The most important tradition associated with Hanukkah is the kindling of the lights on the Menorah. The Hanukkah menorah is
called a HANUKIYAH.
The menorah has nine candle holders. There are eight candles, one for each night of Hanukkah. The ninth is called the SHAMASH. The Shamash is used to light the other eight candles. The Shamash,the servant light, is lit first and then is used to light the other candles.
On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, a candle is lit to commemorate the rededication of the ancient temple in Jerusalem, when the last remaining container of undefiled oil miraculously lasted for eight nights.
The candles are placed in the HANUKIYAH from right to left. But when the candles are lit, you light from left to right.
This year the first Chanukah candle is lit at sunset Friday December 3rd.
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Ma'oz Tzur
COUNT THE CANDLES
(A favorite children's poem - author unknown)
On the first night of Hanukkah
we have lots of fun!!
How many candles do we light?
We light only ONE!!
On the second night of Hanukkah
do you know what we do?
We add another candle.
On this night we light ONE and TWO!!
On the third night of Hanukkah
how many will there be?
The candles will burn brightly
when we light ONE, TWO, THREE!!
On the forth night of Hanukkah
we'll add one candle more!
When you see the candles burning
You can count ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!!
On the fifth night of Hanukkah
one more candle will arrive.
We light them and we count them
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE!!!
On the sixth night of Hanukkah
the colors we can mix.
But first we have to count them
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX!!
On the seventh night of Hanukkah
we do not need eleven!!
Here is the way we count them -
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN!!!
On the eighth night of Hanukkah
the candles will look GREAT!!!
See if you can count
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT!!!
But wait.....
Let's not forget the SHAMASH,
the tallest in the line!!
When you count it with the others
You will reach the number NINE!!
THE PRAYERS FOR CANDLE LIGHTING
The following blessings are said each night with the lit shamash in
hand, and the candles are lit immediately after reciting the blessings.The candles should be added to the Menorah from the right to the left, but they are lit from left to right.
The first two blessings are sung every night, the third is added only on the first night. After lighting the candles, two songs are sung: Hanerot Hallalu and Ma'oz Tzur.
On the first night of Hanukkah 
On the second night of Hanukkah
On the third night of Hanukkah
On the forth night of Hanukkah
On the fifth night of Hanukkah
On the sixth night of Hanukkah
On the seventh night of Hanukkah
On the eighth night of Hanukkah
LIGHTING
