Celebrating Hannukah for the first time? Don’t know how to light your Hannukiah (Hannukah Menorah)? Don’t fret, here’s what you need & need to know how to use it to celebrate Hannukah.
First you need to know the difference between a regular Menorah & a Hannukiah. A regular menorah has 7 branches, this is the model of what was in The Temple. A Hannukiah is an 8 branched Menorah which technically it has 9 but 1 is used to light the others and its not counted…this 1 candle is called the “shamash” & means “servant” since its used to light the others.
The reason we light this menorah over the 8 nights is to commemorate the celebration of the victory of the priestly family the Maccabees in 165 b.c. The Maccabees overcame assimilation & Hellenistic rule by the wicked Greco-Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabean (also known as the Hasmonean Dynasty) revolt was responsible for re-dedicating the Jewish Temple. The Temple had been desecrated by Antiochus when he raised up a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies where the Ark of The Covenant used to be & sacrificed a pig.
The oil used to light the Menorah was also defiled of which tradition says there was only 1 jar that wasn’t defiled & able to sustain the light for 1 evening. The miracle of Hannukah was that that 1 jar of oil sustained the lampstand to stay lit for 8 days & nights till fresh oil could be made & brought back to The Temple. The reason for this was because the oil had to be specially made according to the Torah. This is why there are 8 branches on the Hannukiah. Its believed, based on what’s written in 1st & 2nd Maccabees & other Talmudic writings that the Maccabees were going to celebrate Sukkot because that was the last feast that had just passed. It was outlawed to practice anything from the Tanak & so the army decided to celebrate the feast that had just passed & since Sukkot is celebrate for 8 days that’s why its believed the Menorah stay lit for 8 days & nights.
To light your Hannukiah first you need some Hannukah candles for your menorah. These can usually be found at Party City, Bed Bath & Beyond, & sometimes Joann fabrics. You may also find a Hannukiah at some of these places.
The Hannukiah should always be lit at Sundown or at some point in the night & put near a window so the light can be seen by others. Remember this year Hannukah begins sundown on Friday, Dec.11th- Saturday, Dec.19th which its over at sundown.
Night 1
On the first night you take 2 candles 1 for the Shamash & place the other in the far right . The Shamash is usually the highest raised candle on the Hannukiah usually in the middle, it all depends on the Hannukiah.
The First blessing is:
Baruch Ata, Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu be’mitzvotav vitzivanu le’hadlik ner shel Hannukah.
“Blessed are You, L-RD our G-D, King of The Universe, Who has sanctified us by His commandments and command us to kindle The Hannukah lights.”
2nd Blessing:
Baruch Ata, Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam, she’asa nisim la’avoteinu ba’yamim ha’heim ba’z'man hazeh.
“Blessed are You, L-RD our G-D, King of The Universe, who worked miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.”
3rd Blessing (said only on the 1st night of Hannukah):
Baruch Ata, Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam, shehecheyanu, ve’kiymanu, ve’higi’anu la’z'man hazeh.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.”
Light the Shamash than light the 1st candle & generally its not supposed to be put out but let to stand till the candle burns out. The light isn’t supposed to be used for utility purposes since the light is for a Holy purpose.
Nights 2-8
Load the Hannukiah with candles. This is done by loading them from right to left & than they are lit from left to right with the shamash since the lighting is taking place on the current day. Over the period of the 8 nights you’ll need 44 candles in all since you’ll use 2 the 1st night, 3 the 2nd, 4 the 3rd & so forth. Light the Shamash than light the candles, as stated previously by going from left to right.
Now you’re all set to play dreidels, sing Maoz Tzur, Hanerot Halellu, or eat some sufganyot!
Chag Sameach Hannukah B’ Yeshua Or Ha’Olam! (Happy Hanukkah in Yeshua The Light of The World)
-Aharon