XII. How to Celebrate On Erev Shabbat Chanukah one must be particularly careful to pray Mincha before lighting the Chanukah lights. And these, in turn, must be kindled before those of Shabbat. Kindle the Chanukah menorah on each of the eight nights of Chanukah. Use olive oil with cotton wicks (the preferred way) or paraffin candles, large enough to burn until half an hour after nightfall, for the lights of the menorah. Wicks may be reused and leftover oil from a previous day may also be used. Ashkenazim use a “Shamash” (service candle) to kindle the lights, and place it in its special place on the menorah. For the blessings and number of lights and the order of kindling, see below. Before kindling, recite the appropriate blessings, and after kindling recite, “We kindle these lights...” All members of the family should be present at the kindling of the Chanukah lights. Ashkenazim should have all young boys kindle their own Chanukah menorahs and all young girls light their own Shabbat candles. Students and singles, who live in a dormitory or in their own apartments, should kindle menorahs in their own rooms. The Chanukah lights are kindled either in the front window or by a doorway. On Friday afternoon the Chanukah lights (which will burn until 1/2 hour after nightfall) are kindled before the Shabbat candles are lit. NOTE: From the time the Shabbat candles are lit until Shabbat ends and the Havdalah (separation between Shabbat and weekday) prayer is recited, the Chanukah menorah should not be relit, moved or prepared. After Shabbat ends, the Chanukah lights for Saturday night are kindled. The ritual of lighting the chanukiyah is simple if you remember the following two rules: Set the candles to the left. Light to the right. The basic pattern of placing the candles is: 1. Set the shamash in its holder. 2. Place the candle(s), for the appropriate night, starting on the far right. The procedure for kindling the lights is: 1. Rabbenu Moshe Isserles, z”l, (the Rama) whom the Ashkenazim follow when he disagrees with Maran Yosef Karo, says that in [Ashkenazi] lands, they do not add one more candle as Maran mentioned, but use the Shammash to light all the other candles and then put it in the place reserved for the additional light. Light the shamash. Maran Yosef Karo, z”l, whom the Sephardim follow, writes in the Shulhan ‘Arukh (the Code of Jewish Law) that this additional light is lit LAST and should be placed slightly further away from all the other candles. 2. Chant the candle blessing for Chanukah followed by the Sheh’asah nissim la’avoteinu, followed by the Shehekiyanu on the first night. On each subsequent night chant just the candle blessing and the sheh’asah nissim la’avoteinu. 3. Ashkenazim use the shamash to light the newest candle first. Sefardim light the shamash last and do not use it to kindle the other lights. 4. When all the lights are kindled, Ashkenazim replace the shamash in its holder. Sefardim now light the shamash in its place. 5. After this, the Minhag of Ashkenazim is to sing Maoz Tzur. The Sefardim recite Tehilim 30 ( Mizmor Shir Chanukas..) and Tehilim 67 (Lamnatzayach Binginot)
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:44:52 +0000
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