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How is a Hanukkah menorah lit?
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Jewish religious year
The months and holidays of the Jewish religious year.
The Hanukkah menorah, or ḥanukkiyah, is a nine-branched candelabra used to commemorate the miracle of the oil during the rededication of the Second Temple. It features eight branches for candles or oil and an additional, typically elevated, holder for the shammash ("servant") light.123
The ritual is performed as follows:
- Preparation: Each night of Hanukkah, candles are inserted into the menorah from right to left, adding one new candle each evening until all eight are used on the final night.132
- Lighting: The shammash is lit first and used to kindle the other candles from left to right.132
- Timing: Candles are lit after sundown, accompanied by prayers and blessings. On the Sabbath, they are lit before the Friday-evening Sabbath candles to avoid violating the prohibition against lighting fires during the Sabbath.132
- Display: The menorah is traditionally placed in a visible location, such as a window, to publicize the miracle.32