A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
TO LIGHTING CHANUKA CANDLES
Placement of the Chanuka Menora
- Place the menora in a window visible to the public to enhance pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle to others).
- If one cannot light in the window, the menora can be lit anywhere inside the home.
LIGHTING OUTSIDE
- In some areas (e.g., religious neighborhoods in Israel), many light candles outside in a glass-enclosed box.
- When lighting outside, place the menora to the left of the entrance, opposite the mezuza, so one is surrounded by mitzvot.
- If one has an enclosed yard in front of the house, some opinions recommend lighting next to the street, while others recommend lighting at the home’s entrance.
LIGHTING IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS
- Preferred practice: Light in a window facing the public, provided it is less than 20 amot (approximately 9.6 meters or 30 feet) from the ground or visible to neighbors.
- Alternative approaches:
- At the apartment entrance in the hallway.
- At the building’s main entrance.
- Outside near the street.
HEIGHT OF THE CHANUKA MENORA
- Minimum: 3 handbreadths above the ground (24 cm).
- Ideal: Less than 10 tefachim (80 cm).
- Maximum: Below 20 amot (9.6 meters).
arranging the candles
Arrange the lights on the Chanuka menora, using either candles or oil, as follows:
- On the first night, set one candle to the far right of the Chanuka menora.
- On the next night, add a second light to the left of the first. Each following night, continue adding one more light to the left of the last one.
- The Chanuka menora should also include a designated spot for the shamash candle, typically positioned either above the other candles or slightly to the side. This candle is used to light the others.
- Ensure that the candles used can burn for at least half an hour past nightfall.
Timing of Lighting
- Ideally, Chanuka candles are lit shortly after nightfall.
- Some Ashkenazim in Israel, as well as those who follow Chabad custom, light candles at sunset.
EARLIEST TIME TO LIGHT
- Although candles should be lit after nightfall (or sunset, according to some), in cases of need, one may light from pelag ha’mincha (approximately an hour before sunset). The candles must remain lit for at least half an hour after nightfall.
LATEST TIME TO LIGHT
- Ideally, candles should be lit before “ad shetichleh regel min ha’shuk” (the time when the marketplace clears), traditionally about 30 minutes after nightfall.
- Today, the time of “ad shetichleh regel min ha’shuk” often extends until 10 or 11 p.m., depending on local conditions. Therefore, when necessary, one may light until that time.
- If lighting indoors and the candles are not visible to passersby, one may light as long as at least one other person sees the candles.
EATING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES BEFORE LIGHTING
- One should refrain from eating a meal larger than a kebeitza (54 grams of bread or grains) after sunset before lighting.
- One should also avoid starting lengthy activities to ensure one remembers to perform the mitzva.
who lights
- Ashkenazi Tradition: Each family member customarily lights their own Chanuka candles. In some households, a wife may fulfill her obligation through her husband’s lighting.
- Sephardic Tradition: The head of the household lights on behalf of the entire family.
THE THREE LEVELS OF FULFILLING THE MITZVA
The Sages instituted three levels for fulfilling the mitzva of lighting Chanuka candles:
- Ner Ish Ubeito (Basic Level): One candle per household is lit each night.
- Mehadrin (Enhanced): Each household member lights one candle every night.
- Mehadrin Min HaMehadrin (Most enhanced, followed universally today):
- Sephardic Custom: One set of candles is lit per household, increasing nightly.
- Ashkenazi Custom: Each individual lights their own candles, increasing nightly.
LIGHTING FOR SINGLE CHILDREN
- While Ashkenazim generally light their own Chanuka menora, in some communities, single girls fulfill the mitzva with their father’s lighting. This practice may stem from historical periods when girls rarely ventured outside, and candles were lit outside. Alternatively, it may stem from the fact that if the mother does not light, then neither should the daughter.
- While Sephardim generally light one Chanuka menora per household, some Sephardic authorities allow boys under bar mitzva age to light their own candles and recite the berakha.
STUDENTS IN DORMITORIES
- Ashkenazim:
- Ideally, students should light in their dormitory rooms or another safe and halakhically acceptable location with a berakha.
- If this is not possible, they may rely on their family’s lighting at home.
- Sephardim:
- According to most opinions, students fulfill the mitzva through their family’s lighting at home.
- Some opinions allow lighting candles without a berakha, while others permit lighting even with a berakha.
TRAVELERS LIGHTING CHANUKA CANDLES
- Ashkenazim:
- A traveler’s spouse at home may light with intent to fulfill the mitzva for both of them.
- If the traveler has their own room, they should light candles themselves with a berakha.
- If the traveler does not have their own room, they may light at other halakhically acceptable locations, such as a set dining area. Some opinions recommend listening to another person’s berakha.
- Alternatively, one may participate in their host’s lighting by contributing to the cost.
- Sephardim: Travelers fulfill the mitzva through their family’s lighting at home.
Note: Due to the variety of opinions and scenarios, travelers should consult a rabbinic authority for guidance.
