by Jessica Burde

Created on: November 19, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

On the first night of Hanukkah, the house is filled with the scent of hot oil and latkes or donuts. The Menorah stands ready, filled with candles, while dreidels are tucked away into corners waiting for dinner to be over and the games to begin.

Hanukkah starts with the flick of a match. The menorah, a special candelabrum holding 9 candles, is lit each night of Hanukkah. The first night the shammah, or helper candle is lit first. Then the shammash is used to light the first candle. Each night one extra candle is lit until on the last night of Hanukkah all the candles are lit. This is known as the Hillel tradition. At one time there was an alternate tradition of lighting all the candles the first night and lighting one less each night, until the last night only the shammash and 1 candle were lit.

While lighting the Menorah there are two prayers that should be said:

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

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

A third prayer is said on the first night of the holiday:

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

According to Jewish law, the candles for the 8 nights are sacred, and should not be used for any purpose other then as a reminder of the miracles God wrought. They should not be used for illumination, to start other flames, for heat, etc. That is why there is the shammash - to do all the mundane tasks that the 8 sacred lights can not be used for.

After the Menorah is let, it is left in a window or doorway, so the light of the candles can be seen by all who pass by or enter the house.

Once the Menorah has been lit, it is time for dinner. The Hanukkah meal traditionally includes foods cooked in oil, such as latkes or donuts. The first bite of a donut still warm from the oil is one of the special moments of Hanukkah. Oil cooked foods are traditional because of the sacred oil that was a part of the Hanukkah Miracle. The oil for the Temple lamp that was only expected to last 1 day, lasted 8 days instead.

When dinner is over, the children receive their Hanukkah gelt, or gifts. Some say that giving of gifts started as tradition of charity, to give people the things they needed to get through a long winter. Others tell a story of children studying

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