Laws and Customs of Chanukah
The Jewish Weekly | December 04, 2025
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Laws and Customs of Chanukah

The Jewish Weekly | December 07, 2025

Laws and Customs of Chanukah

According to Shulchan Aruch Harav, Mishna Berurah and Nittei Gavriel
All times listed are for Jerusalem only as per www.myzmanim.com
Based on Rabbi Shmuel Lesches's Halachah Sheets
Reviewed by Reb Elimelech Rabinowicz שליט"א, Rav of Tzeirei Kehal Chassidim, Shaarei Chessed
Compiled by Yossi Fraenkel in memory of his grandparents
ר' ראובן בן הרב משה אליעזר הלוי ע"ה וחיה ברכה בת ר' נפתלי משה ע"ה רבינוביץ
ר' יוסף בן ר' אורי ע"ה ומלכה בת ר' יצחק צבי הלוי ע"ה פרנקל
to subscribe: www.thejweekly.org or [email protected]

EREV CHANUKAH

On Erev Chanukah, we say Tachanun during Shacharit but not at Mincha.
Some have the custom to take out and prepare their Menorah three days before Chanukah and they keep it out till the third day after Chanukah.

MENORAH LIGHTING: WHO?

All men light the Menorah. Boys are also trained to do so from a young age.
Women are obligated to light the Menorah. Practically, a married woman fulfils her obligation through her husband’s lighting, and a girl fulfils her obligation through her father’s lighting. Therefore, they should be present when the Menorah is lit, and they should have in mind to fulfil their obligation. Even very young girls should be present when the Menorah is lit. For this reason, the Menorah lighting should be scheduled at a time when everyone can be present. [Nevertheless, they have still fulfilled their obligation even if not present.]
In the following circumstances, a woman should recite the Brachot and light the Menorah herself:

  • An unmarried woman who does not permanently live with her father. [This includes seminary girls.]
  • A woman who is temporarily away from her family home and husband/father, and she is not guesting with someone who is lighting the Menorah, e.g. she is in a hotel, hospital, or empty home.
  • A woman who remains at home, but her husband/father is away for the night.

A woman who is temporarily away from her family home and husband/father, but she is guesting with a host who is lighting the Menorah, she automatically fulfils her obligation through her father’s/husband’s lighting at the family home, unless:

  • It is daytime in her time-zone when her husband/father lights Menorah.
  • Her husband/father is away from the family home and lighting elsewhere.

In these two cases, the woman should participate in her host’s lighting by sharing in the expenses of the oil and wicks, and she should also be present when the Menorah is kindled.

MENORAH LIGHTING: VENUE

One must light at home (where he usually eats and sleeps) and nowhere else. Even if eating out, one must still light the Menorah at home.
If one is away from home the entire night, he should light at the place where he is lodging. If he is still there the following night, he may light there as well, even if he intends to relocate later during the night.
One should avoid crossing the International Dateline during Chanukah. Similarly, one should avoid travel plans that prevent him from lodging overnight in a dwelling. One who finds himself in such a situation should consult a Rav.

MENORAH LIGHTING: WHERE?

Some hold the Menorah is lit inside, some hold it should be lit in a doorway, some hold by the window and others hold outside.
For those who hold the Menorah is situated at a doorway, on the side opposite the Mezuzah.
If there is no Mezuzah, such as in a hotel, the Menorah is placed at the right side of the door. [If the Menorah was placed on the wrong side, one has still fulfilled his obligation.]
The Menorah should be placed within the actual doorway, as close to the doorpost as possible. [If this is not feasible, it should at least be placed within a Tefach (8cm) of the doorway.] It does not matter if the flames span north-south or east-west.
It is preferable to use the doorway of the room where one eats, as opposed to the doorway of the room where one sleeps.
Although it is preferable for the head of the household to light at the main eating area, nevertheless, each child should light at the entrance to his personal bedroom, unless there are safety concerns.
When more than one person lights at the same venue, each set of flames should be noticeably distinct from the others. In practice, this is easily accomplished when everyone uses a separate Menorah. However, when two people improvise by sharing the same Menorah (e.g. during the first nights of Chanukah), or by not using a Menorah at all, there should be a clear gap between each set of flames.
Those who have the custom to light in the window should make sure it is safe to do so. The Menorah should be lit facing the street rather than the back of the house.
It should be lit on the right side of the window.
Some have the custom to light outside on the edge of their property closer to public property.
If one regularly lights outside, yet someone gave them a new silver Menorah, in fear of it being stolen one should rather light their old Menorah outside.
Those in a Yeshivah dormitory, seminary or at an overnight camp should follow the instructions of their Hanhalah.
The Menorah is situated so that the flames are anywhere between 3 Tefachim (24cm) and 10 Tefachim (80cm) from the floor. If the Menorah is placed higher, it is still acceptable (unless the flames are higher than twenty Amot – 9.6 meters). A large Menorah which is taller than 10 Tefachim may be used even in the first instance.
The Menorah must not be situated in a place where there is a strong possibility that it will be extinguished, e.g. by winds or vandals.

