The Menora and its Preparation

• The Menorah can be made of any material. It should at least be pleasant looking. People who can affored it buy a Menorah made of silver or of some other metal. A person who can not afford it does not need a Menorah at all,as one can stick the candles on the window sill and light them there. However it is a "Hidur Mitzvah" to use a beautiful Menorah.
  
  
• The candles must be the same hight and in a straight line, not curved or in a circle.
  
  
• The Shamash, the servant candle that kindles the other lights, should stand out from the rest (i.e. higher or lower).
  
  
• It is preferable to use cotton wicks in olive oil, or paraffin wax candles.
  
  
• The Chanukah Lights must burn for at least half an hour after the stars come out. Before kindling the lights, make sure that there is enough oil (or if candles are used, that they are big enough) to last that long.

• Some place the Menorah by the window, so the people outside can also see the flames.
  
  
• Some place it inside opposite the Mezuzah, so we would be surrounded by Mitzvot.

• It is preferable that all members of the family should be present when lighting the Menorah and listen to the Berachot and answer 'Omen'. However, even if not present they are included in the lighting of the head of the house, if they are permanent members of the household.
  This is the basic Halachah and so the Sefaradim conduct themselves, that only the head of the household lights [or any other member of the household if wished] and the rest of the household are included.
  The Ashkenazim have the custom that preferably each male member of the household lights for himself in a separate Menorah.
  
  
• According to the above mentioned Minhag Ashkenaz even male children light their own Menorah.
  
  
• Students and singles even girls or ladies who live in dormitories or their own apartments need kindle Menorahs in their own rooms.
  
  
• A guest may join his host in the lighting, but is preferable that he light by himself, according to the Minhag Ashkenaz mentioned above.
  A guest who is not on full board has to give a bit of money to the head of the house in order to share the Mitzvah. If the guest is a married man and his wife lights in their home [see next Halachah] then he is not obliged to light by hiself where he is now nor to join in the lighting of that household but many people prefer to light for themselves in spite that his wife lights at home, in order to keep the Mitzvah himself.
  In this case he shold have intention not to be "Yoitze" with his wife's lighting or to light earlier than she does.
  The husband who lights not in his own house cannot "Moitze" his wife whether she remains at home or she went to her parents.
  
  
• Married women nor girls living at home with their parents do not have to light, but if the husband isn't there [or widows etc. who have no husband] they must light, since they are also part of the miracle.

How do we light?

1. On the first night of Chanukah one light is kindled, on the following night, two, the third night, three, and so on, so that on the eighth night of Chanukah eight lights are kindled (not including the servant candle).
   
   
2. We place the candles in the Menora from Right to Left. So that on the first night only the far right one is used, on the second the two furthest to the right, and so on.
   
   
3. After lighting the Shamash, we recite the Brachot. (see below for more details).
   
   
4. Only after finishing the Brachot we start lighting the candles left to right, so that the additional light of each night is kindled first.
   
   
5. After finishing lighting all the candles we then say 'Haneirot Hallalu' etc.
   
   
6. No one should talk till all the candles are kindled.

When do we light?

• Some light the candles at sundown, some light them after the stars come out.
  
  
• Those who light at sundown, must use candles long enough or put enough oil in the Menorah so that the lights will burn until half an hour after the stars come out.
  
  
• If one can't light at that time, he may light later till before dawn. However one should light as early as possible. It is forbidden to eat a meal or to do any work before lighting the Chanukah lights.
  
  
• On Friday, we light them BEFORE we light the Shabbat candles. So we must make sure there is enough oil (or the candles are big enough) to light for a half an hour after the stars come out!!!
  As the Fridays at this time of the year are very short one must allow enough time before Shabbos to light all the Chanukah candles in good time and if the lady of the house sees that her husband is delayed, she should not wait for him but light the Shabbos candles first.
  
  
• After Shabbat, in Shul the custom is to light BEFORE the Havdalah service.
  At home, some light before Havdalah and others light afterwards. Each person should observe his own custom. The main thing is to light as soon as possible and not to get involved in anything else before lighting the Chanukah lights.

This year - 1999, Chanukah comes out from Dec. 3rd - Dec.10th,

Friday
Dec. 3rd - 1 candle. BEFORE Shabbat Candle Lighting.
Blessings #1, 2 & 3

Saturday
Dec. 4th - 2 candles. AFTER Nightfall, and Havdallah
Blessings #1 & 2

Sunday
Dec. 5th - 3 candles.
After Nightfall. Blessings #1 & 2

Monday
Dec. 6th - 4 candles.
After Nightfall. Blessings #1 & 2

Tuesday
Dec. 7th - 5 candles.
After Nightfall. Blessings #1 & 2

Wednesday
Dec. 8th - 6 candles.
After Nightfall. Blessings #1 & 2

Thursday
Dec. 9th - 7 candles
After Nightfall. Blessings #1 & 2

Friday
Dec. 10th - 8 candles. BEFORE Shabbat Candle Lighting.
Blessings #1 & 2