SPENDING SHABBAT CHANUKA AWAY FROM HOME
- Friday Night: Those spending Shabbat with their family away from home should light candles there or fulfill the mitzva with the host’s lighting.
- After Shabbat:
- Most recommend lighting upon returning home.
- Some opinions allow lighting in the location at which one spends Shabbat, provided one remains there for at least 30 minutes.
Preparing to Light the Candles
- Reciting Leshem Yichud
TEXT
Leshem yichud Kudsha Berich Hu uShekhintei, bidechilu urechimu urechimu udechilu, leyached shem Yud-Heh beVav-Heh beyichuda sheleim beshem kol Yisrael. Hineni mechavein behadlakat ner Chanuka lekayeim mitzvat Borei ka’asher tzivuni chakhameinu z”l letaken et shoresha bemakom elyon: Uvechein yehi ratzon milefanekha Hashem Elokeinu v’Elokei avoteinu shetehe chashuva umekubelet umerutza lefanekha mitzvat hadlakat ner Chanuka ke’ilu kivanti kol ha’kavanot shekivnu ha’kohanim mesharetei Hashem be’eit asher he’iru lemavet nafsham bishvil kevod shimkha ha’gadol ha’gibor veha’nora. Ve’ata berachamekha ha’rabim orarta nitzchakha aleihem lenatzei’ach et oyeveihem ulenatzei’ach al melekhet Beit Hashem, vehineni oseh al da’atam ve’al kavanatam ve’al da’at kol ha’tzaddikim vehachasidim shehayu be’oto ha’dor shehishpata lahem nisekha vezakhu le’or be’or ha’chaim, ve’al da’at kol ha’tzaddikim veha’chasidim shebedoroteinu, ufi kepihem ve’asiati ka’asiatam, uvizekhut ha’mitzva ha’zot tezakenu lenatzei’ach et oyeveinu ulenatzei’ach al melechet Beit Hashem, vegaleh kevod malchutkha aleinu meheira velo yamush ha’Torah mipinu umipi zareinu umipi zera zareinu me’ata ve’ad olam, venizkeh lebanim talmidei chakhamim, amen kein yehi ratzon. Kadesheinu bemitzvotekha ve’tein chelkeinu betoratekha sabeinu mituvekha vesamach nafshenu biyeshuatekha vetaher libeinu le’avdekha be’emet. Melokh al kol ha’olam kulo bikhvodekha vehinasei al kol ha’aretz bikarekha vehofa behadar ge’on uzekha al kol yoshevei teiveil artzekha, veyeida kol pa’ul ki Ata pe’alto veyavin kol yetzur ki Ata yetzarto veyomar kol asher neshama be’apav (b’gematria Chanukah) Hashem Elokei Yisrael Melekh umalchuto bakol mashala (b’gematria 26 pe’amim Chana, otiot Chanuka, u’begematria Matityahu ben Yochanan Kohen Gadol Chashmonai uvanav). Amen Netzach Sela Va’ed.
For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, Blessed is He, and His Shekhina (Divine Presence), with awe and love, and love and awe, to unify the Name Yud-Heh with Vav-Heh in perfect unity, in the name of all Israel. Behold, I intend, in the lighting of the Chanuka candle, to fulfill the commandment of my Creator as instructed by our sages of blessed memory, to repair its root in a lofty place.
And so, may it be Your will, Hashem, our God and God of our forefathers, that the mitzva (commandment) of lighting the Chanuka candle be considered before You as worthy, accepted, and pleasing, as though I had aligned all the intentions that the kohanim (priests), servants of Hashem, aligned at the time they risked their lives for the sake of Your great, mighty, and awe-inspiring Name. And You, in Your great mercy, aroused Your victory over them to defeat their enemies and succeed in the work of the House of Hashem. And behold, I perform this act with their intention, and with the intention of all the righteous and pious ones of that generation to whom You granted miracles, enabling them to shine with the light of life. I also act with the intention of all the righteous and pious ones of our generations, and with their words and actions as my own.
And by the merit of this mitzva, may You grant us success in defeating our enemies and in succeeding in the work of the House of Hashem. Reveal the glory of Your kingdom upon us speedily, and may the Torah never depart from our mouths, nor from the mouths of our descendants, nor from the mouths of our descendants’ descendants, from now and forever. May we merit to raise sons who are Torah scholars. Amen, so may it be Your will.
Sanctify us with Your commandments, and grant us a share in Your Torah. Satisfy us with Your goodness and gladden our souls with Your salvation. Purify our hearts to serve You in truth. Reign over the entire world in Your glory, and be exalted over all the earth in Your splendor. Appear in the majestic pride of Your strength over all the inhabitants of Your land, so that every being may know that You have created them, and every creature may understand that You have formed them. Let every soul that breathes proclaim: “Hashem, God of Israel, is King, and His kingdom rules over all” (in gematria, “Chanuka”).