PREPARING THE MENORAH

Ideally, a nice Menorah should be used.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe discouraged the use of Menorahs with round branches as per Rashi’s interpretation. Instead, Chabad use either a Menorah with diagonal (or square-shaped) branches, or one with no branches at all.
The Menorah must be designed so that all the flames are in a straight line and at the same height. The flames should not be too close together, as they need to appear noticeably distinct. [Furthermore, wax candles need to be sufficiently spaced so that the heat of the flames do not melt the wax of the adjacent candles.] One should be especially attentive to this when improvising without a Menorah.
Each day of Chanukah, the Menorah is prepared in advance, so that it is ready at the appropriate time.
The Shamash is situated higher or separate than the other flames.
One Shamash is sufficient for multiple Menorahs when they are right next to each other, but not when they are situated in different parts of the room.

THE WICKS

Wicks are preferably made of cotton or linen. [If these are unavailable, the wicks may be made of any material.]
Some have the practice to replace the wicks every day and some have the custom not to do so, being that used wicks are easier to kindle. [According to the latter custom, the newly added lamp is prepared with the wick that was lit first on the previous night.]

THE FUEL

Ideally, olive oil is used to fuel the flames, and a beeswax candle for the Shamash. [If these are not available, one should use a type of oil or wax candle that burns a clear flame. If this is not possible, any type of oil or wax candle may be used.]
The Menorah may be prepared with oil remaining from the previous night.
Before kindling, one ensures that the Menorah has sufficient fuel to last the required duration – at least 50 minutes in total, and at least 30 minutes after Tzeit Hakochavim (whichever is longer).

Laws and Customs of Chanukah

According to Shulchan Aruch Harav, Mishna Berurah and Nittei Gavriel
All times listed are for Jerusalem only as per www.myzmanim.com
Based on Rabbi Shmuel Lesches's Halachah Sheets
Reviewed by Reb Elimelech Rabinowicz שליט"א, Rav of Tzeirei Kehal Chassidim, Shaarei Chessed
Compiled by Yossi Fraenkel in memory of his grandparents
ר' ראובן בן הרב משה אליעזר הלוי ע"ה וחיה ברכה בת ר' נפתלי משה ע"ה רבינוביץ
ר' יוסף בן ר' אורי ע"ה ומלכה בת ר' יצחק צבי הלוי ע"ה פרנקל
to subscribe: www.thejweekly.org or [email protected]

EREV CHANUKAH

On Erev Chanukah, we say Tachanun during Shacharit but not at Mincha.
Some have the custom to take out and prepare their Menorah three days before Chanukah and they keep it out till the third day after Chanukah.

MENORAH LIGHTING: WHO?

All men light the Menorah. Boys are also trained to do so from a young age.
Women are obligated to light the Menorah. Practically, a married woman fulfils her obligation through her husband’s lighting, and a girl fulfils her obligation through her father’s lighting. Therefore, they should be present when the Menorah is lit, and they should have in mind to fulfil their obligation. Even very young girls should be present when the Menorah is lit. For this reason, the Menorah lighting should be scheduled at a time when everyone can be present. [Nevertheless, they have still fulfilled their obligation even if not present.]
In the following circumstances, a woman should recite the Brachot and light the Menorah herself:

  • An unmarried woman who does not permanently live with her father. [This includes seminary girls.]
  • A woman who is temporarily away from her family home and husband/father, and she is not guesting with someone who is lighting the Menorah, e.g. she is in a hotel, hospital, or empty home.
  • A woman who remains at home, but her husband/father is away for the night.

A woman who is temporarily away from her family home and husband/father, but she is guesting with a host who is lighting the Menorah, she automatically fulfils her obligation through her father’s/husband’s lighting at the family home, unless:

  • It is daytime in her time-zone when her husband/father lights Menorah.
  • Her husband/father is away from the family home and lighting elsewhere.

