Where is info on Hanukkah Facts: How to Light a Menorah and Recite the Blessings?”
Lighting the Menorah on Hanukkah is the most important Hanukkah custom. Jews light Hanukkah candles to remember the miracle of the Maccabees’ victory and the miracle of the oil that burnt for eight days in the holy Temple. It is a mitzvah (commandment from God) that Jews “publicize the miracle” by lighting a Hanukkah Menorah each night during the eight days of Hanukkah. The menorah consists of eight candle holders in a row and separate candle holder for the “Shamash” – the candle that is used to light the other candles. The menorah is lit at sundown since Jewish holidays run from sundown to sundown. The only exception is Friday night when the menorah is lit prior to sundown to respect the Sabbath. On the first night, place one candle in the Menorah’s far right slot and also place a candle in the holder for the Shamash. Light the Shamash candle and then say the Hanukkah blessings as you use the Shamash to light the first Hanukkah candle First Blessing to Recite Borukh Ato Adoynoy Eloyhe
Somewhere in Southern California, there’s a rabbi driving with an electric menorah blazing on the roof of his car. In counterpoint to the “other” winter holiday, Rabbi Yisroel Levine has planted the 2-foot menorah in the breeze that reads “Chabad Wishes You a Happy Hanukkah.” “What’s important is that the Jewish community will know that they have a holiday they can be proud of,” said Levine, of Chabad of the Conejo. “The message is about good prevailing over evil.” Right over might. Light over darkness. Hope over despair. At sundown Friday, Jews throughout the world will begin the eight-day festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Families will gather ’round each night to light one more candle of the menorah then recite three blessings thanking God for past miracles. Some will eat potato latkes, jelly doughnuts and chocolate gelt. Others will dispense gelt, or coins, to their children. Or spin dreidel tops whose Hebrew letters honor “a great miracle happened here.” There was the a
