Jewish Holidays

On Friday evening, obviously one may not light candles after sunset, since Shabbat begins at sunset, and on Shabbat one may not light a fire. In addition, one should not light immediately before sunset because of the mitzva of tosefet Shabbat

The Sages ordained that one must light the Ĥanuka candles when the miracle will be publicized most effectively.

Nowadays, many people live in apartment buildings. The best place for them to light is in a window facing the street or on a porch facing the street, as this is the most effective way of publicizing the miracle.

The Sages’ enactment seems to indicate that in the past there was no concern that the wind would blow out the Ĥanuka candles that were lit at the entrance to the home.

The Sages state: “Ĥanuka candles should be placed at the doorway, outside the home. One who lives on an upper floor places them in the window facing the street. In times of danger, it is sufficient to place them on the table”

Many people glorify the miracle by lighting Ĥanuka candles wherever people gather, like at weddings, bar mitzvas, bat mitzvas, Ĥanuka parties, and lectures. But may one recite a berakha over the lighting at such an event?

It is customary to light Ĥanuka candles in the synagogue, reciting all of the berakhot there that we recite at home. It is customary to light the candles between Minĥa and Ma’ariv.

One may not begin to eat within half an hour before candle-lighting time, which is at tzeit. Likewise, one may not begin any type of work during the half-hour period before candle-lighting.

When setting up the menora, one is faced with several choices: Where, preferably, should the first candle be set up on the first night, the second on the second night, etc., and which candle should be lit first?

It is proper to beautify the mitzva by using a beautiful menora (ĥanukiya, candelabrum), each according to his means.In order to prevent people from violating the prohibition of benefiting from the Ĥanuka candles, the custom developed to light an additional candle to serve as a shamash.