonu b'mitzvotov v'tzivonu l'hadlik nayr shel Chanukah.

Blessed are you, our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.

2- Boruch ato Adonoy, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, she-oso nisim la-avoytaynu, ba-yomin hohaym baz'man ha-ze.

Blessed are you, our G-d, King of the Universe, Who did wonderful things for our forefathers in olden days at this time.

The following blessing is ONLY said on the first night --

3- Boruch ato Adonoy, Elohaynu melech ha-olom, shehech-yonu v'kiy'monu v'higi-onu laz'man ha-ze.
Blessed are you our G-d, King of the Universe, for granting us life, sustaining us and allowing us to reach this day.

Chanukah is celebrated by exchanging gifts and eating special foods such as latkes or potato pancakes and sufganiot or donuts. It is the tradition in some families to exchange gifts on each night, while in others they just exchange gifts on one night.

Happy Chanukah.