When do you light the menorah?

Ideally, you should light the menorah at the earliest possible opportunity. Only delay if you are awaiting the arrival of family members who wish to be present when the menorah is lit. The Chanukah lights may be lit as long as there are people in the streets, or as long as there is another family member awake to participate - but no later than one half hour before dawn. read more

How to Light a Chanukah Menorah Three Parts: Arranging the Candles Lighting the Shamash and Saying the Blessings Lighting the Other Candles Community Q&A Chanukah (also spelled Hanukah or Hannukah) is the Jewish festival of lights, a joyous holiday that celebrates the miraculous burning of the ancient temple of Jerusalem’s menorah for not one day, but eight days, after they ran out of oil. read more

The former has eight places for lighting with a ninth spot for the shamash ("helper" or "servant"), which is the light used to light the other branches. On each night of Hanukkah, the shamash is lit first and then the others, whether oil or candles, are lit one by one. read more