Rabbi Jason Sobel
Lighting the Chanukka Menora

This year (2007/5768) the Festival of Chanukka begins on the evening of Tuesday, December 4 and continues through sunset on Saturday, December 12. The following is an explanation of the origin of the lighting of the Chanukka menora or chanukkiya as well as a summary of the specific practices associated with this ritual

Our Rabbis taught: The precept of Chanukka demands one light for a man and his household; the zealous kindle a light for each member of the household; and the extremely zealous, — Bet Shammai maintain: On the first day eight lights are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced; but Bet Hillel says: On the first day one is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased… Bet Shammai reasons that it corresponds to the number of days still to come, and that of Bet Hillel is that it shall correspond to the number of days already past; but another maintains: Bet Shammai’s reason is that it shall correspond to the bullocks of the Festival; while Bet Hillel’s reason is that we increase in matters of sanctity but do not reduce.
b. Shabbat 21b

Today we follow the ruling of Bet Hillel, adding an additional candle per night. We place the candles in the chanukkiyah from left to right.  Next light the shamash (servant) candle, and then utilize it to start lighting from the left.

Summary of Key Laws 

• Load the candles from the right, light them from the left.
• Remember to use the shamash (servant) candle to light all the other candles. The shamash candle holder is the one elevated above the rest.
• Recite the berachot. Remember the shehecheyanu blessing is said only on the first night.
• Light your candles after dark but earlier enough in the evening that neighbors will be able to see them.  This is halakhically very important for one of the primary reasons that our Sages instituted the mitzva of lighting the menorah was to publicize the miracle of Chanukka.   
• On the eve of Shabbat, the chanukkiya is lit before the Shabbat candles. At the end of Shabbat, the chanukkiya is lit after the havdala candle is extinguished.
• Technically a menora is seven branched candelabra like the found in the Temple. A chanukkiya on the other hand is a nine branched candelabra used to celebrate the miracle of Chanukka.
• For a chanukkiya is be considered kosher all eight of the candleholders must be on the same level, with a raised ninth to be used as the shamash.

Chanukka Blessings

  ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו וצונו להדליק נר של חנכה

Praised are you, Adonai, Our God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes us holy through commandments and commands us to light the Chanukka candles.

The second blessing expresses thanks for the “miracle” of deliverance:

Barukh atta Adonai, Elohenu Melekh ha‘olam, she‘asa nissim la’avotenu, bayyamim hahem bazzeman hazzeh.

Praised are you, Adonai, Our God, Sovereign of the universe, who did wondrous things for our ancestors in former times at this season.

The third blessing is chanted only on the first night:

Barukh atta Adonai, Elohenu Melekh ha‘olam shehecheyanu, vekiyyemanu vehigi‘anu lazzeman hazzeh.

Praised are You, Adonai, Our God, Sovereign of the universe, who keeps us alive, sustains us, and brought us to this occasion.

After reciting the blessings and lighting the candles, the following paragraphs should be recited or sung.

Hannerot halalu anakhnu madlikin al hannisim ve‘al hannifla’ot, ve‘al hatteshu’ot ve‘al hammilchamot, she‘asisa la’avotenu bayyamim hahem bazzeman hazzeh, al yedei kohanekha hakkedoshim. Vechol shemonat yemei Chanukkah, hannerot halalu kodesh hem. Ve’ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem, ella lir’otam bilvad, kedei lehodot ulehallel leshimkha haggadol ‘al nisekha ve‘al nifle’otekha ve‘al yeshu‘othekha.

These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the battles which you performed for our ancestors in those days at this season through your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanukka 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 salvations.

Ma‘oz tzur yeshu‘ati; Lekha na’eh leshabeach; Tikon bet tefilati; Vesham toda nezabeach
Le’et tachin mabeach; Mitzar hamnabeach; Az egmor beshir mizmor; Chanukkat hamizbeach.

O mighty rock of my salvation, to praise you is a delight.
Restore my house of prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When you will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Altar.