Chanukkàh 5786

Lighting of the first candle: Sunday, December 14, 2025

The 25th of Kislev marks the beginning of the eight-day festival of Hanukkah.
The festival was established to celebrate the victory of the Maccabees over the Hellenists (165 BCE) and the miracle of the flask of oil they found in the deconsecrated Temple, which, although sufficient for only one day, lasted for eight days.
On the first evening, in addition to the shammash (servant lamp, so called because its light can be used), a lamp is lit on the right, on the second evening two… on the eighth evening eight lamps. Each evening, after the shammash, the lamp added that evening is lit first.
It is forbidden to use the light of Chanukah candles. Chanukah candles should be lit near the door or window so that everyone can see them and remember the miracle of Chanukah. The best time to light the candles is when the stars appear. If you haven’t made it in time, you can light the candles after that. The candles must burn for at least half an hour.
On Friday, before sunset, the Chanukah candles are lit, followed by the Shabbat candles, ensuring that the Chanukah candles burn for at least half an hour after the stars appear on Friday. On Saturday evening, at home, the Chanukah candles are lit after Havdalah.