Night 8 · Fri, Dec 11
8 candles + shamash. Set them up from the right; light the newest, on the left, first. Light before the Shabbat candles, before sunset.
The eight nights
| Night | Evening | Candles | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Dec 4 | 1 + shamash | Light before the Shabbat candles, before sunset |
| 2 | Sat, Dec 5 | 2 + shamash | Light after Shabbat ends |
| 3 | Sun, Dec 6 | 3 + shamash | |
| 4 | Mon, Dec 7 | 4 + shamash | |
| 5 | Tue, Dec 8 | 5 + shamash | |
| 6 | Wed, Dec 9 | 6 + shamash | |
| 7 | Thu, Dec 10 | 7 + shamash | |
| 8 | Fri, Dec 11 | 8 + shamash | Light before the Shabbat candles, before sunset |
This year the first and last nights are both Friday nights, and Chanukah has two Shabbatot. For the Friday times in your city, see Shabbat candle lighting times.
How to light
- One more light each night: one on the first night, eight on the last, plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.
- Order: set up the candles from right to left, adding the new one each night on the left. Light the newest candle first, then move to the right.
- When: at nightfall or at sunset, depending on custom. The candles should burn for at least half an hour after nightfall.
- Where: in a window facing the street or by the door, to publicize the miracle. In Israel many light outside the front door.
- Friday: light Chanukah candles first, then Shabbat candles, all before sunset. Use candles or oil that will burn until half an hour after nightfall, longer than on weeknights.
- Saturday night: light only after Shabbat ends. In the synagogue Chanukah candles come before Havdalah; at home customs differ on which comes first.
The lights are for seeing, not for use: don't read or work by them.
The brachot
Before lighting, the first two blessings are said every night:
On the first night only (or the first time you light this Chanukah), add Shehecheyanu:
After lighting, many say Hanerot Halalu, and Ashkenazim sing Maoz Tzur. The exact wording and order vary a little between nuscha'ot.
What changes in davening
- Al HaNissim is added to the Amidah (in Modim) at every service, and to Birkat HaMazon (in Nodeh Lecha). If it is forgotten, the prayer is not repeated.
- Full Hallel is said every morning of Chanukah, after the Shacharit Amidah.
- No Tachanun for all eight days, and not at Mincha the afternoon before. Tzidkatcha is left out at Shabbat Mincha, and many Ashkenazi communities also leave out Lamnatzeach (Psalm 20) before Uva Letzion.
- The Torah is read every day, from the offerings of the princes at the dedication of the Mishkan (Bamidbar 7).
- Rosh Chodesh Tevet falls on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11: Ya'aleh V'yavo and Al HaNissim are both said, two Torah scrolls are read (Rosh Chodesh, then Chanukah), and Musaf for Rosh Chodesh follows.
Shabbat Chanukah 5787
- Saturday, December 5 (25 Kislev 5787): Parashat Vayeshev, with the Chanukah reading as maftir, and the haftarah Roni V'simchi (Zechariah 2:14–4:7).
- Saturday, December 12 (2 Tevet 5787): Parashat Miketz, with the reading for the eighth day as maftir, and the haftarah from Melachim I 7:40–50.
Why we light
Chanukah recalls the Maccabees' victory over the Seleucid Greeks and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE, when the one jar of pure oil found there burned for eight days. The lights are lit to publicize that miracle, and Al HaNissim thanks God for the victory.
Al HaNissim, already in place
On Chanukah SuperSiddur adds Al HaNissim and Hallel where they belong, leaves out Tachanun, and has the candle-lighting brachot and Maoz Tzur ready for each night.