In these two cases, the woman should participate in her host’s lighting by sharing in the expenses of the oil and wicks, and she should also be present when the Menorah is kindled.

MENORAH LIGHTING: VENUE

One must light at home (where he usually eats and sleeps) and nowhere else. Even if eating out, one must still light the Menorah at home.
If one is away from home the entire night, he should light at the place where he is lodging. If he is still there the following night, he may light there as well, even if he intends to relocate later during the night.
One should avoid crossing the International Dateline during Chanukah. Similarly, one should avoid travel plans that prevent him from lodging overnight in a dwelling. One who finds himself in such a situation should consult a Rav.

MENORAH LIGHTING: WHERE?

Some hold the Menorah is lit inside, some hold it should be lit in a doorway, some hold by the window and others hold outside.
For those who hold the Menorah is situated at a doorway, on the side opposite the Mezuzah.
If there is no Mezuzah, such as in a hotel, the Menorah is placed at the right side of the door. [If the Menorah was placed on the wrong side, one has still fulfilled his obligation.]
The Menorah should be placed within the actual doorway, as close to the doorpost as possible. [If this is not feasible, it should at least be placed within a Tefach (8cm) of the doorway.] It does not matter if the flames span north-south or east-west.
It is preferable to use the doorway of the room where one eats, as opposed to the doorway of the room where one sleeps.
Although it is preferable for the head of the household to light at the main eating area, nevertheless, each child should light at the entrance to his personal bedroom, unless there are safety concerns.
When more than one person lights at the same venue, each set of flames should be noticeably distinct from the others. In practice, this is easily accomplished when everyone uses a separate Menorah. However, when two people improvise by sharing the same Menorah (e.g. during the first nights of Chanukah), or by not using a Menorah at all, there should be a clear gap between each set of flames.
Those who have the custom to light in the window should make sure it is safe to do so. The Menorah should be lit facing the street rather than the back of the house.
It should be lit on the right side of the window.
Some have the custom to light outside on the edge of their property closer to public property.
If one regularly lights outside, yet someone gave them a new silver Menorah, in fear of it being stolen one should rather light their old Menorah outside.
Those in a Yeshivah dormitory, seminary or at an overnight camp should follow the instructions of their Hanhalah.
The Menorah is situated so that the flames are anywhere between 3 Tefachim (24cm) and 10 Tefachim (80cm) from the floor. If the Menorah is placed higher, it is still acceptable (unless the flames are higher than twenty Amot – 9.6 meters). A large Menorah which is taller than 10 Tefachim may be used even in the first instance.
The Menorah must not be situated in a place where there is a strong possibility that it will be extinguished, e.g. by winds or vandals.

PREPARING THE MENORAH

Ideally, a nice Menorah should be used.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe discouraged the use of Menorahs with round branches as per Rashi’s interpretation. Instead, Chabad use either a Menorah with diagonal (or square-shaped) branches, or one with no branches at all.
The Menorah must be designed so that all the flames are in a straight line and at the same height. The flames should not be too close together, as they need to appear noticeably distinct. [Furthermore, wax candles need to be sufficiently spaced so that the heat of the flames do not melt the wax of the adjacent candles.] One should be especially attentive to this when improvising without a Menorah.
Each day of Chanukah, the Menorah is prepared in advance, so that it is ready at the appropriate time.
The Shamash is situated higher or separate than the other flames.
One Shamash is sufficient for multiple Menorahs when they are right next to each other, but not when they are situated in different parts of the room.

THE WICKS

Wicks are preferably made of cotton or linen. [If these are unavailable, the wicks may be made of any material.]
Some have the practice to replace the wicks every day and some have the custom not to do so, being that used wicks are easier to kindle. [According to the latter custom, the newly added lamp is prepared with the wick that was lit first on the previous night.]

THE FUEL

Ideally, olive oil is used to fuel the flames, and a beeswax candle for the Shamash. [If these are not available, one should use a type of oil or wax candle that burns a clear flame. If this is not possible, any type of oil or wax candle may be used.]
The Menorah may be prepared with oil remaining from the previous night.
Before kindling, one ensures that the Menorah has sufficient fuel to last the required duration – at least 50 minutes in total, and at least 30 minutes after Tzeit Hakochavim (whichever is longer).

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The Jewish Weekly | December 04, 2025