Last updated: November 1, 2026
Here is how to light a menorah: place the candles for that night from right to left, light the shamash (helper candle), recite the blessings, then use the shamash to light the newest candle first, moving left to right. Add one candle each night until all nine burn on the eighth night.
Below are the candle order, blessings, Shabbat timing rules and a schedule for Hanukkah 2026, which begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, according to Hebcal.
Contents
- How to light a menorah step by step
- Menorah candle order: right to left, lit left to right
- Hanukkah candle lighting blessings
- When to light the menorah
- Hanukkah 2026 candle lighting schedule
- Where to place the menorah
- Menorah candle safety tips
- Frequently asked questions
How to light a menorah step by step
A Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiah, holds nine candles: one for each of the eight nights plus the shamash, which sits at a different height so it is easy to identify. The shamash exists because, as Judaism 101 explains, the Hanukkah lights themselves are not used for any practical purpose.
- Set up the menorah in a window or doorway on a sturdy surface away from curtains and anything that can burn.
- Place the candles for the current night, starting at the far right. On the first night there is one candle plus the shamash.
- Light the shamash.
- Hold the shamash and recite the blessings: two blessings every night and a third, the Shehecheyanu, on the first night only.
- Light the newest candle first (the one farthest to the left) and continue to the right.
- Return the shamash to its holder.
- Let the candles burn at least half an hour after dark.
My Jewish Learning notes one difference in custom. In Ashkenazi communities the shamash is lit first and used to light the others. In Sephardi communities a separate candle lights the nightly candles, the shamash is lit last, and the extra candle is blown out. For background on these communities, see the main branches of Judaism.
Menorah candle order: right to left, lit left to right
Candles are placed from right to left, the same direction Hebrew is written, but they are lit from left to right. Judaism 101 explains the reason: you honor the newer thing first, so the candle for the current night is always lit before the others.
| Night | Candle positions | Candles lit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Far right | 1 + shamash | Shehecheyanu added |
| 2 | 2 rightmost | 2 + shamash | Newest (left) candle first |
| 3 | 3 rightmost | 3 + shamash | Newest candle first |
| 4 | 4 rightmost | 4 + shamash | Newest candle first |
| 5 | 5 rightmost | 5 + shamash | Newest candle first |
| 6 | 6 rightmost | 6 + shamash | Newest candle first |
| 7 | 7 rightmost | 7 + shamash | Newest candle first |
| 8 | All eight | 8 + shamash = 9 | All nine holders lit |
Across all eight nights you light 36 Hanukkah candles plus 8 shamash candles, a total of 44. My Jewish Learning points out that most boxes contain 45, which leaves one spare.
Hanukkah candle lighting blessings
Say the blessings after placing the candles and before lighting them. My Jewish Learning gives these versions:
- First blessing (every night): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
- Second blessing (every night): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.
- Third blessing (first night only): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life and sustained us and enabled us to reach this season.
When to light the menorah
Hanukkah candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark. Judaism 101 says they can be lit any time after dark but before midnight, and should burn for at least half an hour.
Lighting the menorah on Friday night and Saturday night
Lighting a fire is not permitted on Shabbat, so timing changes:
- Friday: light the menorah before the Shabbat candles, which are lit 18 minutes before sunset. The candles must still burn until half an hour after dark, about 90 minutes in total, so standard small Hanukkah candles may not last. Judaism 101 suggests larger candles, tea lights or Shabbat candles.
- Saturday: light only after Shabbat ends at nightfall. Customs differ on whether the menorah is lit before or after havdalah; My Jewish Learning notes the most widespread Sephardi custom is to recite havdalah first.
Hanukkah 2026 candle lighting schedule
In 2026 Hanukkah begins on a Friday, so both the first and last candles fall near Shabbat. This schedule follows Hebcal’s calendar for Hebrew year 5787:
| Night | Evening to light | Candles (plus shamash) | When to light |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday, December 4 | 1 | Before sundown (Shabbat) |
| 2 | Saturday, December 5 | 2 | After nightfall (after Shabbat ends) |
| 3 | Sunday, December 6 | 3 | At dusk |
| 4 | Monday, December 7 | 4 | At dusk |
| 5 | Tuesday, December 8 | 5 | At dusk |
| 6 | Wednesday, December 9 | 6 | At dusk |
| 7 | Thursday, December 10 | 7 | At dusk |
| 8 | Friday, December 11 | 8 | Before sundown (Shabbat) |
The eighth day of Hanukkah is Saturday, December 12, 2026, and the holiday ends at nightfall that evening. Hanukkah starts on 25 Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, so its Gregorian date moves each year; Hebcal lists Hanukkah 2027 as beginning at sundown on Friday, December 24. It falls near the winter solstice, the longest night of the year.
Where to place the menorah
Hanukkah is meant to publicize the miracle, so My Jewish Learning suggests placing the menorah in a window facing the street where passers-by can see it. For another festival of lights, see why Diwali is celebrated.
Menorah candle safety tips
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that an average of 20 home candle fires are reported each day and recommends keeping candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Its religious candle safety tip sheet adds these points:
- Place candles in a sturdy candle holder.
- Do not put lit candles in windows where a blind or curtain could catch fire.
- Candles near tables, altars or shrines must be watched by an adult.
- Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets, and store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
- Have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them monthly.
- If you also have a cut tree indoors, follow our tips on keeping a Christmas tree alive and safe.
Frequently asked questions
How do you light a menorah step by step?
Place the night’s candles from right to left, light the shamash, say the blessings, then use the shamash to light the newest candle first and continue from left to right. Put the shamash back in its own holder when you finish.
Which candle do you light first on the menorah?
Light the shamash, the helper candle, first. Then light the newest candle, which is the one farthest to the left, and work toward the right.
How many candles are on a menorah, 7 or 9?
A Hanukkah menorah, also called a hanukkiah, holds nine candles: eight for the nights of Hanukkah plus the shamash. The seven-branched menorah is the ancient Temple menorah, not the one used for Hanukkah.
Do you put menorah candles in from right to left?
Yes. Candles are added to the menorah from right to left, starting at the far right on the first night, but they are lit from left to right so the newest candle is lit first.
How long should menorah candles burn?
The candles should burn for at least half an hour after dark. On Friday afternoon, when the menorah is lit before Shabbat begins, use larger candles that last about 90 minutes in total.
How many candles do you need for all eight nights of Hanukkah?
You need 44 candles for one menorah: 36 for the eight nights plus 8 for the shamash. Most boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45.
Sources
- Hebcal: Chanukah 2026
- My Jewish Learning: How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah
- Judaism 101: Chanukah
- NFPA: Candle safety
- NFPA: Religious Candle Safety tip sheet (PDF)
Image: Lighting the menorah with the shamash at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, by Lance Cpl. Michael Thorn, U.S. Marine Corps, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
