The festival of Hanukkah is marked by the lighting of candles on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. The festival commemorates the miracle of the Temple menorah (candelabra) when a single day's supply of oil burned for eight days. The Hanukkah menorah holds eight lights plus one for the 'shamash' used to light the other candles.
The eight lights on the menorah must be at the same height and in a straight line as no candle is superior or inferior to the others. A circle of lights is not acceptable as it is necessary to distinguish which light is for each night. The shamash should be set apart from the others - either higher or lower or simply on a different plane to distinguish it.
Hanukkah menorahs burn either candles or oil. The rabbis consider an oil burning menorah to be the best option. Any type of oil may be used, but first choice must go to pure olive oil (as used in the Temple) using a cotton wick. The use of oil for a menorah pre-dates the use of candles. It produces a purer, brighter light and burns for a longer duration. Most people choose candles for simplicity and cost.
The menorah should be placed in a doorway or on a windowsill where it can be seen by passers-by to publicize the miracle to the world.
The menorah is lit after nightfall except on Friday night when the candles must be lit before lighting the Sabbath candles. The small Hanukkah candles that are widely available just burn for the required minimum thirty minutes. These are fine for the week-days, but on Friday night longer burning candles that will burn until after nightfall are required.
Place the candles in the menorah from right to left. On the first night, place just one candle in the right of the menorah. On the second night, place two candles in the menorah starting from the right. On each successive night an additional candle is placed to the left of the original candles until there are eight candles on the last night of the festival.
Light the shamash and recite the blessing "Baruch Ata Adonay Eloheinu Melech Haolam shetzivanu lahadlik ner shel Hanukkah" - "Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, that commanded us to light the Hanukkah candle". Now recite the blessing "Baruch Ata Adonay Eloheinu Melech Haolam she-asa nissim la-avoteinu beyamim hahem bezman haze" - "Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, that performed miracles for our forefathers in these days and in this season."
On the first night only, recite "Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheynu Melech Haolam She-hecheyanu Ve-kiymanu Ve-higgi'anu La-zman Ha-ze." "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 time."
Light each candle from left to right. The newest candle is lit first.
After reciting the blessings, light the candles. While lighting the candles it is customary to sing 'Hanerot Halalu':
Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikin
Al hanissim ve'al haniflaot
Al hatshu-ot ve'al hamilchamot
She-asita la'avoteynu
Bayamim hahem, bazman hazeh
Al yedey kohanecha hakdoshim.
Vechol shmonat yemey Chanukah
Hanerot halalu kodesh hem,
Ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem
Ela lirotam bilvad
Kedai lehodot leshimcha
Al nissecha veal nifleotecha ve-al yeshuotecha.
Translation:
We light these lights
For the miracles and the wonders,
For the redemption and the battles
That you made for our forefathers
In those days at this season,
Through your holy priests.
During all eight days of Chanukah
These lights are sacred
And we are not permitted to make
Ordinary use of them,
But only to look at them;
In order to express thanks
And praise to Your great Name
For your miracles, Your wonders
And your salvations.
The eight lights may not be used for any purpose other than to view them and to remember the Hanukkah miracle. It is for this reason that the menorah has a shamash. The shamash may be used to provide a flame to relight a light that has blown out.
The task of lighting Shabbat candles is generally falls on the household's women and girls. Hanukkah candles should be lit by the men and boys. If there are no males present, then a woman or girl should do it. Usually each boy lights his own menorah. Guests should also join in and bring their own menorahs when necessary. In many homes, both the boys and the girls light a menorah.
When all the candles are burning, it is traditional to sing "Ma'oz tsur" or Rock of Ages:
Stanza 1:
Ma'oz tsur yeshu'ati
lecha na'eh leshabeakh.
Tikon beit tefilati
vesham todah nezaveakh.
Le'et tachin matbeakh
mitsar hamnabeakh,
'az 'egmor beshir mizmor
khanukat hamizbeakh.
Stanza 1: Popular English Translation (Rock of Ages)
Rock of ages, let our song
Praise Your saving power;
You, amid the raging foes,
Were our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us,
But Your arm availed us,
And Your word,
Broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.