Erev Hanukkah

The source:

"The rabbis taught: The laws of Hanukkah require one light for a person and household; those who want to be more careful may use one light for each member of the household. For those who want to be even more careful, the school of Shammai suggested that on the first day of the festival, eight candles are to be lit and we light one fewer each progressive night. Hillel suggested that on the first day, one candle is lit and one candle is added each night. Shammai reasoned that the number of candles corresponds to the number of days to come; Hillel reasoned that the number of candles corresponds to the days already passed" (Babylonia Talmud , Shabbat 21b).

What you need to know:

Place one new candle in the hanukkiyah for each night of Hanukkah, increasing one candle per night (plus the shamash). Olive oil may be used. Candles should be placed from right to left. Light the shamash first and use it to light from the left.

Then say the blessings:

(on each night)

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made us holy by mitzvot and instructed us to light the Hanukkah candles.

(on each night)

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she'asah nisim lavotaynu bayamim hahaym bazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors at this season in ancient days.

(on first night only)

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she-he-cheyanu vekimanu vehigiyanu lazman hazeh.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and helped us to reach this day.

Using the shamash , light the candles, one for each night, beginning with the current night first, from left to right.While some communities blow out the shamash each night and use it for the duration of the festival, most people let it burn down each night and use a new shamash for succeeding nights.

After you have lit the candles, read the following prayer called Hanerot Hallalu.

In order to recall the miracles and wonders that You performed for our ancestors through the agency of the holy priests, we kindle these lights. We hold these flames sacred throughout the eight-day Hanukkah period; we shall not make any profane use of them. Instead, we will simply look at them so that we may recall Your reputation as a God who makes miracles, does wonders, and delivers our people.

Things to remember:

Load from the right; light from the left.

Place your hanukiyah in the window nearest the street so that all can see.

Candle holders in a traditional hanukiyah are all on the same level, with a higher or separate shamash.

On Shabbat Hanukkah, light the Hanukkah candles before you light the Shabbat candles.

Light your candles after nightfall but early enough so that people can see them.

At the end of Shabbat Hanukkah, do Havdalah and then light the Hanukkah candles.

Don't use the lights of Hanukkah for practical purposes, like reading.

Key words and phrases:

Ner: Candle.

Or: Light.

Shemen: Oil