Chanukah 2026
How to light the Chanukah menorah
Step by step, for the first time or the fortieth: where to place the menorah, when to light, which candle goes first, and the brachot in Hebrew, transliteration and English. The first candle in 2026 is Friday, December 4, before Shabbat.
Step by step
Lighting the menorah, in order
- Set up the lights. On the first night, place one candle or oil cup at the far right of the menorah. Each night, add one more to its left. The shamash, the helper candle, stands apart, higher or to the side.
- Use enough fuel. The lights must burn at least half an hour after nightfall. Olive oil is the most beautiful way to do the mitzvah, and good candles are also fine.
- Gather the family around the menorah, and light the shamash.
- Say the brachot, two each night and a third on the first night, before lighting.
- Light the newest candle first, the one furthest to the left, then move to the right. We add from right to left, and we light from left to right.
- Sing Haneirot Halalu, and Maoz Tzur or Mizmor Shir, according to your family’s custom.
- Do not use the light. The Chanukah lights are only for seeing and remembering the miracle, not for reading or work. That is why we have the shamash.
The blessings
The Chanukah brachot
Say them standing, after lighting the shamash and before lighting the first candle.
Bracha 1, every night
讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛 讛’ 讗直诇止拽值讬谞讜旨 诪侄诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐, 讗植砖侄讈专 拽执讚职旨砖指讈谞讜旨 讘职旨诪执爪职讜止转指讬讜 讜职爪执讜指旨谞讜旨 诇职讛址讚职诇执讬拽 谞值专 讞植谞只讻指旨讛.
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner Chanukah.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who made us holy with His mitzvot and commanded us to light the Chanukah light.
Bracha 2, every night
讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛 讛’ 讗直诇止拽值讬谞讜旨 诪侄诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐, 砖侄讈注指砖指讉讛 谞执住执旨讬诐 诇址讗植讘讜止转值讬谞讜旨 讘址旨讬指旨诪执讬诐 讛指讛值诐 讘址旨讝职旨诪址谉 讛址讝侄旨讛.
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, she’asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim haheim bazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who did miracles for our fathers in those days, at this time.
Bracha 3, first night only
讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛 讛’ 讗直诇止拽值讬谞讜旨 诪侄诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐, 砖侄讈讛侄讞直讬指谞讜旨 讜职拽执讬职旨诪指谞讜旨 讜职讛执讙执旨讬注指谞讜旨 诇址讝职旨诪址谉 讛址讝侄旨讛.
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this time.
Out of respect, Hashem’s Name is written here as 讛’ and in transliteration as Ado-nai. When you say the bracha, say the Name as it is written in the siddur.
After lighting, we sing Haneirot Halalu and Maoz Tzur. The full words are on our Chanukah prayers page.
Timing
When to light
Weeknights
Light at nightfall, about 5:03pm in Los Angeles during Chanukah 2026. Many Sephardim light at sunset, and many Ashkenazim light at nightfall. Follow your family’s custom. If you came home late, you may still light with the brachot while people are still about or your family is awake.
How long it burns
The lights must burn for at least half an hour after nightfall. Small boxed candles often last only about 30 minutes, so with them, light after nightfall, not before.
Placement
Where to put the menorah
By the door
The classic place is at the doorway, on the left as you walk in, opposite the mezuzah, so you are surrounded by mitzvot.
In a window
Many families light in a window facing the street, to publicize the miracle. The lights should be lower than about 30 feet (20 amot) from the street.
Safety first
Keep the menorah away from curtains and out of children’s reach, on a tray or foil. Never leave burning lights alone in the house.
Who lights
One menorah, or one each?
Sephardic custom
Sephardim follow the Shulchan Aruch: one menorah for the whole household, lit by the head of the home, and everyone answers amen. A son or guest staying elsewhere follows the household.
Ashkenazi custom
Ashkenazim follow the Rema: each member of the family, including children old enough, lights his own menorah, spaced apart so each can be seen.
Chanukah on Shabbat
Friday night and Motzei Shabbat
Chanukah 2026 has two Friday nights, December 4 and December 11, and one Motzei Shabbat, December 5.
Friday afternoon
Daven Mincha first if you can. Light the menorah before the Shabbat candles, not earlier than plag hamincha (about 3:41pm in Los Angeles). Use enough oil or long candles to burn until at least half an hour after nightfall, roughly an hour and a half. Then light the Shabbat candles: 4:25pm on December 4 and 4:26pm on December 11.
Saturday night
Wait until Shabbat ends, 5:24pm in Los Angeles on December 5, and say Atah Chonantanu. In shul, the menorah is lit before Havdalah. At home, Sephardim and many others make Havdalah first and then light. Many Ashkenazim light first. Follow your family’s custom.
Lighting questions
Which way do you light the menorah?
We place the candles from right to left, adding one each night on the left. We light from left to right, always starting with the newest candle.
How many candles do you light each night?
One on the first night, two on the second, up to eight on the eighth night, plus the shamash every night. In all, 44 candles for the whole holiday.
What time should I light the Chanukah menorah?
On weeknights, at nightfall, about 5:03pm in Los Angeles during Chanukah 2026, though many Sephardim light at sunset. On Friday, light before the Shabbat candles. On Saturday night, light after Shabbat ends.
Can I use electric lights for the menorah?
An electric menorah does not fulfill the mitzvah with a bracha according to most poskim. Use oil or candles. If you cannot use a flame, for example in a hospital, ask your Rav.
Where should I put my menorah?
At the doorway, on the left side opposite the mezuzah, or in a window facing the street, lower than about 30 feet from the street.
Do I say the brachot if I light late?
If people are still about or your family is awake to see the lights, light with the brachot. If it is very late and everyone is asleep, ask your Rav.
This page follows mainstream halacha. Customs differ between families, so for your home, ask your Rav.
Sources: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 671 to 681 · Hebcal times for Los Angeles · Chabad.org: How to light
The Bait Aaron Chanukah guide
More for Chanukah
A question for the Rav, or want to join us for Chanukah at the shul? Contact Bait Aaron.
Bait Aaron Torah Outreach Center · 301 S. La Peer Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048 · Mara D’Asra: HaRav Moshe Nourollah, Shlita