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Prague · 28 Cheshvan 5787

Shabbat this week · 16:02–17:11

Holiday guide

How to celebrate Hanukkah at home

A practical guide for the eight evenings. Differences between communities are noted at the individual steps.

This guide describes common practice; details vary by community and level of observance. For practical halakhic questions, consult the rabbi of your community.

  1. Step 1 of 4· Before the first evening (24 Kislev)

    Preparing the hanukkiah

    Halakhah⁂ To verify

    Prepare a hanukkiah with eight places at one level and a distinct shamash. Olive oil with wicks is best; candles are also valid. The lights must burn for at least about half an hour after dark.1

    Basic practice

    One candle hanukkiah for the whole family.

    Traditional practice

    Olive oil; in Ashkenazi families a separate hanukkiah for each member of the household.

  2. Step 2 of 4· Every evening, after sunset (on Friday before the Shabbat candles)

    Lighting and blessings

    Halakhah

    Light the shamash, say the blessings (on the first evening also Shehecheyanu) and light the lights with the shamash. One on the first evening, one more on each following evening, all eight on the eighth evening. Then Ha-nerot halalu is sung, and in Ashkenazi families Maoz Tzur.2,3

    Basic practice

    The blessings may be read in translation or transliteration.

    Traditional practice

    Light at the set time, with the whole household present, with the Hebrew blessings.

  3. Step 3 of 4· When lighting

    Placement

    Halakhah

    The Talmud prescribes placing the lights at the entrance to the house on the outside, to the left of the door (opposite the mezuzah). Where this is not possible or safe, they are placed in a window facing the street or inside by the door.4,5

    MinhagIsraelDiaspora

    In Israel glass cases for the hanukkiah in front of the entrance are common; in the diaspora the window prevails.

    Basic practice

    In a window facing the street, away from curtains.

    Traditional practice

    By the door on the left, lower than 10 tefachim (about 80–100 cm) above the ground according to the Talmud.

  4. Step 4 of 4· During the evening

    Food and games

    Minhag

    Serve foods fried in oil – Latkes or Sufganiyot – and play with the sevivon. These foods are not a halakhic obligation but an established custom.

    Basic practice

    Latkes or doughnuts and a game of sevivon.

    Traditional practice

    The custom of a dairy meal according to the Rema, study of the festival's history, giving tzedakah.

Sources

Hanukkah