Guidelines to Chanukah:
More than 200 of the Most Commonly Asked Questions about Chanukah
By Rabbi Elozor Barclay and Rabbi Yitzchok Jaeger

Lighting the Menorah

111. How many lights are kindled each night?

According to the basic requirement, it is sufficient to kindle one light each night. However, the universally accepted custom is to beautify the mitzvah by kindling one light on the first night and adding an additional light each night, until eight lights are kindled on the eighth night.

112. What if a person cannot afford to buy sufficient oil or candles for such a procedure?

In such a situation he may fulfill the basic requirement of kindling one light each night.

113. Is it preferable to use oil but kindle only one light every night or to use candles but add one each night?

It is preferable to use candles, adding one each night. This is a bigger enhancement of the mitzvah than kindling only one oil light each night.

114. Which end of the menorah should be used on the first night?

One should begin at the right end of the menorah as one faces it. This applies whether the menorah is placed next to a doorway, inside a doorway or by a window.

115. What is the procedure on the subsequent nights?

Each night, an additional light is placed next to those of the previous night, gradually filling up the menorah towards the left. When lighting the menorah, the main custom is to kindle the newest light first, i.e. the left-most one and proceed to light from left to right.

116. Where exactly should one stand when lighting the menorah on subsequent nights?

It is incorrect to pass over the opportunity to do a mitzvah. Since the newest light is kindled first, one should stand close to it, i.e. slightly to the left of the lights. If he would stand to the right of the menorah, he would have to pass over the other lights before kindling the left-most first.

117. Why is an additional light, the shamash, kindled?

The lights of the menorah are holy and one may not derive any personal benefit from them For this reason, an additional light is kindled, called the "shamash" (service light), to be available for use when necessary. A shamash is required even if the electric lights are on.

118. Should one light the shamash before or after the main lights?

There are two customs.

* The main Ashkenazic custom is to light the shamash at the start before the brachos are recited. After reciting the brachos, the shamash is used for kindling the Chanukah lights and is then placed into the menorah.

* The main Sephardic custom is to use a different candle for lighting both the Chanukah lights and the shamash. According to this method, the shamash is placed on the menorah beforehand but only lit after the main lights. The candle used for lighting the menorah is then extinguished.

119. Should one use oil or a candle for the shamash?

* According to the Ashkenazic custom mentioned above, it is customary to use a candle for the shamash for practical reasons; it is much more convenient to kindle the lights with a candle than with an oil light.

* According to the Sephardic custom, one may use either a candle or oil for the shamash, since this light is not used to kindle the others.

* Some opinions recommend using a candle for the shamash if the main lights are oil, in order to make it clear that it is not included in the number of Chanukah lights.

120. Where should the shamash be placed?

The shamash should be placed away from the other lights, to distinguish it from them. If the shamash is close to the other lights it should be placed higher, but if this is difficult it may be placed lower. If candles are being used, one may use a longer candle for the shamash.

121. If several menorahs are lit does each one require a shamash?

Yes.

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