Woodside_park Synagogue

Chanukah Snapshot


Who should light candles?

On each of the eight days of Chanukah, candles are lit to recall the miracle of the oil. All family members assemble for the lighting in order to publicize the miracle. One candle is lit on the first day of Chanukah. Every day a candle is added to the previous day's number so that eight candles are lit on the eighth day of Chanukah. It is customary for each member of the family to light his own Chanukah candles. The only exception to this rule is the wife, who fulfils her obligation with her husband's candles. If a number of people are lighting their candles in one place, each one's candles should be in a separate area, so that the number of each person's candles can be clearly seen. A child who is old enough to light candles should be allowed to do so. Among Sephardic Jews it is customary for one family member to light candles for the entire family.



Where and when?

The Chanukah candles should be lit by the entrance of one's house, if the entrance faces a public domain. This is to publicise the Chanukah miracle. The candles must be lit in the place where they are to remain, rather than being lit inside the house and taken outside later. The candles should be placed within a tefach of the entrance. If the entrance has a mezuzah, the candles should be placed to the left of the doorway, opposite the mezuzah. If one does not have an entrance which faces a public domain, the candles should be lit on a windowsill that can be seen from the street.

The Chanukah candles are lit at nightfall. One who did not light his candles at either of these times can light them any time during the night, as long as members of the family are awake and present at the lighting.

The candles (or oil) must burn for at least half an hour after the stars appear. This rule applies whenever the candles were lit. If one lights with oil, he must make sure he has enough oil to burn the required amount of time when he lights the flames. One may not add oil after the flames have been lit. The candles must be set up so the wind will not blow them out while they are burning.



How to light

Before lighting the Chanukah candles, one recites the blessings asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah, and she'asah nisim lavoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. On the first night of Chanukah, the bracha of Shehechiyanu is also said.

On the first night of Chanukah, one lights a candle on the far right side of the Chanukiah. On the second night, two candles are lit. One candle is placed on the far right side of the Menorah, and the second candle is placed to the left of the first candle. The candle on the left is lit first. On each consecutive night, a candle is added to the left. The candle on the far left is always lit first, followed by the other candles. The candles are lit from left to right. No personal benefit can be gained from the flames of the Chanukah candles.



Additional laws

Chanukah candles are lit in the synagogue between Mincha and Ma'ariv to publicize the miracle. One cannot fulfil their obligation by watching the Chanukah candles being lit in the synagogue. Therefore, one must return home and light his own Chanukah candles.

A person who is not in his own home for the night, and either his wife is not lighting candles in their home, or he is not married, can fulfil the mitzvah of Chanukah candles in one of two ways. The best way is for the person to light his own Chanukah candles. Alternatively, the person can fulfil this obligation when his host lights the Chanukah candles. In this case, either the guest gives his host a token sum to purchase a part in the candles, or the guest can receive his part as a 'gift' from the host. In this case, the guest must listen and answer Amen when his host recites the blessings.

If a guest has a room for himself, with a window (or door) facing a public domain, he must light his own Chanukah candles. One who is visiting his friend at night may not light Chanukah candles at his friend's home if he is not planning to sleep at his friends house, and if he lives in that city. In this case he must return home to light his Chanukah candles.



Friday and Motzai Shabbat

On Friday, the Chanukah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles. On Friday, the Chanukah candles must burn for a longer time than during the week (i.e. from some time before sunset until half an hour after the stars appear). Therefore, one must use longer candles or more oil than usual. The standard coloured candles are not long enough to be used on Friday. The Chanukah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles.

It is proper to daven Mincha before lighting the Chanukah candles.

On Motzai Shabbat, Chanukah candles are lit after Shabbat has ended. Some people light them after Havdalah, and others light them before Havdalah. If one who lights his candles before Havdalah forgot to recite Atah Chonantanu in the Amidah, he must recite "Baruch hamavdim bein kodesh l'chol" before lighting the Chanukah candles. If possible, the candles or wicks for the Menorah should be prepared on Friday for Motzai Shabbat, so one will be able to light them as soon as possible after Shabbat.


'Adapted from Sha'arei Halacha by Rabbi Ze'ev Greenwald.'