How to Light Chanukah Candles

The Chanukah candles represent the victory of light over darkness, the Torah’s eternal light and the role of the Jewish people as a light for the nations. 

We must be careful to light the candles according to halacha:

1. Set up your candles so that on the first night, the single candle is on the right side of the menorah. Each subsequent night, add a candle to the left and light that one first.

2. The shamash should be slightly higher than the other candles or otherwise distinct from them.

3. Use candles that will burn for at least half an hour.

4. On the first night, recite three brachos - lehadlik ner shel Chanukah, sheasa nissim and shehecheyanu. On the other nights, recite only the first two brachos.

5. After candle lighting, it is customary to recite or sing Haneiros Halalu and Maoz Tzur. Some begin singing immediately after lighting the first candle, while others wait until all the candles have been lit.

6. It is forbidden to use the light of the candles for any purpose, but there is no problem with walking by them and admiring them.

Download a printable PDF with the text of the brachos for Chanukah candles and Haneiros Halalu: