"How To" Light The Menorah

When do we light the menorah and for how many days?

We light the Menorah for the 8 days of Chanukah - between the 25th of Kislev and the 2nd of Tevet. We start with 1 flame on the first evening of Chanukah and end with 8 on the last. Candles are lit as close to nightfall as possible. Some people use candles, while in Israel, the custom is to light with olive oil and cotton wicks. The Shamash (the flame placed higher) is not included when counting how many candles to light each night.

How should the lights be arranged on the Menorah?

The lights should be in an even row, not one higher than the other. There should be an open space between one light and the next. Throughout the 8 days of Chanukah, the candles are placed in the Menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right.

Since one is not supposed to use the lights of the menorah for personal benefit, the shamash (lit. "helper") is used every day to light the other candles. The shamash is at the highest light, lit at the center, or sometimes the side of the menorah.

We begin with one candle for the first night and add one candle each night until we reach the full complement of eight lights on the last day. This is in the spirit of Hillel's (1st century CE) dictum that we move in the direction of increasing holiness.

The first candle is placed on the right side (facing you) of the menorah. You say the blessings each night with the lit shamash in hand and the candles are lit immediately after reciting these blessings. On the second night you add a candle. The new candles should be added each day from left to right (as you face the menorah).

1st Blessing
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, asher kid'shanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Chanukah.
Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.

2nd Blessing
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteynu, ba-yamim ha-hem, ba-zman ha-zeh.
Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the universe, Who performed wondrous deeds for our fathers, in ancient days, at this season.

On the first night of Chanukah, the following
special blessing is also recited:

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, she-heche'yanu, ve-kiy'manu, ve-higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh.
Praised are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.