Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

It is that time of year again for my annual repost of the CORRECT way to light your menorahs for the Chanukah holiday. I hope this helps families who have a hard time trying to figure it out. I am the annoying person who would correct the display menorah in a store - though in a nice way.

Tonight, at sundown, Chanukah begins. Use the following as a guide - my repost from last year AND the year before:


Candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, with the number of candles corresponding to which night of Chanukah it is. There is also one additional candle, which is usually elevated, called the “shamash,” or service candle. The shamash is lit first, and then used to light the other candles, from left to right.

If your menorah is in a window, it is my belief that it is on display for people outside and should be lit opposite of the directions above. If your menorah is lit for display inside then the rules above apply and are lit as indicated below:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8


I have one that I light inside and one for the window that has bulbs. That one looks backwards from the inside.


and AS ALWAYS, I shall post pictures of BOTH my indoor and outdoor menorahs for 8 days. Though this year, it may be a challenge with an infant to tend to.

FYI...On Friday night, Chanukah candles are to be lit BEFORE Shabbat candles.

Chag Sameach!!! May you all be blessed with many holiday miracles.

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Great post! Happy Chanukah!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Happy Chanukah or Happy Hanukkah!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Great post, Happy channukah!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Although I do not celebrate Chanukah, I fond your post very informative! Thank you. I will now pass on the information to my students!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Leslie,

I look for this post every year
Because of your post the menorah in my main office is now properly lit.

Just today, I thought of last year's post when I had to explain to my Jewish FIL how his window menorah should be lit.

But when he asked me how I knew, I couldn't resist and told him, "I learned it in Catholic school, silly!"
He was then I told him the real answer

Happy Chanukkah

Message edited 12/21/2008 7:06:24 PM.

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Glad I could help. DH and I plan on going to the menorah lighting in the city next year. This year, we had to pass as Abby just got over a cold and actually DH has one too.

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

BUMP

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Thanks for posting this. Even though I don't celebrate, I've always wondered about how they are lit.

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Ok, I figured out our problem. If we use your theory that the electric menorah for the window is for display for viewers outside, then our electric menorah would have to be turned around so that the cord hits the window. The lights are on a slide thing and it only works one way. So, our electric menorah was either not made as a display for people outside or it was not made by a Jewish person or it was made by a Jewish person who was confused. We assumed that our electric menorah was correct and that our indoor menorah should go the other way. I said it looked funny right from the start.

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

my mom was trying to remember yesterday. High 5 for this

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Thanks Leslie! Bad Jew that I am, I put the candle on the wrong side last night!!!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Thank you this was very informative and answered all my questions. So much more helpful then dh. thanks

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

I need this, thanks! Chag Samaeach!

Re: Chanukah Starts Tonight - Goldi's annual Menorah lighting REPOST

Wonderful post - I was always confused. You should add that you should never blow out Chanukah candles. My BIL is Jewish and was staying over my parents' house during Chanukah. He had lit the candles and when I came home from being out, I saw that they were still lit - me, thinking I was being so safety conscious, blew them out. The next morning, my BIL said "who blew out the candles", I said "I did - and you don't have to thank me!" My BIL was like "you moron, you let them melt down"