Hanukkah 2025/5786
How to Light a Hanukkiah
Lighting the Hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah) is a beautiful mitzvah that brings light into our homes and reminds us of the miracles of Hanukkah. Here’s a simple guide to follow:
Preparation:
- The Hanukkiah: Ensure you have a Hanukkiah with space for eight candles plus the shamash (helper candle).
- Candles: You will need 44 candles for all eight nights of Hanukkah.
- Placement: Place the Hanukkiah by a window or a doorway to publicly display the mitzvah of Hanukkah.
- Time: Light the candles after nightfall, but, if necessary, they can be lit earlier or later to accommodate your schedule.
Steps to Light the Hanukkiah:
- Insert the Candles: Place candles in the Hanukkiah from right to left, corresponding to the nights of Hanukkah.
- On the first night, insert one candle; on the second night, add a second candle to the left of the first, and so on.
- Light the Shamash: Use this candle to light the others.
- Recite the Blessings: Before lighting, recite the blessings for Hanukah (see next page)
- Light the Candles: Use the shamash to light the candles from left to right (newest candle first).
- Sing or Reflect: After lighting, recite “Haneirot Hallalu” and sing traditional songs like “Maoz Tzur” or reflect on the meaning of the holiday.
Calendar for Hanukkah 5784 (2024):
| Night of Hanukkah | Evening of | Candles to Light |
| First Night | Sunday (December 14, 2025) | 1 |
| Second Night | Monday (December 15, 2025) | 2 |
| Third Night | Tuesday (December 16, 2025) | 3 |
| Fourth Night | Wednesday (December 17, 2025) | 4 |
| Fifth Night | Thursday (December 18, 2025) | 5 |
| Sixth Night | Friday (December 19, 2025) | 6 |
| Seventh Night | Saturday (December 20, 2025) | 7 |
| Eighth Night | Sunday (December 21, 2025) | 8 |
Additional Notes:
- The candles should burn for at least 30 minutes.
- It is traditional not to use the Hanukkiah candles for any other purpose (e.g., reading by their light).
Before lighting the Hanukkiah
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו
וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
Baruch attah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam,
asher kidd’shanu b’mitsvotav, v’tsivvanu l’hadlik neir shel Hanukkah.
Blessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, whose commandments make us holy, and who commands us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּבַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch attah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam,
she’asah nissim la’avoteinu ba-yamim ha-heim uva-z’man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, who did wonders for our ancestors in those days at this season.
On the first night add
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch attah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam,
shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higgi’anu la-z’man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive
and supported us and brought us to this season.
After lighting the Hanukkiah
הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּֽלוּ אָֽנוּ מַדְלִיקִים עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַנֶּחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּבַזְּמַן הַזֶּה עַל יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶֽיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וְכׇ֯ל־ שְׁמֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנוּכָּה הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּֽלוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ וְאֵין לָֽנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד. כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת לְשִׁמְךָ עַל־נִסֶּֽיךָ וְעַל־ יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ וְעַל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ
Ha-neirot hallalu anu madlikim al ha-nissim v’al ha-t’shu’ot v’al ha-nifla’ot v’al ha-nechamot she’asita la’avoteinu ba-yamim ha-heim uva-z’man ha-zeh, al y’dei kohanecha ha-k’doshim, v’chol sh’monat y’mei Hanukkah ha-neirot hallalu kodesh, v’ein lanu r’shut l’hishtameish ba-hem, ella lir’otam bilvad, k’dei l’hodot l’shimcha al nissecha v’al y-shu’atecha v’al nifl’otecha.
We kindle these lights to commemorate the wonders, the victories and the marvellous and consoling deeds which You performed for our ancestors through Your holy priests in those days at this season. During all the eight days of Hanukkah, these lights are holy, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to see them in order to thank Your name for the wonders, the victories and the marvellous deeds.
Download your copy of the guide from here: https://tinyurl.com/WS-Hanukkah
HAPPY HANUKKAH