May the mitzva of lighting the Chanuka candles be worthy in the numerical equivalence of 26 times “Chana,” the letters of “Chanuka,” and in gematria, “Matityahu, son of Yochanan, the High Priest of the Chashmonaim and his sons.” Amen, forever and ever.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF L'SHEM YICHUD IN CHANUKA OBSERVANCE
The Leshem Yichud is a Kabbalistic declaration recited before performing mitzvot, expressing the intent to unify the Holy One, Blessed be He (Kudsha Berikh Hu), with His Divine Presence (Shechina). This practice is often observed particularly on Chanuka, where the declaration is recited before lighting the menora to enhance spiritual focus and intentionality.
In Kabbalistic thought, this unification symbolizes the harmonization of the transcendent (Kudsha Berikh Hu) and immanent (Shechina) aspects of the Divine. Reciting the Leshem Yichud before a mitzva reflects our intention to align these aspects, thereby elevating the act. It is essential to note that this concept does not suggest any division within God’s absolute unity; rather, it acknowledges the various ways we perceive and relate to the Divine. As the Zohar explains, these distinctions are human perceptions that facilitate our connection with God’s multifaceted relationship with creation.
The Zohar often refers to Kudsha Berikh Hu and Shechina to represent the masculine and feminine aspects of the Divine, whose unification is essential for cosmic harmony. This union is achieved through human actions, particularly the performance of mitzvot, which draw down divine blessings and promote spiritual alignment.
- Light the shamash candle and hold it in your dominant hand—right hand if you are right-handed, or left hand if you are left-handed.
- While standing, recite the appropriate blessings. On the first night, say all three blessings; on each following night, recite only the first two.
אשכנזים: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹ- נָי, אֱ- לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.
Ashkenazim: Baruch ata Ado- nai E- loheinu melech ha’olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Chanuka.
ספרדים: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹ- נָי, אֱ- לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה
Sephardim: Baruch ata Ado- nai E- loheinu melech ha’olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner Chanuka.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Chanuka light.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹ- נָי, אֱ- לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch ata Ado- nai E- loheinu melech ha’olam she’asa nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazeman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹ- נָי, אֱ- לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch ata Ado- nai E- loheinu melech ha’olam shehechiyanu vekiyemanu vehigiyanu lazeman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
[Translation taken from blog.artscroll.com]
- Light the candles with the shamash (or another candle if an oil shamash is difficult to use). Each night, begin with the newest candle on the left and light from left to right.
- Recite or sing the passage “Ha’nerot Halalu” either while lighting the additional candles or immediately afterward.
הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַדְלִיקִין עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְמַן הַזֶּה עַל יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹדֶשׁ הֵם, וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם, אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד, כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לִשְׁמֶךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל נִסֶּיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ
Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikin al hanissim ve’al hanifla’ot ve’al hateshu’ot ve’al hamilchamot she’asita la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazeman hazeh al yedei kohanecha hak’doshim. Vechol shemonat yemei Chanuka hanerot halalu kodesh hem, ve’ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem, ela lirotam bilvad, kedei lehodot ulehallel leshimcha hagadol al nissecha ve’al nifle’otecha ve’al yeshu’atecha
These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days at this season through Your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanuka these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders, and Your salvation.
- It is customary to sing “Ma’oz Tzur” (click here to access it: ⇒) after lighting the candles.
A video for a practical demonstration of lighting the Chanuka candles: ⇒
Halakhot Concerning the Procedure of Lighting Candles
TALKING WHILE LIGHTING
- One may not speak after reciting the blessings until all candles are lit.
- Many permit reciting “Ha’nerot Halalu” after lighting the first candle.
IF A CANDLE BLOWS OUT
- Halakhically, there is no need to relight a candle that was lit properly.
- However, it is commendable to relight it.
WAX, OIL, AND OLIVE OIL
- All oils and wax candles are acceptable for lighting.
- Olive oil is most optimal, as the miracle occurred with olive oil.
MOVING OR BENEFITING FROM THE CANDLES
- Movement: Once lit, the candles should not be moved.
- Benefit: Using the candlelight for practical purposes (e.g., reading) is forbidden. The shamash may be used for such purposes.
Chanuka Candles in Other Locations
LIGHTING AT WORK
- One should not light candles at work. Instead, light upon returning home, even if others lit earlier.
- Alternatively, one’s spouse may light for them.
- A minority opinion allows lighting at work without a berakha, but this is not recommended practically.
LIGHTING IN A SYNAGOGUE
- It is customary to light candles with blessings in the synagogue between Mincha and Ma’ariv to publicize the miracle.
LIGHTING AT PUBLIC GATHERINGS
- Some authorities allow lighting with a blessing at public gatherings, especially if a prayer service is included.
- Others permit lighting only without reciting blessings.
Chanuka Candles and Shabbat
- Before Shabbat:
- On Friday afternoon, light Chanuka candles first, then Shabbat candles. Both should be lit before sunset.
- After Shabbat:
- Many follow the custom of reciting Havdala first and then lighting Chanuka candles.
- Others reverse the order and light Chanuka candles first.
Recommended Resources for Further Reading
For an in-depth understanding of Chanukah’s core concepts, access:
“Chanukah: A Divine Encounter – Harnessing the Light to Reconnect with Hashem and Transcend Limitations.”